In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, maintaining direct and instant communication with your customers is more important than ever. While email remains a valuable tool, implementing SMS (Short Message Service) communication into your strategy can provide a more immediate and personal connection with your audience. With higher open rates, quick response times, and growing consumer preference for mobile communication, SMS is quickly becoming an essential feature for online businesses.
Let’s dive into the key benefits of adding SMS communication to your eCommerce strategy and then explore how simple it is to implement within UltraCart.
Benefits of SMS Communication for Your eCommerce Store
- Instant Engagement SMS messages boast an incredibly high open rate, with studies showing that 98% of text messages are read within minutes of being received. This makes SMS one of the most immediate ways to communicate with your customers. Whether you’re sending a special offer, shipping update, or order confirmation, your message will likely be seen right away.
- Higher Conversion Rates Compared to email, SMS typically sees higher click-through and conversion rates. When customers receive a personalized text message, they are more likely to take action, whether it’s completing a purchase, redeeming a promotion, or even reviewing their cart. The personal and direct nature of SMS helps drive quicker decisions.
- Cost-Effective Communication SMS marketing is a cost-effective way to reach your audience compared to other forms of paid advertising or email campaigns. Plus, with no need for elaborate graphics or formatting, SMS campaigns are simple to create and deliver.
- Improved Customer Relationships SMS communication allows you to create a more personalized and real-time connection with your customers. From providing customer service to sending reminders or updates, SMS can enhance the customer experience by making your business feel more accessible and attentive.
- Mobile-First Audience Targeting The majority of online shoppers now use mobile devices to browse and make purchases. SMS allows you to meet your customers where they spend the most time—on their phones. By integrating SMS into your marketing strategy, you can improve your mobile optimization and tap into a mobile-first audience that expects fast and relevant interactions.
- Reduced Cart Abandonment With SMS reminders, you can reduce cart abandonment rates by sending personalized messages encouraging customers to complete their purchases. A timely reminder delivered via SMS often motivates customers to return to their carts and finalize their transactions, increasing your overall sales.
Implementing SMS in UltraCart
Step 1: Setup Twilio
UltraCart provides a seamless integration with Twilio to manage and deploy SMS messages to your customers. Setup a Twilio account
Step 2: Enter Twilio Credentials in UltraCart
After setting up your Twilio account, enter your account SID, Authentication Token and Phone Number into your UltraCart account. Navigate to the StoreFront you'd like to enable Conversations on: Communication > Settings.
Step 3: Setup Opt-in within your checkout
Within your StoreFront Visual Builder, navigate to your checkout add the CheckoutSMSOptIn Component. This allows your customers to opt into SMS communications. If you don't see this option, please reach out to support and we'd be happy to help make sure your StoreFront theme is updated and ready to go!