Texting is a handy communication tool, as any teen can tell you. Only they’ll probably use any word except handy. And maybe include the modifier “totes” somewhere, which we’re still not quite sure what it means.

In a business environment, SMS is a useful method to connect directly to someone, rather than navigating a voicemail maze or layers of assistants and other bureaucracy to get someone’s attention. Recipients tend to read their texts quickly, and also respond just as quickly – something about the particular media includes a sense of urgency and familiarity that email or even phone messages can lack.

But as a tool to boost sales? That’s “totes” possible too! Here’s why:

1. Messages can seem personalized. Even if you use a texting service to send a text to thousands, each recipient may not know this, and will just appreciate the attention. Some automation services also don’t just create lists of recipients to send texts to, they also can incorporate part of the user’s profile to make it even more customized. It’s the difference between “Here’s a great deal you’ll enjoy” and “Bob, here’s a great deal you’ll enjoy.” (provided you’re Bob.)
   
   
2.  Research has already shown this. In 2013, Velocify found that a text messaging campaign to supplement an email campaign increased sales conversions by 328 percent. It required at least three texts to potential customers, since just one contact had an 89 percent conversion rate, and two had 74 percent. A separate study also showed that texting alone before a contact had a negative conversion rate, texting before and after had a 20 percent conversion rate, and texting only after a contact had a 112.6 percent conversion rate. The analyzed research included 3.5 million texts from 400-plus companies.
   
   
3. Segment and target your audience. You may be able to drill down into your list of opt-ins or registered profiles to come up with customers who may have expressed interest in a particular subject or who are in a particular demographic group. If you just target a particular group for a promotional text, it will likely be more effective than a mass text to everyone.
   
   
4. Offer deals. Send a text emphasizing a few special points about the product or service and make it incredibly appealing. But don’t give it all away right away – a long list of features can cause people to lose interest.  Instead, stick with the most basic reasons and refer to link to a landing page or offer page. “With today’s special on___, you’ll be the coolest in school. Get more details here!”
   
   
5. Vary your schedule to attract attention. If you normally text out a “What’s new” text on Mondays, your audience may come to expect or even start anticipating that type of communication. However, a special Wednesday notice emphasizing a particular sale or promotion will cause people to take notice, especially if you admit to the variation. “Sorry for the extra note this week, but we couldn’t wait to give you some exciting info about a super sale on  ____.”
   
   
6. Continue a conversation. Marketing guru Derek Halpern is a big advocate of providing tools for businesses so they can create loyal, repeat customers. He suggests businesses start by building their database, and immediately contact them to say thanks. Then all future contacts, promotional or not, can including similar enthusiastic messages with the goal of getting people so excited that they can’t think of anything more than wanting to do business with you.
   
   
7. Make it easy. Since more and more people are already connected to smartphones, they’ll likely be interested in being contacted through theirs, and if given the opportunity, be interested in placing orders this way as well. Adding extra steps like “you can only order from us by phone, in person or our desktop site” will create a perception that you make it deliberately hard to shop from, and also that you’re behind the times.
   
   
8. Make it even easier. If someone is still resisting the appeal of your previous messages, maybe they will get excited enough if they’re provided a link to a downloadable coupon. Or, consider embedding the actual coupon when you send a text. Trueship.com said mobile coupons keep gaining in popularity, with more than 92.6 million expected to be redeemed in 2015 and 104.1 million in 2016.  Plus, 96 percent of mobile users are expected to search for a mobile-friendly coupon. So if you put one right in their hands, and it’s a super deal, you’re doing them a favor that they should definitely return in the form of buying from you.
   
   

Increasingly, mobile phone owners are loving everything about their devices, and enjoy finding new ways to integrate it into their lives in new and traditional ways. Trumpia.com can offer helpful advice on creating texting solutions to help sales.

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