How to Generate More Leads With SMS Marketing (Strategies + Examples)
Are you thinking of adopting SMS lead generation as your SMS marketing strategy, but aren’t sure what to expect or how to do it? 🤔
Then let me help you with better insights into crafting a strong SMS marketing strategy and how it can benefit your business. 💯
First of all, let’s understand-
Then let me help you with better insights into crafting a strong SMS marketing strategy and how it can benefit your business. 💯
First of all, let’s understand-
What is SMS lead generation?
SMS lead generation is based on mobile text messaging marketing to drive customers to your website or store, engage with them personally, and collect valuable data to fine-tune your marketing approach.
You can share business news, sales, promotions, or other relevant information with your customers in your SMS marketing campaigns which lead to better brand awareness and more personalized relations with your consumers and prospects.
When done properly, SMS marketing helps you generate high-quality SMS leads and boost your sales amazingly.
You can share business news, sales, promotions, or other relevant information with your customers in your SMS marketing campaigns which lead to better brand awareness and more personalized relations with your consumers and prospects.
When done properly, SMS marketing helps you generate high-quality SMS leads and boost your sales amazingly.
Why SMS Marketing Works?
When compared to a few other traditional marketing methods, SMS marketing stands out to work remarkably well. Here are top 3 reasons why:
1. Your customers WANT you to text them!
Customers prefer texting to email as their preferred mode of communication. 75% of customers are fine with brands sending them SMS messages.
Furthermore, 89% of consumers would prefer to communicate with businesses via text message rather than a phone call.
This is mostly because text messages are not bothersome and can be read and responded to whenever the recipient wants to.
Furthermore, 89% of consumers would prefer to communicate with businesses via text message rather than a phone call.
This is mostly because text messages are not bothersome and can be read and responded to whenever the recipient wants to.
2. High engagement rates.
Text messages are read and engaged 98% of the time within 2 minutes of receiving them, which is way more than emails with only a 20%.
Basically, if you hit "send," your recipient will see it. This makes SMS very helpful in delivering critical information with a high success rate.
Basically, if you hit "send," your recipient will see it. This makes SMS very helpful in delivering critical information with a high success rate.
3. SMS has over 6X users compared to OTT messengers.
For business purposes, SMS continues to outperform over-the-top (OTT) apps such as WhatsApp and Messenger.
Although OTT messaging apps have grown in popularity for personal and business use, SMS remains the most effective mobile messaging channel as it is the default tool on all phones and OS independent.
9 Ways To Generate More Leads With SMS Marketing
If you want to drive more sales through a channel where your customers are — and who doesn’t? — then it’s time to seriously consider an SMS marketing plan.
1. Let people know you are now available on SMS
Promote your phone number so that people can contact you.
include your phone number on your website, Facebook page, and paid ads, and encourage people to message you whenever they want (just make sure to respond quickly!).
This works because many people find it easier to reach out via SMS or call rather than writing emails or submitting query forms.
include your phone number on your website, Facebook page, and paid ads, and encourage people to message you whenever they want (just make sure to respond quickly!).
This works because many people find it easier to reach out via SMS or call rather than writing emails or submitting query forms.
2. Get your prospects to Opt-in
SMS marketing is only worthwhile if you have your customers' permission.
Now that you have told people you are active on SMS, it's time to get them to subscribe.
The best way to persuade a prospect to sign up for SMS is to offer incentives for doing so. They will understand the value of the SMS subscription and thus strengthen their relationship with you.
Also, don’t forget to include a clear option to opt-out of our SMS marketing so the prospect knows they are not being forced into anything out of their will.
Now that you have told people you are active on SMS, it's time to get them to subscribe.
The best way to persuade a prospect to sign up for SMS is to offer incentives for doing so. They will understand the value of the SMS subscription and thus strengthen their relationship with you.
Also, don’t forget to include a clear option to opt-out of our SMS marketing so the prospect knows they are not being forced into anything out of their will.
