Nowadays, people always have their phones with them. If it’s not in their hand at this moment, it’s likely within reach. That’s why SMS messaging, when done correctly, is a lucrative marketing strategy: you know you can always reach your subscribers quickly.

SMS marketing messages have a 98% open rate. In fact, 90% of people read the text within a minute and a half of receiving it, making this marketing strategy fast, efficient, and full of potential. You know most subscribers will open that text message. It’s up to you to build a persuasive and attractive message to convince them to engage further.

Why Build an SMS List?

But what about conversion? Well, approximately one in three people engage with a call to action when it is in an SMS message. Of that third, 47% will make a purchase. These are incredible results for a marketing tactic. What if you could send a single text that would immediately pick up your sales for the day, week, or quarter?

So, how can you build your SMS list? 

Getting Started

The best way to get people to volunteer their personal contact information is to entice them with something they will consider a fair trade. Let people know your SMS subscribers are the first to know about exclusive deals and discounts, or those special coupons are released only through your SMS messaging. Regardless of where you decide to promote this opt-in, you need to have a strong hook prepared.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Get 10% off your purchase today! Subscribe with your phone number and get a 10% Off Coupon sent to you right away!
• Join the exclusive club. Our subscribers are the first to know about special deals and limited-time offers!
• Love this sale? Our SMS members have had access to this sale for two days already. Be the first in line next time by joining our list.

Once you are armed with the hook for your messaging, it’s time to get people to volunteer that personal phone number. But where can you do that? We’re going to cover a few places.

Your Website

Your website is a great place to start. You can strategically place your hook on the side, at the bottom, or even around the menu bar of your website. Draw in people who are browsing, shopping, or just curious and visiting.
You could also choose to dedicate an entire landing page just to promote how awesome your SMS subscribers have it, with multiple opportunities for the scrollers to join your exclusive list. You can send people to this landing page from social media.

Signs in Your Store

If your company has a physical location, this one is for you. Signs are your best friend. Put one as customers enter and exit, beside a product display, and at your register.
We list more than one location because the more people see these signs, the more likely they are to become comfortable with the idea of giving you their contact information. And those signs will act like a little reminder every time they see one. “Don’t forget to sign up!”

Emails

Add your hook to emails you send to customers and leads. These emails could be a monthly newsletter, a “Thanks for your order!” email, or anything in between. Regardless, build the relationship by offering them an exclusive deal on their next purchase with a discount code only SMS members will receive.

At Checkout

Maybe your customer is sitting at their virtual cart about to purchase, or maybe they were about to exit out. You can send a popup to direct their attention towards a discount that’s theirs if only they join the SMS list. After they accept, you can set up the deal to be texted automatically.

Social Media

In your Instagram or Facebook story, a featured post, or a video, call your followers to sign up for your SMS group. People often hang out on social media to get inspired or find something awesome. Make this SMS system sound incredible, and you’ll get a steady flow of new subscribers.

SMS Tools

Now you’ve prepared your messaging. You’ve established how you will gather consumers’ phone numbers. How do you send out your messaging? Don’t worry, you don’t have to line up three hundred numbers on your company cell phone and hit send. There are tools designed to help you. Here are a few!

Omnisend: in addition to standard SMS tools, they also have a list-building feature and 24/7 support
EZ Texting: extremely comprehensive and you can start with a free trial.
SlickText: one-on-one account setup and a free mobile app.
Twilio: works with multiple messaging platforms.

It’s up to you to decide which tool you feel fits your company best. Remember, there are more tools than just this list. And at the end of the day, most SMS tools will accomplish the same basic task.

Work the System

Be prepared for these list-building strategies to work. Have your first couple of rounds of SMS marketing ready to go. Consider sending a welcome text soon after they subscribe. This will keep you in their mind and build the relationship.

Experiment a little bit to find what works best for your brand. Should you send pictures with your texts? If so, how many and what kind? Should they be professional and calm or fun and quirky? Should you use emojis or keep it emoji-free? Only you can answer these questions for your business.

Also, SMS does not have to be a stand-alone tactic. You can use SMS with email for a strong marketing strategy. Begin an email campaign with product recommendations and end with a text message warning them these deals will end soon.

Continue to Grow

Once you have these hooks published on your website, social media, physical store, and wherever else you choose, they can continually pull in more subscribers for you. You could even start with one or two places and add other hooks later.

Personalized communication is an extremely important aspect of marketing today, and SMS is the perfect way to communicate directly with customers. In fact, 48% of consumers say they prefer this direct communication with brands. Grow your SMS list today to take advantage of this advancing marketing strategy.