Text Message Advertising (Benefits, Tips, and Definitions)

Marketing is key for businesses to showcase their products and services. But, it can often seem daunting, especially for startups still finding their footing. 

Fortunately, there are simple and effective strategies that can help make your business more visible. One such strategy is SMS marketing, where you send promotions, alerts, and updates directly to people’s phones.

Text message advertising is not only cost-effective but also highly effective because people are frequently on their phones. Therefore, nearly every message sent is almost guaranteed to be seen.

In this article, we’re going to look at how you can integrate text message marketing into your broader strategy.

We’ll also explore the best texting solution that can help automate your messaging efforts to ensure timely communications.

What is Text Message Advertising?

Text message advertising is what happens when you receive a text message from a company trying to sell you something. 

This could be anything from a discount at your favorite clothing store to an alert about a new product from a tech brand you follow.

This type of advertising is effective because it reaches people directly on their mobile devices. It typically works this way:

Businesses collect phone numbers from customers who agree to receive messages through sign-up forms. Or, it could be in stores where customers agree to receive promotional texts. 

Once businesses have these numbers, they can start sending out texts about sales, new products, or other updates. These messages are short and often encourage customers to take some action, like visiting a website or using a discount code.

Benefits of Text Message Advertising

According to SMS Comparison, 48% of customers prefer texting SMS notifications from businesses over other methods. 

It’s also interesting how fast SMS marketing is growing in the U.S. By 2025, it’s expected to reach about $12.6 billion, with a growth rate of 20.3% each year. This shows how increasingly important text marketing is becoming for businesses.

Text message advertising is highly effective for several reasons:

• Boasts high open rates, with around 98% of texts being read
• Quick delivery of messages, which is ideal for timely promotions or urgent updates 
• It can be easily integrated with other marketing channels
• Helps promote customer loyalty through regular updates, personalized offers, and birthday discounts

Types of Messages in Text Message Advertising

Text message advertising isn’t limited to just one type of message. Depending on your goals, you can send different types of messages to engage your audience:

1. Promotional messages: Designed to drive sales or conversions such as discounts, special offers, and flash sales
2. Transactional messages: Provide important information related to a transaction, such as order confirmations, shipping notifications, and appointment reminders
3. Informational messages: Used to inform customers about important updates, such as changes in store hours, new product launches, or upcoming events.

Key Elements of a Successful Text Message Advertising Campaign

There are things you must consider to run a successful text message marketing campaign. From crafting a compelling message to ensuring compliance with regulations, each component plays a role in the overall effectiveness of your campaign. 

Crafting Compelling and Concise Messages

While modern SMS isn’t limited to 160 characters, keeping them short and concise helps maintain the reader’s attention. 

You should start with a clear call to action (CTA) that tells recipients what you want them to do, such as “Shop now” or “Use code SAVE20.” To make your message more effective, incorporate a sense of urgency with phrases like “ends tonight” or “limited offer.”

Also, keep the language simple and accessible to avoid complex terms or jargon that might confuse your audience. Adding a personal touch, like addressing recipients by name or referencing their last purchase, can also improve engagement.

Timing and Frequency of Messages

Sending your messages at the right time can impact engagement rates. However, too many messages can lead to opt-outs, while too few might result in missed opportunities. 

The timing of when to send an SMS should be carefully considered based on the audience’s habits and preferences. 

A good rule of thumb is to start with a moderate frequency, such as once or twice a month, and adjust based on the audience’s response and feedback.

Generally, it’s effective to send text messages during hours when people are likely to be alert and attentive but not busy with work or personal obligations. For many audiences, this might be mid-morning or early afternoon. 

If your audience is spread across different regions, it’s also essential to consider time zones. Text messages should be scheduled accordingly to ensure they reach people at appropriate local times.

Using Customer Data to Tailor Messages

You can divide your customer base into groups based on shared characteristics or behaviors. For example, you could segment customers based on their purchase frequency, the types of products they buy, or their geographical location.

You may also send messages triggered by specific customer actions. For example, if a customer abandons a cart in your online store, you could send a reminder or offer a discount to encourage completion of the purchase. 

Similarly, after a purchase, you may send a follow-up SMS asking for feedback or offering related products.

A customer who frequently buys a particular type of product may find it useful to receive promotions and updates related to that category. This increases the likelihood of purchase and shows the customer that you understand their needs.

How to Choose the Right Platform for Text Message Advertising

The best text message marketing software is essential for the success of your SMS campaigns. 

The platform you choose will impact how you create, manage, and analyze your marketing strategies. Therefore, choose one that aligns with your business needs and budget. 

Here’s what to consider when selecting a text message marketing service for SMS marketing:

Ease of Use

A user-friendly platform minimizes the learning curve and technical challenges, allowing you to launch and manage campaigns with minimal effort. 

Textellent uses existing phone numbers to simplify the integration process for transitioning or starting an SMS marketing.

Automation Capabilities

Automation in SMS messaging saves time and ensures consistent communication with customers at critical touchpoints. 

The platform features a comprehensive appointment management tool that automates messaging at various stages of customer interaction, such as for intake forms and appointment reminders.

