What are text promotions?

Text messaging is a great way to connect with your clients directly and personally. SMS (Short Message Service) has been around since 1992, but in recent years has become an effective marketing modality that helps businesses advertise directly to their consumers.

In general, the goal of an SMS promotion is to spread awareness of your products or services to your targeted market. SMS coupons, access to exclusive content, or admittance to an invitation-only event are some of the most common SMS promotions.

SMS marketing is designed to move a potential customer through the sales funnel, ending with a conversion. A conversion could be a sale of a product or service, depending on your business, but the most typical type is a purchase.

Using SMS text messages for your business can help you:

• Increase customer retention
• Develop greater brand loyalty
• Provide immediate communication
• Attract new clients
• Increase total sales
• Provide a profitable ROI

Why use SMS promotions?

Incorporating text messaging into your marketing tool belt will provide you with many benefits, helping you outpace competitors and reach customers more personally.

Instant delivery
When it comes to delivery, SMS is the fastest and most efficient engagement modal on the market. Moreover, reaching a broad audience can be done in a matter of seconds with text messaging.

Quick results
You can instantly see who’s received your message, read it, and of course, who’s replied to your messages. Most SMS platforms, including Cloud Contact, offer an SMS inbox that provides you with the means to respond to users in real-time.

You should note that the average person spends 5.4 hours a day on their cellphone. What’s more, most people have their notifications turned on by default for text, unlike email, where notifications are often overlooked or even turned off.

Personal
Cell phones are very personal devices, so people often respond to text messages more promptly. To take it a step further, when you direct your message to the individual by mentioning their name, you can really grab their attention.

Potential customers are much more likely to give you an email address than their mobile phone number, so yes, you should also maintain an email list. However, once a customer has opted-in with SMS, you can tap into their personal social channel and start seeing better engagement.

Economical
Texting is cheap, mainly if you send messages in bulk. No other marketing method offers such affordable results, especially when compared to traditional marketing methods, such as television, radio, and printed media.

Many email providers require you to pay based on the number of contacts. For example, with SMS, you can upload unlimited contacts; you pay for the number of messages you send.

Straightforward
Because of its simplicity and scope, SMS has become a globally adopted communication channel. Everyone knows how to open, read, and send text messages. Also, thanks to the length limitation, texts are small, direct, concise, and straight to the point.

The 160-character limit ensures that your messages are small and easy to digest. This limitation encourages you to focus on the most important details, avoiding unnecessary information overload. By keeping your texts short and sweet, you respect your customers’ time and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed by lengthy messages. This approach allows you to deliver the essential information in a concise manner, without compromising your brand’s voice.

Global market
Texting is designed to reach anyone that has a mobile phone number with texting capabilities. Somebody in the United States can text a person in France, and the message will be delivered in the blink of an eye.

It’s estimated that there are up to 7 billion mobile phones in use daily, making SMS one of the few universally adopted technologies. As a result, you can reach your customers no matter where they are with SMS.

Efficient
Pre-programming messages gives you more time to spend on other business areas or, indeed, managing most of the sales opportunities that will come from your SMS campaign.

You can send scheduled messages for various use cases, such as reminders, feedback, and follow-ups. In addition, most SMS services allow you to create templates so that you don’t have to rewrite each campaign.

Trackable and analytical
SMS messages are easily trackable. Most providers offer delivery reports that can be an excellent source for analyzing the outcome of each campaign and making adjustments based on the data received.

Additionally, you can embed a link into your campaign that contains UTM parameters that will enable you to track when a customer converts. Inside of Google Analytics, you can establish goals to see precisely where a customer from your campaign visits on your web page and whether or not they made a purchase.

Reliable
Mobile phones generally do not come with a spam filter, much less a spam mailbox, as SMS messages are typically more secure than email. In addition, emails hackers can embed malicious attachments that may contain malware that can hack into your device.

SMS is an exceptionally efficient form of communication, as it has a delivery rate of 99.9 percent. Furthermore, for nearly 90% of text messages, statistics show that recipients read them within three minutes.

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SMS vs. Email

Email is an excellent tool for sending more complex messages with attachments and images, which you can store for a future date.

SMS, on the contrary, is an excellent communication tool for delivering up-to-the-minute information and offering special discounts. Additionally, when it comes to comparing the performance of SMS campaigns to email campaigns, the data tells a compelling story. According to industry statistics, SMS campaigns have been found to perform seven times better than email campaigns. This means that SMS campaigns have a significantly higher success rate and deliver superior results compared to email campaigns alone.

