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B2C Text Messaging: What It Is and 4 Flawless Tips

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<p><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/article/b2c-marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Business-to-consumer</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> communication—specifically, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/article/sms-vs-mms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">B2C text messaging</a>—</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">is a simple and effective way for your business to bring in more leads, engage with and convert them, and keep them loyal to your business. You&#8217;ll see impressive </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">open and response with B2C texting compared to traditional marketing techniques like direct mail or email. </span>B2C texting is made even easier when using a single lead management platform, like Podium, which centralizes all of your communication channels and conversations in one Inbox.</p>
<p>Continue reading to learn more about the power of B2C texting, why your business can benefit from it, and how Podium can help.</p>
<h2><span data-preserver-spaces="true">What is B2C text messaging?</span></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">B2C text messaging is when your business sends SMS messages to your customers—these messages may be about marketing campaigns, sales information, appointment details, promotions and products, customer service follow-ups, and more. They improve engagement and the customer experience, and build trust. </span></p>
<h2><span data-preserver-spaces="true">When did text messaging become popular?</span></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Text messaging was one of the first functionalities individuals and businesses with mobile devices gained access to, and it’s still one of the most powerful. </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">It’s accessible to everyone with a smartphone. Texting is convenient since so much of communication takes place on messaging apps today. Texting allows for quick responses, improving the customer experience. It also enables you to reach a large audience at one time. </span></p>
<h2><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Why is text messaging the future of B2C marketing?</span></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">There is no better time than the present to make text messaging a staple of your marketing strategy. Here’s why.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">1. Extremely High Open Rates</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Did you know SMS marketing campaigns have an</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/text-marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> open rate of 98%</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">? Clearly, your target audience wants you to message them and there’s no reason not to with metrics like that. You can consistently reach the large majority of people on your marketing list, whether promoting a new product or asking for feedback.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">2. Immediate and Real-Time Delivery</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The modern consumer wants a response almost instantly. They don’t have time to waste on phone calls. As text messaging is a real-time 24/7 communication channel, it meets the need for immediacy, especially as users are notified as soon as your message reaches their inbox.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">3. Direct and Personalized Communication</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">As well as sending mass texts to all your contacts, you can send specific campaigns to certain segments of your marketing list and personalized messages to individuals. This means that your contacts only get marketing messages that are relevant to them. </span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Sending such highly customized marketing campaigns improves customer engagement (as they trust they are receiving relevant messages) and customer loyalty (as they are guided through the customer journey with personalized support).</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">4. High Engagement and Interaction</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Text messages are quick and easy to read and respond to. Customers can quickly type out a response in the messaging app or open up a web link you’ve sent them on their smartphone. Interaction takes a matter of seconds. The easier it is, the more likely they are to follow through. For example, one of our clients </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/customer-stories/real-salt-lake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Real Salt Lake </span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">has achieved a click rate of 30% for some of their campaigns. That pays off because enabling multiple interactions allows a relationship to build.</span></p>
<h2><span data-preserver-spaces="true">B2C Text Messaging Tips and Best Practices</span></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">As you can see, text messaging is a great opportunity for B2C businesses to improve their communication with their customers and achieve better </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/article/content-marketing-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">business outcomes</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. There are a few best practices to follow to optimize the results of your text marketing efforts.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">1. Obtain Explicit Consent</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Allow leads to opt-in to receive text messages from you in the same way you would with email marketing. Text messaging is a popular communication channel so your leads will be happy to hear from you through messages, just as long as they have agreed to it. It could be as simple as adding a tick box to a sign-up form. </span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">2. Keep Messages Short and Clear</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Text messages are intended to be sweet and snappy. Usually, the less the better. So get your </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/article/marketing-basics-for-business-owners/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">marketing message</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> across in a clear and compelling way without overwriting it or trying to say too much in one message. It’s better to send multiple texts rather than an information dump once a week.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">3. Timing is Crucial</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Send text messages when your ideal customers are likely to be looking at their text messages. There’s no point sending it in the middle of the night when they’re trying to sleep! It’s also helpful to send time-sensitive information over text because it has such a good response rate such as a sale ending in a matter of hours.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">4. Integrate With Other Marketing Channels</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">You may have some leads begin their customer journey on a different marketing channel and then move over to text messaging out of convenience once they have built trust with the business. For example, a new lead browsing the website may want to reach out over</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/webchat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> webchat</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> and then transition to text as the conversation continues so they don’t have to keep the tab open when they are out and about. That’s possible with our webchat tool as well as viewing all customer interactions in one inbox including</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/reviews/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> online reviews</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> that need to be followed up.</span></p>
<h2><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Leverage Podium and Reach New Customers Through SMS Marketing</span></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">If you’re ready to</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/text-marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> use text messaging</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> to improve your communication with customers, from lead generation to sales to customer support, get started with Podium. We give you a headstart on your text marketing campaigns by providing</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.podium.com/texting-templates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> 500 templates</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> you can use. We also offer the functionality to tailor campaigns to specific segments of your marketing list and individuals. Automate the most repetitive tasks that don’t need to be personalized. Keep everything above board with our opt-in forms that allow you to grow your list with legal compliance.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Manage your text campaigns alongside the other communication channels you offer with our omnichannel inbox that integrates text messaging, social media messaging, webchat messaging, and more. You could be one of our customers who make thousands in revenue from a single campaign.</span></p>
<h2><span data-preserver-spaces="true">B2C Text Messaging FAQs</span></h2>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Q: Is B2B cold texting legal?</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A: No, you have to ask for consent before texting clients and customers. On a global scale, it is seen as a breach of privacy. In the US, unsolicited texting has been regulated since the introduction of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in 1991.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Q: Can companies text you without permission?</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A: No, companies cannot text you without permission. Just like with email marketing, customers have to opt-in to receive marketing messages from businesses. If you haven’t given permission, companies are not allowed to message your phone number.</span></p>
<h3><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Q: Can I legally text my customers?</span></h3>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A: Yes, there is a legal way to text customers. On collecting their phone number, ask them to opt in to receive messages from the business. As long as you get explicit informed consent, a business can text its customers.</span></p>


B2C Text Messaging: What It Is and 4 Flawless Tips

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