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What’s the perfect way to get your timely message read in a hurry? Well SMS & voice broadcasting of course. In this post we will suggest to you several ways to use text or voice messaging to drive last minute sales, but first let’s look at a real world example.
Urgency and scarcity. It’s one of the most powerful persuasion and influence secrets for getting people to act and the great folks at at eBay are masters at it.
The other day I bid on some amazing 1960’s VW Beetle Ads and a few hours before it was set to end, I got this email…
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Then after I clicked the link and saw this…
It’s asking me to sign up to receive a SMS alert 15 minutes before the auction ends.
GENIUS!
Now, they already send you an email, but they know the open rates are beyond low for these types of messages. So what’s an even better way to let you know to act now?
It’s an amazing strategy they are using and my guess is that it’s working insanely well for them!
well for them!
SMS marketing involves sending promotional or informative text messages to your customers. These messages can share exclusive offers, announce new products, or engage with customers in a personal way. The key advantage of SMS marketing is its immediacy—most SMS messages are opened within minutes, making it perfect for time-sensitive campaigns.
SMS marketing is effective because it reaches customers directly on their mobile phones. With high open rates and quick responses, it’s an excellent way to capture attention and boost sales.
Whether you're running an eCommerce store or a service-based business, SMS marketing can work for you. It helps drive ecommerce sales, increases customer engagement, and even supports B2B communication.
A strong SMS marketing list is the foundation of successful SMS campaigns. To grow your list, focus on opt-in strategies. Encourage customers to join your SMS marketing list by offering something valuable, such as a discount or exclusive content. You can gather phone numbers through web forms, social media platforms, and in-store sign-ups. The more people you have on your list, the more potential sales you can generate.
Different types of SMS campaigns can help you boost sales in various ways. Time-sensitive promotions and flash sales are a great way to create a sense of urgency and prompt quick action from your customers. Abandoned cart messages are another effective strategy. By reminding customers of items left in their shopping cart, you can recover lost revenue and increase your conversion rates. Personalized product recommendations also work well. Sending targeted messages based on past purchases or browsing behavior can lead to more sales.
For a well-rounded marketing strategy, integrate SMS with your other marketing efforts. Combining SMS with email marketing can amplify your message. For example, after sending an email about a new product, follow up with an SMS to remind customers to check it out. Social media and SMS can also work together. Promote your social media campaigns through SMS, encouraging customers to engage with your brand on multiple platforms.
Leverage the power of SMS marketing with Call Loop to reach your customers instantly! Drive sales, send reminders, and engage with your audience through automated text messages and voice broadcasts. Start building your SMS list and boost conversions today with Call Loop's simple and effective platform.
Many business have time sensitive offers. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the entertainment, sports, retail or even services industries; there is an offer you have that can benefit from last minutes sales.
After thinking about I came up with a list of situations perfect for using SMS to drive last minute sales.
Build a mobile list during your initial product launch that way if you are offering any bonuses or last minute cross sells you can alert the interested parties on your list. To make your list extremely qualified offer your text to join option during your product launch webinars. Chances are if they signed up to your email list, then attended a webinar they are more likely to take action and buy your product.
Many customers send out last minute reminders about their webinar or teleseminar events to drive up attendance and boy does it work! More attendees mean more interested buyers who took the time to understand your offer. Many clients have seen as high as 65% increase in attendance some a simple, teeny tiny, text message. And in the end, they generated more revenue from their events.
Have a sale going that’s closing soon or one day only? Perfect for EOM quotas or maybe you want to increase sales during slow period of the day. Restaurants like Chipotle do a great job at this. Just send out a quick text promo notification to your registered subscribers a few hours before it closes and watch your sales soar!
Here’s an example of how Grab an Uber competitor is using text to drive sales.
They used a SMS message to drive sales during off peak traffic hours from 12pm-4pm using the Promocode MIDDAY. The promo was good for one day only making this campaign extremely driven by time and immediately measurable. I also have the Uber app on my phone but I don’t seem to receive these kind of offers from them, in other words they are missing out big time.
Many business carry product only to have to put it on sale in anticipation to make room for more inventory. This happens with electronics, food, furniture, household goods, clothing especially seasonal items, like Christmas decorations. So building a mobile list when a customer purchases or registers a product is a great idea. Then when is the right time a text message can drive you closeout sales from the red into the black.
Example: Some states offer limited sales of a product such as fireworks. A fireworks stand company could build a SMS list to push out a last minute discount to move inventory on the final day they can sale.
If ever there was time sensitive offer it’s the countdown to the end of your crowdfunding campaign. By building a mobile list you can send an exclusive SMS offer or a last minute call to action just hours before the end of your campaigns. Below is a faux example of what a text like this could look like.
*If you are using text to drive traffic to a url be sure the site is mobile optimized.
[bctt tweet="By building a mobile list you can send an exclusive SMS offer"]
Here is an example of a last minute email from Crowd Loans non-profit Kiva.org
Wouldn’t SMS reminder to donate also be a great way to follow up with their list of potential donors?
Many events marketers offer pre-sales to gage interest and predict attendance numbers to conferences, sporting events, concerts, festivals, movies and more. The pre-sale ticket is a limited time offer therefore can benefit from SMS & voice broadcasts to remind your subscribers that it is ending soon.
The Detroit Red Wings Hockey Team is making the most with SMS not only on ticket sales but also offering text promos for food, drinks and gear while in the stadium. Look at the list of text clubs they offer. Notice how they segmented their mobile lists by using different keywords to give the most targeted offers to their subscribers.
