Short message service (SMS) is one of the most underrated yet effective mobile advertising channels. Research conducted by Statista in 2021 shows that SMS and texting experienced a 75 percent year-over-year increase in popularity among customers—higher than email and in-app messaging.
Similarly, as people become more comfortable interacting with businesses via mobile devices, now is an excellent time to leverage SMS marketing. As such, this article sheds light on why SMS marketing should be part of your digital strategy in 2023 and the diverse ways you can make it work.
Why SMS marketing should be part of your digital strategy
Irrespective of how sophisticated your digital strategy is already, you need SMS marketing in your arsenal. Here’s why:
1. Excellent open and read rates
Emails may stay unread for days, and customers will probably swipe past your sponsored social media ads without blinking. Yet, people read text messages almost immediately after they are received.
This is because people are more likely to open their default text messaging app than turn on their data connection to access emails and react to ads on social media platforms. Statistics also show that over 90% of SMS are opened within three minutes compared to 33% for emails.
Furthermore, texts reach the target audience faster than email or social media ads, as they are not subject to third-party algorithms.
2. Great for mobile optimization
SMS provides a better user experience because text messages go straight to consumers’ mobile phones. Customers do not have to download any app, put up with the noise on social media, or scroll through several emails to interact with your brand.
The text limit for SMS also makes your messages short and easy to read. In less than one minute, customers can get the intent of your message and respond if necessary.
Moreover, a recent survey by Statista had half the respondents saying that they spend five to six hours on their mobile phones daily. This is more reason to make SMS marketing part of your digital strategy.
3. Works very well with email marketing
You don’t have to discard email marketing when adding SMS to your digital strategy. As a matter of fact, SMS and email marketing work very well together.
Play the strengths of SMS to deliver time-sensitive news about events, service reminders, feedback requests, or other real-time alerts, then follow up via email for more detailed info.
Consequently, this goes a long way to boost your email engagements while maintaining your SMS open and read rates. You can also utilize the creative aspects of email marketing in SMS marketing. Consider using mobile-friendly designs and adding different forms of media (audio and images) to your messages.
4. Perfect for two-way conversations
SMS allows you to have real-time human interactions with your customers. When you send messages, customers can respond using number codes or keywords. These increase return purchases and customer-brand relationships.
You can also send messages with VIP offers or ask for feedback and be confident of quick responses. Even if some customers cannot reply immediately, they can always get back to you later.
You can’t say the same for marketing phone calls, emails, and social media ads. Customers can decline your call when having a bad day, may be unwilling to scroll through several emails to respond to your message, or the algorithm may not bring the ad back.
That’s why SMS is perfect for two-way conversations.
Top 5 SMS Marketing Strategies to Use in 2023
Now that you have understood why you need SMS marketing, it is time to make it work. These marketing strategies below will help you set the ball rolling.
Now that you have understood why you need SMS marketing, it is time to make it work. These marketing strategies below will help you set the ball rolling.
1. Integrate SMS with your favorite tools
You can integrate SMS or use it alongside your favorite advertising tools, like your CRM or support software. This helps you send more personalized, targeted texts using customers’ contact info and behavioral data.
Integrating SMS with other tools also helps you automate text campaigns and track their success in real-time. You can sync contact data with other tools that allow you to update information within your ecosystem automatically, subscribe and unsubscribe contacts automatically, trigger follow-ups based on customer behavior, etc.
Furthermore, integrating SMS with your favorite marketing tools can also help you:
- Receive notifications when critical events happen (e.g., someone fills out a form, completes a survey, signs up for a trial, etc.).
- Organize your calendar better (great for people selling consulting services).
- Automatically assign new contacts to sales agents in your CRM.
- Send reminders for open deals, cold leads, etc.
2. Send personalized marketing messages at scale
Instead of sending out generic messages, personalize your marketing to resonate with your audience. Doing so improves sales, engagement, and customer experience, helping customers warm up to your brand.
With mass text campaigns, you want to capture the reader’s attention immediately. The best way to do that is to be personable and ensure the content of your message is valuable to the recipient.
Fortunately, SMS tools allow you to send text messages to hundreds or thousands of people simultaneously. Set your contact list or segment as the recipient and write your message (or use a template). Segmented lists allow you to target users based on shared interests or behavior, improving your targeting and reducing marketing costs.
