SMS marketing is blowing up in the business arena, and it's not hard to see why. Take a hard look at your restaurant; how many people are on their phones? How many customers are using third-party mobile apps to order from you? You're probably reading this article on your phone!
Mobile phones are highly convenient, which is why people are attached to their devices. Your potential customers are using their smartphones to decide what and where to eat. They look up your online reviews on their phones before visiting your physical premises and use their smartphones to make reservations. This makes text messages the perfect channel to reach out to your customers.
If you've not adopted this marketing strategy yet, here's a complete guide on how to promote your restaurant with SMS.
Contrary to what you may think, SMS marketing is not dead. In fact, studies show that sending text messages gives you a 97% open rate in less than 15 minutes. This is highly impressive!
When people receive a text message, their first instinct is to open it, so if you're not leveraging the benefits of SMS marketing, you're missing out on sales. According to 99 Firms, here's a quick overview of the top SMS marketing statistics.
The best types of marketing strategies focus on reaching the customers through the means they relate with most. According to Pew Research, around 94% of smartphone owners take their mobile phones with them everywhere. This makes text messages one of the most effective marketing tools.
The rise of social media marketing brought about speculations regarding the expendability of text messages as a profitable marketing channel. Statistics have, however, proven that SMS marketing is alive now more than ever and is one of the most cost-effective promotional strategies.
Perhaps one of the elements that make SMS highly successful is the fact that your potential clients only need to have a mobile phone. It doesn't have to be a smartphone device; they don't need an internet connection to interact with your messages; they just need a functional phone.
Here are some other key benefits of using SMS marketing to promote your restaurant.
Running a restaurant business is often expensive. You have to brand your physical premises, get the necessary permits, buy cooking equipment and hire staff. All these expenses combined are likely to leave you with a limited marketing budget.
Marketing is, however, not a function you can afford to ignore, which is why SMS marketing is perfect; you can easily afford it. You simply need to sign up with a reliable and affordable SMS software provider, and you're good to go. The best part about this is that you can send out bulk messages, segment your customers and schedule text messages in advance.
According to Business Insider, people check their phones at least 150 times daily and are likely to spot your message within 15 minutes of sending it. This open rate is higher compared to emails as only 34% of people check their emails frequently throughout the day.
The best part about running a restaurant is that it's fast-moving. When people are hungry, all they want is good food, and you can use this knowledge to send text messages at the right time.
Identify when you have the most foot traffic and send out offers at least 30 minutes to an hour before then. You can even send out exclusive discounts during your off-peak hours to drive more traffic to your restaurants.
There are 3 main reasons why SMS marketing has a greater return on investment compared to other marketing strategies;
You can also use text messages to collect invaluable customer data without spending a fortune. If you have a customer service team, they should be able to respond quickly with an answer if someone texts in with questions.
Making sales is no longer transactional in nature; it's mainly about the warm relationships you nurture with your clients, and text messages are a great way to get you there.
Even though the number of words you use in a text message is limited, a lot of thought goes into crafting the perfect SMS. This is not lost on the customer.
Keep in mind that modern consumers don't buy from brands; they make purchases from the people running those brands. This is especially true in the restaurant business. If a customer is satisfied with your service quality and personal interaction, they're more likely to remain loyal to you.
SMS marketing performs better than other forms of advertising by up to 5 times. This is mostly because of how interactive it is as a marketing channel. Every time you send out bulk text messages to your customers, you're guaranteed that they will open your message and read it.
You just have to ensure that you segment and manage the contact lists efficiently to avoid sending irrelevant messages that could prompt your customers to opt out.
SMS marketing is one of the simplest forms of restaurant marketing. Think about it. There are specific times during the day when your clients are considering their meal options. Chances are that they're using their mobile phones to navigate restaurant options near them. Why not use text messages to drive them to your physical premises?
Here are the main ways restaurants are using SMS to market their business.
To ensure your SMS marketing strategy is successful;
Text messages are a powerful restaurant marketing tool. They help you interact with your consumers through a channel they're highly comfortable with and have a great return on investment. SMS also guarantees instant delivery, adds a personal touch to your advertisements, and enhances customer loyalty.
If you are looking for reliable SMS software to help you automate your campaigns and track your results, we've got you covered. Contact us today to schedule a sales call and enjoy Sendlio's flexible prices.