Why should you treat your text message subscribers like VIPs

Consider your preferred brand. What keeps you coming back? It is probably the way they make you feel. The same goes with your text message subscribers. They seek experiences that are exclusive, personal, and rewarding. Treat them as VIPs and you will not only make them customers, but also fans.

The Importance of Your SMS Subscribers

SMS subscribers are more than merely casually acquainted people; they are your most interested and rewarded subscribers. They provided your brand with direct access to their most personal method of communication by providing their phone number, and it is an indication of high levels of trust and intent. SMS does not get lost in spam or algorithms like email or social media, and its open rates consistently exceed 95 percent. This immediacy and visibility then render SMS subscribers much more valuable than followers or email lists.

In addition to reach, SMS subscribers are sometimes your in-group brand. They subscribe with the hope of receiving insider benefits such as early access, deals, and updates. When treated properly, they become loyal customers and very helpful marketing agents who refer their friends to your company. Simply put, your SMS list is not a marketing tool; it is a VIP club of clients who, when managed properly, can lead to long-term loyalty and the generation of revenue. 

Why Your Subscribers Deserve VIP Status

They’ve given permission 

By joining your SMS list, they have automatically granted you the right to talk directly to them in one of the most intimate forms, via their cell phone. In contrast to advertisements that appear out of the blue or posts that have to compete with other content in overcrowded feeds, SMS is an opt-in medium. The decision is an indication of trust, and the best way to show respect and honor that choice is to treat the subscribers as VIP. 

They expect exclusivity 

Individuals do not send their phone numbers to get the same offer that they can get on your website or social pages. They subscribe because they desire exclusivity, a benefit, a special or temporary offer, or a first dib on the new product or service. Giving your subscribers special privileges help to drive home the thought that being a member of your SMS list is comparable to being in a private club. 

They’re highly engaged 

SMS will never be compared with anything regarding open and response rates. Your subscribers are much more engaged than with email or any other digital platform since over 90% of texts are read in just a few minutes. Such a high level of involvement makes them hugely valuable and making them feel special by offering them VIP treatment makes them feel that your messages are worth their time and attention. 

They represent loyalty 

SMS subscribers are not just casual customers; they tend to be your most loyal customers and would like to remain in the loop. Choosing to do this means that they are telling you that they are interested in your brand and that they would like a more intimate relationship with your company. Rewarding such loyalty with sensitive, VIP-like communication enhances that loyalty and results in increased repeat purchases and retention. 

They appreciate individual experiences 

A text message is not a message; it is a personal connection. When the message seems personalized to the subscribers, chances are high that they will react well to it. They feel noticed and appreciated when offered a first name, customized offers to buy in the past, or on their birthdays. Such personalization takes the experience beyond transactional to relational. 

They influence others 

Being able to treat subscribers as VIPs is good not only to them, but also to your brand. When customers feel special, they tend to pass on such experiences to their friends and family. Be it sending a text-only discount or discussing how exclusive it was to be on the list; this type of word-of-mouth power increases your reach and helps bring in new potential subscribers.  

How to Give Subscribers the VIP Treatment

When you make your SMS subscribers feel like VIPs, it does not necessarily mean that you are sending them discounts, but that you are providing them with experiences that make them feel special, important, and appreciated. By appreciating them, personalizing, making them feel exclusive, and communicating with them in a friendly manner, subscribers will tend to remain engaged and loyal to your brand. These are some effective methods you can use to treat your SMS audience like VIPs and reduce SMS unsubscribe rates. 

Give special discounts and preferential treatment 

Give your subscribers something that they cannot get anywhere. Send text-only coupons, early access to seasonal sales, or early access to new product lines. People develop the perception of true value in remaining subscribed when they know that they will be the first to find out about special offers. 

Personalize all responses 

Stop using generic messages and start customizing your texts according to the preferences of specific customers. Address them by their first name, recognize previous purchases, and suggest products according to their browsing or purchasing habits. This indicates that you not only send blasts, but you are listening to who they are. 

