Landline Texting is the marketing and communications tool you never knew you needed.
On first glance, the phrase “landline texting” may actually sound a bit oxymoronic. However, many business texting services do offer landline texting capabilities using your existing phone number!
If you haven’t heard yet, let us be the first to tell you: text message is the future of business-to-consumer communications. Not only are 86% of consumers open to mobile engagement, but 64% of consumers actually prefer texting over voice calls for customer service.
Unfortunately, if you are running a small business, implementing new and innovative technology can seem like a pretty lofty goal. Maybe you are struggling with financial resources for such a change or maybe you just do not have the manpower to manage a new communication system.
Luckily, adding landline texting to your current communication and marketing strategies is not as complicated or time-consuming as you may think. In fact, it will most likely make your life, and your customers’ experience, simpler and more convenient.
Read on to find out more about how your business could benefit from landline texting.
How Landline Texting Can Benefit Your Small Business
No extra equipment
Let’s start here because this is probably one of your primary concerns if you are considering adding landline texting to your small business strategy. Through the use of a business texting service, you will not need to purchase any additional equipment to take advantage of landline texting.
Here’s how it works:
- Your customers or potential customers will find your business’ phone number on your website, social media, and/or any advertisements you may run. At this point, you may also want to inform them of that number’s texting capability.
- The customer will send a text message to that phone number- maybe they have a question or customer service issue.
- You and/or designated employees can access that text, and others, through a browser on a computer or smartphone. Using that same browser, you can form your response and respond by text.
It’s that easy! No need to purchase additional equipment, business cell phones, etc. Technically, customers are sending texts by way of your landline number, but the landline itself is not actually receiving the messages. They are, instead, redirected to your account through your business texting service.
You probably already have your landline number printed on multiple different marketing materials. Instead of updating brochures, websites, advertisements etc., you can add landline texting capabilities to that existing number. All you have to do is inform customers of the added convenience!
Did we also mention that adding text features to a landline doesn’t interfere with phone calls? That means your customers can still text your number, even while someone is on the phone.
Ultimately, landline texting may actually save your business money versus other business-to-consumer communication channels.
Centralize communication
If your employees are constantly using different modes of communication (e-mail, phone calls, text, etc.) to contact customers, and vice versa, landline texting will be an extremely efficient tool to add to your arsenal. Not only will it simplify communication for you and your employees, but it will also make you that much more reachable. Ditch the old phone-tag routine, and start using landline texting.
While multiple communication resources are beneficial to small businesses, there is the risk of information overload to your customers. With landline texting, customers just need one phone number to reach you- even when your business is closed. You can then decide when and where to respond.
Improved Customer Service
Your customers will undoubtedly love the landline texting feature as a customer service tool. In fact, businesses who use text messaging experience a 20% decrease in customer service calls and a 25% increase in customer satisfaction.
Let’s face it: people are busy! Your customers don’t always have time to call your business to resolve customer service issues. It’s also likely that your customer service representatives are also busy, which may result in long wait times for callers. This can be incredibly frustrating for your customers, especially if they know their question or request will only require a short answer.
With landline texting, however, your customers can quickly ask their question and wait for your response. Also, many business texting services offer an auto-reply feature within their landline services! (More on that later.) Keep those customer service phone lines open to answer more in-depth inquiries by using landline texting for your small business.
Automation
As it was mentioned earlier, many business texting services allow you to set up automated replies to commonly asked questions. If you find that customers are constantly tying up your phone lines to inquire about your store hours, pricing, appointment info, etc., then you can set up automated answers within your texting service and perhaps provide a link to your website for more information.
For example, if you run a restaurant and find that your host is constantly fielding calls for reservations, you can urge customers to text your landline instead. When a customer texts your number about a reservation inquiry, you can send an automated reply containing the link to your online reservation tool. That way, the host can give his or her undivided attention to the in-person diners. The customers are happy because their reservation was convenient, the diners are happy because they received excellent service from the host, and the host is happy he/she does not have to perform several tasks at once.
Much like the host in the above-mentioned example, your employees will be freed up to perform the other important aspects of their job through the use of auto-reply texts!
Marketing Tool
Last, but certainly not least, landline texting is an incredible addition to your existing marketing strategy. Since there is no need to purchase additional equipment with landline texting, it is an accessible and affordable option for your small business.
Compared to other marketing techniques, text message is the best for short form offers and promotions. In fact, 98% of texts are actually opened, compared to just 20% of emails. Text messages also boast a higher click-through rate at 19% versus just 2% for emails.
Your small business can utilize landline texting to send promotions, offers and coupons to your customers. An article from RetailTouchPoints.com states, “Mobile coupons delivered via text message… drive higher levels of purchases along with a sense of urgency. The survey indicated that not only do 25% of people redeem texted coupons within three days, 60% redeem them within a week.”
Boost your sales and enjoy the fruits of your marketing efforts by adding landline texting to your current strategy!
— If landline texting is something you are ready to take advantage of in your small business, it is time to start doing your research. Find the business texting service that is right for you, and start reaping the benefits of this revolutionary tool!
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