7 Tips for Increasing Your Business Text Messaging List Size

How to increase your business text messaging lists

Texting is the fastest, most efficient way to connect with customers. But growing your business text messaging list can be a challenge—especially for companies new to the channel.

Increasing the size of your business text messaging list is a two-pronged operation. First, you have to work on boosting your list’s opt in rate. Then, you have to work on decreasing your list’s opt out rate. 

Read on to discover some of the best methods for growing your business text messaging list, from publicizing your service to personalizing your content.

Increase Business Text Messaging Service Opt Ins

First and foremost, your team has to work on increasing the number of opt ins to your business text messaging list. Customers have to opt in before you text them—it’s part of SMS compliance requirements. Once customers opt in, your team is free to communicate with them within the boundaries of your SMS service guidelines. To increase opt ins, your team should: 

Publicize Your SMS Service

First, your team needs to publicize your SMS service so customers know it is an option. Place your SMS number—or indicate that your landline or toll free number is textable—on your website, contact us page, social media pages, and advertising. Be sure to clearly indicate the opt-in and opt-out processes, what customers can text you for, how often customers can expect to hear from you, and what content you’ll send. 

Offer Multiple Entry Points

You’ll want to include other entry points where appropriate, since business text messaging platforms accept messages from both native and over-the-top (OTT) apps. Be sure to add a Apple Business Chat for your business, set up Facebook Messenger for your business, and include a WhatsApp icon on your contact us pages. 

Mention SMS in Other Communications

After solving a simple query through a phone call or email, let your customer know about your texting services. Be sure to mention business text messaging’s fast response rate and ready-to-go interface; customers will be happy to be able to use a channel they know so well to connect with your business. (An email, for example, might look something like this: Happy to help, {{name}}! Heads up that we have an SMS service if you have another fast question in the future.)

Make Opt Ins and Opt Outs Easy

Customers should not have to work hard to opt in to your business text messaging services. Create simple opt-in keywords (SUBSCRIBE, START, etc.). If you create a web form as well, make it clean and efficient. Also, be sure to make the opt-out procedure just as easy, and indicate the process instructions up front. If customers know they can opt out whenever they please, it might make them more likely to sign up. 

Decrease Business Text Messaging Service Opt Outs

Once you have your new business text messagingBusiness text messaging list opt ins, you need to work on keeping them. If you’re constantly gaining and losing opt ins, you’ll never grow your list. In essence, your goal is to send steady, personalized communications without over-texting your customers. To do this, your team should:

Offer Value with Each Message

Your team should have customers top-of-mind for each and every text message you send. Focus on providing good customer service, and sending useful items like order confirmations, delivery notifications, appointment reminders, or chat follow-ups. Avoid sending blanket mass texts with coupons or advertisements; customers might be tempted to opt out if they think you will text them with sales items often.   

Personalize Your Content

All of your SMS content should be personalized. Be sure to fill in as many contact custom fields as possible. Record information like names, order numbers, preferences, interests, and loyalty statuses. Your business text messaging platform will be able to automatically fill in outgoing mass texts with this information, using merge tokens to draw on those custom fields. Your team should also segment lists when possible; the narrower your audience, the more carefully you can target your texts. 

Don’t Text Too Often

Finally, you’ll want to mind exactly how much you text your customers. Customers don’t want to receive messages constantly, but regular communications will keep your brand top-of-mind. You might consider offering communication preferences when customers sign up, so they can choose how often you connect with them. 

Want more tips about business text messaging? Check out more of our SMS resources.

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