10 Easy Ways to Obtain Phone Numbers For Marketing And Sales
In the realm of advertising, SMS marketing is a bit of a hidden treasure. It can be an essential aspect of getting your company's brand out there in today's mobile-centric society.
Texting or SMS (or Short Message Service) is just as crucial as social media or brochures in terms of marketing. The perks of SMS marketing make it an excellent alternative for any business trying to expand its consumer base.
The most significant advantage of SMS marketing is that texts have a greater open rate than any other advertising medium, i.e., to 98 percent and a response rate of 45%.
As more businesses want to reach out to clients on the go, SMS marketing is becoming increasingly popular. 65% of companies have claimed it to be very effective. It has become a necessary component of successful multi-channel marketing.
Texting or SMS (or Short Message Service) is just as crucial as social media or brochures in terms of marketing. The perks of SMS marketing make it an excellent alternative for any business trying to expand its consumer base.
The most significant advantage of SMS marketing is that texts have a greater open rate than any other advertising medium, i.e., to 98 percent and a response rate of 45%.
As more businesses want to reach out to clients on the go, SMS marketing is becoming increasingly popular. 65% of companies have claimed it to be very effective. It has become a necessary component of successful multi-channel marketing.
Despite the various benefits of SMS marketing , it won't be possible without the most vital component, i.e., Customers' and prospects' phone numbers. In this guide, we will put some light on the most effective and easy ways to collect phone numbers to boost your SMS marketing campaigns.
But before getting started, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:
Know your audience
A list with a focus on the wrong audience is a complete waste. There is no limit to how often this is said in marketing, and just like for any other marketing strategy, it is also true for SMS marketing.
It is imperative to understand your audience, know their needs, interests, challenges, etc., and learn about their demographics, firmographics, etc. This will help you to segment your list and send out more effective SMS campaigns. For example,
If you sell women's fashion, it is better to target the female audience rather than send out SMS to everyone. Or, if it is an occasional women's day message or special discount offer for women, then it is better to text only your female prospects and customers.
If you have a discount running at a store located in New York, then there is no point in notifying people living in other cities about that offer, and it may annoy your receivers as well.
Hence, you need to know your target audience and their basic details like gender, location, etc. You can ask for these details from when they opt-in for your messages, or you can also achieve some of these details by simply running your phone number list through a carrier lookup tool.
It is imperative to understand your audience, know their needs, interests, challenges, etc., and learn about their demographics, firmographics, etc. This will help you to segment your list and send out more effective SMS campaigns. For example,
Hence, you need to know your target audience and their basic details like gender, location, etc. You can ask for these details from when they opt-in for your messages, or you can also achieve some of these details by simply running your phone number list through a carrier lookup tool.
Know and abide by the laws
In many regions, Customers must voluntarily consent and disclose their cellphone numbers to you. This means you might not be able to gather them from a range of sources that do not include their consent.
In any situation, it is best to look into local compliance laws. Plan and strategize your campaigns, keeping the legal consequences in mind. Try to avoid using unfair means to collect the data like purchasing a list from untrusted sources; instead, try adopting the methods discussed in this article to obtain phone numbers for your SMS marketing campaigns.
In any situation, it is best to look into local compliance laws. Plan and strategize your campaigns, keeping the legal consequences in mind. Try to avoid using unfair means to collect the data like purchasing a list from untrusted sources; instead, try adopting the methods discussed in this article to obtain phone numbers for your SMS marketing campaigns.
Effective ways that make legally obtaining phone numbers for marketing
1. Webinars and Events
Consider using this as an opportunity to collect phone numbers from your consumers if your company holds events, seminars, or webinars regularly. On occasions, you can gather phone numbers in a few different methods.
At the time of registration, you can collect contact information from attendees, such as phone numbers and consent to send text messages. You can also provide little gifts to people who join your SMS list, such as a free trial, discount, early access, etc
At the time of registration, you can collect contact information from attendees, such as phone numbers and consent to send text messages. You can also provide little gifts to people who join your SMS list, such as a free trial, discount, early access, etc
2. Run Competitions and Giveaways
Consider holding a contest or running a giveaway to collect new leads. The prize could be a free service or gift basket. Your clients will be more likely to join if you make an intriguing offer. You may use this method in all types of industries, including fashion, cosmetics, therapy, and e-commerce. For example,
If you manage a yoga studio, you could offer something like this:
If you manage a yoga studio, you could offer something like this:
If you're a beauty brand, you could offer something like this:
3. Encourage customers with special offers:
Phone numbers are precious, and people know this. They'll only reveal their numbers if there's a compelling cause to do so.
Offer your text message subscribers unique benefits that they won't find anywhere else. Your members will unsubscribe or may not signup in the first place if they believe they can get the same offer or discount for your product or service by executing a fast Google search. Hence, be sure that your request is exciting and worthwhile to them.
For example, you can give them, say, a 10% discount or offer a free product/ service on their first purchase and ask them for their numbers to receive the discount code.
Taco Bell got a hike of 13,000 people in its mobile marketing subscribers' list over five weeks just by offering a free drink with food item purchases.
Offer your text message subscribers unique benefits that they won't find anywhere else. Your members will unsubscribe or may not signup in the first place if they believe they can get the same offer or discount for your product or service by executing a fast Google search. Hence, be sure that your request is exciting and worthwhile to them.