Personalize each communication with custom fields—data fields with standard info such as name and birthday—or create custom fields relevant to your marketing campaigns. Most importantly, endeavor to have a customer-centric approach to all your marketing communications.
3. Engage existing customers
Acquiring a new customer can cost you five times more than retaining an existing customer. Consequently, retaining existing customers is much easier/cheaper than acquiring new ones. Your current customers are already invested in your brand and want to hear from you—why not reach out to them?
So, focus on sending time-sensitive and personalized messages to re-engage existing customers. And while at it, endeavor to add value to your customers. You can introduce new products and services to existing customers or add incentives to promotional messages to increase click-through rates.
4. Automate texts based on customer behavior
Automation streamlines your workflow and improves customer management. Instead of sending messages one at a time manually, you can automate texts based on customer behavior or use cases.
Save time by creating autoresponders for common inquiries, schedule messages, and create surveys to improve your SMS marketing system.
5. Be mindful of text messaging laws
Before you start with SMS marketing, you should know that it is imperative to receive consent when sending any communication. There are several text messaging laws your business should know and adhere to before hitting send.
Make sure you are aware of the SMS laws applicable in your country. Seek the consent of potential recipients and unsubscribe contacts according to best practices to avoid being slammed with a lawsuit that could ruin your brand’s credibility.
Improve your digital marketing strategy with SMS
Social media ads, email marketing, and traditional advertising are all great. However, businesses are looking to go beyond just generating revenue.
They want to build strong brands, generate demand, sell with a story, and have meaningful relationships with their customers. Integrating SMS into your digital marketing framework can help with these things… and more.
AUTHOR
Alexa Lemzy is the customer support manager at business texting software provider TextMagic. She is constantly searching for the most effective ways to communicate with customers and deliver a seamless customer experience. Follow Alexa on Twitter and check her articles there.
The post Why SMS Marketing Should be Part of your Digital Strategy in 2023 & How to Make it Work appeared first on DigitalMarketer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 6 most important questions that motivate an entrepreneur?
Motivation is the most important ingredient for any business. Motivation is essential for any business. Without it, it's difficult to get out of bed every day. Without motivation, it'll be hard to finish your projects. You can't reach your goals without motivation. So, how do we find our motivation?
You may wonder, "What motivates my mind?" It might surprise you to find out the answer. This question might be one you've asked yourself for years. If you haven't asked yourself this question, you're missing out on one of life's greatest rewards--the opportunity to discover your motivation.
There is nothing more motivating that discovering why you exist. You will then realize what drives yourself. You are more clear about your purpose and it becomes more meaningful. Why do you care? This will help you stay motivated.
The key to finding your motivation is to look within. Ask yourself these questions:
- What am I passionate about?
- What makes my heart beat so fast?
- What lightens me up in my soul?
- What gives me butterflies?
- What makes you feel alive to me?
- What draws you back to your project time and again?
Once you know the answers to your questions, you will be able identify your true motivations.
Your motivation can help you get through tough times. You will find strength whenever you need it. It will motivate you to work harder. It will inspire you to be successful.
You'll never stop wondering what your motivation is if you are like me.
So, take some time today to think about what really motivates you. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you uncover.
What are the motivations behind entrepreneurs?
There are three main categories of motivation for entrepreneurs. Each type has its unique set of strengths as well as weaknesses.
External motivation is the most popular form of motivation. This motivates people to earn more. This motivation is often triggered by financial concerns.
External motivation is driven mostly by personal interest, ambition and desire. This type of motivation is very goal-oriented.
The rarest form of internal motivation is the one that's more common. Individuals with internal motivation do not necessarily seek out wealth; instead, they pursue other goals such as self-development, fulfillment, or service to others.
People with inner motivation are often called "passionate" when they find satisfaction in what they do.
Intuition is the most common type of motivation. Intrinsic motivation refers only to people who are motivated by the satisfaction and enjoyment that comes from working towards a particular goal.
Internal motivation is much more motivating than external or intrinsic motivation.
It comes from the inside. It is based upon the belief that certain talents and abilities are inherent in people. These talents and abilities give them the ability to accomplish extraordinary things that no other person could.
