Black Friday is one of the most expected times of the year for both retailers and millions of consumers. Customers are normally ready to spend, and brands get the opportunity to break sales records. But with so much competition, how can you ensure that your message gets across? One of the most effective ways to cut through today is SMS marketing.
But that doesn’t mean sending text messages and hoping for the best. You must think of efficient SMS strategies, especially in this period, to guarantee high open and conversion rates. And to help you with that, here is an article full of tips by Pontaltech, an authority on the subject.
In this content, we’re going to talk about what SMS marketing is, and its benefits for Black Friday. We will also help you in the preparation of good SMS marketing strategies, sharing with you some best practices in order for your campaign to be a success. Come with us!
What is SMS marketing, and how does this channel work?
SMS marketing uses text to communicate offers, promotions, reminders, or updates directly to the customers’ mobile devices. With about a 98% open rate, much higher qatar mobile phone number list than other communication channels such as email, SMS has become a power tool for companies that intend to reach consumers quickly and effectively.
Technical steps to send and receive SMS are several in number. The process is initiated from composing messages to delivering them to the final recipients. The following is a comprehensive overview of what takes place once you decide to communicate with your customers through SMS marketing.
Creation of the message:
It is the very step where your company initiates creating message content, which is usually limited to 160 characters.
Sending to a Gateway: After creation, this message is sent to a platform that acts like an interface between your company and the mobile operator.
Carrier-based delivery: here, the carrier checks for the availability of the customer’s mobile phone and then delivers the message. In case the phone is switched off or out of reach, the SMS is queued in the system until the device becomes available.
Message delivery: Once the carrier locates the device, we deliver the message to the mobile phone, and the SMS appears in the text message inbox of your customers.
Delivery Confirmation -optional:
Most SMS platforms allow you to request a delivery confirmation.
Receiving and reading: customers can interact qatar consumer emails list with the message by clicking on links or responding, depending on the purpose of the campaign.
Benefits of SMS Marketing on Black Friday
Now that we’ve reviewed what SMS marketing is, let’s talk a little more in depth about the advantages of investing in this communication channel during Black Friday, a period where response time is essential. Check it out:
High open rate:
Most text messages are opened within a few minutes of being sent, ensuring your promotions are seen at the right time.
Immediacy: It allows sending offers in real time, whether you want to announce a flash sale or remind your customers that the offer is about to end.
Personalization: Text messages can be personalized with the customer’s name or exclusive offers, increasing engagement and chances of conversion.
Cost-effective: Compared to other forms of advertising, SMS is relatively inexpensive and offers an excellent return on investment, especially during Black Friday dt data when sales volumes are high and customers’ attention is at a premium.
How to prepare good SMS Marketing strategies?
Now that you know the benefits, it’s time to prepare your SMS marketing campaign for Black Friday. Following are the key
steps to take to ensure your SMS strategy is effective:
Segment your contact list
Not all customers have the same interests or are at the same stage of the buying journey, so you should filter your contact list based on past purchasing behavior, interests, or geographic location. Then you would be able to send more relevant offers, which increases your SMS conversion rate
Create a sense of urgency
Black Friday is synonymous with limited-time deals, so prod the customers for urgency: “For 1 hour only: 50% off sitewide!” This creates a sense of urgency and motivates customers to make quick decisions.
Amplify your Black Friday campaign impact by using SMS in conjunction with other channels. For example, remind customers of an offer via SMS that they might have seen in an email. This can make for an integrated marketing experience that reinforces your message.
Test before date
Black Friday is too big an event to leave everything to the last minute. A/B test your messages before the big day to find out which offers, words, or format generates the most engagement. This will ensure going into the event with the best Black Friday SMS strategy possible.