Do you communicate with your customers via SMS messages? If you’re in the e-commerce business, it’s probably one of the main channels for you to contact buyers. Do you know how much you can gain from using Marketing Automation in SMS campaigns? In this article, you’ll learn examples of effective use of SMS marketing automation.
Why you should send SMS
SMS has a high open rate, plus most recipients read the notification on their phone within minutes of sending it. Thus, you are sure that the recipient will receive the message and, even if it is about a time-limited action (e.g., a Black Friday sale lasting only 24 hours), he will have time to read the content before the information is out of date. Remember that only the most important things need to be conveyed to customers in an SMS message, due to character limits. Recipients like to receive short, specific information, but also want to be able to see the advertised products right away, so add short links to your website. It is equally important to personalize the message to the recipient, encouraging them all the more to buy.
How to use automated SMS marketing in e-commerce
Some people think that automation only allows you to schedule message dispatches and nothing more. In fact, Marketing Automation platforms give you a number of tools to communicate more efficiently and better with your customers, as well as help you analyze data in detail and carry out further marketing campaigns. If you run an online store, you can be inspired by our suggestions, although of course similar applications will work in other industries as well.
Give the recipient a personalized discount code
Want to encourage users to buy? With marketing automation, you will send an SMS with a special discount on the recipient’s birthday. The e-Couponing function allows you to generate a coupon with a specific discount, so you can set -20% for loyal customers who have been shopping with you for several years, and -15% for new users. Each person will feel distinguished, and on top of that, there is a high probability that the birthday boy will impulsively make a purchase from you. “Happy birthday David! Today only we have a discount of -15% especially for you! Enter in the shopping cart the code: 123XYZ and buy what you dream of! [Link].”
Encourage users to complete their order
You surely know how big a problem shopping cart abandonment is, especially in the e-commerce industry. With iPresso and personalized SMS messages, you can reach anyone who has aborted a transaction in your store and encourage them to return. You can offer the user a small time-limited discount, and you’re sure to get back some of the abandoned shopping carts. “Hi Maya! Finish your shopping with a -10% discount! Don’t delay, the promotion is valid only until 27.11.2024. Use this code: XYZ123. [Link]”
Send a message about product availability
With a lot of products in the database, there are bound to be times when shoppers wanted to add items to their shopping cart that were sold out at a particular moment. Thanks to marketing automation when the product reappears in stock, you will be able to send a relevant message to those interested. It is also worth adding a special form on the website, where the user will provide the necessary data, wanting to be informed about the reappearance in the store of a particular item. “Olivia, we have good news for you! Spark garden table is available again. Only now at the price of $50! [Link].”
Inform customers about the latest winter collection
The weather in the world has been very changeable lately. When you introduce new products to your online store, you will send short SMS messages with a link to a special collection, but surely winter hats and warm garments will sell better in those regions where snow has already fallen. With iPresso Satellite, you’ll create an MA scenario that will trigger a particular action depending on the weather (or other external conditions). In other words, in cities with snowfall, the recipient will receive a message, for example: “Hey Michael! Are you frozen by the view outside your window? Our winter collection is now available! Buy down jackets today! [Link].”
Create a loyalty program and show users their progress in real time
Want to reward loyal customers and make them buy even more from you? You can implement various types of loyalty programs in iPresso, based on monetization mechanisms, among others. For example, the most engaged buyers will be able to earn a discount code depending on the points accumulated in their account. Remember that such a special action should encourage customers and the rewards should be attractive, because no one is going to join something that does not bring benefits. A text message is a good way to let the customer know that he or she has accumulated enough points to award a discount. “Today is your good day, Natalie! You have 200 points in your account and receive the code -20% on everything, valid until 12.01.2025! Here it is: 12XYZ3 [Link].”
Combine SMS and email marketing and reach more people
You can run even more effective campaigns. All you have to do is use a combination of SMS and email marketing. In our blog, we mentioned the advantages of conducting communications together through these two channels. Some information is too extensive to convey via SMS, but you can use it as a reinforcement of a particular message or a reminder about something. If you want to learn more about this topic, click here.
Summary
Automated SMS campaigns can effectively attract customers and encourage purchases. It is a quick way to increase profits and build a strong relationship with the recipient. Because of its instant reach to many contacts, SMS is often used in e-commerce, where it can notify about time-limited promotions, exclusive products or reminders about unpaid items in the shopping cart.
At iPresso, we know how important it is to tailor tools to your business, so we offer special industry-specific versions. See what benefits you get with iPresso E-commerce.
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