How many times have you used SMS to send a reminder to a friend, or relative over the last week? Unless you’re the rare exception, you probably rely on them all the time, which simply goes to show how powerful text messaging is.
It’s only natural that we’d like to have at least some of that efficiency when we’re interacting with our favorite businesses. According to McKinsey, 71% of consumers already expect brands to personalize their interactions with them.
SMS reminders are simple ingredients for achieving that. So, let’s talk about how text message reminders work and how you can use them for optimal results in your business.
What Are SMS Reminders?
This is a friendly reminder about your upcoming consultation at the Swift Clinic. Please remember to arrive 15 minutes early. Reply ‘CONFIRM’ to confirm or ‘RESCHEDULE’ if needed. Thank you!
If you’ve received a message like this from your dental clinic, fitness center, restaurant or nail salon, you basically know what an SMS reminder is. Still, maybe you’re uncertain if they’re right for your business. Let’s walk through what an SMS reminder actually is and what its benefits are too.
Transactional SMS
An SMS reminder for a pre-scheduled business appointment that is generated via business communication platforms falls under the term “Transactional SMS” as defined in the telecommunications industry.
Transactional SMS refers to text messaging automatically sent to users to relay essential information for a transaction, or service they’ve chosen to engage in.
A recipient response is typically triggered by specific actions, or transactions, like appointment reminders, or other calls to action such as; authentication pins and confirmations.
Transactional SMS is not SMS marketing. It is not a sales solicitation.
An SMS message is short and to the point. A text reminder ensures that your message is easily digestible and easy to act on. This is the ideal communications channel to assist people in managing calendared events.
Since 97% of Americans already own a mobile phone, per Pew Research Center, there’s no need to explain the ins and outs of an online platform to confirm an upcoming appointment. You’re sending your friendly reminder directly to the devices your customers are handling daily. That makes for timely delivery in a trusted environment, and enables quick responses.
This part can’t be underestimated. Remember that mobile carriers have to guess whether you’re trustworthy based on certain metrics. If they see a lot of two-way communication, it shows them you’re engaging with client base and providing value.
To take personalization up a notch, you can include recipients’ names, appointment type details or order numbers. Nuances like these can turn a simple appointment confirmation into a way of driving customer satisfaction Also, you can automate text appointment reminders or even the occasional SMS notification about a limited-time discount.
If you’re worried about cost-effectiveness, think about how a more personalized communication channel with record-high engagement can aid you in lowering your no-shows, boost your brand or improve sales.
Benefits of Text Reminders
In business, every second, every dollar counts. That’s why enterprises are constantly seeking innovative ways to streamline their operations and enhance customer engagement. Among the myriad of tools available, SMS reminders have emerged as a game-changer, empowering businesses across industries to revolutionize their communication strategies.
Here are seven key benefits you’ll encounter when leveraging text reminders for your business:
- Maximized Appointment Attendance – Missed appointments can be a real drain on revenue. In healthcare, this can cost as much as $260 a visit. Text reminders reduce no-shows by providing timely and convenient notifications. Medical appointments, salon visits and service schedules all run better with text reminders.
- Enhanced Customer Engagement – Engaging customers is the cornerstone of a successful business. SMS reminders offer a direct, personal touchpoint to connect with your most loyal customers. You can tailor and brand your messages to foster a sense of consideration and belonging, leading to improved customer loyalty and satisfaction. In some cases, clients who identify the most strongly with your brand might even decide to re-share your campaigns.
- Reduce Disruption – Capitalize on the power of SMS reminders to improve daily client flow. This not only reduces no shows as stated, but keeps customer’s on time, so you don’t have people waiting.
- Improved Operational Efficiency – Automating reminders through SMS streamlines internal processes, freeing up valuable time for your team. Proactive appointment confirmations, allows your team to slip in last minute appointment requests, for those that confirm they can’t make tomorrow’s appointment.
- Wider Reach and Accessibility – Unlike emails or calls that might go unnoticed, text messages have an unparalleled open rate of up to 98%. Reach a wider audience instantly, irrespective of their internet connectivity, ensuring your message gets across promptly.
- Personalized Communication – Tailor messages to suit individual preferences, creating a personalized experience for each recipient. Addressing customers by name and offering relevant information enhances the impact of your communication, fostering a stronger connection.
