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21 Essential Features of SMS Marketing in 2021

Are you ready to give SMS marketing services a try? Your first order of business will likely be to find a mass texting platform that meets all your needs. Before you jump in, here are the top features you should be considering in 2020 when it comes to evaluating a business texting service. Read through them to get an idea of the latest features currently on the market. 

Features of a strong SMS marketing service in 2020

Here’s a list of some of the latest 2020 features that you’ll see in SMS marketing services at the top of the game.

1. Send mass text messages

Yes, you can send texts from a computer. But there’s a difference between sending personal texts versus using a business SMS platform that can handle mass text messaging. 
In 2019 there’s a lot you can do with a robust SMS messaging service, so don’t sell yourself short. When you use an SMS messaging service, you have the freedom to connect with customers whenever and wherever you choose. Let them know about news, events, and promotions relating to your business, and give them access to special offers just for text subscribers.

2. Choose a custom keyword

Most SMS messaging services offer the ability for customers to sign up to your list by using special keywords called “textwords.” For example, when customers text your code to (555) 555-5555, they will automatically be added to your list and can start receiving your content right away. Make sure you find a service where you can choose your own custom keyword when you sign up. Some services try to have too many business shares one shortcode, and there is a chance your keyword may have already been taken. Pick a word that is easy for your customers to remember. 

3. Text message scheduling

There are a lot of reasons you might want to schedule your text messages in advance: preparing for an absence, getting organized for a campaign, or even maximizing the time of a small marketing team.
You can easily set up your texts to go out at a predetermined time and date. Choose whether you want to send out a single message, or line up weeks (or even months) of campaigns ahead of time. Your subscribers will not even know you are gone.

4. Auto-replies

Do not want your customers to feel like they are texting into the void when they’re messaging your short code?
Find an SMS marketing service that offers an auto-reply feature, so you do not have to worry about your customers feeling neglected. You can customize your automated response and change it up whenever you want!

5. MMS/Picture messaging

MMS messaging allows you to send pictures to customers, which can be especially useful if you are sending out updates about new products. Images can increase engagements and keep your customers interested in your content. Bonus: When you use MMS messaging, you can use 1200 characters instead of the 160 allowed with traditional SMS marketing services. 

6. Two-way text messaging

Let your customers get in touch with you via text and engage your business. In 2020, customers have high standard when it comes to customer service. Plus, all our 2-way messages are secured with government standard, 254-bit encryption.

7. Webhooks

Stay up to date with what is going on with your subscriber list by using webhooks. If you want to keep track of actions that impact your account, webhooks can log the information you need. They will keep track of actions like opt-ins, contest entries, email captures, and more. 

8. Multiple user support

Need to share your SMS marketing account with multiple people in your business? Protect your security by finding an SMS marketing platform that easily allows you to onboard multiple members instead of having your whole team share one set of logs in credentials. 
Let your entire team in on the fun by creating a unique login for each user. You will have the ability to grant access to different areas of your account as needed.

9. Repeating messages

If you anticipate needing to send the same message more than once, you can save time by setting up automatic text messages to send on a recurring basis in your account.
Create your message and decide which customers will receive your content. Then, just schedule your messages to send however frequently you choose. 

10. Zapier integration

Zapier is a program that integrates apps and software so they can be used together. That means, no matter what apps you use for your online store, if your text message marketing service integrates with Zapier you will be able to make the two work together.
In 2020, if you are not integrating text message marketing into multiple elements of the customer experience, you are going to be lagging behind your competitors who probably are. That is why a Zapier integration is key.
Our SMS marketing services use Zapier to allow our clients to connect Sentext2win with over 1,000 services that our customers (and yours) use every day. 

11. Email capture

Want to grow your email list at the same time as your subscriber list? That is probably a good idea. Using multiple communication channels in tandem with each other helps establish stronger ties with your customers. Plus, it gives you the ability to let customers choose how they want to be contacted. 
With our email capture feature, you will have the opportunity to snag your customers’ email addresses when they opt into your list. Just head over to our dashboard to export your email list to your preferred email marketing provider.

12. Drip campaigns

Stay in touch with customers without overloading them by using a drip campaign.
A drip campaign allows you to set up a series of time-delayed text messages. These can start as soon as a customer signs up or can be kicked off by the catalyst of your choosing. It is an easy way to make sure your business stays at the forefront of your customers’ attention.
In 2019 there are many digital marketing tools vying for your time, and it is unreasonable to expect that you would individually send each message in a campaign. That is why drip campaigns are so important in making sure you can send all the messages you need to while freeing up your time to focus on other important tasks.

13. Mobile coupons

Did you know that mobile coupons are ten times more likely to be redeemed than print or email coupons? You need a text marketing platform that is great at facilitating mobile coupons because these are likely to be a key part of your strategy. 
Reward your customers for their loyalty by sending coupons that are only available to your text subscribers. Sentext2win can help you create a visually appealing, fully functional coupon that will spice up your next SMS marketing campaign.

14. Extended length messaging

You might remember that SMS texting used to be known for having a limit of 160 characters. That is not the case anymore. Our clients have the ability to send twice as much content as the traditional SMS limit. That way you do not have to worry about condensing your message or shortening it with awkward abbreviations. Still not enough? Send an MMS message instead. Attaching a picture means you can send up to 1600 characters in a single message.

15. Custom subscriber fields

Get down to the nitty-gritty and find out as much as you can about your customers so you can create irresistible offers tailor-made to fit their needs. This will also allow you to segment your campaigns so you can send targeted content to different types of customers.

16. Detailed analytics

If there’s one thing we know about mobile marketing in 2020 it’s that you need to test everything and listen to your analytics. Find an SMS text blast app that gives you access to charts and data about the details you need to know to keep things running smoothly. Opt-ins, churn rate, geographical information — it’s all at your fingertips with Sentext2win.

17. Web opt-in forms

As part of a list growth tactic, you will want to get your customers to opt-in to your service through an opt-in form on the web. No knowledge of code? No problem. Our program makes it easy to build an opt-in that works for your business.

18. Link tracking

It pays to keep track of the links you send to your subscribers because you’ll want to review who has clicked on them and if they’ve converted to purchase. Especially in 2020 it’s more important than ever to be able to track user behavior and show the return on investment for your marketing dollars. 
With our link tracking capability, you will know exactly how many times customers clicked your link. It may seem simple, but it is a great way to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns so you can make them even better in the future!

19. Segment your contacts

Segmenting your contacts is when you send a message to only a certain group or demographic. It helps to personalize your text messages as you’re able to send more targeted messaging based on subscriber data. It’s crucial to find a platform that can handle some form of audience segmentation because marketing messaging is getting even more targeted and niche in 2020.
Create sub-groups within your master list by segmenting your contacts. That way, you can be sure you are only sending relevant content to each subscriber.

20. Data sync

If you have unique subscriber data you would like to use when segmenting your list, we can help you sync it. We can easily integrate your information with data from your existing subscribers with just a few clicks.

21. Shopify abandon cart

Help recover some of your abandoned carts by sending users a text message to remind them they still have items in their cart. Provide a link to their Shopify cart they can follow to complete their purchase. If you are not following up with abandoned carts in 2020, you are leaving money on the table.

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