You’ve probably heard of omnichannel's and integrated marketing strategies. Omni-channel digital marketing involves targeting your ideal audience through multiple means of advertising.

Studies have shown that businesses who leverage omnichannel marketing can increase the lifetime value of their customer base by 30%!  

If text message and SMS marketing isn’t part of your overall digital marketing strategy, this post will tell you why it should.

What is Text Message Marketing?

Text message marketing is similar to email marketing in that it involves sending personalized information directly to a consumer’s contact. Just like you would send a text message to a friend, your business can send a text to a customer’s phone number!

In recent years, consumers’ attitude towards text message marketing has been remarkably positive.

Over 70% of consumers say that they want texts from businesses and text marketing messages have an open rate of over 80%.

Customers also have an average conversion rate of 30% with text messages from businesses. (Stats from constantcontact.com)

Text message marketing, like email marketing, is managed through a text message and SMS marketing platform. There are several types of platforms to choose from for your business, so make sure you do your research and know ahead of time what capabilities you want your text message marketing platform to have. 

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when starting with text message marketing:  

• Do you want to offer instant chat capabilities?
• Do you want to offer customer support via chat?
• Will you want images attached to your texts?
• Will you use integrated platforms like donation links and coupon links in your texts?
• Do you have the personnel to manage text and SMS marketing?
• Will customers be able to call the number sending the texts?
• Is your business’s website mobile friendly for when consumers click through links?
• Will you personalize texts and use automation?
• Can customers send reviews and questions through text?

Once you have these questions answered and have researched best practices for compelling text messages, you’re ready to get started!

How Text Message Marketing Can Benefit Your Business 

As we’ve seen, consumers have a high engagement rate with text messages from businesses. Being engaged with your customer base is highly valuable and offers the following perks:

• Exceptional customer service opportunities which builds trust
• Improved relationships with clients resulting in lifelong customers
• Better social listening opportunities through text message analytics
• Chance to improve services and product quality through instant feedback
• Promote new products, sales and contests more cost effectively
• Build your email and contact list through solicitation

No matter what industry your business is in, you can find creative ways to use text message marketing and reap its many benefits.  

Here are some ideas: 

• Restaurants can confirm reservations, update customers on the status of their table and allow customers to cancel or reschedule reservations.
• In-home service businesses like HVAC and plumbing can update their clients on how far away their contractor is from their home when a job is scheduled
• Any industry can implement text payment and donation options
• Nonprofits can send a text blast about urgent donation needs or upcoming fundraising or volunteer events
• Churches can share their service livestream links
• Real estate agents can update their clients in real time about price changes or new homes on the market

Remember, if you get stumped for ideas, take notes from your current email campaigns, and see how you can make them more personal and add a compelling CTA!

Final Thoughts 

Text message and SMS marketing is wide open with possibilities for every business and it’s easy to get started!  

Even if you don’t have a large database with customer phone numbers, start gathering that data through your current channels. In no time, you’ll have a solid base of easily accessible and high-value customers!  

Any effective digital marketing strategy will incorporate many different channels. If you’re not sure how to get your business started with digital marketing, contact RevLocal! We handle all things digital marketing for small businesses and multi location brands. Browse our website for more information or contact us for a free consultation.