When it comes to communicating with customers, businesses need to find the right channel to use. There are many ways to do this, such as using email, but SMS advertising is currently the most effective way to reach out to customers.
Despite the existence of SMS advertising for a long time, mobile marketers are starting to realize its value. This article will talk about why it is the best way to increase customer engagement. It will also review some of the strategies that you can use to make the most of this marketing channel.
SMS and Engagement Relationship
Although SMS advertising has been around for many years, many businesses are still not aware of its incredible capabilities. Within three minutes of messages being sent, almost 90% of them will be read by recipients. This proves how powerful SMS can be, and it also shows how frequently your target audience is near their devices.
SMS Best Practices
After having more knowledge about SMS advertising and engagement, it is now time to talk about the best practices for creating effective campaigns. One of the most important factors that you must consider is having a clear goal and direction for your campaign.
Securing Opt-Ins
Aside from making sure that your customers have the opt-in option, it is also important that you have the proper safeguards in place when it comes to sending marketing messages. Businesses have to follow strict rules when it comes to SMS marketing.
Including a Call-to-Action
SMS advertising is a personal and effective marketing method, as it allows you to reach out to your customers in an instant. It often includes a call-to-action, which is important since customers are expecting a response.
When sending messages, make sure that they have an immediate call to action. Also, keep in mind that you should only send messages within business hours unless your company is operating outside of regular business hours.
Ways to Increase Engagement
There are many methods that you can use to increase engagement through an SMS broadcast. Although not every company will be able to implement these ideas, they will work well for any industry.
1. Polls and Surveys
One effective way to engage customers through SMS advertising is through polls and surveys. These can be done by either sending a link or a survey in a message. They can then be used to collect valuable feedback, which will be used for your purposes.
When running a campaign, make sure that you follow the best practices. One of the most common ways to lose people from your list is through aggressive tactics. This can be done by bombarding your audience with messages that are too pushy or by sending messages too often.
2. Exclusive Deals
Another way to engage customers is through exclusive deals. This can be done through the opt-in process, as it limits your audience to only those who have registered for mass text messages. By rewarding your customers for signing up, you can reach out to your loyal followers.
Multichannel marketing can also be done through SMS advertising. For instance, some companies have found that they can use this type of marketing to highlight an offer that they are currently offering in the store or on their website.
3. Loyalty Programs
Several companies in various industries have started using customer retention programs as a way to retain their customers. By rewarding your customers for loyalty, you can reach out to your potential customers and encourage them to continue shopping with you instead of going somewhere else.
A great way to keep your customers interested in your program is by sending out updates about new offers and rewards. This can be done through the use of newsletters and other forms of marketing.
Companies are increasingly turning to SMS as a means to run support, as customers can be easily frustrated if they have to wait for help. Running support through this medium is ideal, as it allows you to respond to inquiries quickly and effectively. SMS for customer support allows you to automate most of the messages and respond to inquiries immediately.
Final Thoughts
Each of these best practices is a great way to use SMS to increase customer engagement. These can be used in combination with other marketing methods to increase sales and customer loyalty.