For example, you can give them, say, a 10% discount or offer a free product/ service on their first purchase and ask them for their numbers to receive the discount code.
Taco Bell got a hike of 13,000 people in its mobile marketing subscribers' list over five weeks just by offering a free drink with food item purchases.
4. Value in exchange of value:
As already said, people only give their valuable numbers in your hand when they get something worthwhile in return. Apart from discounts and offers, people also seek worthy information. Hence you can promise them information, tips, news, etc., in return for their subscription to your number list.
For example, if you are in the b2b industry, you can offer valuable industry insights to your customers. If you are in fashion, you can keep them informed about the latest trends going on. If you are in technology, you can notify them about all the latest tech launches and trends.
For example, if you are in the b2b industry, you can offer valuable industry insights to your customers. If you are in fashion, you can keep them informed about the latest trends going on. If you are in technology, you can notify them about all the latest tech launches and trends.
5. Introduce a subscription form on your website:
If you receive good traffic on your website, introducing a subscription form on your homepage or at a suitable place on your website can be an excellent way to grow your subscriber's list.
You can ask your visitors and customers interested in your products/ services or already in the process of buying to subscribe for your messages to get access to future updates, exclusive content, and special offers.
You can ask your visitors and customers interested in your products/ services or already in the process of buying to subscribe for your messages to get access to future updates, exclusive content, and special offers.
6. Use Social Media:
Posting about your text messaging list on social media is a terrific method to advertise your list, and it's probably the most straightforward strategy to implement. While using this method, keep in mind that most clients are unlikely to leave their phone number to comment on a public social media post. Your best bet is to direct them to a form on your website where they can sign up for your texting list confidentially and securely.
7. Email Marketing:
You can always use your email marketing campaigns to fuel your SMS marketing campaigns as well. Encourage your subscribers to reply with their mobile phone numbers by utilizing your regular emails. It can be a monthly newsletter, a weekly promotional email, or by providing a linked signup form on your website.
If your clients are already up for receiving emails, make sure to deliver unique content in your SMS campaigns. Otherwise, why would the users give up their number to receive SMS-based messages with the same content when they are happy with the occasional email to their inbox? Hence, provide your subscribers a compelling reason to join your messaging lists, such as first dibs on exclusive new lines, Christmas sales, or a birthday gift. It's up to you to figure out how to persuade people to buy!
If your clients are already up for receiving emails, make sure to deliver unique content in your SMS campaigns. Otherwise, why would the users give up their number to receive SMS-based messages with the same content when they are happy with the occasional email to their inbox? Hence, provide your subscribers a compelling reason to join your messaging lists, such as first dibs on exclusive new lines, Christmas sales, or a birthday gift. It's up to you to figure out how to persuade people to buy!
8. Website Chat or Query forms:
If you have a website chatbot option that allows customers to contact you, consider adding their phone number to message you for their queries. It will look something like this:
Similarly, if you provide your customers and prospects the option to reach out to you via website forms for any query or assistance, don't forget to add a field asking for a mobile number in your state.
9. Onboarding and Checkout:
Both registration and checkout are good opportunities and easy ways to ask your customers for their numbers. You can ask for their number along with some other essential details such as date of birth, gender, location, etc., while they sign up on your site for a product or a service. You can also ask for their consent to receive messages from you in the future at the time of registration.
Also, if you are an ecommerce business, do ask for mobile numbers with the delivery details at their checkout.
Make sure to ask for a mobile number and not just for any number. Along with this, performing a real-time phone validation check would be a wise option. Integrating phone validation API like ClearoutPhone API with your registration and checkout forms will save you from numbers that contain errors or are invalid.
10. Ask for Updates:
The last thing and one of the most important strategies is to ask your customers to update their details. If you missed out on asking for your customers' numbers earlier, you could invite them to update their details in their profile.
Giving the option to update their details to your customer can even work better and enhance the user experience. This is because many times, a customer might change their number or could have entered a wrong number while registering, and the option to update will ease their process to do so and work well for your SMS subscribers' list.
Giving the option to update their details to your customer can even work better and enhance the user experience. This is because many times, a customer might change their number or could have entered a wrong number while registering, and the option to update will ease their process to do so and work well for your SMS subscribers' list.
Bonus Tip:
Your customers trust you with their details. Hence, it should be your responsibility to ensure their details' safety and not to misuse the numbers like spamming them with unnecessary promotional messages, etc.
Another essential thing that you should do is to provide your subscribers a clear option to opt out, like sending a message "STOP" to unsubscribe. This will help you retain a customer's trust and also keep you from annoying or losing them.
Another essential thing that you should do is to provide your subscribers a clear option to opt out, like sending a message "STOP" to unsubscribe. This will help you retain a customer's trust and also keep you from annoying or losing them.
By using these strategies, legally obtaining prospects' and customers' phone numbers will become an easy feat allowing your SMS marketing campaigns to succeed. However, no matter which of these methods you use to obtain the numbers, always make sure to run a phone carrier lookup on your list to be sure about the numbers you text to. Otherwise, you might end up sending messages to wrong or invalid numbers resulting in just a waste of time, money, and effort.
