How to Use Business Text Messaging

Texting has become a crucial tool for businesses. More and more companies are adopting it. But before they connect with customers, they need to learn what business text messaging is all about—and how to use it effectively. That’s why we’ve compiled everything you need to know to get your start.

Click the links below to navigate to each question, or keep reading to learn the ins and outs of using business text messaging.

• How do you send business texts? 
• How do you get started with a business text messaging platform?
• How can you use business texting in day-to-day communications? 
• What do business texts look like?
• What are the best practices of business texting?

How To Send Business Text Messages

How can you send business text messages when you haven’t done it before? All you really need is a phone. But you’ll also need a way to tie SMS data to the rest of your communications data. In many cases, you’ll need to turn to a business text messaging app or a text messaging service for business for those capabilities.

Texting customers from a single business phone

You can use a dedicated business mobile or smartphone to text customers, but that can lead to some challenges. For example, only one team member can text at a time. You won’t have a reliable way to track metrics or compare them to your other communications data. You’ll also have limited ability to control the security of your business phone and the texts within it.

Texting from your landline

It’s easy to set up business texting if you have a landline, toll free, or VoIP number. All you need is help from a business texting services provider. They will text-enable your number after you make your request, separating SMS capabilities from your voice capabilities. Afterwards, when leads and customers message your number, their messages will end up in your SMS platform.

Using a business text messaging app

If you have a team of two or more people, using a tool gives you special features to seamlessly communicate with your customers. Business text messaging apps help you send, receive, and organize messages. They offer security features, like roles and permissions. Finally, they offer efficiency features that empower you to manage many incoming and outgoing texts.

Business Text Messaging Use Cases

Business text messaging is best used for engaging customers in one-on-one chats and building long-term, genuine relationships—not for sharing coupons or boosting short-term sales. This focus on creating personalized conversations to build brand loyalty is also known as conversational support, sales, and marketing.

Customer service and support

One of the best ways to use business texting is for conversational service and support. In fact, 80% of customer service organizations are projected to make messaging their preferred channel by 2025. Use SMS to offer product tips, answer queries, schedule appointments, send alerts, share invoices, quotes, and directions, or troubleshoot problems. And, don’t forget to send survey requests to ensure you always have a good sense of customer needs.

Sales

Ninety percent of leads would rather receive a text than a phone call. SMS is the future of the sales follow-up, as leads are more likely to read and respond to follow-up texts than follow-up emails or calls. Use conversational sales to connect with customers who have questions, give expert advice, offer VIP gift suggestion services during the holidays, and send follow-ups.

Don’t engage in “spray and pray” sales, or sending mass texts to large SMS lists. The more targeted your messages and lists, the more they’ll resonate with your leads and move your relationships forward. You want to start conversations with customers, not think of each message as a means of conversion. Engaging with customers in an authentic, empathetic way helps create relationships, draw repeat customers, and increase long-term loyalty.

Marketing

Conversational marketing helps increase customer engagement. Encourage customers to interact with you by sending texts with unique product tips, use cases, and opinion polls. You may consider running SMS-only competitions, asking customers to send pictures of your product in use. Always let customers know that you’d love for them to respond. Creating these moments for customers to share their experiences increases excitement in your brand.

Operations

Operations teams can use texting for dispatch and field workers, especially in industries like food delivery and home services. Use it to remind field workers about upcoming job details. Navigate sudden logistical problems in the field. Coordinate directly with customers, keeping them updated about upcoming house visits, personal deliveries, and invoices.

Business Text Messaging Examples and Types

You should be sending a few types of messages regularly. They will help you answer customer questions, streamline their experiences, and foster personal connections. Create an SMS template (or two) for each of your most-used message types, then use your SMS templates whenever the same situation comes up.

