Using Texting to Close More Business: The Ultimate Guide
By
Grace Moulton
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I. Introduction
A texting revolution for business
Let's face it: We're all glued to our phones these days.
And while some may see this as the downfall of society, businesses can actually use it to their advantage. So, why not ride the wave of technology and embrace the power of texting?
This little game changer is transforming how we communicate with clients, making it faster, more convenient, and even a tad more fun.
What makes texting such a speedy option
These three stats should catch your attention:
Stat 1- Read Immediately: It's mind-blowing that a whopping 90% of texts are read within the first 3 minutes of delivery.1 Talk about fast!
Stat 2- Immediate Responses: People take a mere 90 seconds to respond to a text message, while it takes them an average of 90 minutes for an email.2 Time is money, folks!
Stat 3- High Response Rates: With a 45% response rate, texting leaves emails in the dust (emails only have a 6% response rate).3
Clients prefer it
Here’s what your soon-to-be clients are saying:
Stat 1 - Consumers prefer it: Turns out, 89% of consumers would rather text businesses than chat on the phone.4 Who knew?
Stat 2 - Increase accessibility: Good news! 64% of consumers think businesses that text are more accessible and responsive.5
Stat 3 - Cater to Millenials and Gen Z: Younger generations are especially keen on texting, with 77% of people aged 18-34 giving it the thumbs up for business communication.6
The proof is in the pudding: text open-rate stats
Texting is the future and emails are a thing of the past:
Most recent statistic: Hold onto your hats—text messages have a jaw-dropping open rate of 98%, leaving emails in the dust at just 20%.7
Over time: In the last decade, text message open rates have consistently outperformed email open rates, and this gap is only getting wider as texting becomes more popular.
II. Best Practices for Using Texting to Close More Business
It's all in the timing and frequency
When it comes to texting, timing can make or break your business. Here are some tips to keep in mind when reaching out:
Timing is everything: Respect your customers' personal time—don't send texts too early or too late.
Quick on the draw: Aim to reply to texts within 5 minutes; faster response times are key to higher conversion rates.
Don't be a text pest: Limit your communication to a few texts per day or week, depending on your relationship with the client.
The art of the follow-up: Strategically implement follow-up texts after phone calls, meetings, or after a set period of no contact.
Time to test: Experiment with different send times to find the sweet spot for your target audience.
Add a personal touch
When using texting as a business-closing strategy, it’s important to build rapport with your customers. Here are five tips to do just that!
First-name basis: Address your customers by their name to create a sense of familiarity and warmth.
Make it personal: Customize your messages to cater to your clients' unique interests or pain points.
Know your history: Use past interactions and transaction history to make personalized recommendations.
Celebrate good times: Send customized texts on birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays to let your customers know you're thinking of them.
Loyalty pays: Reward loyal customers with tailored promotions and discounts.
The lowdown on effective SMS templates for sales
Not sure where to start? We’ve included some examples just for you below:
Appointment reminder: "Hey [Name], quick heads up: your appointment with [Company] is scheduled for [Date] at [Time]. Can't wait to see you!"
Promotion: "Psst, [Name]! Our annual sale is happening now! Save up to 50% on select items. Use code TEXT50 at checkout. Happy shopping: [URL]!"
Abandoned cart: "Oops, [Name]! Looks like you left something in your cart. Here's a 10% off coupon to sweeten the deal: CART10. Claim it here: [URL]"
Re-engagement: "Long time no see, [Name]! We've missed you! Here's a special 15% off coupon just for you: WELCOME15. Start shopping now: [URL]"
Webinar invitation: "Hey [Name], we're hosting a fantastic webinar on [Topic]! Grab your seat now and learn from the pros: [URL]"
III. Building a Successful Texting Strategy
The building blocks of success: goals and tracking
We’ve listed some important terms to keep in mind when using texting to close more business:
Lead generation: Set your sights on how many new leads you'll get through texting.
Conversion rate: Keep an eye on the percentage of text recipients who take the plunge and become paying customers.
Customer retention: Monitor how your texting mojo helps maintain long-lasting customer relationships.
Upselling and cross-selling: Measure how texting boosts the average cash spent per customer through additional sales.
Customer satisfaction: Gauge the impact your texting strategy has on overall happiness and brand love.
A match made in marketing heaven: integrating texting
Texting is like the cherry on top of your marketing sundae, and it can be easily integrated into various aspects of a business's marketing strategy. Think advertising, email marketing, website marketing, promotional marketing, outbound calling, and customer relationship management. Make sure you have a cohesive, multi-channel approach to reach customers at every turn.
The legal side of things: compliance and texting
When it comes to text messaging, different countries have their own rules and regulations, like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the U.S., Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. Stay in the know and play by the rules to avoid any legal hiccups.
IV. Responding to Texting
Sorting through the chaos: organizing inbound texts
Categorize inbound texts into neat little groups like inbound ad leads, website visitors, warm prospects, and scheduled service deliveries. This will help you prioritize your responses and keep your communication pipeline flowing smoothly.
Your secret weapon: tools for organizing inbound texts
There are some nifty platforms available to help businesses manage and organize inbound text messages, like Zendesk, Textline, and Front. These tools can streamline your communication process with automated responses, conversation assignments, and tracking overall performance.
Three popular text communication platforms worth checking out
We’ve listed a few platforms that will aid you in using texting to close more business:
Twilio: This versatile platform offers API-driven messaging services, making it a cinch to integrate SMS functionality into your existing systems.
SimpleTexting: A user-friendly service focused on mass texting that comes with a boatload of features like autoresponders, scheduled messages, and analytics.
TextMagic: A comprehensive texting solution that provides both one-way and two-way messaging, alongside tools for contact management, automation, and reporting.
V. Measuring the Impact of Texting on Sales
The fabulous eight: key metrics to track
Total messages sent
Open rate
Click-through rate
Conversion rate
Response rate
Time to response
Customer satisfaction score
Cha-ching: revenue generated per text message
A measuring stick for success: tools
To keep tabs on your texting campaigns, tap into analytics platforms like Twilio, SimpleTexting, and TextMagic, which offer built-in reporting and analytics tools. You can also use third-party analytics software like Google Analytics to keep an even closer eye on your texting performance and dig into those juicy metrics.
Texting tales: three success stories
We’ve compiled a list of business across multiple sectors that are using texting to close more business:
Retail Business: A small boutique saw a 15% increase in foot traffic by offering exclusive discounts via text messages to subscribers. In addition, their online sales skyrocketed by 25%, all thanks to their tailored and targeted SMS promotions.
Dental Practice: By implementing a text-based appointment reminder system, a dental clinic reduced no-shows by an astounding 60%. Patients appreciated the convenience, and the clinic saved time and money by filling canceled appointments more efficiently.
Tech Company: A software firm boosted its customer satisfaction scores by 20% after introducing a texting-based support channel. The company found that they could resolve customer issues more quickly, leading to happier clients and a stronger brand reputation.
VI. Conclusion
The final word on texting for sales
Texting is more than just a way to chat with friends—it's a powerhouse tool for businesses to connect with customers, drive sales, and foster meaningful relationships. By mastering the art of texting and using the right communication platform, you'll be well on your way to closing more business and delighting your customers.
Take the plunge: GetNotifi.com
Ready to give your texting strategy a turbo boost? Check out GetNotifi.com, a cutting-edge communication platform tailored to small businesses. With a user-friendly interface, powerful features, and in-depth analytics, GetNotifi.com will help you harness the power of texting and propel your business to new heights. So, what are you waiting for? Try GetNotifi.com today and experience the difference!
