In today's digital marketing world, personalized messaging has become vital for businesses to engage with audiences to increase conversion rates.
By drafting messages matching each person's likes and needs, companies can make customers feel special and more connected. When content feels personal, people engage and are more attentive.
In this blog post, we'll explore the following things:
What is a personalized text message?
Personalized marketing is a strategy that tailors content, offers, and experiences to individual consumers based on their specific preferences, behaviors, and past interactions.
And, sending personalized text messages is a one method of personalized marketing. They are uniquely made for customers by considering their user behaviour. Text messages quickly grab customers' attention towards new experiences or existing products. They are interactive messages that provide a personal touch and a sense of belonging.
This helps companies improve customer engagement. Personalized SMS can be sent to offer subscribers more beneficial offers and news at the appropriate moment. These messages are prepared using subscriber data, including time, age, country, gender, etc.
The simplest example is that on your birthday cake, you see your name displayed; that’s a personalization made for you based on your needs.
Here are a few samples of personalized texts:
Hey John, Exclusive news! New style trousers are now available at Uptown. Get the latest fashion trends personalized at a 50% discount. Visit us today. Hurry!
Happy birthday to you, Alex. We are giving a 25 % discount on your next order to celebrate your special day.
Benefits of sending personalized text messages
Compared to generic texts, personalized texts have a whopping open rate of 98%, while generic texts only have 22%. This indicates that messages customized to the receiver are more likely to be read and responded to.
The personalized text shows the recipient that you are putting in the extra effort. This can help build trust and foster stronger relationships with your customers. Customers appreciate the extra effort, leading to increased brand loyalty.
Personalized texts help get higher click-through rates as they target specific promotions or discounts, increasing the chances that the recipient will relate to them and click on a link in the message.
It increases customer engagement and improves customer experience, resulting in increasing your company's revenue.
Why should you start sending personalized texts immediately?
72% of consumers only interact with brands through personalized messages.
80% of customers will only purchase from companies that customize the user experience.
63% of consumers will cease business with firms that employ inadequate personalization strategies.
Consumers claim that 66% would refrain from purchasing if they received generic messages.
Tips to send personalized text marketing campaigns
01. Collect customer data
Collect relevant data about the user, such as their name, location, and interests. This info can be grabbed during the sign-up process or by analyzing the customer's previous interactions with the business.
02. Segment your audience
Divide your SMS subscriber list into different segments based on relevant data such as demographics, preferences, or past purchase behavior. This allows you to send targeted and personalized messages that resonate with each segment's specific interests.
03. Craft compelling messages
Create concise and engaging messages that capture attention within the limited character count of an SMS. Tailor the content to each recipient's preferences or purchase history to increase relevance and encourage action.
04. Use the recipient's name
Personalize the SMS by addressing the recipient by name. This simple touch can help establish a connection and make the message feel more relevant and tailored to the individual.
05. Timing is crucial
Consider the optimal timing for sending your SMS campaign. Avoid sending messages during inconvenient hours or busy periods. Instead, aim for a time when recipients are likely to be available and receptive to your communication.
06. Incorporate clear calls to action (CTAs)
Include a clear and concise call to action in your SMS. Whether it's directing recipients to a specific website, offering a discount code, or encouraging them to visit a store, make sure the desired action is evident and easy to follow.
07. Send the text in the customer's preferred language
Sending SMS messages in your audience's preferred language enhances comprehension and boosts response rates, leading to higher conversion rates from your SMS marketing campaign.
08. Use emoticons
Incorporating emojis into your messages is an excellent way to connect with your audience on a more personal level. Emoticons can convey emotions, enhance tone, add personality, clarify intent, and provide visual cues, making your SMS more engaging and relatable.
09. Include a company signature
Including company signature in text messages involves adding a concise and professional sign-off at the end of your SMS. This typically includes your company name, a brief tagline, or contact information. Including a company signature reinforces your brand identity, provides credibility, and makes it easier for recipients to recognize and connect with your business.
It also serves as a subtle reminder of your brand and can encourage recipients to reach out or engage further. However, it's important to keep the signature brief to ensure it doesn't overshadow the main content of the message.
