Growing your SMS marketing list

64% of consumers think that businesses should send SMS marketing messages to customers more frequently than they currently do. So, what are you waiting for? It's time to start sending texts to your customers! Whether you have zero numbers or thousands, growing your subscriber list should be the first place to start. The more numbers that you have, the higher the outreach and potential revenue you can generate. Here are some great ways that you can increase your SMS marketing list:

1 - Run a competition

One of the most effective ways to collect customer phone numbers is by running a competition. You can promote the competition across your website, email campaigns, social media platforms and in-store. A key requirement is that you offer a prize that is worthwhile enough to encourage your customers to enter. Then, sit back and watch your list grow. Be sure to inform your customers that they may receive future competition news and sales offers via text message marketing if they choose to enter.

2 - Create a VIP club

Another way that you can grow your SMS marketing list is by encouraging your website visitors to sign up to a VIP club. You can then send special offers and discounts to anyone that has signs up. This is a great way to build up your list because 77% of shoppers say that discounts can influence where they shop, so providing them with a way of accessing your best offers will entice them to share their phone number.

3 - Website data capture

The easiest way to build your SMS list is by capturing data on your website. This can be done by asking customers to share their phone numbers when they are making a purchase or completing a form. Make sure that you provide your customers with an incentive to sign up by promising them discounts and exclusive updates.

4 - Use your email marketing list

If you have already built up an email marketing list, then you can use email to encourage customers to sign up for SMS notifications as well. All you need to do is ask your customers to text a specific keyword to your dedicated short code or an inbound long number. For example, we'd ask our customers to text "ReachSMS" to 60075 to opt-in.

Once you have built up your SMS list, you can then use it in sync with email. You'll be able to send texts to your customers that preps them for incoming emails. Since SMS has a 98% open rate, you can rest assured that your customers will see your message.

5 - Business cards & flyers

If you use business cards or in-store flyers, then you can also encourage customers and clients to stay informed by signing up to your SMS notifications. Including sign up instructions on business cards would be a great way for you to send offers to prospective customers that you meet at networking events, trade shows and other industry events. Meanwhile, if you use flyers to showcase your discounts then you can encourage customers to sign up to your SMS marketing list to receive further discounts.

6 - Social media

You can also increase your SMS marketing subscribers by promoting the benefits across your social media platforms. This will allow you to gain subscribers that may not regularly visit your website but follow your company on social media. A great way to regularly encourage customers to sign up without filling up your feed is by using stories. Or, you could use social media to run competitions that require an SMS notification opt-in to enter.

7 - Presentations

If you frequently give presentations at events, then you can use this as a unique way to build subscribers to your SMS list. Once you have finished your speech, you can include a slide that includes a keyword and short code that the audience can text to receive the slides. Then, once you send the slides electronically, you can ask the receipt if they want to remain opted-in to receive future SMS notifications.