Text message marketing is one of the most reliable methods for reaching customers, clients and potential leads. Business owners who are seeking an innovative approach to marketing should consider the benefits of text messaging. A computer-based texting application simplifies the process of composing and sending group or mass text messages to tens, hundreds or thousands of contacts.

Here are nine benefits of sending texts instead of making phone calls or writing emails.

1. RECIPIENTS OPEN AND READ TEXTS

The average adult in the United States spends close to three hours a day using a smartphone and checks this device approximately 46 times per day. Text messaging is a primary mode of communication, particularly among younger generations. Surveys indicate that the average millennial sends as many as 67 texts per day.

Although people send and receive many texts, text marketing messages are not as likely to get lost in the shuffle. Some of the most popular web-based email clients automatically sort messages into subcategories such as social media, promotional messages and spam, which may make marketing emails less visible in a contact’s main inbox. Most mobile messaging clients do not sort messages into subcategories.

Even a smartphone user who receives device notifications for every email received may be less likely to open a promotional message than if the same communication is sent as a text message. Recipients are more likely to see, notice and interact with texts than any other form of written communication. Business owners can prioritize customer experience by sending targeted, brief, clear and actionable messages.

2. WRITING MESSAGES IS EASIER

A computer texting app is the best interface for composing attention-getting, well-written messages addressed to any number of recipients. When preparing to send a group or mass text, a business owner should recall that this message will be received on mobile devices. The most effective messages are relatively short and point the recipient toward the next step he or she can take.  A marketing message might include a link to an exclusive website landing page for a special offer or other information that leads toward conversions or sales.

In addition to increasing the ease of composing group or mass text messages, a computer interface paves the way toward automating more aspects of marketing. Many tasks that formerly required digital marketing expertise are now being automated, from bidding for pay-per-click search engine advertisements to soliciting customer feedback and reviews. The ability to schedule business or marketing messages can empower small business owners and other multitaskers.

+ Reusable templates save time

Draft messages more quickly by creating reusable templates. A computer app can support the use of simple functions such as using “Hi {Name}” that will automatically populate each message with a name from a contact list. These are just a few ways that automation can make writing and sending messages a more efficient and effective means of business communication.

3. SORTING CONTACTS WITH TAGS

A business can use text messages to facilitate communication with external groups of customers, internal groups of employees or any other contacts. Senders want to know that messages will reach the intended recipients. A computer texting app can make it easy to sort a contact list into groups and subgroups through the use of tags. Assign tags to contacts to create one or more messaging groups. Messages can then be sent to contacts with any selected tags.

Many businesses send out email promotions to select customers, particularly when an offer is limited. It is also possible to message individuals separately or contact several people in a larger group of contacts. A computer app can empower businesses to control communications and refine text marketing strategies at a level that is not possible with most mobile-native business and group text messaging clients or platforms.

The ability to manage the organization and membership of tagged groups from the top down as well as on the level of individual contacts is a major benefit of sending text-based business communications and marketing promotions from a computer. Business owners can use these features to present special offers to their best customers or run other limited time or quantity promotions.

4. SCHEDULING FUTURE MESSAGES

Timing is everything in a text marketing campaign. Unlike posts on most social media platforms, text messages are not stored up in a queue that recipients access on demand. The date, day of the week and time at which text messages are sent and received affects message opening and response rates as well as promotional contact list subscriptions.

A texting app makes it possible for businesses to schedule messages to be sent at the precise moment when communication is most likely to lead to conversions. This time may vary based on the business and whether a text marketing promotion incentivizes placing orders, booking appointments or any other action on the part of recipients. Automating more aspects of business communication or marketing while preserving a personal touch makes text messaging a more effective marketing method.

The ability to schedule messages also makes it easier for the owner of a small business or an employee responsible for brand communication, customer service or outreach to multitask. Planning ahead and writing and slating messages to be sent may make it possible for an individual to perform tasks that are often delegated to one or more customer service agents or a digital marketing agency.

5. EASILY IMPORTING CONTACTS

Many businesses maintain extensive contact lists. A computer texting app should make it as easy as possible to accurately import names, mobile phone numbers and other relevant information for customers, clients or employees. New information is also easy to add. All of the same features allow for consistent communication in and across tags and groups.

The data a business obtains about customers and clients will determine the resources that are available for crafting personalized or targeted text promotions. A business may have the best results by starting with any information about clients, customers or the market that is available. Going forward, a business can ask customers and potential leads to agree to provide their name and mobile phone number for messaging.

