4 Benefits of Text Message Outreach That Your Competitors Wish They Knew

Text message outreach offers a simple, effective way for organizations to differentiate themselves.

Your brand deserves every competitive advantage available. Thanks to text message outreach, your organization can use short message service (SMS) notifications to engage with audiences via phones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

Text message marketing involves the use of SMS text messages to share news updates, tracked links to your app, email, and other timely, relevant information with audiences. Organizations can use these marketing tools to send bulk text notifications to thousands of users. Or you can deliver personalized text messages to specific audiences.

Today, text message outreach is quickly becoming a must-have for organizations — and for good reason. To understand why organizations are increasingly integrating text messages into their outreach strategies, let’s examine four of its most important benefits.

1. Text messages are immediate and direct

Text messages are sent quickly and go directly to recipients’ mobile devices in seconds. They make it easy for organizations to instantly share information with audiences. Additionally, most text messages are read within 2 minutes, and it only takes about 90 seconds for people to respond to these messages.

2. Text messages let you deliver targeted messages to the right audiences

SMS text is one of the most targeted communication channels available today. At the same time, it lets you collect user data that can be used to understand who is reading your text messages, when they are reading them, and how they are responding to them. With this information in hand, you can continuously update your text message campaigns to ensure you are connecting with the right audience.

3. Text messages can be used to conduct user surveys

Text messages allow organizations to ask broad or specific audiences questions and receive instant feedback. If an organization wants a user to share if they enjoyed a recent event, to rate the experience with your team, or to share other feedback, text message surveys enable them to immediately do so. Text message survey responses allow you to learn about user preferences and tailor future efforts accordingly.

4. Text messages can boost the effectiveness of your overall outreach plan

Text messages empower you to connect with audiences via their preferred communication methods. Many users prefer text messages over other forms of communication, yet most organizations ignore texting in their marketing strategies. By using text message marketing, you can engage people who may ignore (or not have access to) notifications sent via email, social media, or other marketing channels.

How can your organization use text message outreach?

There is no shortage of organizations that could benefit from text message marketing. To date, leaders in a variety of industries have used text messages to bolster their outreach efforts.

• Unions use text messages to deliver member updates and alerts. Also, they can utilize text messages to promote programs, meetings, and sponsor opportunities.
• Government agencies leverage text messages for mass notifications. They can use texts to share public safety updates and alerts with large groups of stakeholders.
• Customer service agencies utilize text messages to keep in touch with customers in real-time. Customer service representatives can receive texts in real-time, manage customer requests, and ensure customers receive best-in-class support.
• Food banks use text messages to notify community members about upcoming food distributions and activities as well as on-site communication with clients. They can also leverage texting to share requests for food donations and volunteers.

5 Tips to use text message outreach as a competitive differentiator for your organization

Text messaging alone is insufficient. But, if your organization understands the value of SMS and its impact on audiences, you can develop an effective text message outreach plan. There are several ways to use text messaging to differentiate yourself from the competition; here are five of the most effective:

1. Establish goals and objectives

The effectiveness of a text message outreach plan is often predicated on its goals and objectives. So, you must determine what you want to accomplish with it. Figure out the best ways your organization can use text messages to accomplish its short- and long-term goals.

2. Know your target audience

Learn as much as possible about audiences. Use current data to get information about your demographics and other pertinent insights. Then, with these insights, identify the target audience for your text message initiatives.

3. Write short, clear messages

The best practice is to keep text messages under 160 characters, which means refining your messaging and ensure it delivers the necessary information in as little space as possible. Each message should be clear and include a call to action.

4. Send messages at the right times

Ensure each text message is sent at a time when a mobile device user is likely to see and read it right away. It is usually a good idea to send text messages about upcoming news, events, or promotions in the days or hours leading up to them or as soon as they begin. Avoid sending text messages early in the morning or late at night by scheduling them ahead of time

5. Continue to learn about your target audience

There is always room for improvement, particularly when it comes to text message outreach. Continue to collect user data and review it regularly. Then use these insights to enhance your text message outreach efforts.

At Mobilize Comms, we offer custom text message outreach solutions to organizations around the world — and we can help your organization use text messages to distinguish itself from industry rivals. To learn more, contact us today.