For physical stores, it is usually difficult to stay upbeat with the latest marketing techniques. A number of today’s strategies are designed with e-commerce stores in mind and they just don’t apply to brick and mortar stores. However, this is not always the case, like in case of text messaging. Not only retailers can use Bulk transactional SMS, but it also generates some great results.
The present state of smart phone use
In last few years, smart phones have ideally changed the way people communicate worldwide. According to a report of a leading research center, in just US two-third of all Americans own a smartphone, with 19% accessing internet from their smartphone to stay connected to real time information. Approx 10% of Americans have a smartphone but don’t have internet connect in their home.
According to this research report, 97% of smartphone users use SMS at least once each week, including all of those aged between 18-29 years. These statistics show that smartphone use is becoming popular. While just 35% of Americans used a smartphone in 2011, that percent has increased to 64% in a just 4 years. It is not difficult to imagine that sometime in future the smartphone users in the US will reach 100%.
SMS: A popular form of mobile marketing
As a retail business owner, it is essential to not ignore text messaging as a form of mobile engagement for your retail store. Text messaging constantly delivers higher open rates and better results when constantly used for a longer period of time. In addition, it can assist you stand out from the competition.
But, it is essential to create a plan and proceed carefully before including Bulk SMS marketing in your marketing plan. If you are interested in leveraging SMS for engagement purpose, it is essential to be careful about what, when and how you are communicating with your consumers. It is important to ensure that only relevant information is send to the consumers and that too, at right time.
Top ways retailers can efficiently use SMS
While situation of every retailer is different, let us have a look at some of the successful methods for using text messaging to deliver great experiences.
Sales and discounts
One of the benefits of text messaging is that retailer are able to send targeted content to consumers while they are on the go. When it comes to deals and coupons, this is very valuable. Here, customers don’t have to worry about cutting a coupon out of a magazine, or printing off an online code, they just have to show the text they received at the checkout to get the discount.
Another great things about text messaging is that you don’t have to spend hours writing very accurate copy or designing a great layout. It is usually as easy as one of the following example:
“End of season sale, get (Z%) off on your favorite brand (name). Offer valid for this weekend only at (store name).
New offers and products
For consumers who have subscribed for your SMS program, you can use SMS to inform them about new offers and products by sending SMS with automatically with Bulk SMS API. Here is an example:
Dear customers of (store name)! Beginning this week, we are now selling products of (brand name). Visit our store today to have a look.
Website URLs
Including a URL link into your text messages may assist you to get traffic to your website. According to a research, 19.3% of people will click on the attached link, whereas only 4.2% customers’ click on links embedded in emails. Here is an example:
(Store name) wants to thank you for your support. To know more about our new collection (name of collection), visit the following link (insert link).
So, don’t overlook SMS and include them in your marketing campaign today for better results, greater leads and more revenue.