1. Free Shipping

One way to stand out and attract more sales is to offer free shipping. In fact, offering free shipping can be a game-changer for your business, and here are a few reasons why:

1. Increases Conversion Rates: When customers see they can get free shipping, they’re more likely to complete their purchase. According to a survey, 9 out of 10 consumers say free shipping is the top incentive to shop online more.
2. Boosts Customer Loyalty: Offering free shipping is an excellent way to build customer loyalty. Customers will appreciate the gesture and are more likely to return to your store.
3. Reduces Cart Abandonment: High shipping fees are one of the main reasons for cart abandonment. By offering free shipping, you can reduce the number of abandoned carts and increase your revenue.
4. Attracts New Customers: Free shipping can be a powerful marketing tool. By advertising free shipping, you can attract new customers searching for the best deals.

Example

Free People, the Bohemian clothing brand, has adopted Attentive’s dual sign-up solution to attract new subscribers via email and text messages. By providing free shipping, customers are encouraged to sign up. After entering their email address, customers are prompted to complete their registration and receive the free shipping incentive by opting in for text messages. This marketing tactic effectively allows brands to expand their email and text messaging subscriber base quickly.

2. Urgency

Urgency is a trigger that works well to get us to act and is a powerful tool that businesses can use to their advantage, you can use things like a deadline or limited quantities of a product, and I’ve even seen products that increase in price after a specific number are purchased.

Benefits to using urgency:

1. Increases Conversions: Urgency creates a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) in customers, which can prompt them to take action. Adding urgency to your marketing messages can increase conversions and boost sales.
2. Improves Customer Engagement: Customers are more likely to engage with your brand when they feel a sense of urgency. Urgent messages, such as limited-time offers or flash sales, can spark excitement and encourage customers to take action.
3. Encourages Repeat Business: Urgency can be a great way to encourage customers to come back to your store. You can entice customers to return and make another purchase by offering limited-time deals or promotions.
4. Creates a Sense of Exclusivity: Urgency can make customers feel like they are part of an exclusive group that gets access to special deals and promotions. This can increase brand loyalty and make customers feel more connected to your brand.

Example

The footwear and fashion accessories retailer Steve Madden utilized an SMS text message to notify its SMS list of subscribers about a “must-have” product. The brand incorporated a sense of immediacy in the message (“selling out fast” and “before it’s gone”) to prompt subscribers to buy the essential item. Steve Madden kept the message brief and concluded with a direct link to quickly shop the product. By highlighting a fashionable product, subscribers are likely to feel that they are staying up-to-date with the latest footwear trends.

3. 1 To 1 Texting

As an online business owner, you know that keeping your customers engaged is crucial to your success. One way to accomplish this is by using SMS one-to-one messaging. This powerful marketing tool can help you connect with your customers personally and meaningfully. Let’s dive into the benefits of using SMS one-to-one and how it can improve your customer experience.

Benefits of Using SMS One-to-One

1. Increased Engagement: SMS one-to-one messaging allows you to engage with your customers more personally. This can help to build a relationship with them, increasing their loyalty to your brand. With SMS messaging, you can send personalized messages that address your customers by name, making them feel valued and appreciated.
2. Higher Open Rates: SMS messaging has a much higher open rate than email or social media. According to a survey, SMS messages have an open rate of 98%, compared to email’s 20%. This means that your customers are more likely to see your message, making SMS an effective communication method.
3. Improved Customer Experience: SMS messaging allows you to provide your customers with a seamless and convenient experience. For example, SMS can send order updates, delivery notifications, or even special offers. This can help to reduce customer frustration and improve their overall experience with your brand.
4. Increased Sales: You can use SMS one-to-one messaging to increase your sales and revenue. For example, you can use SMS to send targeted offers or promotions to customers who have abandoned their carts, encouraging them to complete their purchase.

