Did you know that 90% of all text messages are read within three minutes? That's because text messages are a direct line of communication with customers. They provide a fast, easy way to reach out and engage leads, and you can use them to convert prospects into customers or build more stickiness with existing customers. The importance of text messages in marketing should not be overlooked. They are the ideal way to engage, convert, and retain customers.
Today we will review a popular business text messaging software: Text Request.
Business text messaging software makes it easy to send and receive commercial text messages on a high quantity level. You can use text messages to schedule appointments, follow up on leads, and more.
What Is Text Request?
Text Request is text-messaging software that enables you to send and receive texts(SMS also) from your computer. It's like texting but through a web application in a browser. Here are some of its most popular features:
• Send unlimited messages - There is no limit on how many messages you can send or receive. You also don't have to worry about running out of texts.
• Schedule messages - You can easily schedule your messages to be sent at a later date and time. It works perfectly for appointment reminders, follow-ups, and more.
• Auto-responders - Automatically respond to customers with preset messages. It is effective for customer service or when you're unavailable to answer.
• Integrate with other software - You can easily integrate Text Request with your CRM, email marketing software, or website. This feature makes it easy to send and receive texts from your customers.
How to Use Text Request
If you want to use Text Request for SMS marketing, you'll be happy to know that there's an easy way to do that within the app. Just click on the "Marketing" tab and select "Create New Campaign."
You can then enter the phone number of your target audience, create a custom message, and choose when you want it to be sent.
This business text messaging software has a user interface that is clean and easy to use. You can create a new text message by clicking on the "New Message" tab at the top of the screen.
You can then type in the phone number of the person you are texting or select it from your contacts list.
To send a text, just click on the "Send" button.
To view your sent messages, click on the "Sent" tab at the top of the screen.
You can even schedule a text message to be sent in the future by clicking on the "Schedule" tab and selecting from a dropdown menu how long you want it to take before being delivered (e.g., one hour or two days).
Other shortcuts for using this tool include:
· Open the "Contacts" tab at any time by double-clicking their name in a new message window.
· After typing out your message, you can send it with one click (or tap) of the mouse button instead of having to press enter or return on your keyboard.
· Autoresponders are a great way to provide customer service. You can set up an autoresponder by clicking on the "Auto-Responders" tab.
Text Request Customer Service
How you pick one service among many providers depends often on how well it treats its customers. Clients will steer clear if the brand isn't sensitive to customers' concerns, no matter how good a product is.
Text Request offers excellent customer support, which is why it is among the leading texting platforms in the market today. The friendly and professional team ensures you get assistance whenever you need it.
Getting in touch with Text Request customer service is easy. You can email them, contact the company through social media, or call. You will likely get a response within 24 hours, sometimes even earlier, depending on the time of day.
Text Message Marketing Laws
Several regulatory authorities have enacted laws governing telemarketing communications. These laws are revised on a regular basis to keep up with technological advances and changing business practices. The following are some of the laws to be aware of:
Telephone Consumer Protection Act
In the United States, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is the major telemarketing statute. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was passed by Congress in 1991 and is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It has been updated several times to target unsolicited text messages and phone calls.
Restrictions on autodialers.
The TCPA prohibits robocalls, in which an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) selects phone numbers from a digitally stored list to call or message consumers without human participation.
Prior written consent is required.
Companies must get prior express written agreement from clients before contacting them with commercial or marketing offers. No prior interaction, verbal confirmations, or purchasing history can take the place of that explicit consent.
CAN-SPAM Act
To prevent unsolicited email messages containing explicit or objectionable content, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) produced the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM Act). It extends the legislation governing autodialers to all commercial companies, supplementing the TCPA. Informational messages that do not solicit new business, such as those about the status of a previously completed purchase, are an exemption; they can be delivered to consumers without their express written authorization.
Because the CAN-SPAM Act was enacted in 2003, before text messaging became widely used, it does not fully govern SMS communication. Within these limits, the FTC is allowed to establish new text message marketing restrictions, but the FCC remains the primary arbitrator of SMS communication laws, according to the TCPA.
Be Aware of Fines:
Businesses are still accountable for the content of their texts even if they use a different texting provider. Each offense is punishable by a fine of $500 per occurrence. In other words, this is the penalty for each message that violates the TCPA, not the total fine for the entire campaign.
These are not a complete list of laws so please review with a legal advisor prior to using any text messaging service.
Conclusion
Text Request is a reliable, modern text-messaging platform for small-medium businesses. It has a user-friendly interface, multiple functions for efficiency, and you can easily send unlimited texts from your computer or mobile device.
Be sure to follow all of the previously mentioned best practices and review all laws before sending any campaigns.
Once you do, if you're looking for the ideal way to engage with leads and customers that you have been neglecting, this service is well worth the try. You can also try Text Request's free trial to see if it's right for your business.