Building an SMS contact list presents unique opportunities, especially for those already familiar with email marketing. Constant Contact's updated lead generation tools now allow you to collect phone numbers for contacts who've opted in to SMS, even without an email address. This allows you to expand your reach and makes it easier to grow your contact list.
Growing Your SMS Contact List
This can be especially complex if you're managing contacts across multiple platforms. However, with the right tools and strategies, you can overcome these challenges and start leveraging the power of SMS marketing. Now you can create and import contacts using just a phone number for SMS into your account!
The Benefits of Using SMS-Only Contacts
Creating a contact with just a phone number provides many benefits. They remove the need for an email address and make lead capture easier. This is especially helpful for businesses starting with SMS marketing.
SMS only contacts do not count toward your email marketing contact tier, so let the SMS opt-ins roll in!
By segmenting your audience based on their preferred communication channels, you can ensure that your SMS marketing campaigns reach the right customers. For example, you can create automations that specifically target SMS-only contacts who have explicitly consented to receive text messages, allowing for more personalized and effective communication.
Lastly, SMS-only contacts offer flexibility, as you can always add email addresses to their profiles later if you decide to incorporate email marketing.
Collecting SMS-Only Contacts
- Contacts from Other Sources: You can import phone numbers and consent dates from other sources into your Constant Contact account. This is ideal for businesses that already have a list of phone numbers from another SMS provider.
- Dedicated Landing Pages: Set up landing pages for visitors to enter their phone numbers. This allows them to receive updates easily. For example, a fitness studio could use this for class reminders.
- Public API: If you already utilize or are interested in developing an app that connects to our Public API, it will support the integration and import of SMS-Only Contacts.
- Text-to-join: Allow customers to text a keyword to a dedicated number to join your list. For instance, a local event organizer can set up a "text JOIN to [number]" campaign to quickly capture phone numbers from attendees.
Tips for a Smooth Import Process
Use a CSV or Excel file with columns labeled "SMS phone number" and "SMS consent date." Format phone numbers as "Phone Number" or "Text," and dates as "Date" or "Custom - General." Avoid multiple tabs and accented characters in the file name.
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Always include a consent date. Without it, your contacts will be in a "no permission" status, and you won't be able to send them messages. |
While you can import SMS contacts at any time, remember you need to add SMS to your Constant Contact subscription and complete the registration process to send SMS campaigns. Some plans include SMS marketing by default, so be sure to check your plan details.
Once your SMS contacts are imported, you can easily find them by viewing the list you added them to or searching by their status. This makes managing your contacts a breeze and ensures that you can start sending targeted SMS campaigns right away.
Grow Your Business with SMS
By using these improved collection methods, you can build a strong SMS contact list and take your marketing efforts to the next level. These tools will help small business owners and marketing pros connect with their audience better.
We'd love to hear from you! Have you tried any of these methods to grow your SMS contact list? Share your experiences in the comments below. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team.
