Your customers are the core of your business, so it is in your business’s best interest to do all it takes to retain their attention and involvement. 

There are so many ways to strengthen the bond between your business and your customers. This article is about one of the very effective but somewhat underrated means: Texting Customers (Popularly called SMS marketing).

You are likely to have two doubts in your mind right now:

• Is texting my customers really an effective marketing tool?
• If it is, then, how do I start communicating with my customers via text messages?

Well, let’s help you solve the first doubt first before the second and major doubt.

Is Texting My Customers An Effective Marketing Tool?

Yes, SMS is still an effective marketing tool. And even though it is efficient, it is still one of the most inexpensive marketing tools.

However, many business owners are missing out on the benefits of deploying it as one of their marketing techniques. And that’s because they think that social media communication has completely replaced communication via SMS; which is not true.

Text messages are used by both small and large-scale businesses. Even the fortune 500 companies use them too. And you know what? SMS marketing is ranked as the most efficient method to reach customers after social media. 

The pandemic of 2020 caused a worldwide increase in SMS marketing. In the US alone, a total of 408 billion commercial messages were recorded during the pandemic. A majority of the messages sent fell under the following categories: order confirmations, delivery updates, dispatch notifications, and order trackings. 

And even now, many businesses use text messages more because, via it, they can communicate with their customers with or without internet access. 

Hence, as a business owner, mastering the art of SMS marketing and the strategies involved could also be beneficial to the growth of your business. 

How To Start Communicating With Your Customers Via Text Messages (At a glance)

We have already established that reaching out to your customers through text messages is a well-thought-out idea. However, texting customers has to be done in the best way to achieve your aim for it.

To get started, you need to first decide whether you want to handle the task yourself or outsource the task to trained individuals who know everything about the ethics of texting customers.

If you’re a solopreneur and don’t mind sparing some time, then, handling the texting tasks yourself is fine.  

If you’re texting your customers yourself, the next thing you want to do is to learn the basics of SMS marketing.

You would need to learn about SMS ads and software that can help you mass text your customers.

Next, you must set up a website for interested customers to opt into your messages first. 

After this, you must select a text message application to work with. It would be best if you opt for network providers that give you the option to schedule texts ahead of time. Also, you should compare price charges from these providers and opt for lesser alternatives.

If it’s a new business, you must employ a means of advertisement to create public awareness about the services. You must have watched ads that ask you to dial *xxx# or send a keyword to a particular shortcode to opt into a particular service provided.

You could pay influencers for ads, print flyers or brochures, or run a TV ad for better coverage. If you do all of this properly, you can be sure of garnering a substantial audience.

Important Tips To Start Texting Customers

Just like in every normal conversation, you would have to follow a few etiquette and courtesy rules when texting your customers. You aim to please and engage, so you must be as courteous and strategic as possible. Let’s look at a few tips that can help you generate a response:

Get Permission First

Only send messages to subscribers. Refrain from endlessly spamming your customers. This could create a bad impression on your brand name. 

A simple trick to get people to subscribe is to create a catchy ‘Thank you for subscribing’ message, then ask them if they would like to continue the subscription. If your text is catchy enough, you would win their interest on the first try. 

Keep Messages Short And Precise

When you send your customers a message, go straight to the point. Your first sentence would determine if the reader reads to the end, so ensure that it is as catchy as possible. 

Do not add unnecessary information. Most texts have a character count of 160. You’ll need to learn how to effectively utilize this word limit to convey a powerful message.

Use A Conversational Tone

You’re talking to a customer, not an official client. Avoid official language as much as possible. Use conversational language and include a few slang if you may. Try to connect with the audience on layman’s terms.

Think Of A Catchphrase And Stick With It 

A catchphrase helps to create a unique identity for your brand. It could be a phrase you begin the message with(this is better because it helps capture the reader’s interest) or a phrase you end all messages with. Make sure it’s catchy and easily recognizable.

Only Text At Appropriate Times

You should only text your clients during office hours and never during odd hours. You’re more likely to get a response if you text during the day. If you’re having trouble identifying the area codes of the customers, you could incorporate the use of SMS marketing software to know the time zones they’re in before sending out messages.

Provide An Opt-out/Opt-in Option 

Your subscribers should be given an accessible means to opt out of your services. The trick is to keep them engaged so they do not want to opt out.

Further reading: What Does Opt-in And Opt-out Mean In Text Messaging?

Turn The Text Into A Copy 

If you can, employ copywriters to craft powerful text messages for you. If you’re writing the texts yourself, ensure to end the message with a powerful call-to-action that compels them to take the required action.

How To Get Your Customers’ Contact Information 

So, you’ve learned a few tips on how to start texting your customers.  Now, you probably ain’t sure about how you can get access to these customers in the first place. 

So, before we wrap this article up, below is a list of methods you can use to get your customers’ contact information. The good thing about these methods is that they will give you access without being pushy.

• Web forms

When a customer visits your website to subscribe to your services, you should input the ‘Phone number’ section under the list of information to be filled. This way, you get to access their contact and send them messages.

• Existing contacts

If you already have the contact of your consumers, you could seek permission to text them. When you text them, ensure to remind them that they consent to your texts.

• Click-to-text options

Insert a click-to-text link on your website for interested subscribers to access you and opt into your text messages.

Final Thoughts

Sending texts to your customers, if properly navigated and utilized, can be a powerful customer retention tool. By now, we’re certain you already know your first and subsequent moves to start texting your customers. Just go for it! Even if you suck at it at first, don’t quit. In the end, you’ll know it’s worth it.

Related article: TCPA Violations And Penalties – What Are They; How To Avoid Them?