22 Apr
If you own a retail store, then SMS marketing for retail is something you should consider adding to your marketing strategy. SMS marketing, which stands for short message service marketing, allows you to send promotional text messages to customers who opt-in. These days, a growing number of people carry their cell phones with them at all times. Therefore, texting customers with discounts and sales updates might help you catch their attention when they might not otherwise see your store’s fliers or advertisements on social media.
Texting is a convenient new approach to increase your store’s visibility and sales, provided you plan ahead and follow the rules. SMS is a potent promotional tool that, when set properly, you should think about including in your marketing toolkit. Now let’s get going!
Why SMS Marketing For Retail Stores Is An Effective Approach?
There are several reasons why text message marketing works well for retailers:
Convenience – Customers have their mobile phones with them all the time. Sending deals and notifications by text means they will receive your messages even when they are busy or away from home. This makes it more likely customers will see and act on your offers.
High Engagement – People are much more likely to read text messages than emails. In fact, SMS has a 98% open rate! Since customers choose to opt-in, they are giving you permission to communicate with them this way and are more open to your messages.
Immediate Action – When customers receive deals or discounts by text, they can easily click the link or head to the store right away while they’re thinking about it. This leads to quicker purchases and higher conversion rates compared to emails which people may forget about or ignore for later.
Personal Connection – Sending offers to a customer’s phone makes it feel more personal than a mass email blast. Customers will see your texts as a one-on-one message customized just for them. This builds stronger relationships and loyalty with your brand.
Reachability – SMS can reach customers anytime, anywhere. Since people always have their phones, retailers can send timely deals related to customers’ locations, the current day/hour, or what’s trending now to catch customers when they are ready to shop.
How Retail SMS Works?
To start a retail SMS marketing campaign:
- Choose an SMS marketing provider. Look for services that integrate easily with your point-of-sale (POS) system and allow you to import customer phone numbers.
- At checkout or when customers sign up for your loyalty program, have them opt-in to receive text discounts and sales by providing their mobile number. Make clear these messages will be automated.
- Using your SMS provider’s software, create text message templates with your store’s logo and branding. Try to design different types of offers like BOGO deals, discounts for upcoming holidays, or clearance sale alerts.
- Segment your subscriber list in a way that you target certain messages to VIP customers, new subscribers, or those who recently made a purchase. Schedule automated messages to go out on a set recurring basis, like every Tuesday at 10 am.
- Track results: This is very important- see which offers are driving the most clicks, redemptions, and repeat visits. Adjust your messaging based on what motivates customers to take action the most. Over time, you can refine your strategy to maximize ROI.
- Add a feedback option so customers can easily ask questions, unsubscribe, or report issues from your texts directly. Remember to provide and maintain excellent customer service to build loyalty.
How to Select the Best SMS Marketing Service for Your Retail Business?
When picking an SMS marketing platform for your store, these important factors must be considered:
Cost – The very basic thing to do first is to compare the monthly or yearly subscription fees, pricing tiers based on how many texts are sent, and added costs for special features and customization options. Look for affordable plans without surprise overage charges.
Delivery success rates – Check how successful the provider usually is at delivering texts, and their reputation for reliability. Services that guarantee over 98% of messages are sent successfully are best to avoid problems.
Customer grouping options – See if the platform allows splitting your subscriber list into subgroups based on complex rules, like types of customers or past purchases. Integrating with your store’s point-of-sale (cash register) system is very helpful.
Message templates – Make sure flexible templates, drag-and-drop builders, and the ability to customize designs are offered. Image and website links in texts are also important so your messages look professional.
Analytics and statistics – Detailed reporting on who opened, clicked, or made purchases from texts helps improve campaigns. Track these “open rates”, “click-through rates”, and “redemption rates” over time for return on investment analysis.
Customer support availability – Note that, reputable companies provide live chat, phone, and email help during regular business hours if issues come up. Read reviews from real customers to rate support quality.
Integrations with other systems – Interconnecting the SMS service with sales/loyalty databases, email software, and other retail technology saves work and keeps campaigns streamlined. Now noting these parameters, find the one compatible with your existing systems.
Testing the service with a free trial is smart before signing long-term. Weighing these factors side by side aids in choosing the best option aligned with your particular business and financial situation. These factors are important because quality tools for SMS marketing for retailers will drive store sales through phones.
Retail SMS Marketing Best Practices
Here are some tips for effective retail text marketing campaigns:
Get Permission First
It is important that you obtain permission from customers to send them marketing text messages. Otherwise, they may view your messages as spam. Ask shoppers if they would like to join your SMS list when making a purchase.
Keep Messages Short and Simple
When sending retail SMS, the messages should be brief and straight to the point. long wordy texts are unpleasant to read on a small phone screen. Stick to 80 characters or less so the deals can be viewed easily.
Make Offers Timely and Relevant
Customers will appreciate texts that are well-timed and pertinent to their needs. For instance, send discounts on items they recently viewed in-store or related product deals based on past purchases. Tailor messages specifically for each subscriber.
Use Holidays and Events for Promos
Major shopping holidays as well as brand events provide opportunities for SMS promo campaigns. Example times include Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Back to School season. Sports team partnerships could lend to ticket deals. Announce sales for increased traffic.
Test Content and Measure Results
It is wise to experiment with various message content and formats. Examine open rates and click-throughs to see what kinds of offers or wording work best. Change things that underperform over time. Continually evaluate the effectiveness of your SMS promotion strategy.
To simplify retail operations and amplify the impact of your mobile messaging, consider relying on Hana as your full-service retail marketing solution. Most importantly, Hana’s innovative POS platform lets you effortlessly launch creative promotional campaigns that drive more traffic and sales straight from customer phones. With our all-in-one system, you gain the tools to build loyal brand advocates through personalized engagements- Sign up FREE today!
