• For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
  • New Suppliers
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Saturday, April 1
  • Subscribe
  • Submit Content
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Advertise
    • Display Advertising
    • Email Marketing Campaigns
    • Newsletter Advertising
    • Sponsored Content
    • Lead Generation Services
  • Top Product Sources
Facebook Twitter Instagram
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
  • For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
  • New Suppliers
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
Home»For Buyers»Retail News»6 Best Practices for Retail SMS Messaging
Retail News

6 Best Practices for Retail SMS Messaging

PublisherBy PublisherDecember 28, 20214 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email
woman getting a text on her phone

by Shannon Flynn

More retailers are utilizing SMS messaging to engage their customers and update them on everything from new arrivals to order statuses. Text messages are one of the most direct ways of contacting a target audience. 

Recent research shows about 75 percent of consumers signed up for text messages from brands in the past twelve months. With more shoppers using their smartphones frequently, SMS marketing is one of the best ways to get in front of the competition. SMS messaging is fairly easy to grasp, and be sure to avoid annoying subscribers. Follow these best practices for success:

1. Get an Opt-In

Do not try to trick the audience into signing up for messages. Make sure the opt-in is clear and users know the type of messages they will receive. SMS can be spammy just like any other type of marketing, so avoid even the appearance of spamming people to keep your reputation positive. Ideally, those who opt in will read the text messages and engage with sales, new arrivals, and special offers. 

2. Embrace Rich Messaging

Although text messages sent to a cellular device are still popular, rich messaging is gaining momentum. Rich messaging does not necessarily need a cellular connection. Additional features of the format include the ability to chat with groups, track chats, and send read receipts. This type of messaging boosts consumer engagement through chats and loyalty programs. The systems can even incorporate ordering and payment into the messaging system. 

3. Space Messages Out

Text messaging is immediate, which means users get your marketing in an instant. Unfortunately, the messages can also interrupt another conversation they are having, go off during a meeting, or otherwise distract the user. The last thing small businesses want is to send so many messages that the potential customers stop communication and mark the brand down as too spammy to deal with, so be sure to space your messages out. If a business owner runs a little retail shop, how often does the store get new products? Perhaps they can highlight just the most interesting ones and send a single message with an image and note about it all at one time. 

4. Remember Disclaimers

There are always consumers who want to take advantage of small businesses. A little shop may not have the legal counsel of a big corporation. It is easy to leave out important disclaimers about how a promotion works or what happens if inventory runs out, so make sure any special offers have a small disclaimer included to cover such scenarios. 

5. Text at the Right Time

Pay attention to the demographics of the audience. If most are located in a single state, then issues such as time zones do not matter. On the other hand, if people subscribe to an online store from across the globe, making sure messages go out at appropriate times becomes vital. As a rule of thumb, send messages after 9am and before 9pm. Avoid busy times such as commuting and dinner. For those who own brick-and-mortar stores, consider peak customer visits and try to send just before those windows to encourage a visit. Some researchers believe businesses should segment their lists and then send between 9am and noon or 5pm and 9pm on weekdays and between 10am and noon on weekends. 

6. Watch the Language

Messages should have a conversational tone and match the language users most frequently engage in. Are there any industry terms clients might be familiar with? Stick with headlines to grab attention, such as action verbs and descriptive words, and try to make imagery as concrete as possible. For example, “New Arrivals” is not nearly as catchy a headline as “Grab our White Winter Gear Before It Flies Off Shelves.” Play around with the wording until it is concise and grabs attention. People use natural language patterns. Discover some of these by seeking out the search terms bringing people to the website in the first place. Talk to customers to get a feel for the language they use. 

It is okay to think outside the box. SMS messaging is still a young marketing method, and the only way to figure out what works best for a brand is to try different things. Keep the ones with a good response and lose the ones with a poor response. 

customer loyalty smart phones
Share. Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAromar is the Leader in Oil Diffusers
Next Article Sustainability Reigning Retail

Related Posts

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

January 24, 2023

Technology to Prepare Your Store for the Future

January 19, 2023

2023 Retail Success Guide

January 5, 2023
Sign Up for Buyer Updates
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Latest Posts

Top Wholesale Pet Supplies

March 31, 2023

Amazon Return Pallets For Sale: How to Profit

March 20, 2023

2023 Wholesale Apparel Trends

March 14, 2023

Top Wholesale Easter Products

February 27, 2023

The Future of Sustainable Manufacturing is a Hybrid Approach

February 23, 2023

Make Money with Foreign-Trade Zones

February 22, 2023
how-to
Wholesale 101 for Buyers

Amazon Return Pallets For Sale: How to Profit

March 20, 202311 Mins Read

A big trend among some online sellers is buying Amazon return pallets and overstock and…

Product News

Overstock Liquidations

January 25, 20236 Mins Read

Overstock inventory refers to the excess goods or merchandise that a retailer has on hand…

Retail News

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

January 24, 202310 Mins Read

Are you ready for tax season? April 18 is approaching quickly, and many day-to-day decisions…

Wholesale 101 for Buyers

How to Create a Google Business Profile

January 18, 20236 Mins Read

Looking for new ways to get your brand noticed? Creating a Google Business Profile can…

  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Find Wholesale Sources
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Follow Us:

Copyright © 2023. Sumner Communications, Inc..

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.