Realizing our talents and capabilities makes us happy and fulfilled. We feel like we're doing important work.
In essence, intrinsic motivation is what makes you happy. Knowing that we can achieve anything we set our minds too is what makes us happy.
This feeling of accomplishment is what keeps us going through tough times.
It's a fact that if you don’t love what you’re doing, then it's not worth doing.
Click here for more information about motivational entrepreneurship.
How to motivate yourself as an entrepreneurial leader?
Finding someone who is motivated to do the same thing as you is the best way to motivate yourself. Find someone who is working hard towards his goals and ask him how he did it.
Ask for help, listen, learn, and most importantly, keep it coming. Admire someone who is successful.
Be the person you want to be. Learn from them. Learn from them. Follow their lead.
Keep pushing forward. Keep moving. Never stop learning. Never give up.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you you are incapable. Don't let anyone tell you that there isn't a path for you to follow.
Even though you may fail, that doesn't make it any less valuable. Failure can make you stronger. To find out more. To push harder.
Failure is just another step in the journey to success.
Let's get started! Do something today that will get you closer to your goal.
What are you waiting to do?
What motivates entrepreneurs?
We are motivated by passion. However, our passion drives us to do meaningful work that makes a positive difference. To make a difference for ourselves and our loved ones.
To give back. To give back. To leave a legacy.
We love it. Because we feel compelled by God to live our lives fully and succeed in things that matter.
We are driven to fulfill a sense purpose and mission. This cannot be accomplished by money alone.
This is where the key lies in combining business with pleasure. Entrepreneurship can be more than a career; it's a lifestyle.
It is this passion that I have for helping entrepreneurs succeed. My goal is to help them achieve financial freedom, and leave a lasting impression on the world.
It's the only way to create value. I am living proof of this. Sharing your knowledge and expertise with others.
It's not enough just to build a great service or product. Understanding your customers and their needs is key. What they are looking for.
You'll always be able to improve your offerings if you do. You'll provide more value.
Customers will be more satisfied if you offer more value. You will also sell more products and more services if you have more customers. You will also generate more revenue if you sell more services and products. If you can generate more revenue, your financial independence will be possible.
Money is not everything. It's the end in itself. It's not the goal in and of itself.
So, if you truly want to live a rich life, you cannot focus only on money. Making a positive contribution is what you must do. Contributing. Be a part of a legacy. Making something of value. Unique. It adds meaning and purpose to your life, as well as those of others.
Entrepreneurship requires risk-taking. It does not require following set rules. It's about being flexible. Adapting. Adjusting. Improving.
You will succeed as long you are true and honest with yourself.
Entrepreneurship should be considered a calling. A vocation. You have the chance to contribute. To create wealth. To make history.
When you embrace all of these things, you will be the best version of yourself.
You will not be stopped.
What are the rewards of being an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship offers many benefits. First, you can become independent. You stop relying solely on other people.
This makes you independent and free to pursue your dreams. This helps you establish relationships with other entrepreneurs as you share common interests and challenges.
You gain confidence. Entrepreneurs are always learning new things. This allows you to be flexible and adapt quickly. Thinking outside the box means you won't get stuck in a rut.
All entrepreneurs are free to start their own businesses. We no longer have to follow the rules and regulations set out by society. We are free to choose what we do and how we live.
You have the option to choose to go against the flow or follow the crowd. We have the choice to be successful or unsuccessful. You have the choice to fail or win.
It is thrilling to be free. You also have to take responsibility. Because once you step into this role, you're accountable for everything that happens within your business.
So if you want to succeed, you must learn to manage risk. You shouldn't be afraid of trying new things. If you are willing and able to learn from your failures, you will eventually reach your goals.
These are some of the lessons you should keep in mind when embarking on your journey.
Remember:
- Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle choice.
- When you run your own business, you're the boss.
- Be cautious about following the trends.
- Not success is measured in money, but in freedom.
- You must balance your personal and work life.
- Set clear expectations.
- Always be sincere with your team.
- It is important to remember that if something is to happen, it must be done.
How can entrepreneurs motivate their employees.
Motivation can come anywhere. It doesn't matter where it comes from, just make sure it motivates them to action. Motivation is essential for any business, no matter how it comes in the form of a carrot or stick approach.
