Put Some Personality Into Mass Texting

How personal is your text message marketing?

Find a way to make your text messages more personal, and your customers will feel you are talking directly to them, making them more likely to respond. Add that to SMS marketing's impressive 98 percent open rate, and you've got a winning combination.

But there isn't a lot of room in a text message, so just how can you make it feel more personal?

Address Customers By Name

A name instantly makes a message feel more personal. Instead of receiving a message that reads like just another marketing text, customers get a message that feels like it's meant just for them.

Many bulk texting services provide a mail merge facility. So long as you have the right information in your contact database, you can insert it into your text messages.

Know Your Customers

If you want your text messages to have a personal feel, start by getting to know your customers. The more you understand your customers, the more relevant you can make your text messages.

Use surveys, sign up information or existing records to gain a better understanding of the people on your text marketing list. What need or question does your business solve for them? What are their demographics? Use this information to personalize your text marketing.

Create Targeted Groups

As the article "8 Tips for Personalizing Your Mass Texting Efforts" says, creating targeted groups lets you send specific messages to certain subscribers on your list.

You can segment your list any way you like:

• By demographics such as age or location;
• By preferences such as favorite products;
• By actions such as purchase history;
• By how long they've been a customer.

Creating targeted groups means you can craft messages specifically for each group, making them more personal.

Reward Loyalty

What could feel more personal than getting rewarded for being loyal to a brand?

Rewarding loyal customers will make them feel appreciated and let them know that you value their repeat custom.

Text messaging is a great vehicle for customer rewards, from special offers or free gifts to a simple "thank you".

Send Personalized Offers

Sending personalized offers will give your text messages a personal feel, and help you build brand loyalty.

You can personalize your offers based on:

• Geographic location, such as offers at a nearby store;
• Time of day, such as lunch time offers for workers;
• Purchase history and product preferences;
• The industry your customer works in.

However you choose to segment your list, personalized offers will remind customers that you know and understand them.

Send Reminders

Sending reminders will lets your customers know that their time matters to you.

If you run a business where customers need to make an appointment, such as a salon or a lawyer, send out a friendly reminder when their appointment is due.

Most kinds of business can send out a friendly "haven't heard from you in a while" message. Just be careful not to send them too frequently, or you'll risk seeming like a spammer.

Make Recommendations

Personalize your texts by making recommendations based on a customer's past interactions with your business. Use the information you've gathered about their purchase history, and make some recommendations based on that.

You can also offer an opt-in service where customers text a keyword and get sent recommendations on what to buy.

Mass texting doesn't have to be impersonal.

Follow these tips to add the personal touch and build a stronger connection with your subscribers.