Monday 25 March 2013

Retailers Benefit from Text Marketing Efforts

Connecting with consumers is easier than ever for retailers while using text marketing. Let’s back it up a little - everyone knows how to send a text message. In fact, people love to read them! You can catch people sending and receiving text messages while they are standing in lines, sitting at the bus stop, heck – even sitting at a red light in traffic, although that’s not recommended! It seems as though people can’t get enough of the text message. Businesses are starting to take notice of the trend – even though it’s really not a trend – the technology has been around long enough for everybody to find it simple and familiar. Many businesses are wondering why they haven’t started to use SMS marketing in their efforts sooner.

Retail stores are a perfect fit for the marketing technique. Standard advertising is costly, and ineffective. People are numb to banners, posters, and flyers these days. Print is out - text is in. Paying attention to what people respond to on a daily basis is the key – and savvy business owners are doing just that. By accessing shoppers via text message, retailers are able to reach their customers immediately and much more effectively. Sending mobile coupons is one of the easiest ways for a retailer to get started using text message marketing, everybody loves to receive them and redeem them. Plus, this gives the retailer control – for example, encourage people to come in for a “one-day only” sale to maximize a slow time – or clear out last season’s merchandise by alerting your shoppers about a blowout weekend.

Text message marketing can be taken a few steps further – and this is where the retailer can get creative. Send a link in your text message to your shoppers that links them up to a mobile website. Allow them to take a peek at some incoming merchandise, or a sneak peak at an upcoming sale. Perhaps even allow them to place items on hold or make purchases. Provide loyal shoppers with VIP discounts, and reward them for sending in a friend or two. Remember, text message marketing is a fast and easy way to reach the elusive “word of mouth” reputation that every retailer seeks.

Allow your shoppers to have a little control too – give them the opportunity to choose their database preferences. Don’t send out a message about a sale on dresses to a gentleman who buys jeans at your store, or don’t send out a message about baby items on clearance to a teenager looking to hit the shoe department. Make your messages relevant and to the point. You’ll find yourself with a quickly growing list of loyal shoppers and enjoy staying under your marketing budget with an affordable retail text marketing plan.

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