The more motivated an employee feels, the more likely he/she is to perform well. To make your team more productive, empower and engage them.
You have to give them a sense of belonging. You need to create a place where they feel safe and respected. Where they can contribute ideas without fear of punishment.
It is important to create a culture within your company that encourages employees to flourish and be successful. It's how to keep your best employees happy, loyal, and productive.
To maintain the culture, you need to reward those behaviors that help you succeed. This can include bonuses when goals are achieved, training opportunities, raising pay raises, and providing perks like insurance.
Communication and clear direction are essential. Everyone should know what's expected of him and why.
Make sure your policies and procedures are written down and communicated. It is important that you designate someone to ensure that your policies and procedures are being followed.
Communicate often, and that's the most important thing. Keep your team informed about what's going on in the organization. Let them know what's happening and what's next.
Communication is essential, and taking care of your team will ensure that you remain ahead of the rest. They will take care of your needs.
Without a great relationship with your employees, you could lose a lot of money. Research shows that employees who are engaged with their work have higher productivity and profitability than those who struggle for top performers.
It's important to remember that not all employees are willing to work at an equal pace. Some prefer to work independently while others like to work in a team. You can motivate anyone in many different ways.
Some people may be more responsive to rewards than others, and some might prefer recognition. Whatever works best for you and your company, it must be consistent with the company's objectives.
You, the leader, are ultimately responsible for setting the tone. Keep your mind open. Listen to your team. Don't forget to listen.
Statistics
- “Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know. (americanexpress.com)
- "If you improve by just 1% every single day, in several months, you will have improved by 100%. (carolroth.com)
- Invest at least 30% managing those with authority over you and 15% managing your peers.” (americanexpress.com)
- "Most of the time when people ask me about motivation, 80 percent of the time, I attribute it to gratitude. (entrepreneur.com)
- According to analysts, Johnson has high appeal in all four quadrants tracked at the multiplex: male, female, over-25 and under-25. (forbes.com)
External Links
kabbage.com
due.com
businessinsider.com
- 101 Best Inspirational Quotes For Entrepreneurs
- SpaceX employees face almost impossible goals from Elon Musk
cnbc.com
- This is Jeff Bezos's inspirational quote that he keeps on his fridge
- Richard Branson, the Billionaire: These 10 top tips will help you succeed
How To
How can you motivate employees? Here are 10 ideas
Motivating employees is one among the most difficult things you can do. This requires patience, perseverance, sacrifice, effort, and a lot of effort. It is important to understand how to motivate people to work hard.
If you don’t understand the motivations of someone, it will be difficult to get them/her motivated. If you don't understand why your employee is motivated to make changes, you will not be able help him/her. This article will demonstrate how to motivate your employee by using different methods.
1. Make Them Feel Important -One of the best ways to motivate your employees is to let them feel they matter. You are telling them that they are valuable and unique when you create this feeling. They should be able to believe that their efforts are being recognized and appreciated.
2. Give Recognition - People enjoy recognition. The more they receive it, the happier they become. To motivate your employees, recognize them every now and again.
3. Respect Others - It is an essential component of any relationship. Respecting someone is the best way to motivate them. Respecting others means you show your appreciation for them.
4. Be open with them -Openness is an excellent way to motivate people. Share information with your employees and you encourage them to be open. Learning new things makes them happy and proud.
5. Reward for Good Work - You encourage people to work harder when you reward them for their good work. But, before rewarding them, you should check whether they did a good job.
6. You should set clear goals. This will motivate your employees and give them something to work towards. They will be more productive if they have a goal.
7. Tell Your Employees About the Company's Plans - It's easy to think telling employees about the company’s plans would be a waste of their time. It's an effective way to motivate your employees. They will be able to identify the next focus by learning about the company's plans.
8. Give feedback - Feedback is a great way to increase employee morale. Even though giving feedback takes some time, it's worth it.
9. Let Them Know Who Their Boss Is -Another powerful way to motivate your employees is by letting them know who their boss is. Make sure your employees are aware of who their boss is so they know where to go for help.
10. Asking for help – Finally, asking your employees for their assistance is an additional way to motivate them. When you ask them for help, you tell them they can rely on you. They trust you because they know you care.
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