We previously discussed the benefits of automated SMS for businesses and listed popular SMS tools. Now, we’re going to dig deeper and look at interesting ways to incorporate automated SMS in sales processes.
If you’ve decided that using automated text messages is a good sales tool for your business, the following seven ideas to make your sales process more impactful with automated text messages will help you get started.
7 Ways to Use Automated SMS in Sales Processes
Here are seven interesting ways to use automated SMS in sales processes:
Initiate Conversations
Automated SMS can help improve one-to-one sales conversations with prospects and buyers. If you want to increase engagement with leads and customers, and improve responses from them, you need a sales channel that is not traditional. Automated text messages can help you improve conversions by sending appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, special discount coupons, and subscription renewal alerts.
Research shows that consumers redeem coupons delivered through SMS 10X more than other types of coupons. Also, 67% of smartphone users in the US like to receive service-related messages from brands.
Explore SMS CRM Integration
Even though 90% of businesses with more than 10 employees have adopted customer resource management (CRM) systems, they are not aware of useful business integrations that can improve their performance. For instance, the effective SMS CRM integration.
By tying your CRM and automated text messaging platform together, you can send your leads and customers text messages directly from the CRM system. In most cases, all you need to do is tap on the contact number of the lead or customer and a chat window will open. You can use this window to send a personalized SMS.
Another benefit of SMS CRM integration is that you don’t need to update contact details on multiple platforms. Simply update the details in your CRM and the updated details will automatically reflect on your automated text messaging platform.
Popular CRM platforms such as Hubspot, Gong, and Zoho comprise robust workflow features such as drip campaigns that allow you to integrate text messages as an action or trigger. With the right automated SMS platform, setting up the SMS CRM integration is typically easy and quick.
Send Short Surveys
An important step in the sales process is collecting feedback from customers. You always want to know what your customers are thinking – especially new ones -- right? You can use automated text messages to send short text-based surveys. You can include questions such as:
- How likely are you to recommend our products/services to your family and friends?
- How high would you rate us on a scale of 1-5?
- Can you highlight improvement areas?
- Will you buy from us again?
Ensure the questions are concise and clear, and can be answered in a couple of words.
Drive Quick Conversions
Automated SMS can help create urgency and close deals quickly. Since text messages are concise, short, and quick to read, they provide even the most critical information in a jiffy. 90% of text messages are read in approximately 3 minutes. This means the chance of closing deals with text messages are much higher than other modes of communication.
Upsell Relevant Products/Services
Once a buyer has purchased your product or service, you can use automated text messages to send personalized recommendations for other relevant products and services based on what they bought. For instance, if a customer has bought a TV from you, send them a text message saying: “Looking for ways to keep the screen clean? Try our screen cleaner for $3 (including shipping).”
Request for Online Ratings and Reviews
Positive online reviews are critical to building a powerful brand image and improving your online reputation. 93% of customers read online reviews before purchasing a product or service. Getting positive reviews should be a high priority.
You can use automated text messages to ask existing customers to rate you or leave an online review on third-party review sites, such as Google and Yelp. All you need to do is embed the link to the review site in the text message. You can also offer buyers an incentive for leaving a rating or review.
Send Autoresponses to Prospects and Customers Outside Office Timings
Text messaging platforms such as SimpleTexting comprise an “Away Message” feature that allows users to send automated standard responses to prospects and customers outside of office hours. You can use the automated standard responses to provide prospects and customers with alternative details to reach you, inform them when you’ll be back, or answer their queries.
Not sure which SMS tool is right for your business? Need help getting an SMS program up and running? Please contact us!
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