9 Reasons to Choose Text Marketing for Your Business
By Tom Spurgin, Names and Numbers
Imagine if you were the first business into email, Google, or Facebook! By taking advantage of new mobile advertising opportunities, you are separating yourself from your competitors; you are creating loyal customers through the mobile channel before the competition has a chance to steal them; and you are making the statement that your business is moving forward and staying ahead of the curve. Here are nine great reasons why your business would choose to add text marketing to your growth plan.
1. Opt-In Marketing -- Build a list of your best customers. Customers who take the time to subscribe to your opt-in list are most likely to buy from you. These are the customers who maintain a positive relationship with your business, and they are granting you permission to send them offers. They are practically saying, “give me a reason to spend!”
2. High Read Rate -- Over 95% read within 15 minutes. Over 95% of text messages sent are opened and read by your customers within 15 minutes -- no other advertising medium has that relationship with the consumer. Text message offers engage consumers in a way that makes them look forward to more offers from your business.
3. Instant -- Reach your customers with instant campaigns anytime, anywhere. Your customers leave home with only three items: car keys, purse or wallet, and cell phone. Text marketing ensures your message reaches these customers no matter where they are. With the time-to-market being immediate, there is no waiting on proofed ad copy or new campaign development; text marketing allows you to instantly reach customers throughout the day.
4. Rewards -- Rewarding subscribers creates customer loyalty. Note: a mobile number is more personal than a mailing address or email. If customers take the time to provide you with theirs, make sure your offers are exclusive and meaningful; it’s the best way to thank your subscribers.
5. Return on Investment -- Highest ROI in marketing. The low cost of reaching subscribers combined with high redemption rates makes text marketing the highest ROI marketing medium available today.
6. Redemption Rate -- 20% industry average. Combine the principle of opt-in marketing with 95% read rates and you have a program able to drive real traffic into your business. Compared to the 1.5% average redemption rate of TV, radio, and direct mail, text marketing is a great medium to move into.
7. Increase Off Peak Sales -- Send text offers when business is slow. Having a slow day at your store? Missed your peak lunch sales due to weather? Now you can send out a limited time text blast and get sales in the door within hours.
8. Frequency -- Increase customer frequency. Sending out wellplanned, incentive-based messages during off-peak days will drive customers into the store off their normal purchase rhythm. Even a small increase of 20% customer frequency could add significant returns to your bottom line.
9. Growth -- Mobile marketing continues to grow in acceptance, participation, and relevance. Text marketing uses the latest technology customers have ... their cell phones. Mobile growth will continue to expand in 2011-12, with customer acceptance also growing as the number of text messages sent continues to rise (10 trillion annually by 2012). Customers like feeling “involved” with something new and exciting, and they will respond accordingly to the appeal of text marketing.
