You’ve connected with your customers over email. You’ve talked to them on social media. You know the importance of creating personalized experiences for them.
But one place you’re missing out on to connect with your customers is over text message, aka Short Message Service (SMS). With automated text messages, your customers will feel like you’re talking directly to them. Automated messages also make it easy to keep your clients up to date on their orders, appointments, or what-have-you. If you’re not yet implementing SMS, there are many reasons to start now.
What Is Automated Messaging?
Automated messaging allows you to write and schedule texts sent to customers or clients at a particular time. You may use automated messaging to reach a group of customers or to send order updates or appointment reminders to a single customer. You can also use automated messaging to send personalized texts to people, such as a “Happy Birthday” message or “Thanks for subscribing.”
Why Add SMS to Your Marketing Mix?
If you’re not using SMS, there are many reasons to add it to your marketing mix:
- It’s easy: Even if you’re not a digital native, you probably use text messaging daily. You’re familiar with the format and how it works, and so are your customers. And it’s simple to send a text or schedule texts in advance.
- It’s versatile: You can use SMS for multiple types of messages, from sending order confirmations to regular appointment reminders. You can also use SMS to remind customers about upcoming bills or to ask them to participate in a survey. On the purely fun side of things, you can send birthday or other celebratory messages, promo codes, or special offers over SMS.
- It gets read: Emails tend to get buried in inboxes, never to be opened by the user. Social media posts can get lost in the shuffle. But text messages get read. You can even use SMS to follow up on other messages you’ve sent, such as over email.
- It’s trackable: You can track your messages to see when people are opening them and what they do next. If you send messages that ask for a response, you can keep tabs on when people reply.
Examples of Unique Automated Messages
As we mentioned above, automated messaging is versatile, and there are many occasions to use it. If you’re still not sure how your brand could use SMS, here are a few ideas to inspire you:
- Appointment reminder: Hi [name]! Just a reminder that your appointment with [name] is tomorrow at 3 p.m. If you need to cancel, just reply to this message with “cancel.” Otherwise, see you soon!
- Birthday note: Hip-hip-hooray! It’s your birthday! We hope you enjoy some cake, and if you get the itch to shop later on, here’s a promo code for 30% off your purchase: Birthday30.
- Billing reminder: Hi [name], thank you for signing up for automatic payments. This is a reminder that we’ll be charging your VISA card ending in XXXX $25.00 tomorrow.
- Order status update: Get excited! We just shipped your order, and it should reach you soon. Want to track its progress? You can do so here:
- Abandoned cart note: Hey there! We saw that you left a few items in your cart. Don’t worry, we’ll keep them there until you get back. Still need some convincing? Here’s a code for 25% OFF: Lostcart25
How to Get the Most From Automated Messaging
Your brand has a voice. It’s important to maintain that voice through any texts you send your customers. If you’re fun and flirty on social media and through email initiatives, match that over text. And if you’re a bit more buttoned up, keep that same tone with your SMS messages.
Along with keeping your texts on brand, keep them relevant to your audience. Text messaging isn’t like email, though. Most of the texts that get read aren’t relegated to a spam folder. But the less relevant your texts are, the easier it will be for people to ignore them. So cut out the fluff and send people messages you know they like, whether they’re update messages, important reminders, or, even better, discount codes.
Also, remember the “law” before texting. You have to give people an opt-out. Something as simple as “text STOP to unsubscribe” is sufficient. And make sure you have people’s permission before you start texting them.
SMS Platforms
The beauty of automated SMS is that you don’t have to DIY it. Plenty of SMS platforms are out there that let you set up bulk messages, schedule automatic reminders, or send out welcome messages. Some are easier to use than others, so it might take some trial and error before you find the one that’s right for you.
Why Work With a Digital Marketing Agency for SMS Marketing?
If you want to get started with SMS marketing but aren’t sure where to start, a digital marketing agency can give you a boost. The right automation agency can help you incorporate texting into your overall marketing plan, giving you the tools and support you need to form deeper bonds with your customers. Reach out to the ZGM team today!