Inbound responses

When leads and customers reach out to you, you should reply with uniform, on-brand messages. These messages are called inbound responses. You want to send more inbound responses than outbound messages (more on those in the next section). Here’s an example of an inbound response to a customer question:

Outbound messages

Outbound messages are those you send to opted-in customers before they text you. These can include follow-ups, notifications, product tips, and more. When sending outbound messages, be sure to re-introduce yourself and provide value:

Opt-in confirmation

You can only text customers who opt in to your SMS services. A customer can opt in to texting with your business by texting in a specific keyword or checking a box via a web form. Confirm their opt ins with a quick text that outlines what your service is all about, and make sure to include a way for them to unsubscribe if they want to:

Introductions and greetings

Greetings and introductions are important. After all, they introduce your business to leads and customers. Your introductory business texts should have a clear brand voice that sets the tone for future messages:

SMS order notifications

Customers want to make sure you received their orders. Use SMS order notifications to keep them up to date. Include the most important information, like the order number, and reassure them that you’ll reach out when their products have shipped:

Delivery updates

Most customers want to know when to expect their orders so they can keep their eyes peeled. Send delivery updates during each step of the journey. Don’t forget to link or include detailed tracking information:

Scheduling messages

Scheduling customer or patient appointments via business SMS is fast and easy. Make sure each scheduling message is brief but asks pre-emptive questions to make the conversations move along faster:

SMS appointment reminders 

Once customers or patients have scheduled their appointments, the trick is getting them to show up. Make sure they don’t forget with SMS appointment reminders. Provide basic information as well as the opportunity to reschedule if they need to:

Follow-ups

Send follow-ups after every customer interaction. For example, you’ll want to follow up after SMS ticket resolutions, appointments, and order deliveries. Follow-ups should clearly invite customers to respond:

SMS survey and feedback requests

Some business SMS platforms offer built-in chat-based SMS surveys. They start by asking customers a quantitative question, then automatically follow up with a free-from question. Make the initial question simple so more customers will respond:

Auto responses

Customers want fast responses—even when you’re not available. Manage their expectations with auto responses for when they contact you after-hours  or message you during business hours. A during-hours auto response might look like this:

Business Text Messaging Best Practices

When you’re getting started with any new technology, it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with basic best practices. Business text messaging has a few key best practices to follow.

What is business text messaging etiquette?

SMS is a casual channel, so you don’t want to sound too formal—but you still want to be professional. Chat in a positive, relaxed tone, like you would use with a new neighbor. Address customers by their first names, but don’t use slang or acronyms. Text during business hours, too, so you are less likely to reach them when they are spending time with friends and family.

How can I keep my business text messaging secure? 

Your business text messaging app encrypts texts while they’re traveling through its system. You can help secure texts by controlling roles and permissions, and by securing your WiFi. But regardless of what tools you use, texts are insecure once they reach consumers. Anyone can read a customer’s texts if they have access to that customer’s phone. Plus, hackers can intercept texts when they’re travelling between mobile devices.

Can I text customers without permission? 

As per the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), you may never text customers without an SMS opt in from them, which is explicit, written permission. They can either text your number with a keyword of your choice or check a box on a web form. We advise you to text customers with a confirmation after they opt in, so you can ensure that they want you to text them.

How can I save time while managing a lot of customer texts? 

Team tools like private comments and auto assignments help you coordinate on support issues and sales handoffs. Send mass texts by texting an SMS template to a list of recipients. Automations let you streamline repetitive tasks. SMS integrations help you share data between your favorite business apps—and even streamline processes by connecting their productivity tools.

Starting Your Business Text Messaging Journey

Getting started with business text messaging is easy—especially if you’re using a business texting platform.

After setting up your platform, publicizing your messaging options, and creating some auto responses, you’ll be ready to start messaging with your customers. Each of your teams has its own uses for business SMS, and with help from our SMS templates, you should be able to efficiently manage lead and customer messages.

Ultimately, with help from our best practices, you’ll find it easier than ever to make genuine conversational connections with your customers.