3. Be clear and concise
Get right to the point: You only have 160 characters to express yourself. If possible, do it in less time.
Check that the message is clear and concise and that it is written in plain English. Abbreviations, emoticons, and all caps should be avoided.
Also, avoid using open-ended messages. An open-ended message is one that invites customers to a sale but does not specify when the sale will end. Your prospects are more likely to act if you give them a specific date when a sale ends or put an expiration date on a coupon. This is because you've provided them with enough information and incentive
Check that the message is clear and concise and that it is written in plain English. Abbreviations, emoticons, and all caps should be avoided.
Also, avoid using open-ended messages. An open-ended message is one that invites customers to a sale but does not specify when the sale will end. Your prospects are more likely to act if you give them a specific date when a sale ends or put an expiration date on a coupon. This is because you've provided them with enough information and incentive
4. Don’t forget the CTA
With a clear call to action, tell your prospects what to do. Before you send your message, consider the ultimate goal of your communication and include a call to action that will lead your prospects to that goal.
Calls to action can be tricky because they vary depending on what you want to achieve, but they can be as simple as "call or text me now," "message me here," "get more information," “Get 20% off now,” and so on.
Make your message useful and relevant.
Calls to action can be tricky because they vary depending on what you want to achieve, but they can be as simple as "call or text me now," "message me here," "get more information," “Get 20% off now,” and so on.
Make your message useful and relevant.
5. Know your prospects
The more you know about your prospects, the more chances you have of converting them.
Analyze purchase history, demographics, etc, and segment your SMS campaigns accordingly to send out the right messages to the right prospects for targeted promotions.
For instance, if you're a cosmetics company, don't send a coupon for an anti-wrinkle cream to a twenty-year-old who lives in Boston for your Houston store.
Analyze purchase history, demographics, etc, and segment your SMS campaigns accordingly to send out the right messages to the right prospects for targeted promotions.
For instance, if you're a cosmetics company, don't send a coupon for an anti-wrinkle cream to a twenty-year-old who lives in Boston for your Houston store.
6. Personalize your communication.
Ever wonder why the bigger brands perform so well, whether it is about capturing leads or retaining existing customers?
The answer is personalization. They do not rely on boring generic messages but make sure their messages are engaging and helps the prospects solve their problem.
By segmenting your phone number list you have already taken the first step. Now focus on collecting and utilizing anything and everything you know about your subscribers and offer what tends to their special needs.
For example, if a lead is eyeing a particular product you can offer a discount to them. Taking the advantage of FOMO (fear of missing out) can bring in even better results. To do this you can simply add an expiry date to your promo code.
The answer is personalization. They do not rely on boring generic messages but make sure their messages are engaging and helps the prospects solve their problem.
By segmenting your phone number list you have already taken the first step. Now focus on collecting and utilizing anything and everything you know about your subscribers and offer what tends to their special needs.
For example, if a lead is eyeing a particular product you can offer a discount to them. Taking the advantage of FOMO (fear of missing out) can bring in even better results. To do this you can simply add an expiry date to your promo code.
7. Take care of the timing
SMS is all about the right timing. Messages are opened in an average of three minutes. Responses to SMS-promoted sales, promotions, and events are most effective when they are last-minute impulses (again the FOMO logic).
For example, send a message Friday afternoon if you have a store opening event on Friday night. If your restaurant is running a dinner promotion, send it at the end of the day, not in the morning.
Sending messages too early in the morning or too late at night can put you on shaky ground. Hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. are acceptable.
To take SMS timing to the next level, determine the best time to send a message to a specific individual based on their previous interactions with your texts. This ultra-targeting goes beyond region and demographics to tailor your marketing to achieve the best results. To achieve this you need to depend on automation tools, which brings us to the next point.
For example, send a message Friday afternoon if you have a store opening event on Friday night. If your restaurant is running a dinner promotion, send it at the end of the day, not in the morning.
Sending messages too early in the morning or too late at night can put you on shaky ground. Hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. are acceptable.
