It’s incredible how quickly technology is evolving.
The iPhone, for example, is only 16 years old, yet it and other smart devices have advanced to the point where most people can’t function without them. By the same token, technology in marketing is developing faster than ever, and people are hungry for the next big thing.
As a business owner in the modern era, you’re probably aware of some of the new technologies in the marketing industry. By keeping up with and taking advantage of today’s tech, you can ensure that your business stays one step ahead of the competition. In other words, don’t be afraid to get a little geeky.
How is tech revolutionizing marketing, and how can your business leverage it to its full potential? Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to take your geek game to never-before-seen heights — and reap all the benefits.
Why SMS Marketing Is an Effective Strategy
As mentioned, most people can’t live without their smartphones — just think about how often you check your own device throughout the day. That’s why text message marketing is one of the most effective campaigns to invest in.
Why else is SMS marketing so great? Here are a few compelling reasons to invest in text message marketing for your business:
High Open Rate
Unlike traditional email marketing, text message marketing boasts an extremely high open rate.
The average smartphone user spends more than three hours on their device per day. When they see that notification pop up, they can’t ignore it. In fact, the open rate for text message campaigns is a whopping 98%, which is significantly higher than email.
Cost-Effectiveness
SMS campaigns are inexpensive, so you have little to lose but much to gain with text message marketing. And since time is money, SMS messages are designed to be short, usually a few sentences at the most. Consequently, they take less time to compose than emails and other ad strategies.
Direct and Immediate Presentation
How often do you see an email and tell yourself you’ll read it later but never get around to it? Most emails don’t have a sense of urgency, especially those with marketing aims. On the flip side, people typically read text messages right away, making them a better avenue for your marketing efforts.
Speed
Scanning a text takes much less time than reading through an email. When a recipient can read your message fast, they’ll be more likely to take action while its contents are still fresh in their mind. This is a particularly effective strategy for driving impulse purchases.
Creative Output
Texts are less formal than emails, which means you can be more creative when drafting them. You might link to videos or GIFs or give your messages a fun, relatable voice your clientele will want to interact with. By establishing a distinct personality for your brand, customers will be more likely to interact with your products or services.
Integration With Other Tech Solutions
Taking today’s tech and using it in SMS marketing can level up your geek game in the best way, allowing for an increase in customer interaction and, in turn, sales. That said, email is still a great tool to have in your arsenal — you can (and should) use both text messages and email campaigns to create a well-rounded marketing strategy.
As a bonus, you can use the technology that leveled up your SMS campaigns to enhance your other marketing campaigns. Technology in marketing is fluid and versatile, and you should apply it wherever you can to get the best results.
Employing New Technologies in Text Message Marketing
If you’re unsure how new technologies can enhance your SMS campaigns, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are virtually infinite ways to leverage new technology to grow your business.
Let’s review a few noteworthy ways to use technology in marketing to upgrade your text message campaigns.
Personalization
Knowing what your customers want before they do can help your business stay ahead of the game. How is this possible? The answer is predictive analysis.
Using predictive analysis, you can gather data from your customers, including the products or services they’ve bought or used in the past, and take that information to offer targeted suggestions. Additionally, you can tap into emotional appeals and use these cues to develop marketing campaigns you know your customers will respond to.
The one thing you’ll need to be cautious about is privacy.
Technology allows businesses to gather significant amounts of information from their customers, but it’s important to be transparent and get consent wherever possible. You want to use new technology to personalize your SMS campaigns, but you don’t want to lose your customers’ trust in the process.
Increased Customer Interaction
We’ve already discussed how text messages are fun and casual, and businesses can be more creative with them than with email campaigns. The sky’s the limit when it comes to using text messages to promote customer interaction, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
In addition to sharing fun videos and images, you can take a more interactive approach by sending out customized polls and surveys or even offering gamified experiences. By doing so, you can give your business an edge over others that still rely on less enticing, traditional marketing tools.
The more your customers interact with your business, the better chance of securing a sale.
Customer interaction promotes two-way communication with your business. Along the way, you can gather valuable feedback that promises to strengthen your company’s business practices and even offer the convenience of letting users purchase products directly through text messages.
