Grow your list with inbound marketing
What is Inbound Marketing?
Inbound marketing is a direct and personal communication through social media and SMS messaging to supply your audience with timely, relevant and interesting content that converts them from viewers to customers.
The most common type of inbound SMS is where customers text in to enter a competition. This is done with a specified number or a unique short code (eg: Text COFFEE to 43556).
How do I build a list?
You can receive permission by having customers do the following:
• Opt in by sending an SMS to your virtual number or shortcode
• Sign up from a website with a permission check box. This tick box should also not be pre-selected
• Complete an offline form such as a survey, competition, or web enquiry. Make it clear that you will be contacting them by SMS
• Give you their business card, but you need to ask them for permission to add them to your SMS list. If they dropped their business card in a fishbowl at a trade show, there must be a sign that tells them that they'll receive SMS about a specific topic
How to get your customers to opt-in to your SMS list via a text message?
You can create an irresistible offer that ensures the offer you provide is valuable enough for them to make the very small effort to text in.
• Start by thinking of your ideal customer’s greatest needs, wants, and desires. Depending on your type of business, an irresistible offer can be:
• Free content: This includes ebooks, reports, templates, e-courses and guides.
• A prize giveaway: Contests with great prizes can be fairly simple to set up and promote. It should be something that’s related to your business or industry.
• A discount: Everyone loves a good. This works well for retail or ecommerce businesses
How to get your customers to opt-in to your SMS list via a text message?
Your customers need to do is text in an SMS keyword (that you create) to your dedicated virtual number or shortcode.
• You’ll also need to think of some messages you want to send and think about when to schedule them for. Remember, no one likes being woken up in the middle of the night by a beeping mobile.
• For example, for a hotel it would be appropriate to send your guests information such as:
• A welcome message when they arrive and a parting message looking forward to their next visit
• Off-season discounts
• Promo codes for loyal customers
• Christmas and birthday greetings
• Pro-active messaging related to check-in and check-out, room service and local travel information
Driving traffic to your offer
Once you're all set up, how do you promote it?
Virtually anywhere. Here are a few of the most popular and best places:
• Your Facebook Page
• Instagram and Twitter
• Point of Sale (with mobile coupon or promotion)
• On your website
• On your Facebook Feed
• In Facebook and Google display advertisement
• Postcards, Direct Mail, and Offline Media
• Tradeshow signs and displays
• Radio or TV Spots
Post your call to action anywhere where you want people join your list and capture data.
