SMS Marketing Tips – How to Word Your SMS Messages to Get Results
SMS Marketing is undeniably one of the best ways to attract the attention of your customers and get news and promotions in front of them – fast. SMS Marketing messages have a fantastic open rate – over 98%, according to a recent Frost & Sullivan report. With Microsoft publishing figures showing that up to 97% emails, correspondingly, are considered ‘spam’, it’s clear that SMS marketing is the winner’s choice. Why would you stick with email marketing when your message has such a high chance of ending up in your customers’ junk mail folders?
One of the reasons companies may not be making the most of the hugely effective medium of SMS marketing messages is simply that they’re not sure how to use it effectively. Marketers are used to the relative freedom of email campaigns, which allow you to use unlimited text and images to get your message across. With SMS marketing campaigns, it’s all down to those 160 characters per message. But bigger doesn’t mean better – for by carefully wording your SMS messages, you can get all the impact of a marketing campaign into one single message.
Here’s how to make the most out of your SMS marketing campaigns and wave goodbye to low-response email campaigns forever!
1. Keep it simple – one marketing message per SMS
Many marketers will be used to using email communication as a monthly ‘roundup’ to get over multiple messages to their customers. With SMS marketing, the golden rule is to keep your text message simple, direct and singular. If you’re promoting one product, don’t feel tempted to add in ‘also sale on other products in the range’ at the end; all you’re achieving is losing precious space to talk about the main item you’re promoting.
2. Remember to identify yourself clearly
Dependent upon the SMS system you’re using, your company name may not show up on the customers’ mobile phone – and your location certainly won’t. If you use a product such as 2-Way SMS by TextMagic, your customers will see whatever brand or company name you designate – meaning you don’t have to waste your 160 characters on identifying who you are. However, if your SMS is regarding a sale or event at just one of your business locations, don’t forget to make this known – or else you’ll confuse your customers and lose impact on your SMS campaign.
3. Use a Call to Action
The best marketing messages include a ‘call to action’ – namely, a directive for the customer to act upon and interact with your company. With SMS marketing messages, including a call to action has never been more important. Before you craft your SMS campaign, think about what you want to achieve. Do you want to drive footfall to your store on a particular day? Do you want to increase sales on a particular product? Whatever your objective, make it simple and easy for the customer to understand what you want them to do – and give them a clear way to act upon it.
Using one of the above examples, if you want to drive footfall to your store on a particular day, give them a reason to visit. A good example would be, ‘Great anniversary event at our Regent Parade, Cheltenham store on 16 July! Special prices and deals all day – and arrive before 10am for free champagne!
4. Make your SMS campaigns measurable by inviting responses
One of the great benefits of SMS marketing campaigns is that they provide superb measurability. Engaging consumers by initiating a two-way communication helps them connect better with your brand or company – and by inviting a response, you can help strengthen that relationship as well as giving you the opportunity to gauge take-up on your promotions.
Two-way SMS marketing campaigns are also an ideal way to create an ‘exclusivity’ factor for consumers. For instance, ‘You’re invited to a special cardholders event at our Regent St store on 16 July, 7pm. Text back I LOVE (brand name) SHOES’ to qualify for 15% off during the event’
5. Finally – use SMS to drive business to your website
Can’t fit everything you want to say onto your SMS marketing message? Simple – include a call to action to visit your website and your customers will be able to read the entire promotion or campaign details there and see related imagery. The best marketing ties together ALL your communication methods – SMS, email, telephone and internet – to give customers multiple ways of connecting with your business. The easier it is for customers, the better your results will be – so focus all of your efforts around what your customers want and your marketing efforts are on the road to success.
Source:http://www.textmagic.com/blog/sms-marketing-tips/
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