How to Get Customers to Subscribe to Your SMS Alerts
SMS alerts are said to be the next big thing in marketing a brand and its offerings. This is because text messages have a higher open and read rate compared to emails, and are more accessible than social media accounts, since receiving SMS alerts does not require apps that are available only in smartphones. SMS alerts also allow businesses to have a continuous connection with their customers because most people have their phones within arm’s length 24/7 and because text alerts draw more attention than email messages.
Getting Your Customers to Subscribe
If you want to reach more customers, you must invest in a notification system tat allows you to send them SMS alerts about new products, updates on existing products, discounts, promotions and even rewards programs. However, before you can start sending your customers mobile alerts, they must be willing to receive alerts in the first place. To make sure that your text alert system does what it is supposed to do, you must get customers to opt in to the text alert service. Here are some tips:
1. Use signage. This is possibly the most passive way of getting customers to sign in to your alerts. If your business is sponsoring an event or hosting a trade show, you can put signs in strategic places with high visibility. The signage can contain teasers about getting discounts or more information about special offers by sending a keyword to a dedicated number. Once customers send the text, you get their number and they become part of your subscriber list.
You can also place signs in locations people might look at when they are bored: on train stations, bus stops and even checkout lines. For lack of nothing to do, they can actually text your keyword, opt in to your alert service and even enjoy having done so, since you have a really great brand.
2. Go big – utilize billboards. Aside from giving your brand and your offerings the exposure they need, you can also use billboards to create a buzz. Call people to action by having them opt in so they could join a contest that can win them a big prize, or to get alerts that provide more information about your offers.
3. Leverage your newsletter. You can get your newsletter subscribers to opt in to your SMS alerts by including a section in your newsletter that says, “To receive special deals, text <keyword> to <number> or something to that effect. Must you be this aggressive in reaching customers? Yes. Isn’t it enough that they are subscribed to your email list? No – you never know when they are unsubscribing from your email newsletter, so it’s best to have all your bases covered.
4. Integrate your SMS alert system with your social media accounts. Do you have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts? You can increase your SMS contact list by promoting your alert system to your followers in these accounts. Encourage your fans to text in the required keyword so they could receive alerts regarding new products or special discounts.
5. Incorporate opt-in options in every marketing campaign you have. If you are doing TV and radio advertisements, leverage your airtime by educating your existing and potential customers about the benefits they will get from signing in to your text alerts and by encouraging them to opt in.
However, building your subscriber list is not everything. You must also have steps in place regarding giving customers information opting out or unsubscribing from your text alert list, HELP options, the cost of receiving alerts and the frequency of the alerts your subscribers will receive.
Gain more customers and build a long-term relationship with them through your SMS alerts, and you will be able to build a loyal customer base for your business.
