People prefer to text instead of talking on the phone these days. It’s important for small businesses to take advantage of this trend for their own benefit. As a small business, you can gather phone numbers from customers and reach out to them when you have something to say. Here are some of the ways that small businesses can benefit from text messaging.

1. Direct communication

One of the main reasons you want to use texts to communicate is that people actually open and read their texts compared to email or more expensive direct mail. Think about all of the emails you have unopened or that automatically go to your “junk” or “spam” folder. Now think of how many unopened texts you have. You likely have more unopened emails. In fact, it’s estimated that customers open 98% of the texts sent to them. This is especially true if the text comes from a local number instead of a promotional number. Plus, people always have their phones on them. Not everyone looks at their personal email throughout the day, but people will notice a text. Most of the time, you’ll reach your customer or patient within minutes.

2. It’s simple

Managing text messages to multiple people is easy. Text messages are easy to write. Just make sure you capture the reader’s attention in the first couple of words then get straight to the point. If you take to long, a reader could get inpatient and just ignore the message.
It’s also simple to manage mass messaging. Divide your customers in a number of different groups. For example, one group could be people you haven’t heard from in a long time. Another group could be people who have appointments with you. Yet another group could be people who have expressed interest but never moved forward. Write a unique message for each situation to help personalize the message. Then you will automate the message to go out at the appropriate time.

3. Manage appointments

When you schedule an appointment with someone, it’s crucial for you and that person to adhere to that appointment. A missed appointment means you lose out on money. Sure, you probably have a missed appointment fee, but it’s better if you communicate about the appointment to confirm it beforehand to eliminate missed appointments. Use texting to reach out to people to remind them about their appointment. If they need to make a change, tell them how to do that. If they want to confirm the appointment, tell them how to do that, too.
As an example, medical practices could use texting to notify patients that canceled appointments during the COVID and remind them to reschedule.

4. Reconnect with past customers

It is significantly less expensive to retain current customers than it is to acquire new customers. Messaging is a way to do this. Reach out to people who used your services once before to send them an exclusive offer to get them back in the door. People have busy lives, and they may have forgotten about what a good experience they had with you. That one text message is a simple way to remind people what you can do for them. If they feel like they are getting an exclusive deal, they will be even more likely to come back.

5. Track results

one of the best things about mass messaging is that it is easy to track. You will be able to see how many people read your messages and how many people used coupon codes in those messages through simple to use software. As you track things, you can make changes to use messaging as effectively as possible.

6. Better customer service

People like easy customer service. What is easier than a text message? Send out surveys to get feedback about a customer’s experience. They will be able to rate their experience, or they will be able to contact you about a problem if necessary. Customers appreciate when you are proactive and care enough to reach out to them to ask their opinion. Be sure to review the answers and make changes accordingly. After a customer has made a purchase text a request for a review on your Google My Business account.

7. Inexpensive

Marketing is an expensive part of running a business. It’s important to find effective marketing techniques that are also inexpensive. Text messaging is one of the most inexpensive and effective marketing techniques out there. The software is relatively inexpensive. Since the process is easy and doesn’t take much time, labor costs less, too. If you manage the messaging yourself, you won’t have to spend very much at all.

8. Customers get an option

Customers like to have an input on how they communicate with you. the people who do prefer text will be able to make that decision. It makes the customer feel like they have control. It once again makes the customer feel like you appreciate what they want. If for some reason a customer doesn’t want to communicate via text, they can also opt-out at any time.

9. Communicate your way

You get to create the message you send out to your customers. You decide the tone you want to use as well as what you want to say. You have creative freedom as well as the flexibility to change your message whenever you want. Naturally, you want to keep all messages professional. Be sure to proofread. You should also be thoughtful if sending pictures or other sorts of media.

10. Word of mouth

When you send a message to someone while they are with other people, they may tell the people around them about it. If your text message contains something of value, other people may want to sign up, too. You may be able to generate word of mouth marketing without saying a word yourself. All it takes is the beep of a message on someone’s phone.
You probably text every day, but you may not have realized how beneficial it could be to your small business. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, you can find a use for text message marketing. Learn more today.