1. Where to start #
To grow your SMS lists, leverage your existing communication channels.
📲SOCIAL MEDIA – run some stories, do some posts and promote them, if you can.
Get your name (and your number) out there.
🌐 WEBSITE – include a link to your SMS mailing list on your website. Place it in the footer of your website , in the sidebar, or have a pop-up on your landing page.
🛒AT CHECKOUT – if someone has bought from you in the past, they’re already interested in your product. Draw them in further with an option to sign up to your SMS mailing list. (Don’t forget to include an incentive for them to do so – more on this later).
✉️CONVERSIONS FROM EMAIL -Your email subscribers have expressed an interest in your work already. So, convert them from email subscribers to email AND SMS subscribers. Give them incentives they can only access via SMS, and show how their subscription to SMS will complement their subscription to emails.
2. Maintain existing subscribers #
There’s no point expanding your mailing list if, all the while, your current subscribers are leaving. Keep them incentivised. Keep them hooked.
Segmentation helps manage frequency so they don’t get overwhelmed. Drop them a text every now and then reminding them of deals that they can’t get elsewhere.
3. Give them some choice #
Make sure your campaigns are a conversation and not a speech. Give your subscribers a couple of choices which suit different customer needs. Subscribers must always be able to opt-out of lists, but give them opportunities to opt-in to other lists, too. They might join a VIP list, or an early-access list.
This helps to personalise their experience, so that they can have as much or as little contact with you as possible, avoiding the chance of inbox fatigue.
4. Incentivise #
Offer your SMS subscribers exciting discounts, previews, and offers. Let’s face it, everyone loves a discount, but it’s important to diversify the value of the SMS list to keep people hooked. You might consider offering previews of products, pre-sales access, VIP access and information, and referral awards (another way to grow your list!).
5. Create FOMO #
People hate to miss out on things. Use urgency as a motivation to join your SMS lists.
Things like, “Don’t miss out! SMS subscribers save X% when they enter our competitions”. Or why not try a game, such as, “the 1st 20 customers to subscribe, get a free raffle entry.
6. Patience #
The main thing to remember with building your SMS mailing list is that it takes time. You won’t get instant results, but if you combine the six strategies in this article and consistently analyse results, then you will get results.
We know that it takes about six months to start to see a good ROI on your SMS mailing list, and that’s because it takes time for people to get to know your business. Keep an eye on it. Use A/B testing often to see what is working, and what isn’t, and eventually you’ll have a list to be proud of.
If you’d like to skyrocket your SMS campaigns we’re here to help. Contact us today to chat to one of our experts.
