5 SMS Marketing Tips for Removals Companies

Although it is dependent on the very volatile housing market, the UK removals industry is currently enjoying a good state of health. According to research from IBIS, it has weathered the storm over the last five years and come out with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, generating an annual revenue of £1 billion. With relatively low barriers to entry and little in the way of regulation, it is an industry that almost anybody can enter. This means that to stay ahead of competitors, there are two key factors to consider – price and customer service, the latter of which is all important. SMS Marketing is a great way for removals companies to go above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer service – and it is incredibly cheap and easy to use. Read on to learn more.
1. SMS Marketing for enquiries, quotes & estimates
One of the first stages of contact with prospective customers will be when they submit an enquiry or request a quote or estimate – and SMS Marketing is a great way to manage these communications. Whether your customers contact you via telephone, email or an online form, provide them with the opportunity to provide their mobile phone number so that you can follow up with an SMS message (be sure that you are GDPR compliant – check our article here [add link]). Whether you are simply thanking the customer for their enquiry, requesting further information or arranging a call back, a simple SMS is convenient, direct and will likely be seen by the customer straight away – helping to maximise the chance of conversion.
If a customer has requested an estimate using a web form, then why not respond by SMS so that the customer has the information they need in the palm of their hand – wherever they happen to be. If it is necessary for a member of your team to do a site visit in order to price up a job, then SMS Marketing is a great way to manage the arrangements. Information you might consider including in the SMS message might be the day and time of the appointment, along with the name of the employee and their direct contact number.
“Dear Mr Jones, thank you for your enquiry. Our agent Andrew will be with you on 14/05/2018 at 10:00 to view your property and prepare an estimate. Can’t make it? Call now on 0800 544 335 to rearrange…”
2. Confirming arrangements by SMS
SMS is a very convenient way to stay in touch with those preparing for a house move – especially as it gets nearer to the big day and things like computers may well be packed. As soon as the removal date and time has been established, be sure to send an SMS message confirming the details. It is also a good idea to confirm the addresses.
As well as this, nearer the time it is a great idea to let the customer know the names of the operatives that they will be working with to give a personal and professional touch.
“Dear Mr Jones, we are pleased to confirm your removal is now scheduled for 31/05/2018. Any questions, please call us on 0800 544 335…”
You may wish to follow up with a subsequent reminder nearer to the date.
3. Upsells and cross-sells
Upsells and cross-sells are a great way for removals companies to increase the value of a customer. These might include supplying packaging materials, offering storage or even insurance cover for goods in transit. SMS Marketing is a great way to offer your customers these value-adding services.
“Dear Mr Jones, need help with packing for your move? We’ve got a full range of boxes, tape, padding materials and more at highly competitive prices. Click here to view our full range online or call us on 0800 544 335…”
Most modern mobile phones support internet browsing, so you can also add a link to your online shop if you have one.
4. Progress updates by SMS
Once the load has been completed, customers will be keen to know what is happening with their possessions – especially if it is a longer distance move. A great way to improve the customer experience is to send periodic SMS updates letting your customers know where there load is and the estimated time of arrival.
You may even wish to consider including a link to a live tracking app or website if you offer such a facility.
“Dear Mr Jones, your lorry is currently at (current location) and we expect to be with you in 2 hours time. Any questions? Call your driver direct on 07367 683593”
5. SMS Marketing for customer feedback and reviews
Once the move has taken place smoothly, it is important to collect customer feedback to ensure that they are satisfied and to help make improvements in future operations. An SMS survey is a simple and effective way to do this that tends to see higher response rates than surveys conducted via other channels..
Choose four or five key questions about the move, considering, for example, the behaviour of the team, handling of belongings and furniture, etc. Make closed questions that can be ranked on a numerical scale. For example:
“On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the highest, how friendly and professional was the team today?”
Be sure to ask the customer if they are willing to participate first, and of course thank them on completion if they do. By inviting customers to participate in such a survey, you are demonstrating a commitment to providing excellent customer service, making happy customers far more likely to refer other customers to your company.
To learn more about SMS Marketing for your business and get your account set up now, call the team on 0800 954 5305.
Related Articles
SMS Marketing For The Equestrian Sector
The British Equestrian Trade Association’s findings from their National Equestrian Survey 2015 put the economic value of the equestrian sector at £4.3 billion of consumer spending across a wide range of goods and services, with the average spend per horse during the same year at £3600. It is an incredibly varied industry encompassing all types of businesses from sole traders making a living in remote areas to multinational companies. Their customer base typically tends to be busy people who lead largely outdoor lifestyles so the obvious and most effective means of communicating with them is by mobile phone, yet very few equestrian businesses appear to be utilising SMS text messaging marketing. So how could businesses in this sector benefit from this method of marketing?
5 steps to effective call deflection
Why Finance Companies Should Excel at SMS Messaging
One of the most interesting use cases for SMS messaging is the financial industry. Just a couple weeks ago I wrote a blog on 7 ways the financial industry can use SMS messaging to communicate with customers. In this blog I'll expand on the topic from a different perspective: personalisation.
How Campsites Can Use SMS Messaging to Get New Business
The campervan and caravan industry grew 16% this past year. Campsite and holiday park owners can connect with the thousands of new travellers using SMS messaging. After all, 76% of travellers prefer to take their mobile on holiday rather than a friend.
Hotels Use Text Messaging to Help Improve Customer Experiences
Hotels constantly strive to improve customer experiences, but sometimes things go awry. Many problems could be fixed if the customer complains while at the hotel rather than later when they return home. By having a 'textline' you can give guests the opportunity to share their views directly with management without a direct confrontation.
Can Travel Agents Use SMS Messaging to Stay in Business?
“European travel agents don’t like it”. That’s a statement made by one of the gentleman at my table during the mCommerce Summit earlier this month. He is from Cruise America, a successful RV (camper) vacation rental company based in Arizona, but with 123 locations around the US. We were talking about his company and their online and mobile reservation options.
7 Ways Business Coaches are Using SMS Marketing
The digital age has seen a rise in demand for business coaches to aid you in every aspect of your entrepreneurial efforts. From money mindset to technological solutions, earning passive income and attracting high-paying clients, these days there's a coach for everything. But running a coaching business isn't as simple as the hype would suggest. SMS marketing is the perfect way of supercharging your promotion of your coaching business, here's how.
Transport Services Stay Up-To-Date and Out of Trouble with SMS Messaging
How can taxi services - and any transport company like delivery services, public transportation, logistics, and haulage - stay in touch without taking risks with push to talk mobiles and other two-way radio setups. With SMS, companies can integrate into their own software and systems, save money and keep their drivers safer.
3 Ways Travel Agencies Can Take Full Advantage of SMS Messaging
The recent weather likely has many people thinking about their summer holiday. It's great news for travel agents looking to book ahead for the coming months. If you're a travel agent, SMS messaging is fast becoming a primary way to communicate with your clients.
Two Companies Using SMS in Surprising Ways
In many ways, SMS messaging is so commonplace people don’t think about it. They just do it. For example, using SMS for mobile marketing in retail is a fairly standard use case whether you’re a company or the consumer. But there are always exceptions – those who innovate when it seems there’s nothing new to be had. Here are two examples of companies from the US using SMS in ways no one else is – yet.