Once a business has started using a computer-based texting app, it is possible to add new contacts to a messaging list and select any relevant tags. It may also be possible to use a texting app in conjunction with other methods for obtaining data with customer consent to improve the targeting of text message promotions and marketing campaigns on other mediums.

The contacts that a business already has when starting to use a text message marketing app can be contacted as easily as more recent additions to a messaging list. It may be helpful to assure contacts that their mobile phone numbers and information will only be used to contact them about offers they opt in to receive.

6. SENDING OUT MASS TEXTS

Texting a large number of contacts can pose a challenge in most smartphone messaging clients. These devices and default or third messaging apps are not designed for sending tens, hundreds or thousands of messages at once. It can be much easier to manage this volume of text message communication in a dedicated web app.

Specify which tags or individual recipients will receive a message and set a time for the message to be sent.

At this time, there is no action that a business owner or customer service professional needs to take to send messages. Monitor and follow up on responses on either a computer or mobile interface.

It is easy to get overwhelmed by the volume of responses to a message that has been sent far and wide. A texting app for computers makes it easier to manage responses to a group or mass text message, observe trends and follow up with personalized confirmations or helpful information.

A computer texting app makes it easier to increase interaction and conversion while monitoring the success of a promotion from a top-down view. A computer interface has more robust and versatile input methods than most smartphones or tablets, particularly when it comes to handling business communication and text message marketing.

7. CRAFTING PERSONALIZED MESSAGES

Hi {name}

Business or marketing text messages can benefit greatly from a personal touch. A salutation with a recipient’s name in an informal format can increase message opening and response rates. Including the name of a business owner or contact can also humanize a professional message. Business communications that resemble interpersonal exchanges are more likely to attract responses and lead to conversions or sales.

A computer-based texting app can help a business keep track of older contacts while making the switch to a new messaging system. A business owner or employee can import contact details such as names, mobile numbers and other relevant data in a CSV file. This data is then available to use to send and personalize messages. No matter how a business uses this system, business contacts will typically consider text messages to be more personal than email promotions.

The best way to personalize messages in a group or mass text message is to merge specific contact information into each message. Inserting the first name of the recipient at the start of a message is one of the best ways to increase the likelihood that a text will get opened and read. Another way to personalize text messages is to craft customized messages for particular tags or only send messages to selected contacts. Businesses can also go beyond a tag-based messaging system and select specific recipients to receive special offers.

8. REPLYING BY COMPUTER OR PHONE

Even if a business owner or employee sends a group or mass text message via computer, a full-service texting app can make it possible to monitor and field replies on either a computer or mobile device. Some business owners and professionals tasked with customer service or outreach prefer the quick response time that is possible with a portable message monitoring method.

A computer interface can be more user-friendly for composing business messages or text message marketing copy and selecting the right recipients. Responses may also be easier to parse on a computer rather than a device, particularly if a message was sent to a large group of recipients.

Anyone who has been involved in a large group text thread knows that having mobile access to numerous responses in real-time can be distracting and overwhelming. This may particularly be the case for a small business owner or employee fielding these responses on top of other work responsibilities. Accessing and engaging with responses to a business communication or text message marketing push on a computer may be more contained and less stressful.

Busy professionals who are taking on communication or marketing responsibilities on top of their ordinary workload stand to benefit the most from a computer texting app. The ability to use either a computer or smartphone on the back end can simplify business or marketing messaging and contribute toward continuity of workflow.

9. ACCESS TO A DEDICATED SUPPORT TEAM

Even an easy-to-use computer texting app can confront users with challenges, particularly when a business owner or employee is just getting started. Whether the difficulty involves importing contacts in a CSV file or adjusting settings for messages, computer texting app users can rely on a support team and communicate with experts via text message.

Trained specialists can introduce business owners and operators to the concept of text marketing and identify ways to cultivate any contact list with this technology. Support staff can also help business owners build innovative campaigns that use text messaging as a marketing channel for brand building, drip campaigns, polls or sweepstakes promotions.

A computer texting app can be useful for internal business communication or external marketing and outreach. A text app that is easy to navigate and use gives business owners and representatives the power to craft and send personalized text messages and reply on a smartphone or computer. This versatile solution can increase the rate at which messages get opened, making it easier for any business to run effective text marketing campaigns.