Using SMS Messages To Build Relationships With Your Customers

Maintaining strong relationships with your customers is critical for any growing business. Using personalised marketing strategies like SMS marketing can be an effective way to do this. Here’s why SMS messaging is so effective for building relationships with your customers and how you can implement it in your marketing strategy.

Why SMS Is So Effective For Relationship Building

You can use many different types of digital marketing to build relationships with your customers, but SMS is particularly effective. Here’s why this is such a great way to communicate with your customers.

Fast and Convenient

One of the biggest advantages that SMS messaging offers over other platforms is the speed you can communicate with your customers. It only takes a few seconds to send a text message, and customers only need cell phone service to receive them. There’s no need to download extra applications or log onto a WiFi network.

Because today’s consumers are so reliant on their smartphones, SMS messaging is typically an easier way to get through to them than email or social media. A recent study in the US indicated that consumers check their phones 96 times every day! Additionally, consumers are likely to open a text message shortly after their phone receives it - typically in less than 15 minutes.

Personal and Authentic

One of the reasons SMS messages are so effective for relationship building is that they feel very personal and authentic. Text messages are short and direct, and you can customise them to make them feel friendly, rather than spammy.

A well-written text message shows customers that you value their engagement and want to build a personal connection with them. Legally, customers have to opt into text marketing campaigns, which also means they’re typically more responsive to them than other forms of direct marketing. To make sure your messaging is effective as possible, you’ll want to be very thoughtful with your tone. Customers want to feel like they are texting with a human! Depending on your brand, you can even sprinkle in some humour.

Streamlined Engagement

Text messages are very effective at getting real results from your target audience. Whether you’re looking for more revenue, social media engagement, app downloads, or something else, you can use text messages to send your audience there directly. You can include links and QR codes as part of your text messages. This creates a streamlined channel of communication that directs customers right to your website, social media pages, or anywhere else you would like them to go. Your customers won’t have to worry about remembering any complex links or social media handles on their own, because the message will send them there directly.

Implementing SMS Messaging For Relationship Building

There are many different ways you can use text messages to build relationships with your customers. Here are some ways to implement SMS marketing to increase your customer loyalty and build stronger relationships.

Follow-Up Messages

There are many different ways you can approach this, depending on what exactly you are selling. A great way to start your customer relationships off on a strong foot is to send a follow-up message after they have purchased or used one of your services. This allows you to provide stellar customer service and address any roadblocks the customer may have experienced. This also establishes contact for future messages.

Personalised Product Recommendations

You can also use SMS messages as a way to promote specific products. A great way to do this is to send product recommendations based on what your customers have already purchased. This can be particularly effective if there is a sale running or an exclusive promotion available for these products. You can also use SMS messages to let your customers know when popular products have been restocked or updated. This personalised approach is a great way to promote your products while making your customers feel valued.

Two-Way Messaging

Another excellent way to build relationships using SMS is with two-way messaging. Much of the two-way messaging process can be automated, so you don’t need to spend extra time handling the entire process manually. Two-way messaging is particularly effective if you run a brick-and-mortar business that schedules in-person appointments. You can use this messaging to send appointment reminders and get more information about what your customers want and need.

You can also use two-way messaging as part of interactive marketing campaigns. This gives customers the opportunity to decide exactly how much they want to participate in your campaign. Using two-way messaging shows that you value your customers’ opinions and desires and helps the relationship feel more balanced.

Exclusive Offers

One very effective way to keep your customers engaged is to provide exclusive offers just for those who subscribe to your text messages. This incentivises customers to stay engaged with you, but also provides real value to keep them coming back. You can also incorporate this into a broader loyalty program, where customers earn points based on the purchases they make, which they can later redeem for rewards.

Business Updates

Once you’ve established a relationship with your customers via text message, you can use them to send regular business updates. These updates can be about any exciting new developments that happen with your business, whether that is new products, seasonal sales, upcoming events, or anything else. Regular updates encourage customers to come back to your business and eventually make more purchases.

Effective SMS messages are a great way to build stronger relationships with your customers and keep them coming back in the future. SMSGlobal offers comprehensive SMS services for business, including integrations with a variety of popular software programs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build an effective SMS campaign.