10 Tips to get you the BEST results with SMS and MMS Marketing

Sending SMS messages can be a great way to stay in touch with your customers and promote your brand using reliable SMS marketing software.

But, like anything else, there are some best practices to follow to ensure that your SMS campaigns, powered by advanced SMS marketing software, are not only opened but also elicit a response.

SMS marketing is most effective because of its striking open rate, which rests at about 97%-99%. With the right strategies in place and the assistance of powerful SMS marketing software, you can maximize your results in just a short period of time.

SMS and MMS Marketing Best Practices

Optimize your messaging strategy with SMS vs MMS best practices. Use SMS for concise texts and leverage MMS for engaging multimedia content. Personalize your messages and drive effective engagement with clear calls to action.

Keep your message short and sweet

Recipients are more likely to read a shorter message than a longer one. The best rule of thumb is to keep your messages short, sweet, and to the point. Longer messages tend to sound spammy and you lose the interest of your reader a lot quicker.

Work on crafting a short and attention-grabbing message. The odds are already in your favor since you know that your message is likely to be opened and read. Keep the momentum going by ensuring you approach your customers in a way that makes them excited about what you are offering which will encourage a reply.

Avoid Spam

Phone carriers scan outgoing messages to check for spam. Plain and simple, messages that sound like spam get flagged as spam and won’t be delivered. When typing your message avoid using all caps.

This is something that spammers often do in their messages, so avoiding it will make your message look more legitimate. Keep your message short and to the point. Spammers often include long, rambling messages in their texts, so keeping yours brief will help it look more legitimate.

Don't include any links. Spammers will often include links in their messages, so avoiding them altogether will help your message look more trustworthy. Avoid “spammy keywords and phrases” such as open enrollment, PPO, Reply yes for a quote, health advisor, etc. 

Check your spelling before sending your message

Nothing is worse than sending a message with a typo!

Before hitting send on your next message, be sure to double-check your spelling! It's always better to proofread before you hit send, so you can avoid any embarrassing mistakes.

Use emojis sparingly

Emojis are great for adding a bit of personality to your message, but too many can be distracting and hard to read. Use them sparingly and only when they add value to your message.

Make sure your contact information is up to date

This includes your phone number, email address, and social media accounts. It's important to keep your contact information updated so that customers can easily get in touch with you.

By keeping your contact information current, you're ensuring that your customers can always reach you when they need to. So take a few moments to update your contact information today. It'll make a world of difference for your customers!

Respond to messages promptly

Customers appreciate quick replies, so try to respond to messages as soon as possible. If you can't reply right away, let the customer know when they can expect a response. When it comes to SMS messaging, the main idea is for instant communication so be sure when you initiate a conversation you are available to continue it.

Nothing is worse than a customer responding to you, and you aren't available to respond back. This can cause the customer to lose interest and not respond the next time you reach out.

Personalize your messages

Customers appreciate it when you take the time to personalize your messages. When it comes to customer engagement, personalization is key.

Your customers want to feel like they're your top priority, and one of the best ways to show that is through personalized SMS messages. With a little bit of creativity, you can easily add a personal touch to your SMS messages that will make your customers smile.

Here are a few examples:

• Address your customer by name. This is the most basic form of personalization, but it can make a big difference.
• Refer to something specific that your customer has done or purchased from you in the past. This shows that you remember them and value their business.
• Ask your customer how their day is going. This simple act of showing interest in their day-to-day life will make them feel special and can create a strong bond between you and your customer.
• Send your customer a birthday or holiday greeting. This is a great way to show that you are thinking of them and care about them as a person, not just a customer.
• Give your customer a shout-out. If they've done something impressive or made a positive impact on your business, let them know with a public shout-out via SMS.
• Send your customers a special offer that is tailored just for them. This could be based on their past purchase history or something that you know they are interested in.

By personalizing your SMS messages, you'll be able to better connect with your customers and build deeper relationships with them. 

Personalized messages show that you value your customers and are interested in building a relationship with them. Simple measures such as these can increase engagement by more than 46%! So be sure to keep it personal.

Use message templates

Message templates can help you save time when sending SMS and MMS messages. Message templates can help you save time when sending SMS and MMS messages. Instead of typing out each message individually, you can create a template with common elements and insert variable information (like names or locations) where needed.

You can create templates for common messages, such as appointment reminders, and then easily customize them for each customer. Message templates can be a great way to stay organized and efficient when sending SMS and MMS messages.

Use keywords wisely

Choose your keywords carefully to ensure that your message is relevant and targeted. Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions to help improve your visibility in search engines.

Compliance

Last but not least, you need to ensure that you are complying with TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) regulations when it comes to SMS Marketing. Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations established by TCPA before beginning any SMS marketing. 

Conclusion

SMS and MMS messaging is a quick and easy way to stay in touch with your customers. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your messages are not only received and read but also get a reply. So go ahead and give SMS marketing a try! You may be surprised at the results you achieve.

Still, have questions about SMS marketing? Our team of experts is here to help. Contact us today to learn more.