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4 Rules for Writing Text Messages People Want to Read

March 1, 2015 7:00 pm by


Text message marketing is a great way to get your customers’ attention.

There are a number of best practices to abide by when it comes to text message marketing. If you are a business owner that’s thinking of using mobile to engage with your customers, taking the time to learn about text message best practices can help you get off on the right foot with your first campaign. Here are four rules for writing texts that will catch the attention of your target audience and make them want to respond.

Rule 1: Keep It Brief

The first rule of writing compelling text messages is to keep things short. Avoid using industry jargon or extra words as you are developing your campaign copy. Consider coming up with a few possible messages with your marketing team, and then editing them down to less than 160 characters. Remember, you want your call to action to be the central focus of your message to customers. You don’t want to draw attention away from your CTA by making your text messages too complicated.

Rule 2: Offer Something Interesting

One of the best ways to get your customers’ attention is to offer them something interesting. If you are a restaurant owner, you may consider giving them a percentage off their next meal or a free appetizer with drink purchase. While it isn’t necessarily mandatory to provide an incentive to your customers, it can help improve the success of your campaign.

Rule 3: Make Sure it’s Relevant

Chances are your business appeals to multiple customer segments. For example, let’s say that you own a retail store and sell clothing for both women and men. If you want to make the most of your text message campaign, it may make sense to create different offers for each customer segment you’re trying to reach. Think of it this way: a special discount on women’s jeans is probably more likely to appeal to your female audience than a percentage off discount on men’s sport coats.

Rule 4: Time It Right

Another key thing to pay attention to as you’re developing your text message marketing efforts is timing. If your offer is poorly timed, you may not experience the conversions you had in mind. Let’s say you are a restaurant owner that’s hosting a special event on a Friday night. It’s important to give potential patrons enough lead time so that they can plan their evening. Consider timing your first message to go out on Tuesday and then sending a reminder as the weekend draws closer. This approach can help you maximize the effectiveness of your campaign.


Creating compelling, relevant text message offers can help you attract more customers.

Text message marketing is an effective way to engage with your audience, but there are a few best practices to pay attention to as you’re crafting your campaigns. Keeping your messages short, offering a compelling incentive, making sure your offers are relevant, and timing things right can help you make the most of your text message marketing efforts. If you’re interested in getting started with mobile marketing for your business, try Group Texting for free today!

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