SMS Marketing for Delivery-Centred Businesses

If you run a delivery-based business, you’ll know that communication with your customer is key.

Whether it’s keeping them informed about their delivery’s status and expected arrival time, or tempting them with discounts and offers on future orders, there are plenty of reasons to keep in touch.

But a key communications challenge in the digital age is choosing the appropriate channel to use to get your message across. Forms of marketing like emails and phone calls are still forces to be reckoned with, but the success of many communications from delivery-based businesses rely on near-instantaneous reading.

That’s where SMS marketing comes in: speedy, to-the-point and with high open rates, well-designed marketing text messages can slot perfectly into your customers’ lives and provide an extra level of service just at the point where they are needed. In this blog post, we’ll look at how delivery-based businesses can use SMS messaging systems to keep their customers satisfied and well-informed.

Arrival times

Whether you satisfy your customers’ hunger with tasty takeaway food or bring them the latest fashion following an online shopping spree, the most important aspect of the process is the arrival of the goods.

Whatever you’re providing, you must make sure that it turns up at the customer’s door at the expected time and to a high standard. After all, they’re paying you to take the hard work out of the purchase, so it’s vital you get the delivery just right.

While your delivery processes and logistical arrangements are obviously key here, keeping your customers well-informed by establishing a strong and upfront communication channel can work wonders – and SMS messaging could be the answer.

If a scheduled delivery is going to be ten minutes late, for example, you want to make sure this information reaches the customer as soon as possible, and definitely before the ten-minute window is up. The majority of people read all the texts they receive, often even within three minutes, so it makes sense to use an SMS system.

Other systems can’t boast the instantaneous power that SMS messaging can. If you emailed the customer with a warning about a late delivery but they only checked their email every twenty minutes, they could well miss the message and assume you didn’t even try to let them know!

SMS systems can also be easily integrated into your existing information network. For example, you could consider automating the process and linking the sending of SMS messages regarding expected delivery times to your order management system.

This would allow you to reap the rewards of an effective SMS messaging system – while also saving the company time and removing the need to have an employee specifically tasked with monitoring delivery times and sending messages.

Offers galore

One of the beauties of SMS marketing is that it provides a way to get succinct and relevant special offers and discounts in front of the customer at a time that suits them.

But sometimes it can be really difficult to come up with an idea for a discount, especially if you’re a delivery-based business.

If you make your own products and run delivery in-house, your offers should be focused on consumers – and the main thing to remember is that timing is key.

To understand when the most lucrative time to make an offer is, it’s important to embed yourself in the customer’s schedule and timeframe. For example, if you offer food delivery it’s a good idea to rigorously analyse your customer data and look at when most of your orders come in.

Say people in your local area are at their hungriest at 7pm on Saturday evenings, then at 6.45pm on Saturdays, you could send details of a discount to everyone who has opted into your SMS marketing list. They won’t be able to resist!

If you deliver items ordered through the internet, then this might be slightly harder as buying patterns are often more irregular and purchases are made more infrequently. But you can still use timings to your advantage: for example, with many consumers buying their Christmas presents online you might consider setting up an SMS marketing campaign in November reminding people of special offers as the festive season approaches.

Should you deliver on behalf of other companies, then thinking up offers can be harder. It may be worth focusing your SMS marketing energies on finding new businesses you could deliver for, and using text to tell them when your delivery drivers are available.

For example, you could compile an opt-in list of local takeaways and restaurants who might be looking for extra delivery drivers during busy periods like weekend evenings. If they receive your text while rushed off their feet with orders, they’ll likely be only too happy to take you up on your offer!

Stay on the right side of the law

While it can sometimes seem like a chore, it’s important to remember that you have to comply with relevant legislation if you’re running an SMS marketing campaign or customer communication system.

Messages you send must include an opt-out option so recipients have a choice about whether to continue receiving them, and you also must not contact people until you have received their consent.

If you go down the route of tempting customers with offers via SMS, make sure they’re genuine and that customers can actually easily redeem whatever it is you’re offering. It’s advisable to proofread your drafts before they go out to make sure they’re accurate – penalties are high for false claims, so don’t risk it.

Are you a delivery-based business looking to enjoy the benefits of a well-designed SMS marketing campaign or customer communication system?

Here at Fastsms, we are passionate about helping small businesses get ahead of their competition with SMS messaging. We offer some of the most cost-effective text bundles on the market, and can also help with services like short codes and virtual mobile numbers. Get in touch with us today on 0800 954 5305 to find out how we can help you!