Segmentation Tools

Effective segmentation allows for tailored messages that resonate more with specific groups, increasing the relevance and impact of each campaign. 

Textellent offers advanced segmentation capabilities based on preferences, history, and actions to achieve highly personalized and targeted messaging strategies.

Integration Options

Seamless integration with existing systems ensures that SMS campaigns complement other marketing efforts and maintain data continuity. 

While robust in its integration capabilities, especially with unique scheduling insights, Textellent does not require integration. It offers flexibility for businesses regardless of their technical setup.

Compliance Features

A top priority in selecting an SMS marketing platform should be its compliance features. Ensuring that the platform adheres to all legal requirements will protect your business from potential legal issues and fines.

Textellent stands out with its advanced compliance features. The platform has been awarded a patent for a new TCPA compliance capability that uses artificial intelligence. This innovative feature helps manage customer consent and ensures that your marketing campaigns comply with legal regulations.

Analytics and Reporting

Access to detailed analytics helps businesses measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions to optimize future efforts. 

Textellent tracks response rates and conversions to provide valuable insights into the performance of SMS campaigns, particularly when links to purchase sites are included.

Additional Key Features of Textellent

• Allows images with MMS for better message engagement— a feature not available on all platforms
• Offers extensive libraries for message templates and media for MMS to easily create attractive and professional messages
• Automates personalized messages immediately upon inquiry and supports intricate drip campaigns for secure appointments and drive sales.

Why Should You Choose Textellent?

Textellent sets itself apart from other text message marketing services by focusing on every step of the customer’s journey, from when they first learn about a business to building long-term loyalty. 

As soon as potential customers show interest, this text message marketing platform responds with personalized messages. It keeps customers interested by sending messages specifically tailored to their interests and past behaviors. 

Textellent also excels at re-engaging customers who might have drifted away by sending targeted messages based on their past interactions. 

Plus, its tools allow you to track the effectiveness of the campaigns and make necessary adjustments.

Best Practices For Effective Text Message Marketing

Effective text message marketing involves strategic planning and execution to ensure your messages are well-received and drive the desired actions. 

Here are some best practices to help you make the most of your SMS marketing efforts:

Adhere to Regulations

Different countries have specific regulations governing SMS marketing. In the U.S., the primary regulation is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). It requires businesses to obtain explicit consent before sending marketing messages and provides guidelines for handling opt-outs.

As part of compliance, you must obtain clear, unambiguous consent from recipients before sending SMS messages. Users should opt-in through a clear affirmative action, such as ticking a box or sending a consent message.

Obtain Explicit Consent

When asking for consent, be clear about what the customer is signing up for. Specify the types of messages they will receive, such as promotions, updates, or news. This transparency helps build trust and ensures customers know what to expect.

You can use an active opt-in mechanism where customers must take a specific action to show their consent. This can be through:

• Signing up via a form on your website: Include a checkbox (not pre-checked) that users can select to opt-in to SMS messages
• Text-to-join campaigns: Customers can send a keyword to a shortcode (e.g., text “JOIN” to 12345) to subscribe to messages
• Point of sale sign-ups: Customers can opt-in through forms available at physical locations or during the checkout process

Keep a record of when and how consent was obtained. This documentation is essential for compliance purposes and useful if consent is ever disputed.

Respect Opt-Out Requests

When customers decide they no longer wish to receive messages from you, they can typically opt out by sending a simple keyword like “STOP.”

Automated systems should be able to instantly update your messaging list to ensure no further messages are sent to the customer.

Once an opt-out request is received and processed, it is possibleto send a final confirmation message to acknowledge that the customer will no longer receive messages, but it is not required.

Sometimes, customers may mistakenly opt-out or wish to resume receiving messages after opting out. Provide a simple way for them to opt back in if they choose to do so. 

This could be managed through a keyword like “START” or they might need to sign up again through your initial opt-in procedure.

Create Compelling, Compliant SMS Campaigns with Textellent

Are you looking to refine your text message marketing strategy? Textellent ensures compliance with AI-driven tools that keep your campaigns within regulatory boundaries.

Understanding that each customer segment is different, Textellent provides advanced personalization tools. 

These allow you to customize your communications based on individual preferences and behaviors.

Whether it’s a time-sensitive offer or an invitation to a special event, this texting solution makes it simple to align your messages with your audience’s expectations.

If you’re ready to see how effective your text message advertising can be, explore Textellent today. Sign up for a free trial or schedule a demo consultation today.

FAQs About Text Message Advertising

What specific documentation should be maintained for SMS compliance?

Maintain detailed records of consent, message logs, customer interactions related to opt-ins and opt-outs, and any communications regarding customer preferences. 

How often should I send marketing texts to my customers?

The frequency of text messaging should be balanced to keep customers informed without overwhelming them. Typically, sending one to two messages per month is effective, but this can vary based on your industry and customer preferences.

How does the CTIA differ from the FCC in regulating SMS marketing?

While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a government regulatory body that enforces laws like the TCPA, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) is an industry association that provides best practices and guidelines to its members.

The CTIA’s guidelines complement FCC regulations by promoting ethical marketing practices and responsible use of messaging technologies among its members.