Texting is a relatively new way of communication, but it’s preferred. There’s nothing worse than having to answer a phone call right when you sit down on the couch to relax. But getting a text message means you have the freedom to respond whenever you please.

And for that reason, lots of companies have begun to market themselves through SMS messages instead of phone calls or email marketing campaigns. But is it the most effective way to reach a new audience? Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about text message marketing.

What Is Text Message Marketing?

Text message marketing is communicating your business’ news, promotions, events, and other relevant information to customers through short message services or SMS. It’s usually sent to their mobile phone number.

This is a great way for a small business to reach current customers without completely bogging them down with constant phone calls and emails. It’s also a great way to reach out to new leads to help get new customers into your front doors.

What Makes Text Message Marketing Effective?

1. Communication speed
2. It provides a personal touch
3. It’s cost-effective
4. It’s less annoying for consumers

SMS marketing services might not seem like a preferred way to reach customers since it is easy to ignore and avoid reading the information. However, it seems like SMS marketing might be the future way.

But what exactly makes it a preferred method compared to email or cold calling? Here are some of the major benefits.

Communication Speed

One of the main reasons to consider using text message integrations as your next company marketing strategy is the speed at which consumers can respond.

Our cell phones are always on us, and it takes just 90 seconds for someone to answer a text. However, it can take an average of 90 minutes for someone to respond to an email. This means you can easily reach more people through text message marketing instead of email.

Plus, consumers can quickly and easily continue a conversation in real-time through text message to get any questions or concerns addressed. This is a preferred method of communication compared to email or phone calls simply due to convenience alone.

SMS Marketing Provides a Personal Touch

Emails become inundated and stocked with ads, spam, and other arbitrary pieces of information. But text messages feel more personal, even when you rely on automation to bring the marketing messages and mass textnotifications to customers. Reaching out to someone’s phone number can help provide a more personalized feel.

Small businesses, especially when starting, can have difficulty having face-to-face customer interaction. But using text messages can allow your brand to thoughtfully engage with your audience to get them into your doors and maintain them as loyal customers.

Text Message Marketing Is Cost-Effective

Using SMS for marketing is simple and easy. That means anyone can start using it for convenient and effective marketing. However, it also means that it can be done cheaply. The pricing of text message marketing campaigns makes them an essential tool for small business owners trying to get their start.

It can cost a lot of money to run ad campaigns on social media or through email, but sending out promos and mass messages through text can often be done inexpensively. This makes it a preferred option for driving traffic without a large budget.

SMS Is Less Annoying for Consumers

Consumers can be turned off your brand before ever setting foot in your doors or clicking on your website if they get a sour taste in their mouth from a first impression. More often than not, a customer might feel like nonstop phone calls are a bit more annoying than anything.

Texts feel less intrusive, and they allow consumers to have the ability to respond whenever is convenient for them.SMS marketing campaigns set up two-way communications so contacts can follow up on messages like appointment reminders, new product updates, and other potential drip campaigns you place them in.

How to Market With Text Effectively

1. Make sure your message has a clear opt-in
2. Never use your personal phone number
3. Be mindful of the time you send messages
4. Identify yourself

If you’re new to text message marketing, there are a few tips and tricks you should know to make your ads even more effective.

Make Sure Your Message Has a Clear Opt-In

You’ll get your customers' phone numbers through lead inquiries or other means, but you shouldn’t start sending mass messages. Just like email marketing, you want to make sure the customers in your contact list are clearly about to opt-in or opt-out of receiving information over text.

Before you start sending customers promo offers and other information, you should ask them to confirm over text that they want to subscribe to this type of content. A great way to do this is by thanking them for subscribing or using your services and then asking if they’d like to opt-in with a “Y” or “N.” 

This is important because sending messages to someone who doesn’t want to receive them will not only put a sour taste in their mouth but also gives them the chance to tell other people about their negative experience.

Never Use Your Personal Phone Number

As you’re just starting, it might feel like the right move to use your personal number to reach out to potential customers to reach them on a personal level. However, balancing work and life is important, and separating the two makes it much easier to take much-needed rest when needed.

The best way to do this is by getting a business phone number through Dialed. You’ll choose your business number with an area code that matches your business’s location and then have easy access to all your customers' phone numbers and contacts in one fell swoop. You can even turn on the do not disturb feature to ensure you’re not reached after hours.

Be Mindful of the Time You Send Messages

Most mass message services let you schedule a time to send messages to customers. You want to be mindful of when these messages get sent. The prime window for sending text messages is between 9 AM and 5 PM during the workday.

Sending a message before or after that period can turn some people away, as they might still be asleep, winding down for the night, spending time with family, or doing other personal tasks. The last thing they probably want to look at is a message from you trying to sell them something.

Identify Yourself

It might seem obvious, but you want to ensure that your messages include an introduction to who is speaking. Most customers probably don’t have your number or contact saved, which helps avoid confusion. Plus, it adds that personal touch to remind consumers that they are messaging with a real, live human.

Conclusion

Text message marketing is often considered the way of the future. It’s convenient, easy, cheap, and accessible for small businesses able to reach a larger audience. It’s a lot more effective than email marketing and phone call marketing, especially when you combine it with other forms of advertising.

You can amp up your marketing tactics by ensuring you’re using the right SMS software to send messages to hot leads. Also, ensure you introduce yourself in your messages and that anyone receiving your messages has already opted in to receive text message marketing.

Download the Dialed app today to market your business through text.

Sources:

Why SMS Is The Marketing Tool Of The Future | Forbes

How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages | Federal Trade Commission

Work-Life Balance Is a Cycle, Not an Achievement | Harvard Business Review