How to Make a Direct Connection with Mobile Marketing

By Sophorn Chhay

Engagement. As marketers that is our goal, to reach our customers, get them engaged, and forge a relationship between them and our brand. It is important to make a direct connection with our customers and one of the best ways to do that is with mobile marketing.

SMS is an exceptional way to engage with your customers and get relevant marketing material in front of them at the right time. Mobile marketing can be difficult at first, but with a great service you can really take your mobile marketing strategy to the next level. Start using these best practices today to get your customers engaged via SMS.

Begin with authorization.

Before you send your first text message get your customers’ authorization. This works on several levels. First, it gives your customer a sense of security doing business with you and keeps the door open for you to continue marketing to them. Second, it keeps you from annoying them. According to an infographic by Visual Contenting, 95 percent of respondents were annoyed when they received texts from senders who had not first requested permission to do so.

Understand your audience.

Get to know your audience. Sure, you’ve heard that over and over, but it is absolutely vital here. If you remember consumer attitudes toward email when it was just becoming a marketing tool, we are seeing the same thing playing out with SMS. Make sure that the offers or messages you send are in line with your audience’s interests. This means that you are going to have to do a little homework and make an effort to tailor your messages to the customers who opt in for them. When a customer receives an offer that they did not sign up for or does not interest them they tend to lose trust in the message – and in the brand. If they have trouble opting out, it’s even worse.

Use social media to build your list.

Your social media accounts can be invaluable in building your list. Use them to promote your mobile marketing, enticing them with SMS list exclusive offers. Include an opt in form on your website or have your site visitors text to your number to opt in for deals and specials. Invite customers to write testimonials in guest posts to your blog. If they mention that they got the great deals by clicking on a link from one of your texts – well, that is all the better.

Make it personal.

Personalized email marketing has some good numbers behind it; we know that it works. As mobile marketing comes into its own, we are seeing the value in personalizing those messages as well. This encourages engagement with the customer and gives them a sense of belonging to something. When you pair that personalization with relevant, timely offers it makes them feel valued and recognized. In short, taking the personal approach makes them feel connected to your brand.

Get closer with geo-location.

What would your customer do if they were at a store, shopping, and they received a text offering them a coupon for a meal at your restaurant – which happened to be next door? That is what geo-location does, it allows you to market not only to the customer, but it makes the deals relevant to where that customer is at the time. Most smartphones have geo-location capabilities and technology is becoming more advanced every day. With the right app, a business can set up certain deals and ads to be sent to opted in customers when they are in specific areas. You can’t get much more relevant than that.

Give event marketing a shot.

Have customers opt in for special event marketing campaign. For instance, during the Superbowl you can send a text a day or so prior to the game, giving customers the option to opt in for special game-related offers. Then throughout the game, text special offers for your business, based on how the game goes:

●       If Dallas makes the next touchdown, you get 50% off your next purchase!

●       Uh, oh, Pittsburgh fumbled! But, hey! You can still score with 20% on all widgets

Follow the game and make your personal texts relevant to the game and to your audience. You will have them engaged. You can even do a half-time text having customers send you their pick for who will win. Those who are correct get a great deal. Those who are not correct get a “consolation prize.” Everyone wins.

SMS marketing allows you to get creative and is an exceptional opportunity to really connect with your customers. The challenge is doing it in a way that makes you stand out and shine brighter than your competitors. What creative ways can you make SMS marketing work for you?

Author Biography

Sophorn Chhay

Sophorn is an inbound marketer specializing in attracting targeted visitors and generated sales qualified leads. Through Trumpia’s SMS and marketing automation solution he helps businesses and organizations communicate effectively with their customers or members. Trumpia is offering a free Mobile Marketing Success Kit so don’t forget to grab your free copy.