As a small business, it’s tough to cut through the constant noise that bombards most consumers.
So how do you get your audience’s attention without blowing your marketing budget? Text message marketing is a good option for small businesses.
What is text message marketing and who should use it?
Text message marketing, also called SMS marketing, is a mobile option to send promotional messages to customers. It’s an action-driven initiative best for consumer-targeted brands.
You can use it to focus on campaigns, special events and offers that push your audience “through the door,” (either literally if you’re brick and mortar, or figuratively if you sell online).
All without breaking the bank.
Per-message costs tend to be low. Plus, automation and flexible pricing plans make text message marketing a cost-effective option for small businesses.
This all sounds great, right? But you may be wondering how you build your text marketing audience in the first place.
Similar to building an email list, you can build an SMS list through:
- Website popup
- QR codes
- have customers text a word to a number to join
- signing customer up when they are in your store
Is text message marketing effective for small businesses?
Promotional text messages have a staggering 98% open rate.
What’s more, marketers and businesses in the US also report higher click-thru rates and conversions with texts vs other marketing tools.
And, this also addresses the elephant in the marketing room: Gen Z.
While email is still a great tool for long-form content and loyalty programs, Gen Z is used to getting their information quickly and in bite-sized chunks, all from the comfort of their phones.
Since this generation is more likely to check texts more often than email, the immediacy of text marketing makes sense here.
Key benefits of text message marketing for small business
As we touched on above, texts are often viewed instantly since people of all ages use mobile devices more than ever. So, you’ll be reaching people on the device they spend the most time on. This makes promotional texting an immediate and very effective option to reach a lot of people at once.
The benefits of text message marketing extend far beyond just reach, though. Here are just a few reasons why small businesses might consider this powerful tool:
- It’s Cost-effective: Send mass messages at a fraction of the cost of other initiatives.
- It’s Engaging: Increase customer engagement with interactive polls, coupons, and personalized messages.
- It’s Complementary: Enhance your existing marketing efforts by integrating SMS with email campaigns for a multi-channel approach.
- It’s Personalized: Send targeted messages based on customer preferences and buying habits.
- It Builds Loyalty: Offer exclusive deals and early access to promotions to create a VIP customer experience.
It’s Actionable: Send timely reminders for abandoned carts and appointments, increasing sales and improving customer satisfaction.
Do’s and don’ts
Do personalize your messages. You can text special birthday offers, or target certain customers with specific offers.
Do keep your message to-the-point (160 characters or less!) Be sure to give a clear call to action, too.
Do make it easy for customers to opt-out. There is nothing more frustrating than getting stuck on a list you want off of!
Do make sure your mobile site is up-to-par if you’re directing customers to your website.
Do pay attention to timing. You don’t want to send a 3:30am wakeup call! Likewise, if you find more conversions happen when you send your texts at 11am, stick to that timing.
Don’t send too many messages. If your customers are getting too many texts from you, they will be more likely to ignore you or opt out.
Don’t make it sound too robotic. Add a human touch to your messaging so it doesn’t feel impersonal.
The long and short? Using text message marketing is more than just a trend–it can be a game changer for small businesses when used correctly.
Need help getting started with text message marketing for your small business? Schedule a meeting today.