Example

Popov Leather, an e-commerce store specializing in leather goods, offers personalized shopping experiences to customers through one-on-one text messaging. In one instance, a customer reached out to Popov to express their gratitude for a positive shopping experience and inform them that they would be a returning customer. For this individual, communicating with the brand through text felt as comfortable as contacting a friend.

4. Conversational SMS

What is Conversational SMS?

Conversational SMS is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. It allows you to engage with your customers in real-time, answering their questions and providing support when they need it most. Here are some of the key benefits of conversational SMS:

• Increased Engagement: Conversational SMS allows you to have a more personal and engaging conversation with your customers. Communicating in a natural and conversational way can build a stronger connection with your customers, leading to increased loyalty and repeat business.
• Improved Customer Service: With conversational SMS, you can provide real-time support to your customers, answering their questions and resolving their issues quickly and efficiently. This helps improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to increased sales and revenue.
• Better Targeting: Conversational SMS allows you to target specific customer segments with personalized messages, increasing the relevance of your marketing campaigns and improving their effectiveness.

Example

Using Attentive Concierge™, FragranceNet.com cultivates genuine connections with their SMS subscribers. Whenever a subscriber visits their website without making a purchase, the brand initiates a conversational message to assist them with their shopping. The brand provides a highly personalized recommendation tailored to the subscriber’s preferences in this one-on-one exchange.

5. Cross-Promote

As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to increase your customer engagement and revenue. One effective strategy is cross-promoting, which involves promoting one marketing channel or product to customers using another marketing channel or product. Let’s explore the power and benefits of cross-promoting and how it can help your business.

Benefits of Cross-Promoting

1. Increased Customer Engagement: Cross-promoting allows you to reach your customers across multiple marketing channels, increasing their engagement with your brand. For example, you can promote your social media channels on your website or your email list, encouraging customers to follow and engage with your brand on those platforms.
2. Improved Product Awareness: Cross-promoting can help you to increase awareness of your products or services. For example, you can promote your new product release on your social media channels or promote your popular products in your email campaigns, introducing them to a wider audience.
3. Increased Revenue: Cross-promoting can help you to boost your revenue by driving more traffic to your website and increasing sales. For example, you can offer a discount code for customers who follow your social media channels or promote a complementary product to customers who have recently purchased from your website.
4. Improved Customer Experience: Cross-promoting can help you improve your customer experience by providing more options and resources. For example, you can promote your customer support channels on your website or in your email campaigns, providing customers with more ways to get in touch with your team.

Example

Brewbike lets their subscribers choose from a wide range of SMS channel perks. They use this conversational moment as an opportunity to cross-promote other channels, voice their brand mission, drive in-store traffic, and inspire new subscribers. And—by using Attentive’s Two-Way Journeys™—Brewbike could automatically segment subscribers based on their interests to personalize future engagement.

6. Deal Of The Day

This marketing approach can be a powerful tool to attract and retain customers. Let’s take a look at the benefits of using the deal-of-the-day strategy for your online business.

Benefits of the DOD Strategy

1. Creates Urgency: The deal of the day strategy creates a sense of urgency among your customers. By offering a time-sensitive deal, you can encourage them to take action and make a purchase before the deal expires. This can increase the likelihood of conversion.
2. Boosts Sales: By offering a deal of the day with your SMS marketing campaign you can drive sales and increase revenue. Customers are more likely to make a purchase when they feel like they’re getting a good deal.
3. Increases Customer Loyalty: Consistently offering a deal of the day can help to build customer loyalty. Your customers will appreciate the value you’re providing them and are more likely to return to your business in the future.

Example

Urban Outfitters, the lifestyle retail company, utilized a text message marketing approach by sending a “deal of the day” message, which offered a 50% discount on hundreds of styles. The message featured a custom GIF with the brand’s logo, a smiley face, and a bright yellow ticket, indicating that the deal is only valid for that particular day. The text message copy, which includes the abbreviation “nbd,” perfectly reflects Urban Outfitters’ playful tone. Additionally, the campaign suggests that more daily deals will be offered, encouraging customers to revisit the website and fostering brand loyalty.

