An EZ Guide to Getting Text Marketing Opt-Ins

One important thing to make sure you have when you start your text marketing program is permission from all of your subscribers. The law requires that you have written permission to send marketing text messages to your customers. It is easy to get the permission; you simply need to have customers sign up via some type of online or paper form or opt-in via text message. This builds a foundation for your successful texting campaign.

There are many ways to motivate customers to opt-in to your SMS marketing campaign. To generate more opt-ins, utilize several mediums to reach a much wider pool of potential subscribers.

Signage and Flyers


Add more subscribers by placing information in store.

One of the easiest places to include information about your texting program is your signage on your store front. You can also include similar information on anything else you hang in, hand out, or place around your business, including:

• Posters
• Flyers
• Table cloths
• Menus

It does not take much space to include a keyword, number and brief explanation of the program on advertising properties you already have. When people see these ads, they can easily reach for their phones and opt in.

When you include information about your texting program on your signs, posters, flyers and similar marketing collateral, choose the keyword you use wisely. You want to use something that enhances the advertisement itself for an added effect. For example, if you run a café, then use a keyword that reinforces the idea that you have great coffee, such as GREATBREW.

Emails

Your email newsletters also provide a nice avenue for promoting your text marketing program and bringing in more subscribers. At the bottom of your email, include information about your campaign, including directions for how to opt-in. Alternatively, include a link where people can sign up for the campaign through an online form.

Your email newsletters go to people who are already receiving something from you, so they are more likely to sign up for another program as well.

Website and Social Media

In addition to your email campaigns, your other digital properties also provide a space for bringing in more subscribers to your program. On your website, include a widget where people can easily sign up for the texting program. You can also have banners that have the information for opting in, including a keyword and short code.

Your social media profiles can also include the information for opting in. It is also beneficial to occasionally directly promote the program to your social media followers through a targeted post. Your social media followers are already interested in knowing more about your company and remaining engaged, making them an attentive audience for getting them to follow you through another medium, such as your texting program.

Business Cards

When you are at networking events, trade shows and other places for meeting people, handing out business cards is an easy way to provide potential customers with all the information they need to find your business and remain in touch. This should also include information about your texting program. They will most likely have their phones with them when they receive their card, so they will easily be able to opt into the texting program right away.

Register Receipts

What information do you include on your register receipts? If you only have the name and address of the business and the transaction, then you are missing an opportunity to promote your marketing properties, including your text marketing program.

At the bottom of the receipt, include a line about how to opt-in. Then, after customers have had a positive experience at your company and are disposed to following you, they will see the information and opt-in.

Print and Other Ads


Add information about your program on all your billboards and posters.

It is not just flyers and signage that offer space for promoting your texting program. There are other common advertisement places that prime space for a texting call to action. These include:

• Print ads
• Billboards
• Bus ads
• Truck/car wraps

You can use texting as the call to action on these ads, increasing the efficacy of the ads as well as adding more people to your subscriber list. Texting is a strong call to action, especially since people have their phones with them at all times. No matter where they see your ad, they will easily be able to respond by texting a keyword to opt in.

Radio and TV Spots

In addition to print ads, it is also beneficial to use a texting call to action for radio and TV spots. Because these ads go out to a much larger radius of potential customers, it also increases the chance that you will grow your subscriber list exponentially.

Add Some Motivation

When you include information about your texting program on one or more of these places, it is beneficial to include some motivation to increase the chance of people choosing to opt-in. An easy way to do this is to reward people with an offer or deal of some type just for signing up.

When they sign up for the program by texting a keyword or filling out an online form, respond with a confirmation text. After they have confirmed they wish to sign up, then send them the text with the coupon or deal. This also ensures that you have the permission from the customers to text them.

These are some of the most common places for promoting a text marketing campaign to build a larger and stronger subscriber list. The nicest part is that most of these channels you already own and regularly use, making it easy and cost-effective way to promote your program. As an added benefit, using texting as a call to action increases the efficacy of many of these ads, helping you to get the most out of your marketing and advertising efforts.

Ready to start your program? Sign up for free and start today.