Choose a Catchy Name
On average, adults in the U.S. send and receive approximately 32 text messages per day. For this reason, the name you choose for your program must help you stand out among other text messages.
A catchy name that is easy to remember helps you stand out from your competitors and is key in creating a successful loyalty text message program. e.l.f. Cosmetics is a good example. Their program name is Beauty Squad. A text-based loyalty program works best with the tone of your brand in messaging.
Establish a Rewards Earning System
Once you have a catchy, brand-appropriate name for your program, it’s time to decide how your customers will earn rewards and what these rewards will be.
With text messages, it’s easy to set up keywords that customers can text to your program number to claim a reward. For example, once a customer has made a specific number of purchases, they can text a particular keyword to claim a reward like a discount code or even a free product for their next purchase.
In Coors Light’s most recent effort to improve loyalty, they’ve approached Valentines Day with puppies as rewards. For the majority of February 2020, they provided reimbursement up to $100 in adoption fees for 1,000 eligible dogs as an olive branch from their larger campaign targeting women that skip cuffing season and instead, drink a beer at home with their dog. Followers of the brand have been notified to text COORS4K9 to 28130 with a picture of the adoption receipt. Coors Light showcasing just another clever way that texting boosts loyalty and amplifies targeted campaigns.
Upload Existing Contacts
If you’re starting a new program, but you already have customers who have signed up to receive text communications from your business, then you can upload their mobile numbers into the subscribers tab on Textedly.
It’s important to note that these should only be customers who have explicitly signed up for text communications. Textedly will approve contact uploads accordingly and only when they come from a verified business email address.
Set Up a Keyword
Once your program is set up, give customers a keyword that they can text to opt-in or out of the program at any time.
Remember that the goal of the program is to create a loyal relationship between you and your customers. If you don’t give them the freedom to come and go as they want, they’ll feel trapped into something which will end up hurting or even breaking that relationship instead.
Create User Filters
Not all customers who sign up for your program will be the same. You can use filters in Textedly to segment your subscribers into groups and hyper-target them accordingly.
For example, you can choose to only text a special discount code to customers who haven’t made a purchase in a while. This will keep you fresh in their minds and encourage them to come back.
Using Multimedia in Loyalty Texting Campaigns
Textedly supports MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services). This means you can include photos, videos, or even a PDF file when texting your customers.
MMS texts create more engaging messages, help to separate you from competitors, and quickly transpire a feeling that more briefly words can’t. MMS has an average
conversion rate of 30%, while the conversion rate for SMS averages across industries at 16%.
Compose Text Templates
Text templates are a great way to save time when composing your text message. Especially if you are sending the same message multiple times a day to different customers.
You can create different templates under your Textedly account and save them for when you need them. Remember to name your template, so you can identify it quickly when you need to use it.
Enable Auto-Responders
The auto-responder feature is another excellent tool to save time when managing your loyalty text message program. You can set up autoresponders for thanking a customer for signing up, or if they opt-out saying goodbye and reminding them that they could opt back in whenever they want by texting a specific keyword to a number.
Another great use for autoresponders is setting up messages weeks, months, or a year after a customer signs up and congratulating them for their anniversary with a special reward.
Engage With Your Customers
These programs create numerous opportunities for customer engagement; you just have to get creative. For example, if you own a restaurant and are promoting a new dish, have customers text a picture of them trying the dish and reward them for doing so. If you're still stuck on how to get started with your loyalty program, don’t worry. We’ve provided direct
examples on loyalty text messages.