To take SMS timing to the next level, determine the best time to send a message to a specific individual based on their previous interactions with your texts. This ultra-targeting goes beyond region and demographics to tailor your marketing to achieve the best results. To achieve this you need to depend on automation tools, which brings us to the next point.
8. Automate wherever possible
Weaving text messages into marketing automation CRM is one of the best ways to get the best out of your SMS marketing campaigns.
Integrate your SMS provider with your CRM and phone number validation tools to improve your flow to funnel your prospects.
Automation is useful in SMS marketing because it allows you to handle multiple customers at once.
It also allows you to respond more quickly and during non-business hours.
Integrate your SMS provider with your CRM and phone number validation tools to improve your flow to funnel your prospects.
Automation is useful in SMS marketing because it allows you to handle multiple customers at once.
It also allows you to respond more quickly and during non-business hours.
9. Maintain the quality of your SMS subscriber list
If you want the best results and more quality leads from your SMS marketing campaigns, you need to focus on the validity and quality of the phone numbers existing in your database.
Using a phone validation and data enrichment tool like ClearoutPhone, that not only ensures good quality leads but also provides you with extra information such as carrier type, line type, time zone, geolocation, and more that are necessary to run an effective SMS marketing campaign.
Using a phone validation and data enrichment tool like ClearoutPhone, that not only ensures good quality leads but also provides you with extra information such as carrier type, line type, time zone, geolocation, and more that are necessary to run an effective SMS marketing campaign.
Best Practices for SMS marketing (Checklist)
SMS Marketing Benefits:
SMS is a successful marketing tool because of the element of immediate gratification and the rising amount of time spent on mobile devices. Let's explore some of the many advantages of SMS marketing in more detail:
1. Economical marketing:
One of SMS marketing's main advantages is its high ROI-low cost appeal, which comes first and foremost. Bulk SMS marketing campaigns with a 1,000-person target can be launched for less than $10.
Therefore, unlike paid advertisements, you don't have to spend a lot of money to spread the word about your items.
Therefore, unlike paid advertisements, you don't have to spend a lot of money to spread the word about your items.
2. High Open Rate:
SMS has an 85% open rate and a 45% response rate. The average time for a recipient to reply to an SMS is 90 seconds. Emails, in contrast, only have a 24% open rate.
SMS has the power to rapidly catch the attention of your customers and inspire them to act.
SMS has the power to rapidly catch the attention of your customers and inspire them to act.
3. Boost Client Engagement:
The potential of SMS to increase client engagement is underrated. SMS is a more efficient form of communication than other channels like email, sponsored Ads, etc.
Due to the immediate nature of the message and the ease of access through mobile devices. Additionally, it helps to develop a foundation of devoted clients.
Due to the immediate nature of the message and the ease of access through mobile devices. Additionally, it helps to develop a foundation of devoted clients.
4. Quick Delivery:
Most importantly, SMS is immediately delivered. Additionally, an internet connection is not required. In that regard, SMS is a dependable and efficient method of promoting your goods and company.
Conversion rates are accelerated and improved as a result. While a lot of marketers think SMS marketing is obsolete, it's actually one of the most efficient modes of communication.
Conversion rates are accelerated and improved as a result. While a lot of marketers think SMS marketing is obsolete, it's actually one of the most efficient modes of communication.
Who Can Take Advantage of SMS Marketing Services?
Text messages, whether you're a small business owner or a corporate communications lead, can be an excellent addition to your digital marketing efforts. They perform the unique function of communicating critical information in a highly reliable manner.
Start Messaging now…
Get started with SMS marketing as soon as possible. You can maximize the benefits of your SMS campaign no matter what type of company you own
Start devoting time to crafting effective messages, analyzing your customer demographics, investing in an SMS-specific sales marketing team, and promoting your SMS campaign throughout your company's media, and how it changes your lead generation game.
Start devoting time to crafting effective messages, analyzing your customer demographics, investing in an SMS-specific sales marketing team, and promoting your SMS campaign throughout your company's media, and how it changes your lead generation game.