In 2021 you are likely to find a mobile device in the pocket or purse of nearly every person you pass on the street. Pew Research findings suggest that 97% of Americans own a mobile device of some sort. Furthermore, people are using their mobile devices more than ever before as tools for online shopping. According to recent e-commerce statistics, mobile e-commerce is expected to account for nearly 54% of all e-commerce retail sales in the U.S. in 2021.

This data provides an important forecast that all small businesses in online retail should consider carefully. Emerging business trends show that businesses are looking to prioritize e-commerce to stay ahead of these consumer trends in online and mobile purchasing. For many, this means changes in marketing practices — especially mobile marketing.

A Brief Look at Mobile Marketing

Mobile marketing is not optional for those looking to compete in today’s e-commerce-driven retail economy; the digital economy is here to stay. Simply put, mobile marketing looks to engage potential customers through mobile devices in the hopes of selling products or services.

This can be done through traditional means — e.g., advertising via social media. However, this digital marketing strategy can be customized across multiple channels. Email and text message marketing are among the most effective strategies. Neglecting these strategies could make the difference between recovering a sale and an abandoned shopping cart.

Don’t Neglect Text Message Marketing

The continued rise in mobile device ownership and the growing trend in e-commerce purchases via mobile devices means businesses must adopt some mobile marketing strategy to stay afloat. In doing so, text message marketing should not be neglected as part of that mobile marketing strategy.

Email Marketing vs. Text Message Marketing

Many businesses put more emphasis on email marketing when adopting mobile marketing strategies. However, marketing data suggests that:

The open rate among consumers for emails sits at an average range of 28 – 33%, while the average open rate for text messages is roughly 99%.
In addition, the click-through rate (CTR) for linked text messages far exceeds those of email — 36% versus 6-7%, respectively.

Furthermore, text message response rates among customers are much higher than the response rates of email marketing — 45% for text messages, only 6% for email. A higher response rate offers more opportunities to turn those responses into sales.

What does all this mean? It means consumers are using their mobile devices more than ever to purchase products and services and that customer engagement is far more likely through text messages than through email. Businesses looking to make a bigger splash in e-commerce should consider using text message marketing.

Permission

As a brief aside, it is important to understand consumer data laws before engaging in text message marketing. Most companies gain permission to contact customers through opt-in or security features located on their websites — contact forms, verification methods, etc. Save yourself the headache and ensure you get permission before sending text messages to potential or returning customers.

Effective Text Message Templates for E-Commerce

Now that we better understand the marketing potentials of text message marketing, it’s time to look at some of the most effective text message templates for e-commerce. These templates can be tailored and suited to almost any business with slight tweaking. The beauty of text message marketing is that it is made to be short — hence the term SMS or “short message service” — and to the point. No long drudgeries or extra fluff required.

Let’s look at some of the most influential text message templates for e-commerce — each meant to be engaging, to the point, and personalized for your mobile customer.

Thanks for Signing Up! – The Welcome Template

The first e-commerce template is simple. People like to feel welcomed and valued. A simple, new customer welcome text message is a great strategy to employ. It needs to be friendly; genuinely friendly. After all, the customer must’ve felt comfortable enough to give you their personal information (phone number). Why not make them feel welcomed for doing so?

It affords a great opportunity to personalize your marketing strategy. If you want to extend the virtual niceties, offer the customer an incentive for signing up; as a gesture of appreciation. Brevity is key. Here is a template example:

“Hi, Sarah! We appreciate you signing up with us at (company link). Please enjoy 10% off your first order by using the discount code WELCOME.”

“Have you Seen...?” – The Promotional Offer Template

People love deals (whether or not they like to admit it). If a customer has given you their information, chances are they have an interest in what you’re selling. Promotional offers and discounts are a great way to engage potential customers and returning customers alike.

These are quite effective, as long as you’re not sending them every single day. A rightly-timed discount offer could make your customer’s day. It can also be tailored to fit as a loyalty offer for returning customers. If you want to elevate the effectiveness, create them with a slight sense of urgency. Here is an example:

“Hi, Mark! Have you seen our latest (product, service, etc.)? Take a look at (link). We are offering 25% off when you use the discount code SUMMER. The offer expires this Saturday.”

Sale! – The Upcoming Sale Template

Similar to the promotional offer, upcoming sale text templates can ensure customers are aware of the potential deals headed their way. These templates do not need to provide discount codes as they are simply meant to nudge customers to your website during sale promotions.

Once again, timing can work to your advantage, and a little urgency doesn’t hurt. Here is a template example:

“It’s time Olivia. The summer sale is here! From now until midnight tomorrow, we’re offering up to 50% off on select products. You don’t want to miss it! Visit (company site).

This would also be a great time to engage customers who haven't made purchases in a while or opted into your text message service and never made a purchase. Making them aware of sales could bring them rushing back to your site to finally purchase that product they’ve been contemplating.

Time to Celebrate – The Birthday and Holiday Template

Deals are sweet come holiday time, and it provides an opportunity to engage your opted-ins. Providing holiday discount codes is a great way to engage potential customers during those busy purchasing seasons.

Furthermore, sending a customer a special, personalized birthday discount code is another way to put a smile on their face and a product in their cart. Here are a couple of template examples:

“We hope you’re enjoying the holidays as much as we are. Don’t miss our special holiday offers, going on now until December 31st. Use discount code WINTER for an additional 10% off shipping (company link).”
“Happy Birthday, Sam! Treat yourself with this 15% discount code on us: BDAY. Offer valid for one month (company link).”

I Saw You Were Checking Out – Abandoned Cart Template

The evolution of abandoned cart is perhaps the biggest thorn in the sides of many businesses. While the other templates are geared towards celebrating and rewarding existing and potential customers, the abandoned cart template is aimed at those who didn’t make it to the finish line once they started.

However, effective text recovery can help reduce the headache that comes from unrealized sales. A personalized, effective text message template can make all the difference in recovering those abandoned sales. Here’s an example:

“Hey Nick, this is Lauren from Simple Coffee. I saw you were checking out our Cold Brew. Great choice! Did you want me to see if I can get you a discount?”

If the abandoned cart is a recurring frustration for your business, LiveRecover specializes in converting those abandoned carts into sales — using personalized and effective text messages strategies that engage those contacts on your behalf; using real people and e-commerce integrations.

Some Final Thoughts

Text message templates for e-commerce are effective when done with care towards the customer. Understanding consumer laws is important to know who you may contact. Furthermore, a couple of other things can easily leave your mobile marketing strategy ineffectual:

Don’t be annoying. Bombarding customers all day, every day is a sure way to make them opt-out of your contact list.
Include a call-to-action. It should go without saying, but do not neglect the call to action. Getting a customer closer to the point of sale is the goal; without this, your message is nothing more than a “how ya doing” text.

Mobile marketing is here to stay; a text message marketing strategy with effective templates is a tool every business should have in their e-commerce toolbox.

Sources:

Text Message Templates For E-Commerce

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