Bulk sms holiday in the season of shopping gives an excellent opportunity for retailers to engage with gift-buyers and drive sales.
One form of marketing that is likely being overlooked by digital marketers during the holidays – even though statistics indicate it may be the most effective form of brand communication today – is bulk SMS which is known as text messaging.
Print, online, and email promotions are widespread and high levels of mobile engagement via mobile applications and coupons are expected. According to GPShopper, approximately half of all holiday shoppers were designed to take advantage of mobile coupons last year.
Break the code
While marketers will usually claim they get the power of text messages in reaching potential customers, less than one-third actually incorporate the medium into their campaigns. That is a significant oversight considering that, according to multiple studies, text messages from brands have nearly a 100 percent read rate.
The optimum bulk SMS text marketing format, and the one recommended by Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint, is known as common shortcodes.
These five- to six-digit codes, which have been prepared for more than a decade, are perhaps best known for their use on shows such as “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent” for live audience text voting, or by charitable organizations, such as the American Red Cross, who collect donations for disaster relief.
Common shortcodes can be highly effective when used in marketing campaigns, making it possible for consumers to opt-in and receive coupons and other relevant, useful information regularly from retailers and brands.
Shortcodes are more secure and protect consumers against irritating spam.
Additionally, shortcodes provide higher delivery accuracy due to fewer network restrictions and interventions than other messaging options.
The good news is consumers do not need an app or other kind of technology or knowledge to participate in SMS text marketing.
Checkout-ready mobile coupons
During the holiday shopping season, there is a resurgence of print ads with flyers, circulars and coupons bombarding your home’s mailbox – and newspapers, if you are old school.
Meantime, the more tech-savvy troll online for discounts, promotions, or coupons. But alternatively of having consumers tear out an ad for safekeeping before they head to the mall, why not include a common shortcode in the ad? Or, instead of having them search for a discount online, have it conveniently waiting for them to use in the bulk SMS text on their phone.
In these ways, you have sent data back to them digitally that they can keep on their ever-present smartphone and, even more significantly, have captured their mobile number for more information down the road.
Special pre-Black Friday sales events or offers
Black Friday is the day customers assume enormous savings, but retailers have seen a decline in sales in past years due to online competitors. This has appeared in retailers holding pre-Black Friday sales events to boost consumer interest.
Retailers could add another layer to this engagement by offering exclusive mobile promotions and sales events to consumers who have subscribed via shortcode to shop in-store during specific times on Black Friday, avoiding long lines and luring them into your store and away from competitors.
Advertising the shortcode could drive awareness among additional customers on the lookout for exclusive savings possibilities, leading to a growing database of consumers to engage long after the holidays are over.
Gift ideas as a service
One of the challenging features of holiday shopping for many is finding the right gift.
Not everyone likes to shop or has the time to find that certain something. Brands and retailers could attract consumers to subscribe to a service via a common short code that provides gift ideas based on the generic descriptions – age, sex, or interests – of people on their gift list.
This would not only provide assistance to those in need of gift ideas but would enable brands and retailers to keep the consumer engaged throughout the holiday season and feature new products and promotions.
Text messaging can also be used in retail for inventory alerts, especially for in-demand items.
A customer waiting for a popular product could reserve the purchase by texting a store’s advertised shortcode that would send a message as soon as the product was in stock.
Incentivizing holiday shopping loyalty
General shortcodes could also be used to increase loyalty program subscriptions.
By simply placing signs throughout the store or in weekly announcements, retailers can encourage consumers to sign up for regular holiday savings by sending a text to a short code, increasing ongoing engagement with loyalty program customers.
It is important to provide the best value possible to repay their loyalty by providing timely savings opportunities and invitations to special store events around the holidays.
Offering an invitation to a new line rollout by a famous designer might be one opportunity, or holiday music gathering with refreshments.
REGARDLESS OF how you use bulk SMS text marketing, it offers one of the best ways to engage consumers in a way that encourages prompt action to increase purchase activity this holiday season.
So, are you ready to launch a text messaging campaign that involves, nurtures, and converts your ideal customers?
Say goodbye to damaging your head, thinking of things to send. With these bulk SMS marketing ideas for this holiday season, you’ll have months’ worth of content to engage your customers throughout the sales funnel and beyond! Now you just need a way to send texts.
Broadnet Technologies presents a sturdy platform for you and your team to text with customers. See how it works firsthand by grabbing a quick demo here.