Text Message Marketing: 3 Ways to Use Text Message Marketing to Grow Your Business in the Ag, Western, and Outdoor Industry

Text message marketing is one today’s fastest growing marketing mediums even growing more popular than social in some circumstances. It is no secret that we are moving into a cell-phone preferred world – even over desktops, laptops, and tablets. Consumers prefer to communicate via text when they are communicating with friends and family, now they even prefer this method when they communicate with their favorite business.

Due to the simplicity of text message marketing for both the business and the customer, it is no wonder that the average open rate is 98%. With the latest changes in the consumer marketplace there is more need than ever for convenience and simplicity. Text message marketing doesn’t require an app to be opened allowing for faster and easier engagement or even responses from your customer.

Here at Sterling Brands we prefer to use BRANDtext Marketing (www.brandtextmarketing.com) as our Text Marketing Provider. Regardless of which provider you choose here are three ways your business can use text message marketing to grow your business in the ag, western, and outdoor industry by business type.

PROMOTIONS

One of the best things about text message marketing is that your customer can sign up to your text list from any location at any time they want. Once they are on your text list you can send promotions and event notifications to your customers. Some businesses prefer to segment their list by store location or preferred shopping method. With segmented lists you can easily send offers to your customer that truly offer value. Customers can even reply directly to your message removing any friction from the customer proceeding with the purchase of your products. TIP: If you have your promotion online be sure to send a hyperlink of your website in your message. You can also send a link of the promotion taking place on your social media page. When the link is clicked BRANDtext will be able to track how many message recipients click the link giving you valuable marketing data.

Ag and Western Retailers – Send coupons, promotions, and store event information directly to your customer via text. Notify your customers about new product arrivals and seasonal arrivals.

Tractor, Trailer, and Outdoor Dealers – Send coupons, promotions, and store event information directly to your customer via text. Notify your customers of special financing options and test-drive events.

Veterinarians – Notify your customer about medical records and include a coupon to ensure repeat business.

Shows and Events – Promote list sign-up at your events with door prizes and giveaways to the customers that sign-up for your text list. Announce the giveaway winners via text. (plus you now have a segmented list of leads from that tradeshow). 

INBOUND CUSTOMER SERVICE

With BRANDtext you have the option to use your current business phone number to receive messages. This is a great option for customers and businesses alike. The simplicity of replying to a text will free up your staff’s time and the customer will appreciate not having to call you on the phone, or worse, be put on hold.

 Ag and Western Retailers – Coordinate curbside service all via text. Answer routine customer questions such as product availability and store hours.

Tractor, Trailer, and Outdoor Dealers – Coordinate curbside service and answer technical questions about products, and parts. Allow customers to schedule service appointments via text.

Veterinarians – Coordinate curbside service and allow customers to schedule appointments via text.

Shows and Events – Allow event attendees to ask questions from anywhere. Help them with questions about the schedule and location of exhibitors. 

OUTBOUND CUSTOMER SERVICE

With BRANDtext you have the option to use your current business phone number to send messages. Your business will be able to contact current customers with notifications via text from the same business number that you have been using for years. This is a great tool for sending quotes to your customer, notifying your customer that their order is shipping, or any typical notifications that you would normally send out with a call or email.

 Ag and Western Retailers – Notify customers when their special order is ready, or when their order ships.

Tractor, Trailer, and Outdoor Dealers – Notify customers when their part or entire unit is available for pickup. Send sales quotes directly to your customer’s phones. Notify your customers when your service tech is headed their way.

Veterinarians – Notify Customers when their animal is ready for pickup or when medication is ready for pickup. Send images of the customer’s animals to the customer during boarding so they can stay-in-touch with their animals while they are away. 

A NOTE ON SPAM

Text message marketing is a great tool to communicate professionally with your customers, but there are some important things to keep in mind. You should never text someone with text message marketing who has not opted-in to your list. Customers can opt-in in a variety of ways, but it is important that you receive permission before contacting them. Also, with our text message provider, BRANDtext, a customer can opt-out at anytime. All the customer has to do is reply to the text message with ‘STOP, REMOVE, OPT OUT or CANCEL’. This is so important for a couple of reasons. One – it ensures that the customer has the right to not be a part of the text list if they so choose and avoids un-ethical spam marketing. Two – It keeps your text list efficient. A customer that doesn’t want to be on your list is most likely not going to act on any promotions you send them via tex. Better to not have the customer on the list and let them communicate with you the way they prefer. For best practices we always suggest putting yourself in your customer’s shoes and asking – how would I prefer to be treated as a potential text recipient?

For any questions about text message marketing check-out: www.brandtextmarketing.com or feel free to reach out to us as info@brandcowboy.com .