How to Increase Sales with SMS Marketing?
What is SMS marketing?
SMS marketing is a technique that uses permission-based text messaging to spread promotional messages. In order to receive text messages from an ecommerce business such as specials or new product updates, customers are usually required to opt in to an automated system by texting an initial shortcode.
Think of SMS as your secret marketing tool for getting your audience to further engage with you on their mobile devices. For too many years, ecommerce businesses have been talking at consumers instead of talking to them. SMS marketing allows you to engage with your customers at a personal level.
How to use SMS marketing effectively?
Use opt-in keywords
To be able to send out SMS messages to your customers, you first have to build a subscriber list. One of the easiest ways to grow your SMS list is with simple keywords.
An SMS keyword is a word or short sentence that customers can text to a dedicated phone number. By doing so, they will be added to your digital subscriber list. Just make it clear that they are opting-in when they text the keyword.
Identify yourself
Imagine that you receive a text with a 20% discount code, without knowing what it’s for. You would probably delete the text message and never think about it again. To make sure the digital information you sent is acted on, it’s best practice to identify yourself.
Keep messages short and sweet
As a matter of fact, an SMS message is limited to 160 characters. That doesn’t give you a lot of space to promote your offer. You need to get to the point straight away without wasting any characters.
Use a link shortener if you want to include a URL in your text message. A full URL can take up more than 160 characters on its own.
Personalize your messages
Personalization is another great tip when it comes to how to use SMS marketing effectively. Hubspot researched the psychology behind personalization of messages and came to the conclusion that people tend to respond better to messages that address them directly. So, whenever you can, make sure to include the name of your customers.
Send text messages at the right time
Timing is a very important factor when it comes to text messages. People have their phones on hand all the time. And even though you want to reach them, you don’t want to disturb them.
According to extensive research of Reach-Interactive the following times are best for sending messages. They vary for different industries:
- Retail: Between 10 am and 1 pm on Saturdays or 3 pm and 7 pm on Sundays. Offers sent out at the end of the month seem to perform best. This period corresponds with most paydays.
- Restaurants & takeaways: Between 3 pm and 5 pm on any day of the week, but weekends are the most prominent time. When there is a significant event on TV you can boost your orders by sending a campaign out at around 7 pm.
- Services: When it comes to services, SMS messages are mainly sent as reminders. Best practices are to send the first message as soon as the appointment or meeting is scheduled. Then you send another one 24 hours before it takes place.
- General: Between 12 pm to 3 pm on both weekdays and weekends.