By leveraging the power of SMS, businesses can effectively reach their target audience and ensure their messages are not only received but also opened and engaged with. With a 98 percent open rate, texting proves to be a highly effective channel for delivering important updates and promotional offers directly to customers’ mobile devices. This high open rate outperforms the average open rates typically seen with email campaigns.

What kind of promotions can you send with text?

While promotional activities are some of the most effective means of increasing sales, enhancing customer experience, and boosting brand recognition, many companies dismiss sales promotions. However, no matter what industry you’re in or the size of your business, you can still use effective SMS promotion strategies to generate leads.

Free samples

Many people are skeptical about opting into SMS campaigns – they don’t want to be overwhelmed with marketing-related content. So, to break the ice a bit and leave a lasting customer impression, offer your subscribers a free sample when they first opt-in.

Everybody likes free stuff, and I guarantee they will be less annoyed when you send them texts in the future. They will always be looking out for the next complementary good or service.

Coupons by SMS

SMS provides a fast and direct way to offer your customers a virtual discount code. If you embed a link in your message, customers can purchase the spot. In addition, address your customer by their name when presenting the discount code to make the message feel more exclusive.

Contests via SMS

Running a contest via SMS is an excellent strategy to engage customers and gather their phone numbers. Customers are always drawn to contests and freebies, making it easier for them to sign up without hesitation. This approach allows you to not only promote your event but also build a valuable customer database.

To run a contest with text, follow the steps below:

1. Create a unique phone number dedicated to the contest. This number will serve as the primary channel for participants to enter and engage with your event.
2. Utilize your existing communication channels and social media platforms to advertise the contest. Spread the word and generate excitement among your audience.
3. Filter and organize your customer data to ensure a smooth giveaway process. This step will help you manage entries effectively and ensure fairness throughout the contest.

In addition to running contests, promotional text messaging can be used for other purposes, such as sending reminders and notices. These messages play a crucial role in informing customers about specific issues, such as abandoned items in their cart or expiring discounts. By sending follow-up messages, you increase the chances of your customers taking action and making a purchase. It’s important to remember that consistency is key in sales and customer engagement.

Loyalty programs

Loyalty programs through text messages are designed to make customers feel special and focus on rewarding loyal customers. When customers are happy with their experience, they’re more likely to talk about it with their friends, which also plays into organic word-of-mouth marketing.

When users sign up for your loyalty program, you can send them an automatic welcome message thanking them for joining. Additionally, these loyal customers can be stored together in a contact group and sent exclusive benefits and discounts.

Reminders and notices

Reminders and notices are used to inform customers about specific issues, such as an abandoned item in their cart or a discount that is soon expiring.

You can think of this kind of promotion as a follow-up message. In sales and life in general, consistency is key; therefore, don’t be afraid to send your customers a second or third message following up on your original sales message in hopes that they take action.

Keep in mind, there’s a key difference between consistency and spamming. Lay on the throttle and ensure that you’re not being overbearing.

What makes a good SMS promotion?

Text messaging is the most effective and direct way to interact with your clients. However, if you’re looking for the best results, you might consider a few of these best practices.

Be conscious when you send a campaign

Do all of your customers reside in the same area? Chances are, you have clients in other regions of the world that live in various time zones.

First off, sending a campaign after 9 PM in your client’s time violates regulations provisioned by the TCPA. Second, your users will likely not take action the following morning after a campaign has been received.

The key is to send a campaign when your customers are most alert and likely to take action. You might consider segmenting your lists based on the regions in which your customers are located.

Furthermore, when a customer responds, in your CRM, you can jot down the times they responded and the moments they didn’t. By narrowing down this window, you can identify key times when your customers are most likely to engage.

Include your company name in your message

When it comes to sending promotional SMS messages, it’s crucial to ensure that your customers know exactly who the message is coming from. Many providers use short numbers to send these messages, which can leave your contacts confused about the source. To avoid any uncertainty, it’s important to include your company name in every message.

By introducing yourself at the beginning or end of each text, you establish a clear connection with your customers. This simple step removes any potential barriers and increases the likelihood of them taking action. After all, when customers are unsure about the source of a message, they may hesitate to engage with it.

