10 Tips to Send Effective Personalized Text Messages
In the age of digital marketing, personalized messaging has emerged as a key tool for businesses to engage their audience and drive conversions. By crafting messages that cater to an individual's unique needs and interests, companies can create a sense of exclusivity and foster a deeper connection with their customers because customers are more likely to engage with content that speaks directly to them.
In this blog post, we'll explore personalized SMS, the benefits of text message personalization, how to personalize texts, best practices for crafting effective SMS campaigns and discuss factors involved in personalization, such as segmentation, dynamic content, A/B testing, etc.
What is a personalized message?
A personalized message is a text that is uniquely made for customers to meet their needs and interests or grab their attention towards a new experience or existing product. It is an interactive message that provides a personal touch and sense of belonging, helping your customers to improve customer engagement and calling for action.
It could be sent for the purpose of giving subscribers more beneficial offers and news at the appropriate moment; personalized SMS is prepared to utilize subscriber data, including time, age, country, gender, etc.
The simplest example for that is- On a birthday cake you see your name displayed, that’s a personalization made for you based on your need.
Sample personalized text:
Hey John, Exclusive news! New style trousers are now available at Uptown. Get the latest fashion trend personalized just for you at a 50% discount. Visit us today. Hurry!
Why Personalized Texts?
When 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.
For a perfect customer experience, it’s more crucial than ever to make sure your message resonates with your audience and connects with them personally. When you interact with consumers, they want to be seen, heard, respected, and involved. In addition to enhancing connections and the customer experience, this can also increase total revenue.
The facts on SMS personalization speak for themselves:
Consumer interaction is limited to customized messaging for 72% of consumers.
80% of customers will only purchase from companies that customize the user experience.
63% of consumers will cease doing business with firms that employ inadequate personalization strategies.
Consumers claim that 66% would refrain from purchasing if they came across 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 a company signature in the text message 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. By including a company signature, you reinforce your brand identity, provide credibility, and make 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 exactly where the message is originating from.
Best Practices to follow when creating personalized text messages
01. Double-check personal details
No customer would like to have their personal details displayed incorrectly. Doing so shows that the customer is not valued and that they cannot rely 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 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 key performance indicators, 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
Thus, we can say that personalization is a powerful tool in SMS marketing that can boost 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 the results of personalized text messages helps continuously improve strategy and achieve the best outcomes.
Ready to start a personalized text marketing campaign and not aware of how to start? Just talk to us. We will tell you how to proceed.