- Cost-Effective Office Administration – SMS reminders offer a cost-effective alternative to having office reception call clients to ensure they are on time and don’t miss appointments. SMS reminders improve flow times on appointments.
However, sending hundreds of text messages to your customers can be an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a platform like Swift SMS Gateway, you can simplify the entire process of setting up campaigns in a user-friendly interface. That way, even non-technical users can easily send text reminders.
The only task that remains to be mastered is crafting a compelling message. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
How To Use Text Message Reminders To Get Customers On Time
A successful text message reminder campaign extends far beyond merely sending notifications. It’s about creating a personalized experience that resonates with your clients. Here’s how you can elevate your engagement game using SMS reminders.
Confirm Opt-In At Point Of Contact
When they are scheduling appointments with your business, make it a habit to ask them directly at that time if they want a text reminder for their appointment. Improving that service experience, consider tailoring the time of the text reminder. If you can send it the day of, an hour before and the day before, confirm their preference, and give them the option to customize that and control their opt-out option.
Get the Timing Right
Consider the above opt-in preferences, respect it and optimize broadcast times. For example, sending your SMS reminder in the middle of the night and waking them for their noon hour appointment is an annoyance, while a fitness center might send workout reminders in the morning, or early evening. Wherever you can, you should try and use customer data to understand peak engagement hours and align your SMS reminders accordingly. Try to avoid sending text messages after work hours. Customers are trusting you with one of their most private ways of communication. If you betray that trust, they’ll flag your number as spam, and hurt your delivery rates.
Segmentation as the Foundation of Tailored Messaging
If you’re worrying about learning every customer’s name by heart, don’t. You can simply segment your list according to customers’ preferences and past interactions with your business. For instance, retail businesses can send personalized product recommendations based on past purchases, while service-based industries like salons, or healthcare providers might customize messages about upcoming services, or appointments.
Implement a Clear Call to Action
Even the most straightforward messages can benefit from a more compelling Call To Action (CTA). Incorporating a CTA nudges customers toward the desired action, whether that’s making a purchase, signing up for a webinar or leaving feedback. Tailor your transactional SMS appointment reminder’s CTAs by including “Confirm Appointment” in your text alert, as an initial reminder days before. Then follow up with a general appointment reminder on the day of.
Monitor and Analyze Campaign Performance
Success lies in continual improvement. Track key metrics such as your open, click-through and conversion rates to gauge the effectiveness of your SMS reminders. Implement A/B testing by creating variations of messages to identify which resonates best with your audience. Analyzing campaign performance helps refine your strategies, ensuring you consistently deliver engaging and impactful messages.
Harness the potential of SMS reminders to create meaningful connections with your audience. By crafting personalized messages, leveraging optimal timing, implementing clear CTAs and monitoring performance metrics, your business can revolutionize its engagement strategies and foster lasting relationships with your customers.
Set Up Your Next SMS Reminder With Swift SMS Gateway
OK, now that we’ve got you hooked on the potential text reminders can have, how can you get started? With Swift SMS Gateway, you can combine the right modules to build the package that best reflects your business model.
Text Services Geared Towards Small Business
Let’s walk through the options for small to medium businesses. After showing you the ins and outs of our platform during your free demo, you can decide on one of three Small Biz packages. Each of them contains the same perks, from a dedicated longcode to SSL security. The only difference lies in the amount of messages included every month.
Text Services Geared Towards Developers and Enterprise Apps
If you’re a developer who is connecting a text message gateway to a communications suite, or existing contact relationship manager platform, Swift SMS Gateway suggests you look at our SMS API Services, which are scaled to larger broadcasting requirements.
You can also decide to combine your Small Biz package or SMS API services with different support plans. If you’re still missing something in your plan, you can book one of our add-ons for MMS functionality, two-factor authentication or other features.
Once you’ve decided on your packages, you only have to provide your address and billing info and select your dedicated longcode. With that out of the way, sending your first campaign is as easy as clicking a few buttons. Just pick your contacts, templates and reply options, enter a track link and fire away.
Please keep in mind that it’s critical to comply with certain regulations when sending SMS campaigns and to use a number that’s registered for mass texting. Otherwise, you risk getting blocked immediately.
Schedule a Demo Now
SMS reminders is a powerful tool. It streamlines operations, boosts customer engagement and lowers no-shows. Now it’s your turn. If you’d like to see how text messaging can complement your business, book a free demo with our team to learn more.
