Still, companies are often nervous about using text in marketing messages, perhaps afraid of coming off as invasive or aggressive. But like any other form of communication, the trick is to provide value. If customers feel that your messages are important to them, they won't mind hearing from you.
You can use the texts to market your small business, as well as provide a more useful and engaging experience to your customers when they visit you in person. Here's how to use marketing message text as a small business.
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How to Write Compelling Small Business Texts
If you're using text as a marketing vehicle, the first step is to master the art of writing copy. Texting as a small business is different than texting your friends or family: you'll want to obey certain rules to get the best possible response and don't turn your customers away. Here's some basic information:
1. Keep messages short
From a technical and creative point of view, your texts should run no longer than 160 characters. What you want to say should fit inside a standard text message, and get to the point.
2. Segment and keep consistent and relevant
Just like with email marketing, you can segment your recipients—new customers, loyal customers, older customers, female customers—and send them highly targeted and relevant messages that will appeal to them directly with the marketing message text.
3. Each message should be a CTA
There's no text your customers simply to say hi—they get enough of that from their parents ?. Every text message you send should include a call to action, and be sent with a direct target and purpose. Without a CTA, customers have no way to act on the message. Since there is a character limit of 160 text messages, it is best to use a link tag in your messages. When you use a link brand, it acts as the CTA as well. Check out how mobile phone provider, 3, uses branded links in their marketing message text to encourage customers to renew their phone plan.
When you use the link tag like 3 does, you can develop trust with your audience. This is because customers are more likely to click on short links with your brand name, rather than generic ones. Simply using a brand and link for your small business text message marketing strategy can increase click-through rates by up to 39%.
Since the goal of your job is to motivate your audience to take action, the link is the most important asset. The use of a brand and link, so that the customer immediately understands what the CTA and what it is promoting. To learn more about using a CTA brand and link, check out this article.
4. Don't overdo it
Text message marketing can be effective, but don't leave needy or desperate for attention: 2-4 messages a month should be your upper limit.
5. Personalize them
As with most content marketing, it's best to personalize your messages whenever possible. Use software that allows you to enter customer names or put them into products you've bought in the past.
6. The Right Timing
Send your messages for a while when it is most likely to be read. This may be obvious, but it means don't schedule them so that it arrive in the middle of the night. Midday, at lunchtime, is a good bet.
5 Ways to Send Valuable Texts to Your Customers
Before you start sending the messages, make sure they are important. We're going to run through five ways that texts will make an impact on customers and keep them on your list.
1. Send exclusive discounts and promotions
Coupons and business codes are a no-brainer for marketing message text: For customers, they're easy to exchange and even easier to keep in their app texts until it's time to utilize them. For businesses, an exclusive (and it should be exclusive to SMS, otherwise, what's the point?) discount for customers can be a great way to trick them into signing your texts—you can't send messages unsolicited by law.
2. Deliver sneak peeks on future products
Speaking of exclusivity, you can use your texts to deliver to loyal customers, a first look at future products or services that they'll love, or big sales should look out. Build the excitement solo up by texting this news, rather than jetting it on social media.
3. Target past customers with news of new products
Has it been a while since a customer has visited your page or made a purchase? Target specific customers and let them know that new products related to those they've already purchased in the past—are available, and helps keep your business top-of-mind during the availability of shopping seasons.
4. Remind them of the appointment or booking with confirmation
If you own a restaurant, hair salon, or other small business where reservations or appointments are common, help your customers by sending them an automatic text reminder. They'll be much less likely to lose their date with you, and you'll come across as helpful, rather than arrogant.
5. Sending alerts or notifications about orders
Customers often get worked on whether their purchase will arrive when it's supposed to, especially around the holidays. Dispel fears by sending regular updates on the status of your parcel, from the moment you place it to when it arrives at your doorstep.
Text messaging messages combine all the best modern communication and content marketing delivery. Your messages are guaranteed to reach customers quickly; They can (and should) be short and to the point, and make sure you drive customers where you want to go without making noise. Use that power responsibly and you'll see engagement soar.