7. Dynamic Conversations

As an online business owner, you always look for ways to improve customer engagement and drive sales. One powerful tool you can use to achieve this is Dynamic Conversations with SMS messaging. This advanced form of messaging allows you to engage with your customers in real time, providing a personalized experience that can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Let’s dive into the benefits of using Dynamic Conversations and how it can transform your customer experience.

Benefits of Using Dynamic Conversations

1. Real-time Interaction: Dynamic conversations allow you to interact with your customers in real time. This means that you can respond to their inquiries, resolve their issues, and even offer personalized recommendations instantly. This interaction level can help build trust and loyalty, leading to increased customer satisfaction and sales.
2. Personalized Experience: dynamic conversations allow you to provide a personalized experience to your customers. For example, you can use dynamic conversations to recommend products based on their purchase history or browsing behaviour. This can help to improve customer engagement and drive sales.
3. Improved Customer Support: Dynamic conversations can be used to provide better customer support. For example, you can use this feature to provide customers with quick answers to their questions or concerns. This can help to reduce customer frustration and improve their overall experience with your brand.
4. Increased Sales: By using dynamic conversations, you can increase your sales and revenue. For example, you can use this feature to send personalized offers or promotions to customers who are browsing your website. This can help encourage them to purchase and increase your sales.

Example

In their back-to-school marketing campaign, Erin Condren Design crafted a remarkably customized experience for their subscribers. They designed a triggered messaging sequence that engaged with subscribers by asking them about their favourite back-to-school product. Then, the brand directed them to the relevant category page for their preferred item, enabling them to start shopping straight away.

8. Education-Based SMS

Education-based marketing addresses the common issue of customers being bombarded with sales pitches and promotional messages. By offering insightful, practical, and relevant information, you position yourself as an expert in your field, fostering trust and credibility with your audience.

Benefits of Educational SMS

1. Personalized Experience: SMS is intimate and direct, allowing you to tailor educational content to your customer’s individual needs and preferences. Imagine receiving a timely text message with tips on how to maintain your car just as you hit the 10,000-mile mark – that’s the kind of personalized experience educational SMS can offer.
2. Empowered Customers: When you educate your customers, you arm them with the knowledge to make informed decisions. For instance, a personal trainer might send a link via SMS sharing weekly fitness tips, or a nutritionist might share healthy recipes via SMS. This empowers your audience to take control of their well-being, leading to a stronger bond with your brand.
3. Long-lasting Relationships: Education-based SMS nurtures long-term relationships, as customers appreciate brands that add value to their lives. By consistently providing helpful content, you become their go-to source for information and solutions, ensuring that they’ll stick around for the long haul.
4. Higher Conversion Rates: With trust, credibility, and rapport established, customers are more likely to choose your products or services when the time comes. By using educational SMS, you’ll have built a solid foundation for converting prospects into loyal customers.

Example

Supergoop!, a brand specializing in protective skincare, leverages text messaging to educate its subscribers on the advantages of sun protection. The message highlights various SPF choices such as lotions, sprays, and powders and urges subscribers to select the one that suits them best. Additionally, they include a picture displaying three different product alternatives. By utilizing this platform innovatively, Supergoop! Delivers valuable content that aligns with their product offerings.

9. Geo-Targeting

Geo-targeting is the art of reaching your audience based on their geographic location. This nifty tool helps businesses cut through the noise and send relevant, personalized messages to their customers. No more generic, one-size-fits-all marketing campaigns – it’s time to get up close and personal.

