Page 32 - Australasian Paint & Panel May-June 2020

Marketing
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PAINT&PANEL MAY / JUNE 2020
7WAYS TO START TEXTING YOUR CUSTOMERS TODAY
DIGITAL MARKETING AND ONLINE REVIEW SUPREMOS PODIUM PROVIDE INFORMATION TO HELP YOU CONNECT EFFECTIVELY WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS.
text you (for appointments, questions, feedback), it’s your job to let them know. Add your texting number everywhere con- sumers may find you:
WEBSITE: Make sure it’s visible. Better yet, allow web chats to be converted to text conversations.
SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Add your number to your Instagram profile, Facebook page, YouTube profile, everywhere.
EMAILS: Add your texting number with a strong call to action (to text you at this number at any time) right in your email signature.
ADVERTISEMENTS: If you send direct mail, ad- vertise on a local network, or send out a newsletter, add your texting number.
YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS: If it makes sense for your business, add your texting number in your waiting area, at your front desk, and on your car park signs.
3. LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE
A HUMAN, NOT A BOT
Many larger businesses have bigger budg- ets, bigger contact lists, and bigger adver- tising requirements with multiple chan- nels. What’s the edge if you’re a local business? A personal touch–it’s one-to-one communication that will set you apart. Your texting with prospects and customers should be no different. Don’t be a bot and send mass messages.
Let your customers know they aren’t part of a bulk marketing campaign–your texting should be seamless (even if they are automated) and it should be clear it’s a human on the other side of the text. Use personalised messaging. If you do send a mass text, make sure it’s clear that when they respond, a human will respond back.
4. ADD VALUE IN EVERY
INTERACTION
Did you know that 75% of consumers want to receive text messages with offers? Add value to your customers by texting them
YOU’RE READY TO START TEXTING WITH
your prospects and customers. And you’re on the right track – 90% of con- sumers prefer texting to traditional methods of communication when they engage with a business.
• The data around the benefits of tex- ting don’t lie:
• 91% of adults keep their smartphones within arm’s reach.
• 82% of consumers open every single text they receive. Usually within a few minutes.
• The open rate for text messages is 98% (much higher than email at 20%).
• 45% of consumers complete the desired action in the text they receive. • 50% of consumers that receive a branded text go on to make a direct
purchase.
You want to start texting–but how do you get your prospects and customers to start texting you? Here are seven ways you can get started:
1. TURN ON MESSAGING IN YOUR GOOGLE MY BUSINESS LISTING
Turn on messaging in your Google My Business listing–prospects and customers will see a “message” button on your listing when they search for your business from a mobile device. This button will allow con- sumers to text you directly. You can an- swer questions, send links, and provide a personal experience to those searching for your products or services. It’s important to remember that once you turn on messag- ing and you receive a new message, it’s best practice to respond quickly. Google will deactivate messaging from accounts that don’t respond to consumers consist- ently within a 24-hour period.
2. MAKE SURE YOUR CUSTOMERS
KNOW THEY CAN TEXT YOU
If you want your community of pros- pects and customers to know they can