Can Texting Help Your Marketing?
Like it or not, texting has become a communication standard in today’s world. Whether we’re setting up a meeting or simply asking our significant other to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home, texting is often our go-to means. According to a 2015 report by Informate, a mobile tracking firm, U.S. smartphone users are sending and receiving five times as many texts as phone calls, and that trend is even more pronounced among millennials.
So if texting is here to stay, should you be using it in your marketing?
Texting is popular because it’s non-intrusive and it’s generally useful. An incoming text doesn’t disrupt your workflow, and you’re able to respond to it when you want instead of when it’s sent. It’s useful because before anyone can send you a text, you have to have given your permission, which means the message is usually pertinent to you in some way.
The permission part is important. Texting is a secondary form of marketing, meaning you first need to get someone’s permission to send them a text. A texting campaign can integrate well with an existing marketing campaign to generate leads. In fact, cell phone numbers may be more valuable than email addresses in many cases. Text messages tend to be read, whereas many emails go directly to a spam folder.
When using text marketing, make it easy for your recipients to take action on what you’re sending them. If you want to them to go to your website and check out a promotion you’re doing, include a link so they can get there with just a tap. If you want them to buy something, include an easy one-click buying option. These messages are usually received on a cell phone, and the recipient is likely on the go. Make it easy for your recipients, and they’ll make it easy for you in the form of increased sales and brand awareness.
Finally, and most importantly, the content you send out needs to be useful. The person that signed up to receive your text did so because they believed you had something relevant to say, not because they wanted to receive ads. You have to do more than tell them how wonderful your product is. You have to tell them how wonderful your product is for them. How will it make their lives better? So the first thing you should think about before you send a text to a would-be customer is how your text will benefit them.
Texting can be a great way to add a new dimension to your marketing. In fact, it might be one of the best ways to reach your customers. If you haven’t already, consider making a texting campaign part of your marketing efforts today.
If you’re using a CRM like Infusionsoft, it’s easy to automate in your campaigns using one of several third party products. We especially like Fix Your Funnel for SMS marketing.