Integration With Other Marketing Channels
Another reason text messaging marketing is so great is that it seamlessly integrates with other marketing channels. For example, let’s say you have an online store, and a user puts a product in their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase.
With the right system, you could have an automated text message with a reminder to purchase sent after the product has sat there for a certain amount of time. You could even send a 10% off coupon to entice the customer to go through with their order, increasing your odds of making a sale.
Triggering a text to encourage a purchase is just one example of how new technology can enhance SMS marketing campaigns and turn them into multifaceted marketing tools.
If you’re looking for more ways to integrate SMS marketing with other channels in your network, consider consulting an expert in text message marketing.
Location-Based Marketing
If your business has a physical location, you’ll want to target users within a certain radius of your establishment. Today’s technology can help you do that.
For instance, if you owned a bakery, you could gather geolocation info from your customers, then text them a coupon for a discounted cupcake when they’re roughly a mile away. They may not have intended to stop for something sweet, but now they see that delicious-looking image on their phone, see the coupon, and think, “Why not?”
Marketing to users by establishing their location is an effective way to secure more sales and build relationships with customers in your community. Just make sure you’re using appropriate methods for gathering this information so you don’t infringe on your users’ privacy.
Instant Customer Support
You want to offer genuine value to your clientele, and you don’t want your business to come off as cold, unrelatable, and robotic. After all, you and your employees are people too. Establishing connections and efficient customer support is vital to earning loyal customers.
Technology in SMS marketing can offer instant customer support. Users can ask questions, give valuable feedback, and communicate directly with your business with the touch of a button. By offering unmatched convenience and real-time solutions, you can build trust and enhance customers’ overall experience with your company.
The Convenience of Voice-Assisted Technology
The use of voice-assisted technology increases year after year. Today’s sophisticated voice assistants allow users to do everything from purchase items on Amazon to create grocery lists in seconds. Along with being impressive, this technology is user-friendly and accessible, making it worthy of incorporation into your marketing strategy.
You can use these voice assistants to promote convenient customer interactions as part of your text message marketing strategy. Your users can check and respond to SMS messages using just their voices, opening up new ways for your business to interact with them.
Mobile Payment Solutions
More and more consumers are using their phones to pay for things. Why not take advantage of that? Today’s tech allows customers to make purchases directly through SMS messages, streamlining the process and encouraging more impulse and repeat purchases.
Reaping the Rewards of New Technologies
No matter what type of tech you want to incorporate into your text message marketing campaign, you can expect many benefits, ranging from increased sales to improved customer interactions. Customers will feel valued and listened to, and you’ll receive more business. It’s a true win-win.
As capable as modern technology is, it can also be intimidating, especially if you’re already used to a certain way of doing things. But the reality is that technology isn’t going to stop evolving anytime soon — if you don’t go with it, your business may fall behind in your industry.
Don’t be afraid to try new things when incorporating new tech into your marketing campaigns. If something isn’t working, you can always switch it up or experiment until it does. You may not get things right on your first try, but once you find the perfect formula for your company, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the new business it brings.
The bottom line is that you have much more to lose by avoiding technology than by embracing it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to figure out all this new technology alone. There’s no shortage of marketing experts who will work with you step-by-step to find the best solutions for your company’s unique needs.
Discover New Technology in Marketing and Enhance Your Campaigns With Contact Consumers
Being a geek is cool now — trust us. That being the case, taking advantage of new technology is on-trend. Not only that, but it can significantly benefit your business.
If you’re unsure where to start, reach out to the experienced team at Contact Consumers. We offer top-of-the-line personalized email and SMS marketing solutions that make use of today’s most innovative technologies to increase sales.
We work with industries as diverse as restaurants, hotels, non-profits, healthcare establishments, churches, and more. Regardless of what your business sells or what your specific goals are, we can help you design and launch efficient, high-tech SMS marketing campaigns guaranteed to drive impressive results.
Ready to learn more about how we can help your business thrive? Contact our team today, and don’t forget to check out our in-depth marketing guide while you’re at it.
