Key takeaways
- Tie SMS promotions directly to your social pages using integrated offers to build cross-channel engagement.
- Use gated content or rewards for subscribers who join your text list via social to encourage sign-ups.
- Add a sign-up page or link on your social accounts (Facebook offers a built-in contact-list tool) and be transparent about what subscribers will receive.
- Promote active SMS campaigns on social networks with short posts, as shares, likes and comments can amplify reach organically.
- Remind subscribers occasionally about what they’re missing on your social pages, but don’t spam them.
- Reward loyal followers with low-cost gestures (small coupons or samples) to keep engagement steady across SMS and social channels.
Introduction
A quick look around the next time you’re out enjoying a nice meal or picking up some groceries will show you that social media has invaded literally everything about modern life as we know it. Whether it’s tweeting at your favorite celebs or sharing that hilarious cat video with your family on Facebook, the digital world has never been more sociable than it is today. When it comes to SMS marketing, this industry isn’t exempt. To help you make the most out of social media during your next text message campaign, here’s everything you need to know about proactively connecting with these interactive audience members on the go.
Tether Deals and Offers to Your Social Pages
One of the easiest ways to build a lasting bond between your SMS operations and the social accounts related to your organization comes from tethering the two together via integrated promotions, according to Jerry Jascoviak of Mobile Marketing Watch. Whether it’s rewarding new members that found out about your text campaign on social media with gated content or spreading the word about your latest tweet or Facebook post with a quick message, finding common ground between these two processes can make all the difference in the world when connecting with customers.
Naturally, you won’t want to force every promotion into this overlapping area, but it definitely can’t hurt to use it to your advantage when generating a little extra interest. Another smart tactic that plenty of brands overlook comes in the form of reminding your current subscribers what they are missing by not liking or following your pages. This doesn’t mean you need to spam them with texts about social requests, just don’t forget to drop them a line every once in a while letting them know about everything they are missing out on by not participating. If you have an email marketing operation also running at the same time, you can initiate an even larger amount of crossover that will bolster your following on all three platforms.
Signing Up Via Social Media
Speaking of sign up reminders, why not add a marketing sign-up page or link to your existing social media accounts? For instance, Facebook offers a completely built-in tool that lets you create a contact list sheet directly on your company page. Again, this tool offers a great opportunity to build overlap between your SMS and email operations. After all, your customers are already checking out your account, so why not sign them up for both message services? Just be sure that these future audience members understand exactly what you’re offering. Transparency and honesty in the marketing process is key to keeping your customers satisfied once the text messages start hitting their mobile phones.
Promote Your Next Campaign on Relevant Networks
If you’re already in the middle of an SMS campaign, there’s no time like the present to do a little promotion on your favorite social networks. As Brett Relander explains in his post for Entrepreneur magazine, spending a few minutes whipping up an Instagram post or tweet goes a long way to spreading the word about your text messages.
The best part about regular posts regarding your SMS campaign is that it can easily go viral, all thanks to satisfied contact list members liking, sharing, and commenting on your messages. If you’ve never watched it happen before, there’s nothing quite like seeing a vibrant and organic discussion regarding your lasted SMS offer emerge on a social media post.
Reward Your Loyal Followers
Of course, it’s easy for the fervor surrounding your newly implemented crossover promotion to die down if you don’t keep the good vibes rolling. One of the easiest ways to avoid this marketing calamity is by rewarding the customers that remain active and engaged, according to Craig Rossouw of Biz Community. While some brands might offer free samples and other exclusive offers, you don’t exactly have to break the bank to provide a little thank you to those shoppers that stand as members of your social networks and SMS contact list.
In most cases, simply providing a small coupon that can be used on their next visit to your store is a nice enough gesture that shows you really appreciate consumer participation. Of course, if you really want to pull out all the stops, feel free to provide these followers with as valuable a gift as you see fit. If you can do this, as well as incorporate the rest of what you’ve learned about SMS messages and social media crossover, it won’t be long before your brand stands atop both worlds as an interactive and engaging marketing powerhouse.
FAQ
Tether deals and offers to your social pages through integrated promotions: reward new members who found the campaign on social with gated content or send quick texts highlighting your latest tweet or Facebook post. Don’t force every promotion into the overlap, but use it to generate extra interest.
Add a marketing sign-up page or link to your social accounts. Facebook offers a built-in tool to create a contact-list sheet on your company page. Make sure potential subscribers understand exactly what you’re offering. Be transparent and honest.
Post brief updates about the campaign on networks like Instagram and Twitter. Regular posts take little time and can be liked, shared and commented on by satisfied contacts, potentially driving organic discussion and wider reach.
Remind them occasionally to avoid spamming. Use periodic messages to highlight what they’re missing by not liking or following your pages.
You don’t need to break the bank: small coupons usable on a next visit are a simple, appreciated gesture. Free samples or exclusive offers are other options if you choose to provide greater value.
Run email operations alongside SMS and social to initiate larger crossover: use email to promote signing up for both message services and to bolster following across all three platforms.
Be transparent and honest about what subscribers will receive and avoid spamming them with repeated social requests. Clear expectations help keep customers satisfied once texts start arriving.
