Short Messaging Service, or SMS technology, is when people exchange short messages between mobile devices. SMS marketing, or text message marketing, is a popular and effective way to reach customers and generate more sales.

What is Text Message Marketing?

Text messaging, also known as texting, is a popular form of communication in the 21st century. It involves composing and sending electronic messages between two or more users of smartphones, desktops, laptops, tablets, etc. Approximately 97 percent of Americans own a cell phone, and roughly 85 percent own a smartphone contributing to the popularity of text messaging.

When texting online involves marketing goods or services, it’s text message marketing. You can use it to send promos, discounts, deals, and updates. Unlike email, SMS offers a near-instant delivery rate, so you can be sure your messages are received quickly.

What Steps Go Into Maximizing the Impact of Text Promotions for Your E-Commerce Business?

Get Permission

Maintaining good etiquette when it comes to text promotions is crucial, and that starts with getting permission from the customers before sending out SMS messages. With a service like SlickText, you can give potential or current customers an easy way to opt-in.

Don’t Spam

When you send excessive messages daily to your customers, that’s spamming, and such actions may violate the Federal Communications Commission or FCC. In addition, you’ll likely annoy customers and ultimately lose customers.

Keep Your Messages Short and to the Point

When you are messaging your customers, the length and content of your messages are critical.

• Length: Sending large messages is inappropriate for text messaging. In the 21st century, individuals receive messages from various companies every day. Therefore, you’re competing for customers’ time. The standard used to be 160 characters maximum for text messaging. However, today’s mobile networks allow for more characters. Nevertheless, you should stick to 160 characters or approximately two or three sentences.

• Content: Your text message should not only be concise, but it should also contain a clear call to action. Therefore, in that 160 characters, start with an opener that explains what you want your customers to do and then give them a way to do it.

• For example, let’s say you’re promoting half off on Pilates classes for the week: It’s Valentine’s Day! Fall in love with the Pilates classes! Get half off on your 5-class package TODAY ONLY!

•  Then, include a link to purchase the package.

Always Add Value

When you do send marketing texts, make sure they offer value. Whether sending a product update or offering a promotion, your shoppers should feel that your messaging is talking directly to their current needs.

You must highly target your text message marketing. Using the Pilates classes example, if you offer such classes to individuals interested in exercise but not Pilates, you’re wasting your time and theirs. It’s okay to introduce your classes to such customers. 

However, a professional SMS marketing program can help you promote only to those customers who have indicated an interest in Pilates going forward.

Test Your Campaigns

As with all marketing campaigns (text message marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, etc.), it’s important to ensure you test your SMS marketing campaigns to know what works and what doesn’t. With SMS marketing, professional platforms give you an easy way to measure and improve your marketing messaging and promotional offers.

Send at the Right Times

Select the right timing for your text promotions. The mainstay of effective text message blasts is providing relevant content for the right audience at a convenient time. Choosing the best time to send scheduled SMS will determine how many people will read it and decide to proceed to conversion.

Offer a Way to Unsubscribe

Nobody wants to lose customers in text messaging promotions, but you must ensure you are texting customers who wish to receive your messages.

Also, when your customers know that they can opt out, they may be more willing to sign up for the texts in the first place. An unsubscribe link, for example, is the standard way to opt out.

Text message marketing is an effective way to promote in the 21st century. It lets you contact your customers with the appropriate messages to promote your product or services and get sales.