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Give the Boot to Your Competitors' Texts

Tristan Anwyn

October 09, 2015

With an impressive 98% open rate, SMS marketing is a fantastic way to reach out to your customers. Your message will be right in front of them in seconds.

However, chances are you won't be the only small business texting them. That's why you need to make your business' texts stand out from the competition.

What are some of the ways you can do just that?

Here are seven text marketing tricks that will make your business stand out:

Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience is crucial if you want to stand out.

The better you know your audience, the better you can tailor your language and the content of your texts to be relevant to them.

Use your knowledge of your audience to split your SMS list into segments.

By segmenting your list (for example by age, location, or history with your business), you can further personalize your texts for each segment.

Speak on Their Level

Choose words that will resonate with your customers.

For example, you might use text speak to communicate with the younger crowd.

You don't have to speak in a way that doesn't match your brand personality (in fact that won't help you), but do try to communicate in a way each audience segment will like and respond to.

Evoke Emotion

Evoke emotion and your texts will stand out from your competitors'. Offer a feeling rather than a simple announcement, to keep your customers interested and engaged.

As the article: "Thought Leader Series: Tips to Make Your Texts More Appealing Than Your Competitors" says, it's a good idea to choose words that trigger happy feelings and positivity.

Your customers will associate your texts with good things, and take action based on that.

Get Personal

Grab your customers' attention by adding the personal touch to your text messages. Simply adding each customer's name to your texts can make a big difference, making them feel personally valued by your business.

Try sending out a greeting, free gift or special offer on each customer's birthday, making sure they won't forget your business in a hurry.

Offer Value

Elevate your SMS messages beyond "just another promotional text" by offering your customers real value. 

Make sure each text you send offers your customers something they want. That could be information, a discount, a special offer or an exclusive deal.

Whatever you choose, give your customers a reason to enjoy hearing from you.

Choose Your Words Carefully

With only a few characters to play with, your choice of words matters when texting your customers. Cut the waffle and get straight to the point, remembering to use emotive words as outlined above.

Chances are your customers will see the first few words of your message as a preview, so make sure you convey the point of your message in those first few words. 

Depending on your content, try using "exclusive", "offer", "act now", "don't miss this" and similar words or phrases at the outset, to grab their attention before they even open your message. 

Offer an Incentive

Get your texting relationship off on the right foot by giving your customers a reason to sign up with you. 

Delivering consistently valuable content is vital, but what about the initial sign up? Why should your customers do that?

Give your customers a free gift, an exclusive offer, a discount or other incentive for signing up for your text messages and you'll stand out from the competition before you even start.

Make sure your text messages stand out with language; content and offers that sets you apart from the competition.

When you do that, your texts will shine and your customers will ultimately choose you.

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