Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Retail Text Marketing Leads to Repeat Shoppers

Text Marketing in a Retail environment is the most effective way to increase sales from both returning customers and new customers. Many stores focus on bringing in new business, and while this is important, it is equally – if not more – important to keep existing business engaged. Every business owner needs to keep an eye on two types of customers: The current one, and the new one. Current customers include those who have made at least one purchase previously. Did you know that a returning customer has the potential to be five times more profitable than a new customer? Plus, keeping shoppers coming back, means that they will spread the word – leading to new business anyways.

Text Marketing is a low cost, simple way to keep in contact with existing Retail customers. Everyone has a smartphone these days, and they use it for more than just communication. These phones are used for research, mapping, browsing, photos and music. It makes perfect sense for businesses to tap into this “wonder gadget” and utilize the connection people have with their mobile device for marketing efforts. For a retail store there are so many ways to connect with their shoppers via text messaging. Here are a few examples, which have led to great success:

1. Rewards or Points. You know that card in your wallet for the sandwich store? The one that gets a punch every time you swing in for a sub? This can be automated to be done via text. As a retailer, you can apply this to more than just sandwiches. Reward your customers, text them their updated point score and encourage them to earn more to receive a prize.

2. Referrals are key. Send out a text blast to your customers letting them know if they bring in a friend, they will receive some sort of reward. Referrals are very successful, because people will certainly go somewhere their trusted friend tells them about. Retailer should really make this a top priority.

3. Members Only. Offer a special sale, only for existing customers. Consumers love to be an “insider” and to have access to a promotion other people don’t. Maybe send a discount coupon to your list, or even better – send out a message for customers to show as an “entry-fee” to shop an early release sale, before the sale becomes available to everyone else!

4. Come back to shop sale. Run a special sale that encourages shoppers to bring in a previous receipt from your store. The older the receipt, the better the discount – because this proves your long-term customers will reap the most benefits from your promotion. Longevity is the goal here, if people are rewarded for shopping over and over again – you’ll be sure they will return.

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