Tying into the concept of the Product launch Close or end of a Ticket Pre-sale is a Price Hike notification. This should be used within the message anytime you are are going to raise the price of your product or event entrance. It creates scarcity and causes people to take action or face a higher price later.
You have used SMS to drive more attendance to webinars but you should also use it to close the sale. If you send a SMS reminders with a one time offer to mobile only subscribers you can reinvigorate a sense of urgency that may have lapsed after the event. Remember to sweeten the deal with an addition bonus for people who take action that day or within a few hours.
If you use a Free Trial period in your service product start you probably send an email notifying your prospect of the trial close.But why not also follow up with a SMS reminder? By collecting mobile numbers during registration process and offering a mobile opt-in you can remind your prospects that their Free Trial period is ending and what your value is, you can also offer to lock in a special price if they buy now. For products that are digital in nature and require no cost to produce (such as a course or game) this tactic can work well. Sending an email, SMS and voice broadcast the day of the trial ending will get your message heard loud and clear.
Here is an example of a reminder email from one of our integration partners Zapier.com
Another strong tactic if to offer an early adopter a special incentive to take action by a certain day in order to secure a ridiculously reduced price. This can be used in the critical start of a product launch, fundraiser or event. Once again the meek but mighty SMS with its 98% open rate can get you in top of mind when you need it most.
Everyone looks forward to Black Friday sales or Cyber Monday Deals. If you offer a mobile list when your shoppers by a product you can drive more sales on these days with exclusive offers.. You can also use SMS messages send a special offer for a specific item if inventory of a product hasn’t been moving well.
In fact even Google recognized the value of last minute SMS reminders by offering holiday text ads in Christmas holiday season of 2015.
Many times when a subscription is going to end, there is no automatic renewal. This often the case for things like website access, domain names, hosting, and SAAS products. If you build a mobile list you can increase renewals by sending a SMS reminder that the user’s subscription is ending.
Here’s an example…
Let’s you have membership site for model planes and a 1 year subscription is $97 annually. If sending out 1000 SMS messages costs you $50 and your conversion rate is a meager 1.5% your ROI will look like this.
.015 X 1000 = 15 15 x $97 = $1,455 That is a 2910.00% Return on your spend!
You only need 1 sale to make 194.00% return! I don’t know about you but I like those odds.
Building a SMS list when you are collecting an email from people who want deals should be a no brainer. The key is to limit your text messaging to 1 once a week. Reserve it for a killer deal if you build that SMS list you can charge a premium for those messages to advertiser because the open rate is so high.
Look, here is a list** of companies using text to drive these last minute sales. Are there any companies here that you wouldn’t mind getting a timely SMS promo from?
But here is the real question…
“If all these companies are using SMS to drive last minute sales why aren’t you?”
**This list was sourced from the Krazy Koupon Lady Blog.
SMS marketing isn’t just about acquiring new customers; it’s also great for keeping your existing customers engaged. Loyalty programs and VIP offers sent via SMS can reward your best customers and encourage repeat business. Post-purchase follow-ups are another effective use of SMS. After a customer makes a purchase, send a follow-up SMS to ask for feedback or offer customer support. This not only strengthens customer relationships but also builds trust in your brand.
Tracking the success of your SMS campaigns is essential for ongoing improvement. Key metrics to monitor include open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. These metrics will help you gauge the effectiveness of your SMS marketing strategies. To further optimize your campaigns, consider A/B testing different versions of your SMS messages. This will help you determine what resonates best with your audience, allowing you to refine your approach over time.
To ensure that your SMS campaigns are both effective and compliant, it’s important to follow opt-in guidelines. Always get consent before sending SMS messages and provide easy opt-out options for customers. This not only keeps you compliant with regulations but also builds trust with your customers. Every SMS should include clear instructions on how to opt out of future messages to maintain a positive brand image.
Any promotion that is date, countdown or time based to creates a sense urgency to buy. But people get busy and they forget. If you are running a sale or having an event coming up, then send out a last-minute notification text message alerting them that it’s closing soon. If you aren’t using SMS as a part of your marketing mix you are losing out.
I hope you enjoyed the post and drop me a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
To increase sales with SMS marketing, focus on creating personalized SMS that resonates with your target audience. Use SMS marketing campaigns to send exclusive offers, early access promotions, and reminders to loyal customers. Integrate SMS marketing with other marketing channels like email marketing and social media to amplify your reach. Keep your marketing messages concise, and include a clear call to action to create a sense of urgency.
Yes, SMS marketing is legal, but it is governed by strict regulations. Businesses must obtain explicit opt-in consent from customers before sending them SMS marketing messages. This ensures compliance with laws like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the U.S. and other regulations globally. Always use a compliant SMS marketing strategy to avoid fines and legal issues.
Yes, SMS marketing still works incredibly well. With high open rates and immediate delivery, SMS marketing campaigns can effectively reach customers on their mobile phones. It’s an excellent complement to other marketing channels like email marketing and social media platforms, offering a direct and personal way to communicate. By sending personalized messages, businesses can engage their audience and drive higher conversion rates.
SMS marketing is worth it for businesses looking to directly engage their customers. It offers a high return on investment, especially when combined with other marketing strategies. SMS marketing software allows businesses to send targeted marketing messages that are concise and timely, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty. Given the effectiveness of SMS marketing campaigns in reaching potential customers quickly, it remains a valuable part of any marketing strategy.
Chris Brisson
Chris is the co-founder and CEO at Call Loop. He is focused on marketing automation, growth hacker strategies, and creating duplicatable systems for growing a remote and bootstrapped company. Chat with him on X at @chrisbrisson
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