10. Utilize custom SMS sender ID
Using a custom SMS sender ID allows your audience to identify the source of your SMS. The SMS sender ID can include numeric, alphanumeric, or alphabetical characters and can be up to 11 characters long, ensuring recipients know precisely where the message originates.
Best Practices to follow when creating personalized text messages
01. Double-check personal details
Customers would prefer to have their details displayed correctly. Doing so shows that the customer is valued and relies on the company's products and services.
02. Respond promptly
As a two-way mode of communication, texting requires you to be prepared to reply to customer messages immediately. The importance of choosing an SMS marketing platform that facilitates ongoing conversations and real-time communication is underscored by the fact that more than 60% of customers want rapid responses.
03. Keep messages concise
Since text messages often have a character limit of 160, it's critical to make your discussions brief and direct. To keep communication simple, provide concise messages that won't overwhelm readers.
04. Send messages during business hours
Send SMS at the right times that your customers are open for business out of respect for their time. If you have customers in different time zones, consider planning your messages accordingly to ensure quick delivery.
05. Provide opt-out option
Allow customers to opt out of receiving text messages from your business. Include information on how they may swiftly unsubscribe in your first onboarding message and respect their decisions if they do.
Follow these tips to create engaging SMS messages that connect with your customers and encourage desired actions. Make sure to comply with all relevant SMS laws and regulations, including obtaining proper consent and providing easy opt-out options for recipients.
Other Factors involved with SMS personalization
01. Dynamic Content
By utilizing dynamic content, you can automatically fill up areas in your SMS messages with personalized data, such as recipient's name or details of prior purchases, giving each message a more relevant and personal feel.
02. A/B Testing
Testing various components, such as message content, call-to-action, and customization factors to optimize campaigns, will help you find the SMS message variations that resonate the best with your audience.
03. SMS Compliance
Prior to delivering customized SMS messages, ensuring compliance with pertinent rules and regulations, such as the TCPA or GDPR, gaining the appropriate consent, and offering opt-out choices.
04. Monitoring and Analysis
Monitoring and evaluating SMS campaign results regularly is crucial for measuring the effectiveness of your efforts. By tracking SMS marketing KPIs, you can gain insights into the success of your campaigns. Analyzing these metrics allows you to identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and optimize future SMS campaigns to achieve better results. Continuous monitoring and evaluation enable you to maximize the impact of your SMS marketing and drive better outcomes for your business.
05. Privacy and Security
preserving openness with subscribers regarding data consumption in SMS marketing campaigns, safeguarding the safety of subscribers' personal data, and putting in place the necessary security precautions.
You may develop efficient and personalized SMS marketing campaigns that are pertinent, and interesting, and help your company achieve its goals by considering these criteria.
Personalized text message templates
Birthday SMS
You still have a few days left to celebrate your birthday, [first name]. Before it expires, redeem your $10 coupon! Code: ABC. Exp: 11/06/2022 Shop now at [link] To unsubscribe, text STOP.
We like honouring our customers! We'll give you a unique present on your birthday if you reply with your birthdate (MM/DD/YYYY).
Product recommendation SMS
Your preferred concealer has grown! There are now 30 colours of Concealer. Get it now and get delivery for FREE!* Use this link to get free shipping: [link]
Hi, Marina! 👋 You misplaced something glittery in your basket. Use coupon code: abc for 15% off ✨. Simply click here. [link] To opt out, text STOP.
SMS with a snappy copy
Sup Ishita — Did You Forget That You Were Thirsty? We’re here to tell you that you have something in your cart: cool sparkling water is waiting for you in your order 🛒👉 at [link]. & to unsubscribe, reply STOP.
Conclusion
Personalization in digital marketing is used as a powerful tool. It boosts customer engagement, revenue, and behavior change. By collecting customer data, using personalization tokens, sending messages at the right time, and following regulations, we can create effective personalized text message campaigns that connect with the audience and drive desired actions.
Regularly testing, optimizing, and monitoring personalized text messages' results helps improve strategy and achieve the best outcomes.