7 Tips When Implementing SMS Marketing

The new and old kid on the block in the digital marketing space is SMS marketing. Despite being around for years, it is having a surge in popularity and is proving to be an effective marketing tool for many brands. As personalization is on the rise, marketers are looking for new and exciting ways to connect with customers genuinely. SMS allows this. 

Like all digital marketing, you need a strong strategy and plan before you begin to execute. SMS marketing is no different. It would be helpful to learn as much as possible about the marketing style before you start executing. 

When done right, it can have amazing benefits for your business, including:

  • Direct contact with your consumer 
  • Higher open rates and engagement rates
  • Create a personalized and unique relationship with your customers. 

7 Tips When Implementing SMS Marketing

1. Have a strong CTA

Your recipient should understand the benefit and the action they need to take. Having a solid call to action will ensure your text campaign is effective. 

2. Keep it short

You only have 160 characters, so get straight to it. Imagine you are writing a tweet. Keep in punchy and engaging and highlight the value proposition straight away. Also, use a URL shortener like bit.ly to avoid long links. 

3. Keep it simple

Customers live busy lives and receive numerous marketing messages every day. The crucial part of SMS marketing is to keep things as simple as possible. This means keeping it clear and straightforward. 

4. Send exclusive content

It would help if you treated your text subscribers like a special VIP club. Don’t text out the information you’re already sending out in your email campaigns, and think about how you can add additional value to their lives. 

5. Create a sense of urgency

SMS marketing is immediate, and 90 percent of messages will be opened and read within three minutes of receipt. You must create a sense of urgency with your texts and encourage action from the recipient promptly. Set a specific expiration date and use phrases like “today only” or “8-hour sale”. 

6. Time it well

Knowing the audience you are messaging will help determine the best time to send something. What time zone are they in? What time do they go to bed? As a general rule, don’t text between 9 pm and 9 am.

7. Establish a schedule

Good SMS marketing sticks to a schedule and finds a rhythm that is familiar with customers. It is crucial not to overwhelm your subscribers with three texts a week, but at the same time, if you text once a month – you will see a wave of unsubscribes. A weekly text could be a great idea to engage your audience. 

The conclusion

SMS marketing offers personalization like never before, and when implemented with best practices in mind, you can captivate an audience and build genuine rapport.  

At SC Gold we know the power of text marketing and help brands leverage it to skyrocket growth. We create advertising that builds a connection and genuinely works. 

If you want to improve your SMS marketing, reach out to us today and we can develop a plan specific to your business.