Considering SMS Marketing? Here's Why You Should Go For It
Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar:
You find a brand or company you love. You’re on the website when suddenly it asks if you want to receive a discount promo code. Hell yes, I do!, you say to yourself. You type in your email, then make a mental note to check your inbox later for exciting savings.
But wait!
If you want the code now, all you have to do is enter your phone number. You do, and within seconds, the promo code is delivered to you via text message, along with a link to shop the store (with your discount already applied). You click, you shop, you save, and you get that precious hit of dopamine from buying something new – whether it’s necessary or not.
And there you have it: You’ve just experienced SMS messaging in action.
It’s a tactic businesses are getting super savvy with these days – and for good reason.
But what is SMS (aka text) marketing, exactly, and is it worth adding to your business and launch tactics? Let’s break down what it is, why you need it, and how to get started!
What is SMS marketing?
SMS stands for short message service – which is basically just a buzzwordy way of saying ‘texts.’ At least, according to us, that is. Tons of businesses use SMS marketing to communicate things like:
- Announcements
- Sales + discounts
- Abandon cart reminders
- Order confirmations
- Appointment reminders
- Restock alerts
- Any other timely or time-sensitive information
Much like email marketing, SMS marketing is a popular B2C (business to consumer) tactic because, for the most part, you have total control over what you say, how you say it, and when you say it. Another benefit is that SMS messages can be automated, which means less manual work on your end. However, unlike email marketing, SMS should be used as it implies: for short messages only.
Why you need SMS marketing
On top of meeting consumers exactly where they are, SMS marketing is one of the best ways to stay top-of-mind with consumers. Think about it: We’re not constantly in our inbox (email marketing) or scrolling our social media (posts and ads). Okay, so maybe we are, but not as often as we’re checking our texts.
Text messages are instantaneous, right? More often than not, texts pull us out of our inbox or social feeds. And if those text messages are from your business? Even better.
The instant delivery of SMS marketing also means:
- It’s more cost-effective than most other tactics
- It can lead to higher conversion rates
- It can generate brand recognition (and loyalty) more rapidly than traditional marketing channels
How to get started with SMS marketing
As tempting as it might be to start firing off texts en masse, it’s important to ground yourself in a strategy first. We don’t want your audiences ghosting you, after all!
Find the right tool
One of the easiest ways to get started with and execute SMS marketing is likely through an email marketing tool that also has SMS capabilities. Our personal favorite is an underrated marketing tool called Drip. Otherwise, you can test out a few different platforms for free until you find one that works for you, then use a Zapier integration to connect it to your email marketing platform.
Add SMS to your website opt-in or freebie sales funnel
Take a note from some of your favorite big brands and add an SMS opt-in as a follow-up to email opt-ins or freebie sales funnels. However, to get your audiences to take the second step, consider providing immediate value in exchange for them signing up for texts – like a discount code or exclusive offer. You want to make sure it’s worth it for them!
Coordinate with other marketing efforts
Since SMS messages are an additional channel to reach audiences, you want to coordinate these efforts with what you currently have. After all, you don’t want to overwhelm or bombard your audiences.
Also, remember that SMS is instant, so you should only send messages for timely or time-sensitive announcements. Keep in mind your send times, too, since you don’t want to text your audiences when it’s inconvenient or disturbing to them, like when they’re sleeping.
Follow other best practices
Just like email marketing, you want to be respectful of your audiences’ information and how you use it. That’s why you should always follow best practices like:
- Asking audiences to opt-in
- Tell them who you are (no one likes texts from someone they don’t know!)
- Always give them an option to opt-out
- Only send text messages when you’re providing instant value (don’t forget a strong CTA!)
Don’t be afraid to try something new
You don’t have to limit yourself to SMS messages that are text only (like so many companies out there). Remember that SMS messages can also include GIFs, photos, and personality! Don’t be afraid to lean into your unique brand voice – not every text has to be serious and down to business.
Want SMS inspo? Sign up for your favorite brands
One of the best ways to get familiar with SMS marketing and see how you can leverage it for your brand? Visit your favorite brands’ sites and sign up for their text list!
Here are just a few of our favorite companies to get texts from:
And while we don’t have an SMS list (yet!), we do have a pretty killer email list. Want more tips on marketing strategies, launch planning, and tools that make growing your business easier?
Sign up at the bottom of this page for your new inbox BFF!