SMS marketing is the leading marketing tool for any business and is also a part of the success of the business. In the olden days, there were very limited tools for marketing and later on, SMS marketing has its hype and became the best marketing strategy. The marketing strategies have been developed keeping the customer in mind. At the end of the day, customer satisfaction and needs are very important. The reach that SMS marketing gives to the business is completely different from any other marketing tool.
Over 90% of people prefer SMS marketing or communication through SMS only. As technology is increasing rapidly, how busy people’s lives have become and people don’t have time to read lengthy messages. For any business, customer retention and personal customer engagement is essential.
Creating of perfect SMS marketing campaign
To develop and boost customer retention, it is necessary to develop a compelling customer marketing campaign. Here are a few tips that help to create a perfect customer SMS marketing campaign.
Customers’ privacy:
Everyone has their privacy and does not want to invade their privacy. Valuing customers’ privacy is essential for any business. For a successful marketing campaign protecting the privacy of customers is the foundation. To have loyal customers, one should be loyal to them also. To have a personal engagement with the customers, customers’ decision is required to send any messages to them and their privacy should not be invaded unless they have given on to share any information regarding the business.
For example, Use the above code “FIRST” on your order for 10% off and receive messages.
Short and simple:
Attracting customers and making them part of your business is very helpful in increasing sales. Customers are one of the reasons to increase sales and growth of the business. To boost customer retention, make sure to send short and simple messages. As the SMS limit is 160 characters and one should make use of it. Sending lengthy messages does not create a good impression on customers about the brand and this will impact the brand image leaving the customers or readers uninterested. Sending structured, straightforward messages creates a better impact on customers and brands. Make the messages short, professional and sweet. When sending these messages, readers should have the curiosity to read them.
For example, Attract the customer by sending offer details on the latest product releases. Our favourite and latest makeup are here, try it on using the offer code “NEW” with 20%off.
Right messages at the right timing:
Timings are very important for any business. As businesses have certain times to shop at the same time customers do also have certain times to receive messages. At any time customers should not feel irritated and should not leave the messages unread. Always know the appropriate hours and timings to send messages for a particular campaign. Do not send messages in the early morning hours or late night hours. People go to work in the early morning and might ignore them. As businesses have certain timings, it is best to send messages at those particular timing as they are the working hours for any business or customer.
For example, Weekends are the most awaited days and send messages related to food, and shopping on weekends as those are the times people head out to enjoy.
Use call-in action:
The primary key of an SMS gateway campaign is to bring up sales in the long run through customer retention and personal engagement. Personal engagement takes place only when a customer is more attached to the brand and the brand also provides the best services to the customer. When messages are sent to the customers and when the customers read the message, it is obvious to have queries. To solve these queries or problems a call-in-action button has to be provided where all the doubts of a customer can be rectified through one call only. Providing chatbots is very much helpful for both customer and the brand. Providing a call to action number along with the message and persuading the customers to act along is the core of SMS marketing.
Avoid overloading SMS:
Everyone is aware of spam messages and how it ruins the opinion of a brand by spamming customers with their messages. As mentioned earlier, customers’ privacy is important and they put faith in the brand and share their information with the brand. Loyalty and faith are the most important factors. Spam messages should be avoided or excessive messaging leads to invading customers’ privacy which gives zero results from them. Send messages only when required like sending messages weekly once. Maintain the frequency of messages by setting triggers that will prompt when it crosses the frequency of messages.
Express the content clearly:
Try to make the content lucid by sending to-the-point messages. Avoid ambiguity in the messages and make attractive and curious content. To make a perfect SMS campaign and a successful campaign avoid sending lengthy or pointless messages. Who wants to read such aimless or monotonous messages? People always look out for curious and interesting content. Try to follow the trend by making content related to the latest trend. Look out for trendy content which grabs the interest of a customer. Doing this makes the campaign a success and brings in more customers.
Grant Permission:
Authorization to any SMS is the first and foremost thing to do before beginning any campaign. People do not accept messages easily from an unknown person. Invading their privacy is not allowed it is like stuffing them with messages without their interest. This spoils the relationship with the customer and creates a negative image of the brand. Send surveys, and polls to the readers if they want to receive any messages from the brand and accordingly send the messages. Provide an opt-out message option in the campaign so that they can opt-out of it whenever they want.
Promote opt-in SMS:
To increase more customers provide an opt-in SMS across all media such as Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. Invite opt-ins through the bio on Instagram, and Facebook profile so that they can view the content posted on all social media channels of the brand. Send messages through SMS only to opt-in SMS.
Focus on best customers:
Every business has its own best, loyal and regular customers. They will have new customers every day. But few customers are very loyal to the brand and regular to the brand. Try to focus on those groups of customers who use marketing strategies which include special offers, discounts and ts, and special messages. These customers are aware of the brand and they seek more attention from them from the brand and expect new and quality products with special offers and benefits. Try to bridge a healthy relationship with the best customers.
For example, There are certain levels of membership for every brand. Provide the best membership plan for the regular and best customers as they are trustworthy. Shoppers stop has a black box membership for the VIP customer who shops at their store frequently.