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There’s no denying that SMS marketing is one of the most effective marketing channels available. It’s an incredibly versatile tool for customer service, lead generation, sales, and loyalty programs.
People spend most of their days glued to their phones, and you should use that to your advantage. Compared to email marketing, SMS campaigns have a much higher open rate, with successful campaigns averaging over 90% open rates.
The question is, how can you ensure your SMS campaigns are successful? Anyone can send a text, but brand-appropriate messaging and a skilled strategy will make the difference between a new sale and the open arms of your customer’s trash folder.
As always, your friendly neighborhood marketing team can give you the tools, tricks, and tips you’ll need to successfully build out the text campaign that will leave your competition on read.
What is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing, also known as short message service or text message marketing, is a form of direct marketing that uses text messages to promote products and services.
At the heart of SMS marketing is the ability to send relevant messages directly to your client’s mobile phones. It’s also a great way to start conversations with customers and engage with them on a more personal level.
We’re not talking about casual texting, though. Let’s keep it professional.
Targeted ads on Google and social media are excellent ways to attract new customers, while SMS marketing can help you connect with current clients cost-effectively and conveniently.
It’s also a potent tool for businesses to increase sales, build loyalty, and create better customer relationships.
Why SMS Marketing Matters
Let’s face it. Most consumers spend over 40+ hours a week on their phones and are more likely to open and interact with an engaging text message rather than an email.
With traditional marketing methods, such as print, radio, and TV ads, you don’t have the same degree of control over who sees your message, unlike SMS. SMS messages also have incredibly high open and engagement rates, meaning your campaigns are more likely to yield results.
That doesn’t mean traditional ads aren’t necessary. We typically suggest paid search options for expanding your reach and appealing to a larger audience. But, if you want to engage with current clientele that’s opted into your services already, text message marketing is the way to go.
Plus, SMS marketing is incredibly cost-effective. Google and social media ads can be expensive and may require a relatively large budget to reach your desired audience. On the other hand, SMS marketing is relatively inexpensive and can be set up and deployed quickly.
SMS marketing is a great way to start conversations with your customers. You can use it to ask questions, get feedback, and better understand your customers’ needs. Similarly, you can promote new deals, special offers, or seasonal services.
Building customer relationships and loyalty can help sustain your business and keep your current revenue flowing. More leads equal more success, but you’ll always need to appeal to your existing clientele to keep the lights running.
Choosing the right marketing campaign for your business isn’t easy, but Lizard can lend a hand and help you figure out what’s right for you. SMS campaigns are inexpensive to produce and arrive at your customer’s phones in seconds, potentially offering a high return on investment for a relatively low cost.
How Can I Create a Successful SMS Campaign
Creating a successful SMS campaign involves engaging messages targeted to the right people. Here are some tips that can bring your messaging to the next level:
- Be clear and concise: Keep your messages short and to the point. This will help ensure that your customers read and understand your message.
- Personalize your messages: Use personalization tokens to address customers by name and make your messages more engaging.
- Make sure your messages are relevant: Your messages should be pertinent to your customers’ needs and interests. Don’t send a campaign message to a client already enrolled in a specific service.
- Only send your messages to customers who’ve opted in: And don’t forget to let them opt out! No one wants to be chained to a business text chain, so allow them to bow out if they’re uninterested.
- Use strong calls to action: Convince your customers to reach out, schedule an appointment, or sign up for a new service with a winning CTA. Grab their attention and have them running to hear your pitch.
- Test your messages: Not everything will be a winner, and that’s okay! Test different messages to see which ones are most effective. Many text-message platforms offer A/B tests to understand what will work best for your audience.
- Track your results: Keep an eye on your campaign performance to see which messages resonate with your customers and what messages aren’t getting you a text back. Understanding where you went right (or wrong) is vital to planning your subsequent steps.
If you want to take your SMS campaigns to the next level, you can trust Lizard to help you create and manage successful campaigns. With our SMS marketing platform, we can easily create, send, and track campaigns with ease.
Contact us today to learn more!