Festivities and special occasions 

The subscribers are your family, so commemorate their special events, like birthdays, anniversaries, or loyalty. Even a small reward or discount on a simple Happy Birthday makes customers feel that they are valued and develops an emotional bond with your brand. 

Balance frequency and relevance 

VIP treatment does not imply sending messages daily. This is serving the appropriate message at the appropriate time. Once it becomes intrusive when an organization sends customers many texts, it becomes essential to make them relevant and send them only at the right time, which will ensure that the relationship remains positive and worthwhile. 

Deliver timely and useful updates 

In addition to the promotions, demonstrate to the show subscribers that you care about their convenience. Send appointment notices, order notices, shipping notices, or event notices. Valued communication creates trust and makes them know that being on your SMS list makes their life more comfortable. 

Create a sense of community 

Make your SMS list more than a marketing tool: make it more like a secret club. Behind the scenes, share the content, give them an invitation to VIP events, or have them vote on new products. Providing them with a voice and making them a part of your brand journey enhances loyalty. 

What You Lose by Ignoring Subscriber Value

Not acknowledging the value of your SMS subscribers can hurt not only your own marketing efforts but also customer trust, loyalty, and revenue. Once subscribers become undervalued or overstretched, they will find it easy to cancel and abandon your brand. The following is what you lose when you fail to treat them as VIPs: 

Higher opt-out rates   

When the messages are excessive, irrelevant, or repetitive, the subscribers will cancel within a very short time compared with how they subscribed. When they go, it is very hard to get them back. 

Damaged trust 

SMS is a permission-based medium, and misuse of that privilege through irresponsible or spammy messaging destroys customer confidence. The loss of trust implies losing the long-term relations. 

Lower engagement   

Impersonal non-personalized texts are impersonal and unimportant. Another consequence of no longer feeling valuable to subscribers is that they will ignore the message, decreasing your open and click-through rates.

Negative word of mouth 

Unsatisfied customers usually discuss their negative experiences with their friends or on the internet. This not only will deter potential new subscribers, but it can also damage your brand image in general. 

Lost revenue opportunities 

Your most receptive audience tends to be your SMS. It would be leaving money on the table in terms of lost sales, repeat purchases, and upsells to ignore them or not treat them like VIPs. 

Proven strategies to build a VIP-Level SMS program 

Creating an SMS program on a VIP level is not about sending texts more often; it is about sending the correct ones that make subscribers feel special, respected, and valued. By communicating thoughtfully to your audience, chances are high that they will remain engaged, loyal, and responsive. The following are the best strategies to take your SMS program to the next level: 

Segment your audience 

Subscribers are not all similar. Sort them by interests, location, or previous buying behavior. In this manner, every message becomes more pertinent, increasing the interaction and conversion rates. 

Personalize every message 

Go beyond using a first name. Add purchase history, preferences, and milestones, and provide truly custom offers. Personalized text messages enable subscribers to believe that they belong to an elite club. 

Make messages short, Clear, and Valuable 

SMS is a limited-time channel, and thus, it should not be overloaded with too much information. The value must be provided immediately by each text, such as a discount, a reminder, a timely update, etc. Test, Measure, and Improve your SMS campaigns. So A/B testing to determine which offers, timing, or word choices are the best. Keep track of open, click, and opt-out rates to help improve your strategy and keep subscribers feeling valued. 

Weigh promotions against utility 

Don’t only send offers. Add in useful reminders, updates, and exclusive information to ensure that subscribers perceive your messages as helpful, as opposed to being sales-based. 

Respect frequency and timing 

VIPs do not wish to be bombarded. Minimize the amount of text sent and decide what times are best when subscribers are likely to respond. Their inbox should be respected, as this keeps your brand in good standing.   

Stay within SMS Regulations 

Always make opt-out options, and respect text marketing laws such as TCPA and carrier regulations. Trust is achieved through compliance and will make your VIP program sustainable. 

Final Thoughts 

Every subscriber is an asset in SMS marketing; however, it depends on how you handle them. Begin to deliver the VIP experience to your text audience. Using platforms such as Falkon SMS, you can develop personal, exclusive campaigns that keep the subscribers loyal, engaged, and eager to hear from you.