90% of people read their text messages, while only 20% open new emails.
So, you’re right to consider focusing more on SMS marketing to boost brand awareness. You’re certain that people will read your promotional SMSs, which will boost leads. However, if done incorrectly, SMS marketing can be detrimental to your business.
Some people can block your business number to stop receiving promotional messages.
So, how can you mitigate these problems and get a positive SMS marketing ROI?
To help you out, here are eight common SMS marketing mistakes to avoid for your business.
1. SMS Spamming
One of the worst SMS marketing mistakes businesses make is sending text messages without consent. Some people report the businesses to authorities for SMS spamming when this happens. Others start refusing to share their contact details with companies as they fear getting unsolicited ads.
Always seek consent before sending out any promotional text messages to avoid this mistake. Besides, give people the option to opt out if they don’t want to receive SMSs from your businesses. Finally, educate your customers on the option of using temporary phone numbers.
Although this, on the surface, looks like a bad thing, it’s actually a great thing for your business. By sending out SMS to temporary phone numbers, you help customers separate personal and business text messages. So, they’re more likely to read your promotional messages and respond positively.
So, share resources like Tardigrada.io to help them on how to access these temporary phone numbers.
2. Sending the Same Message Repeatedly
Coming up with new and creative topics for messages is challenging for many enterprises. And that’s why most of them make the mistake of sending out the same text over and over again. The problem is that some people start getting tired of reading the same text message.
These people often block your company’s phone to stop receiving this message. When this happens, your company’s contact list shrinks, and you miss out on the power of SMS marketing. To avoid this mistake, you must develop an SMS marketing strategy.
You want to develop a plan that directs you on developing engaging topics for messages. The idea is to send out different marketing texts each time, thereby boosting customer engagement.
3. Sending Too Many SMSs at the Same Time
To grab people’s attention, businesses send out too many SMSs simultaneously. They hope that the recipient will read of them and respond positively. Unfortunately, people find it annoying when they receive multiple text messages from the same company at the same time.
And that’s why they delete all these messages without reading them. To avoid this mistake, send one text message at a time. Besides, develop intervals for sending out new marketing messages.
4. Sending Text Messages Outside of Business Hours
Most businesses don’t know when to text customers, and that’s why they send SMSs outside of business hours. They assume that people are likely to read these messages during these periods. Yet, this is not the case, as it’s unprofessional to send out promotional text messages late at night.
Most people are often tired and skim through your text message during this period. So, there’s a high chance they’ll miss out on key points and are less likely to take any action. Avoid this mistake by researching the best times to text customers.
Show your professionalism by sending out text messages within business hours.
5. Skipping a Welcome SMS
When you get a new customer, you need to send them a welcome text message. The idea is to appreciate them for choosing your company. It’s, therefore, a mistake to skip the welcome text message.
And that’s why customers find it awkward when they start sending them promotional messages weeks later. To avoid this mistake, draft a creative and engaging welcome text for customers. The idea is to send out this message to all your new customers.
6. Focusing Solely on Generating Sales
Marketing with texts is only effective when you don’t overdo it. So, it’s unfortunate to see businesses pushing these brands hard using SMS marketing. These companies send multiple messages asking people to buy their products or services.
The problem is that sending too many marketing texts leads to overselling. And that’s why most people feel that your company’s products don’t meet their expectations. To avoid this mistake, understand that SMS marketing is more than selling.
It’s a tool to help you boost brand awareness and trust. So, don’t push too hard with SMS marketing, as this will backfire. Learn to take breaks from SMS marketing and give people time to miss your brand.
7. Skipping A/B Testing
Most businesses assume that they should only conduct A/B testing when launching apps. And that’s why they feel it’s a waste of money to carry out this test on SMS marketing. Yet, skipping the A/B testing is a fatal error that makes it hard to reach out to potential customers.
These companies end up sending irrelevant and boring text messages, which most people ignore. To avoid this error, you need to carry out A/B testing to guide you in developing an effective SMS marketing strategy. You want to test out different message content before sending it out to potential customers.
8. Sending Text Messages Without CTAs
It’s a mistake to send out marketing messages without a call to action (CTA). All your messages need to wrap up by directing the reader to take some action. You can direct them to visit your company’s website for more information.
That’s why you need to take time to learn how to write an effective CTA. You want a CTA that creates urgency and fosters curiosity.
Avoid SMS Marketing Mistakes to Boost Business Leads
To leverage the power of text messages, you must avoid the above SMS marketing mistakes. So, avoid sending spam text messages as this will hurt your brand. Besides, come up with many creative topics for messages to avoid sending the same text repeatedly.
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