The right texting service software can really rev up your SMS communications to a whole new level. However, like any new software, there are best practices that you can use to improve your ROI. SMS text messaging has the advantage of reaching anyone with a cell phone. Unlike other methods of digital communication, your customers do not need to have a mobile smartphone or tablet, nor do they need a computer. This feature of SMS texting opens up a wide demographic for your marketing strategy.

Sending the Right Messages to the Right People

Texting service software gives your company a cornucopia of tactics that you can implement with your customer base.

• Personalized SMS: Send only relevant messages to your customers, giving them the information that they want
• Text-to-Join: Using keywords and short codes, you can increase your prospect list by getting people to opt-in
• Send Important Reminders: Pharmacies and physician's offices often use SMS to remind clients of appointments or pickup times
• Surveys: Learn more about your customers for future marketing campaigns through SMS surveys
• Mass Alerts: Send texts for school closings, extreme weather or road conditions
• Event Promotion: Market your events, discounts or coupons directly to the customers who are interested including retargeting past buyers

Send Messages When People Want Them

With the 24/7 world that we live in, you can send relevant messages to your customers and prospects when they are ready to receive them. Let your customers tell you when they want to get messages, and program your software to send them out during that time. Your customers can opt-in to the messages they want and the schedule that makes sense for them. You just give them what they want when they want it.

For more information on how this software works, download our free guide.

How Can My Company Use These Tactics?

Here are some suggestions as to how other businesses are using SMS messaging with success:

• Taco Bell used text-to-join on their receipts for their strategy
• LA Lakers used text-to-join on television for their SMS marketing campaign
• Got Milk used MMS to raise funds for Feeding America
• Gold's Gym used short codes to drive prospects to their business

These businesses are just a few examples of how texting can be used to send leads, customers and purchases to your business.

How Do I Get Started?

A good way to get started is to determine your strategy, then focus on which tactics will work for you.

1. Assemble your customer/prospect database.
2. Depending on your industry, segment your database into smaller groups. Groups can be based on geographic location, recent purchases, customer history, position in the sales funnel or a number of other factors.
3. Create an SMS campaign designed to target one or more of those groups. For instance, you might have a new product that is related to a former product. Anyone who purchased the older product may be interested in the new one. For this campaign, you would target the customers who bought the previous product.
4. Send out your SMS or MMS campaign. For the example above, have customers who bought the previous product, text you if they want information on the new product.

Other Uses for Texting

You can use SMS or MMS messaging in combination with other methods of communication. You can text customers when your email newsletter comes out, or text them a message and ask them to go to a URL for more information. Text customers to follow you on Instagram. Pairing communication methods can be very effective.

The bottom line is to ask your customers what they want, and give it to them. They will opt-in to things that interest them, and you can offer them the service that they gave your permission to send.

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