In today's digital age, businesses are constantly seeking effective ways to connect with their prospects and customers. While email and social media marketing have become popular channels for B2B communication, SMS marketing is a relatively untapped and potentially powerful tool for companies looking to connect with decision-makers and generate quality leads.
If you're considering SMS marketing as part of your B2B marketing strategy, it's crucial to understand the basics of this channel. There are some key benefits, like greater engagement rates, efficient message delivery, and the ability for real-time, one-on-one conversations that make it an advantageous option.
What is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing involves sending text messages to a group of people that have opted-in voluntarily to receive them. It has become more popular over recent years as a marketing channel for businesses because of the high open rates and potential for instant feedback and real-time dialogue with prospective clients.
At its core, SMS marketing is the practice of using text messaging to connect current and prospective clients with businesses directly via their phones. Whether through service reminders, order updates or promotional messages, businesses can generate leads, build real-time dialogue and help to retain/up-sell customers throughout all stages of the customer journey.
Benefits of SMS Marketing for B2B
One of the biggest advantages of SMS marketing is its incredibly high open and engagement rates. On average, SMS messages boast a 98% open rate with nearly 90% of messages being read within a few minutes of receipt. This is significantly higher than email open rates, where an open rate more than 30% is considered a good result.
Another benefit is the efficiency of the communication. With its brief character limit (160 max, traditionally), SMS messages force marketers to be concise, getting straight to the point. Given that people are inundated with marketing messages on a daily basis, being brief and straight-to-the-point makes recipients more likely to take action or respond right away.
Importantly, SMS marketing is built around a permission-based opt-in model, which means that people agree to receive texts from businesses deliberately. This reduced contact resistance and improves attention span while boosting the chance for interactions towards lead situations.
Using SMS messages on a landline phone or a voice call keeps engagement simple and upbeat, with low barrier messages or service prompt reminders.
How to Connect with Decision-Makers with SMS Marketing?
To optimize on the benefits aforementioned, there are a few techniques you can use to tailor anonymous systems - that are sometimes a hinder in an effective communication exchange with your prospects - into compelling messages that lead to actual dialogue.
First off, when thanking your prospective customers for taking the time to connect with your business– ask if there is anything on their mind that they are looking to issues quickly. This seemingly simple move tells customers that their opinions are essential to you and your business; straightforward approach - always let the conversation be steered by the mentioned item.
Use conversational language and rely on buzzwords and metaphors to keep enthusiasm and surface brief eye catcing, responsive outcomes that help shape a possible partnership. Mix more business-centered examples with personal anecdotes to cover all bases, ultimately enabling the natural connection of business operation and assets development that teals secured decisions.
Lastly, with sound measurements and testing, customized SMS squeeze pages, personal automation and appointment reminders hold obvious promises with regards to conversion rates. Sending and following up on promotional deals to happy hours, email drip campaigns executed satisfiably (see Roezan's Conversations) remain behind an adapted twist of keeping informal language and not overly commercial dealings such as Buy, Sale and so forth - keeping “join our jazz night” approach plays well with a diverse contact list.
Final Thoughts
SMS marketing is an unparalleled option for companies to communicate directly and effectively with decision-makers in the B2B space. With high engagement rates and the ability to deliver personalized messages, it's a simple way to generate leads and foster lasting partnerships.
At Roezan, we specialize in providing cutting-edge SMS marketing solutions centered around effective and measurable business communication. Find out more about our features and the benefits they can add to your organic engagement!