Benefits of Geo-Based Targeting

1. Unleash the Power of Personalization: With geo-targeting, you can deliver tailored offers and promotions to customers based on where they are. This means you’ll be striking while the iron is hot, catching your customers when they’re most likely to engage with your business.
2. Effortlessly Boost Engagement: Imagine getting a text message about a nearby coffee shop just as you’re craving a caffeine fix. Geo-targeted SMS campaigns can seize the moment and drive customers to your store when they’re most likely to visit.
3. Maximize Your Marketing Spend: Don’t let your marketing budget slip through the cracks. Geo-targeting helps you target the right people at the right time, reducing wasted ad spend and ensuring your message is reaching its intended audience.
4. Foster Stronger Customer Relationships: People appreciate it when businesses go the extra mile to understand their needs. By sending location-based offers, you show customers you care about their preferences, creating a positive brand association and nurturing loyalty.

To commemorate National Wisconsin Day, EatStreet, a food delivery platform, employed geo-targeting to send an SMS-only promotion to its subscribers in Wisconsin. The message contained a branded image that highlighted the exclusive deal to attract subscribers’ attention. To encourage subscribers to place an order right away, the message concluded with a personalized link to nearby restaurants.

10. Customized Gift Ideas

Customized gifts allow you to create a unique and personalized experience for your customers, making them feel appreciated and valued. Let’s explore the benefits of using customized gift ideas and how it can help your business grow.

Benefits of Using Customized Gift Ideas

1. Personalization: Customized gifts allow you to create a personalized experience for your customers. By tailoring your gifts to their preferences, you show them that you truly care about them as individuals. This personal touch can go a long way in building customer loyalty and increasing repeat business.
2. Memorability: Customized gifts are memorable and leave a lasting impression on your customers. Customers receiving thoughtful and personalized gifts are more likely to remember and recommend your brand to others. This can help to increase brand awareness and bring in new customers.
3. Brand Awareness: Customized gifts can also be a powerful branding tool. You can increase your brand’s visibility and reach by including your logo or branding on the gift. This can help to reinforce your brand’s identity and increase brand awareness.
4. Increased Sales: Customized gifts can also be used as a marketing tool to increase sales. For example, you can offer a free customized gift with a purchase over a certain amount. This can incentivize customers to spend more and increase your overall sales.

Example

Using Attentive’s Two-Way Journeys™, Zales suggests customized gift ideas to newly subscribed customers, mimicking the in-store product discovery experience. This conversational approach helps Zales increase their online revenue. Additionally, Zales can record these preferences as “custom attributes” on each subscriber’s profile, allowing them to provide tailored messaging throughout the customer’s lifecycle.

11. Integrating SMS And Email

Combining SMS and email allows you to create a seamless and effective marketing campaign that resonates with your customers. Let’s explore the benefits of integrating SMS and email marketing and how it can help your business grow.

Benefits of Integrating SMS and Email Marketing

1. Increased Reach: By integrating SMS and email marketing, you can increase your reach and engage with more customers. Some customers may prefer email, while others may prefer SMS. By offering both channels, you can meet your customers’ preferences and ensure that your message reaches a wider audience.
2. Improved Customer Experience: Integrating SMS and email marketing can help you provide a better customer experience. For example, you can use email to provide detailed product information and use SMS to send quick updates and reminders. This can help to reduce customer frustration and improve their overall experience with your brand.
3. Higher Conversion Rates: Integrating SMS and email marketing can help you increase your conversion rates. For example, you can use email to send a targeted promotion and use SMS to follow up with a reminder or a limited-time offer. This can encourage customers to take action and make a purchase.
4. Cost-Effective: Integrating SMS and email marketing can be cost-effective. SMS messages have a higher open rate than email, but email allows you to provide more detailed information. By combining these channels, you can create a balanced marketing campaign that maximizes your resources and provides a strong return on investment.

Example

In anticipation of the holiday shopping season, VIRUS leveraged Attentive’s 2-in-1 sign-up feature on their mobile website to simultaneously expand their SMS and email lists. Their site-wide discount led to instant online sales, while early access to their Black Friday sale thrilled subscribers who were eager for upcoming SMS channel perks during the holidays and beyond.

12. Limited Edition

Limited edition products are exclusive, and unique, and create a sense of scarcity which naturally drives up the product’s perceived value. Let’s explore the benefits of promoting limited edition products to market to customers.

