Finding new and innovative ways to reach your customers is likely always at the top of your priority list as a retailer. After all, without customers to buy your products, your business won’t last very long. This means taking the time to research new marketing methods and find what approaches work best for the company. If you have yet to try text marketing for retail, you could be missing out on a valuable resource to connect with your customers, drive sales, and share updates regarding your products.
To learn more about text marketing for retail and how it can work for your business, continue reading below!
What is text message marketing?
Whether you know it as text message marketing or peer to peer texting, this is a powerful tool that can be very beneficial to helping you connect with your customers. You can use it to have real time, two-way conversations with your subscribers. In fact, it is the customer’s most preferred method of communication from retailers! In 160 characters or less, you can quickly and effectively share updates, send out information on upcoming sales or events, and even offer exclusive discounts or coupon codes.
By the Numbers
Peer to peer texting is highly effective, but don’t just take our word for it! The proof can be found in the stats. Let’s break it down by the numbers to get a closer look at text marketing for retail:
- P2P texting has a 98% open rate compared to the mere 20% for email marketing
- Your text messages will have a 45% response rate compared to other marketing techniques such as Facebook, phone, or email
- Customers typically respond in 90 seconds or less, which is extremely high considering email marketing has a 90 minute response time
- You can expect 10x the amount of coupons redeemed compared to traditional print coupon programs
5 Ways P2P Texting Can Enhance Engagement
Now that you have background information on P2P texting, it’s vital to understand exactly how to use it. The key to using text marketing for retailers is to ensure that you are taking the right approach. There are several great ways you can enhance your customer engagement, and our MudShare team has compiled a list of our favorites!
#1.) Communicate With Customers
Does it ever feel as though your emails are winding up in spam folders or that your social media posts are falling short? This is bound to happen to everyone at some point, and that’s where text message marketing can come in handy. When sending a quick message to a customer’s phone, you can quickly engage them in a conversation. You can inquire about their satisfaction regarding a recent purchase, ask them to take a quick survey, or receive their valued input on a future product.
#2.) Show Your Appreciation
In this fast paced society, something as simple as a ‘thank you’ gets overlooked too often. While there is value in branching out and reaching a wider audience, don’t forget to take care of your current customers. It’s their loyalty that will help you in the long run by building your brand and establishing a solid reputation in your industry. A simple text message can really make a customer’s day and show them that you care about their patronage. To go the extra mile, consider offering an exclusive coupon code or a certain percentage off of their next purchase.
#3.) Share Promotions and Discounts
Whatever line of business you work in, there is bound to be a reason to offer a sale or promotional discount. For example, if you are a sporting goods retailer and a popular team just won the championship game, you could offer all of your text subscribers a discount on that team’s merchandise. Or if you just so happen to receive an over shipment on a particular good that you sell, send out a text message giving your subscribers BOGO on that item. Taking advantage of these kinds of instances can help you make the most of your text marketing efforts while also increasing your sales.
#4.) Bolster Foot Traffic
If you run a brick and mortar store, foot traffic is likely the bread and butter of your operation. By offering exclusive sales, such as those mentioned above, you can help to ensure that your customers add stopping at your store to their next round of errands. The more you see a customer in-store, the more familiar they will become to you and vice versa. This kind of personal relationship is truly valuable, especially for small or family owned businesses.
#5.) Collect Data
Whenever you try a new marketing strategy, you want to collect data to make sure that your efforts are not fruitless. P2P texting allows you to gather real-time analytics and see who is opening your messages and how often. This can allow you to better optimize your text marketing approach and ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment.
MudShare: Text Marketing for Retail
Knowing how to approach texting marketing for retail might seem overwhelming at first, but rest assured, the pros are here to help! Here at MudShare, our team is here to help you every step of the way. Whether you want to amplify your brick and mortar location, boost online traffic, or simply overall increase your customer engagement, we have everything you need to meet these goals. You can opt to use our platform as self-service or you can instead have our agents assist you in a full-service setting, whichever works best for you!
Also, know that when you hire our team, you can rest assured that we are fully compliant with the latest TCPA regulations, giving both you and your customers peace of mind. Allow us to provide the peer to peer texting platform that will elevate your overall marketing strategy to the next level. To find out more about MudShare, our platform, and how we can bolster your customer’s retail experience, contact us today!
