What is SMS Marketing?

SMS stands for ‘Short Message Service’, better known as a text message. There are many different valuable ways to incorporate text messaging into your marketing and client communications. It’s direct, quick, and easy to talk with customers. According to VoiceAge, 90% of text messages are reached within the first 3 minutes, 82% of people open every text message they receive, and 70% of customers say SMS is a good way for businesses to get their attention.

The benefit of SMS marketing is that they are short, and to the point. This provides high engagement from the customer and a higher chance that they will engage with it. With users being so engaged with their cell phones, it’s an extremely beneficial way to build your relationship with them.

How Does Text Messaging Help Increase Sales?

It is an instantaneous point of contact for your customers. Some potential buyers prefer to send over a quick text message rather than having a lengthy phone conversation. It gives you an advantage to touch base with a buyer at any time without interrupting their workday and daily activities. It gives you an advantage when you’re discussing a vehicle of interest. You can easily answer questions, send detail-oriented photos and videos, schedule appointments, and even discuss pricing all within a few quick text messages.

How to Use SMS Marketing?

Promotional SMS marketing campaigns are a successful marketing strategy. There is a higher open rate on text messages compared to emails which makes it a good platform to announce special incentives.

You can target a specific audience to promote monthly specials, updates on vehicles, or news at your dealership. Including a call to action with a clickable link can direct the user to your website and your inventory. It’s a cost-effective marketing strategy to bring brand awareness to a wide audience.

Another way to incorporate this strategy is to use text messaging as a response to an event, or an action. This can offer time-sensitive information such as reminders, vehicle releases, or a thank you for shopping with your company. One example of such a program is with Call Team Six, our BDC partners, have developed an aggressive text campaign strategy as part of their outreach that result in solid appointments for your dealership.

It’s important to prepare these text messages properly to gain success from them. Stay transparent and up-front by being clear about who you are and where the text is coming from. Stay away from using unnecessary characters, emojis, or capitalization. Review all grammar and spelling before sending your message. With the number of spammers that utilize text messaging, you want to avoid a customer thinking your message is spam and you want to come across as a real person on the other side.

SMS Marketing is Taking Over

With the increase of advancements in technology over the last decade, there has been significant growth and evolution of MSM marketing. According to SMS Comparison, 7.86 billion people are expected to have smartphones by 2028 and 90% of customers prefer text messages over direct calls. This gives your business a huge market to push out text messages in beneficial ways. With the technology advancements, SMS platforms and tools have expanded. Some platforms make it easier for businesses to create, manage, and deploy SMS campaigns.

SMS Practices to Ensure a Good Customer Relationship

Using text messaging is a great tool to build your relationships with your customers. Receiving customized and personalized text messages allows them to feel valued. This can increase the chance of them returning to your dealership and giving a referral. 

These are practices you want to follow to ensure that you are getting the most out of your campaigns. Only send text messages to customers to have opted in through your CRM, or opt-in form on the website. Once you have an opt-in, it’s smart to send them a message thanking them and confirming the opt-in by responding with a Yes or No. Make it easy for a customer to opt-out of your texts as well. It is as easy as adding ‘STOP’ or ‘Unsubscribe’ to your messages.

Be aware of the pricy laws and regulations around text message marketing. Having written consent by confirming the opt-in is a great way to ensure your text messaging is wanted. Be sure that when you are setting up your SMS strategies, to send these messages during business hours. Always be clear about who the company is and respect customers’ privacy.

Looking to Start SMS Marketing?

Digital to Dealer Direct can help build out effective SMS marketing strategies to increase ROI, build brand awareness, and strengthen customer relationships.  Contact us today and watch your sales increase with one simple marketing strategy!