Benefits of Promoting Limited Edition Products

1. Creates a Sense of Urgency: Limited edition products are available for a limited time only. This creates a sense of urgency that can encourage customers to make a purchase. Customers are more likely to buy when they feel like they might miss out on something special.
2. Increases Perceived Value: Limited edition products are exclusive and unique. This increases their perceived value, making them more desirable to customers. Customers are willing to pay a premium price for limited edition products because they believe they are getting something special.
3. Promotes Customer Loyalty: Promoting limited edition products can help to build customer loyalty. Customers who are fans of your brand will be excited to get their hands on something exclusive. They will appreciate the effort you put into creating something special for them.
4. Differentiates Your Brand: Promoting limited edition products can help to differentiate your brand from your competitors. By offering something unique, you can stand out from the crowd and attract more customers.

Example

Personalized hair care brand Function of Beauty sent a text message revealing a new limited-edition fragrance. The message ended with a direct link to the product, making it easy for subscribers to add the items to their carts. Function of Beauty created excitement and a sense of exclusivity by giving subscribers a first look. And the sense of urgency conveyed in the messaging (”long-awaited” and “get it now”) encouraged subscribers to shop the in-demand product before it’s gone.

13. Multi-Day Sale

This type of strategy involves offering discounts and promotions over the course of several days or even weeks. What are some of the benefits to using this strategy:

Benefits of Using a Multi-Day Sales Strategy

1. Increased Sales and Revenue: A multi-day sales strategy can help to increase your sales and revenue by creating a sense of urgency and encouraging customers to take advantage of limited-time offers. By spreading out your promotions over several days, you can keep your customers engaged and interested in your brand.
2. Improved Customer Engagement: A multi-day sales strategy allows you to engage more frequently and consistently with your customers. By offering different promotions and discounts daily, you can keep your customers excited and interested in what you offer.
3. Increased Recognition: A multi-day sales strategy can help to increase brand awareness and attract new customers to your business. By promoting your sales across different channels, such as social media, email, and SMS, you can reach a wider audience and attract new customers to your business.
4. Customer Loyalty: Once a customer buys from you once it is very likely they will choose you over competitors who they haven’t purchased from, and this strategy works almost like a multiplier effect

Example

Function of Beauty, a brand that specializes in customized hair, body, and skincare products, launched a three-day sale to rival Amazon’s Prime Day 2020 offers. The promotion offered a 20% discount on all purchases. Function of Beauty used a playful tone in their text message, referencing the shopping event and telling shoppers they deserved “PRIME treatment.” By promoting the sale via text message, the brand was able to quickly reach its audience and drive more website traffic and revenue.

14. New Sale Item

Promoting new sale items can be a powerful strategy to achieve this goal as well as generating excitement and anticipation among your customers. Let’s explore the benefits of promoting new sale items and how you can use it to drive more sales.

Benefits of Promoting New Sale Items

1. Increased Foot Traffic: Promoting new sale items can help to drive more foot traffic to your store. By advertising new products or promotions, you can entice customers to come in and check out what’s new. This can lead to increased sales and revenue for your business.
2. Improved Customer Retention: Customers love NEW. If you are constantly introducing new items to your customers, you will create a habit where customers are routinely looking online or shopping in-store to see what’s new, even if there is nothing new, you are still creating sales opportunities.
3. Opportunity for Upselling: When promoting new sale items, you have the opportunity to upsell to your customers. For example, you can offer a discount on a complementary item when they purchase a new sale item, encouraging them to buy more and increasing their overall spend.

Example

Marc Jacobs, the high-end fashion label, leveraged text messaging to notify customers about new sale items. The text message showcased a personalized animated GIF providing a preview of the latest styles. The messaging effectively complemented the image by revealing the discount that customers would receive. By highlighting the sense of urgency with phrases like “Don’t miss out” and emphasizing the standout styles in the new spring collection, the message created excitement and enticed shoppers to explore the offerings.