It's funny. I think that for every step forward, we are reducing the physical gaps that separate us from each other, but we are taking a step back in terms of human-human contact.
I am not saying that I am opposed to all of this. Being a part of this new world, I'm much more comfortable with e-mail et Facebook messaging as I am with clients who are right in front of me.
Maybe you have a large customer base who would rather get a refund than talk to someone about switching to a more suitable plan. Or maybe your website is aimed at an older audience who need more convenient and accessible communication options. Whatever your website, your goal should be to provide them with channels through which they are most comfortable with you.
This is what we will talk about in this tutorial, which is why communications by SMS (i.e. by text messaging) are sensitive to websites, as well as how you can use this feature on your website.
If you have never installed WordPress, discover How to install a WordPress blog in 7 steps et How to search, install and activate a WordPress theme on your blog.
Then, back to why we are here.
Is the SMS the new marketing gateway on WordPress?
I recently saw an article that talked about the rise of Facebook Messenger as a business communication platform. While this is not my favorite idea, since I prefer Facebook to be the channel through which I maintain personal and non-professional relationships (I have to admit this is really a very brilliant idea).
Facebook has had the messaging feature for a few years now, and the data they've collected on their users' engagements with businesses through Messenger is interesting, to say the least:
Every month, there are 2 billion messages exchanged between businesses and consumers via Messenger.
53% of their users said they are more likely to buy from a brand that they have a direct line.
Read also How to add a WooCommerce store on Facebook
56% say they prefer these communications to be made via a message instead of a phone call.
Other studies have shown similar consumer gravitation to “instant” messaging with businesses; In particular, in the form of SMS. In the report titled "The High Demand for Customer Service Via Text Message," Harris Interactive and OneReach found that 64% of consumers who have the option of messaging a business prefer to do so instead of making a message. call.
And if you're still unsure about integrating SMS into your website or marketing strategy, consider the following:
A "Dynmark" report indicates that SMS has an open rate of 98%. Stop and think about it for a moment.
What is the opening rate of your newsletter?
And what buffer tell you about the percentage of people who actually see your social media posts and then click on them? With a text message, you would not only have an almost 100% open rate, but Dynmark also showed that 90% of received messages are read within three seconds.
It is clear that SMS is a viable marketing channel for businesses. There is the speed with which your marketing messages are not only seen, but read. There are higher open rates. And we also have the conversion rate:
Mark Tack of Vibes, a mobile marketing solution in Chicago, explained, “Email and SMS messages are important channels. Looking at data between December 2013 and March 2014, we found that mobile users are more loyal based on a higher redemption percentage of 16,6% compared to 3,3% for email ”.
With SMS, you don't have to worry about pop-up blockers, instant email deletion, or invisible ads. SMS communications for businesses get more views and, if your CTA is attractive enough, more engagement.
What can you do with text messages on your website?
You already know how to integrate your other marketing channels into WordPress. But since SMS gets so little airtime compared to the rest, you might not be fully aware of its full capabilities.
See also How to add a private message to WordPress
I was actually surprised with one of these use cases recently when I found out that my favorite local food truck sends text messages when parked nearby (because their schedule can be erratic). It ended up being a huge time saver for me as I felt tired of having to hunt down their website (physical and digital) every time. It's not just a great touch for a small business to offer a notification service like this, something that has been made possible from their website.
Also discover: How to search for keywords on WordPress
So if you think SMS is only for large eCommerce websites, think again. SMS would be great for:
- Instant verification or Registration confirmation
- E-commerce notifications as a purchase are confirmed, the order is processed, the package is shipped, etc.
- Customer Feedback Surveys
- Event announcements or reminders
- A discussion about special offers
- Sending discount codes and coupons that could instantly drive traffic to the website like Julep did
- Notification of new blog articles, video content, etc. posted on the website
- Alerts related to exceeding account limits, password checks, recent transactions, etc.
- Confirmation for upcoming appointments
- Reminders that products must be completed or reorganized
- "Have you seen our email?" »Following sending important information you don't want them missing
- SMS contests only like the one that Tide proposed to get new mobile subscribers and generate greater awareness
If you agree that SMS could be a good solution for your company, find me in a future tutorial with the list of plugins / tools that will allow you to get there.
1.SMS Contact Form
Ce WordPress Plugin premium allows you to add confirmations and SMS messages to all your contact forms, even to the payment gateway.
Discover 6 best marketing tools on Facebook Messenger
This SMS and email notification creation tool comes with a Contact form which has powerful SMS certification.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
2. Joy of Text Lite and Pro Plugin
If you're interested in texting, but don't know if it's worth investing in just now,
this is a good solution to start with, especially if you have a blog, a newsletter, a subscription or some other service they can sign up for. The Pro extensions for this plugin will open up more possibilities for you to e-Commerce forums, Planning et BuddyPress.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
3. WordPress Woo Commerce SMS Notifications Plugin
This is probably the unique form of SMS marketing that most people use already.
Read also: Presentation of the new custom order form from BlogPasCher
While it doesn't require much explanation, this plugin basically acts as a text messaging notification system for customers when they order something from your WooCommerce website.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
Recommended Resources
Find out about other recommended resources to help you build and manage your website.
- Creation of a dynamic benefits grid for WooCommerce products
- 10 WordPress Themes to Create a Yoga Club Website
- 5 WordPress plugins to estimate the reading time of an article
- How to have advanced user control on WordPress
Conclusion
So ! That's it for this tutorial, I hope it lets you know if SMS marketing is viable for your WordPress blog. Do not hesitate to share with your friends on your favorite social networks.
However, you can also consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on WordPress blog creation.
If you have suggestions or remarks, leave them in our section Comments.
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