Including your company name not only helps to build trust and familiarity, but it also sets the stage for effective content promotion. Once your customers recognize your brand, you can seamlessly incorporate valuable content into your promotional text messages. This content can range from articles about culinary delights to fashion trends and even timepieces.

By providing engaging descriptions and enticing language, you can pique your customers’ interest and motivate them to explore the content you’re promoting. Whether it’s discovering new gourmet burgers, unleashing their inner fashionista, or finding the perfect timepiece, your customers will appreciate the valuable content you share.

Goal-oriented

To effectively track the results of your SMS promotions, consider utilizing tools like Google Analytics Goals and UTM parameters. These tools allow you to monitor and measure the impact of your campaigns, providing valuable insights into customer engagement and retention.

By incorporating these best practices into your promotional text message strategy, you can enhance customer engagement, increase retention, and ultimately achieve your marketing goals. To learn more about tracking your campaigns with Google Analytics, visit here.

Do Not Spam

To avoid overwhelming your customers and risking their frustration, it’s essential to inform them of the frequency at which they can expect to receive your messages. Setting clear expectations upfront empowers your customers to manage their inboxes effectively. Our experts and testing have shown that limiting your text messages to about 1-2 times per month yields the highest engagement rates. This balanced approach allows you to stay in touch without becoming intrusive.

While it’s crucial to find the right balance in frequency, it’s equally important to consider the content of your messages. Keeping them concise and to the point ensures that your customers can quickly grasp the information you share. Remember, SMS messages are not like emails that people often re-read. To make the most impact, focus on the essential details and convey them in your brand’s authentic voice. There’s no need to be overly formal unless it aligns with your business identity. You create a more genuine and relatable connection with your customers by sounding like a natural person who wrote the message.

Ensuring Good Engagement

Uncertainty creates an unnecessary barrier that can be avoided by simply introducing yourself at the beginning or end of every message. Without a pre-established goal list, how do you determine if your campaign was successful? Every successful marketing strategy has a clearly defined set of goals that they wish to hit. Your first SMS promotion might aim to get X amount of people to sign up because you’re unsure how your users will respond to text. After analyzing the results from your first campaign, you can create a concrete goal and strategy for the subsequent campaign. You can effectively track your results using Google Analytics Goals and UTM parameters.

However, ensuring that the text messages you send are engaging and well-received by contacts goes beyond setting goals and tracking results. Following specific guidelines is crucial to make your messages impactful and keep your contacts interested.

When ensuring that the text messages you send are engaging and well-received, there are a few key strategies to remember. Personalization is a powerful tool to make your messages more tailored and engaging. Utilize the information your contacts have shared with you, such as their name, birthday, or location, to personalize your texts. This simple act can make each message feel like it was written specifically for them, increasing the likelihood of a positive response.

Keeping your messages concise and focused on the essential information is important. SMS has a limited character count, so getting your message across effectively is crucial. Stick to your brand’s voice and tone, and don’t be too formal unless it aligns with your business style. To further enhance engagement, consider the timing of your messages. SMS messages are often read and acted upon immediately, so creating a sense of urgency can be beneficial. Tying your offers to a specific time can instill a fear of missing out and prompt your contacts to take immediate action.

While the goal should draw customer traffic, do it in a realistic and non-pushy approach. Your messages should sound like they were written by a natural person, making them relatable and approachable. Avoid being too vague or pushy; this can turn off your recipients.

How to Avoid Spamming

To ensure that your SMS marketing strategy avoids spammy tactics, follow these guidelines:

Obtain explicit consent

Always have explicit permission from your contacts before sending them text messages. This ensures compliance with industry regulations and demonstrates respect for your customers’ privacy.

Personalize your texts

Make your messages more meaningful by personalizing them with information your customers have shared, such as their name, birthday, or location. This personal touch creates a sense of individuality, making recipients feel like the message was explicitly crafted for them.

Avoid generic and unexciting messages

Put yourself in the customers’ shoes and avoid sending text messages that you would not be excited to receive yourself. Ensure the content is valuable, relevant, and engaging, prompting customers to act.

Create a sense of urgency

Unlike emails, SMS messages are often read immediately, and if recipients do not act promptly, they might not take action at all. Capitalize on this by tying your offers to specific timeframes, creating a fear of missing out, and motivating customers to respond quickly.

Stay compliant with regulations

Familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations surrounding SMS marketing. Ensure that your messages adhere to these rules to avoid any potential legal issues or negative consequences.

SMS Promotion Templates

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How to Send a Text Promotion