Ding!Ding! That could be the sound of your business growing via text.
According to Salesforce, businesses that use group text to communicate with consumers get an average open rate of 98%. Compared to the 21% open rate of emails, that’s a pretty incredible open rate.
Sending a group text can be a powerful and easy way to provide information to multiple people simultaneously. If there is an issue you want to bring to your clientele or colleagues, group texas allows you to start the conversation.
A group text is an SMS message that is sent to multiple people over a single text thread. This works the same way as a “reply-all” email response. Everything that is said in the text thread will be received by every person in the thread. This helps to create a community conversation rather than simply sending an individual text.
Group texting allows businesses, community groups, schools, and other organizations to engage and organize a large number of people. Group texting appeals to companies because it is simple, inexpensive, and–most importantly–effective.
Much like any other marketing or communication strategy, creating a group text thread for a business can be nuanced. There are some things you will need to know before you hit send.
In this article, we’ll go over:
- Best practices for Group text
- Strategies to optimize group text dynamics
- How to use notifications strategically
Tips for getting the most out of your group text service
Group text messaging is similar to making an exciting announcement to a room full of people. Getting the most out of your group text service is easy when you follow these ten simple steps for building a group text message thread.
Keep the group focused
While group text messages are great for getting members involved in the conversation, they can quickly become a zoo. Before creating your group text, identify a goal or focus. Focuses can be broader (i.e. Lifting) or specific (i.e. Tuesday morning workout group).
Whatever the focus is, it’s important to identify that focus in your initial creation text. As a facilitator, this will help you to stay organized and relay necessary information. This also helps to keep off-topic conversations from clogging up GroupMe–an issue that may annoy other members and make it more difficult for them to get the information they need.
Name your group
Another important aspect of staying organized is naming your group chat. If you are managing numerous group conversations this. Is. Crucial. Naming your Groupchat can keep you from incorrectly sharing information and confusing members.
If it is appropriate and fitting, you can even allow the members to choose a fun name for the group. The name should be short, specific to the focus of the group, and appropriate.
Some fun group names you could choose are:
- All We Do Is Lift
- Going with the (vinyasa) Flow
- WOFH: Workouts From Home
Establish guidelines
Establishing guidelines within your text thread is important for ensuring that everyone remains respectful. By establishing guidelines, you also create an understanding of what the group chat is for and an expectation for how it should be used.
Guidelines can address things like:
- The focus and goal of the group
- Appropriate language and posting
- The hours between which it is appropriate to send messages
- Ground rules for keeping the group focused
- Adding individuals
Each group text’s guidelines will be different to fit the needs of each unique group. As a facilitator, you may want to establish some basic and general guidelines that can be applied to all groups. This will help you maintain your professional brand identity and ensure that members who may be in multiple groups have consistent etiquette standards.
Use notifications strategically
Notifications can be a great way to bring your content to the forefront of someone’s attention. Whether they are informative or entertaining, these notifications build trust between you and those who you are messaging.
It’s important to remember that text notifications will pop up every time you or someone else sends a message.
Think of it like a bank. You have a finite number of messages you can send each week without causing members to leave. Each text you send is a “spent” notification.
This means that you should be using your texts strategically as notifications. Be aware of the time, place, and content that you are sending to ensure that it’s worth the notification.
When it comes to texting, be sure you’re not spamming your colleagues or customers with information. A single, short, and sweet text is going to be most effective. The last thing you want is for your group members to put you on mute.
Keep messages concise
One of the key factors that make texts such a potent marketing strategy is its ability to present information in simple, easy-to-access packets. Group message texting should be no different.
Less is more when it comes to communicating with groups over text. You want to use the least number of words possible without compromising important information. Also, you want to include short sentences. This helps you communicate with clarity and avoid confusion caused by run-on sentences.
A good rule of thumb to follow is three to six lines per paragraph. Additionally, breaking up paragraphs, using numbered lists, bullet points, or even subheadings is critical for improving readability.
Furthermore, cut down on unnecessary filler words such as too and very. While there is nothing wrong with using these words occasionally, they can easily become space fillers rather than emphasizers.
Use emojis and GIFs sparingly
Emojis and GIFs are a trendy way to bring some fun into your group message. They can also help you communicate tone, mood, or emotion more clearly.
A recent study showed that 71% of mobile users add emojis and Gifs to messages. 77% of adults say that those visual expresssions (i.e. GIFs and Emojis) improve their ability to communicate.
From a marketing standpoint, sending messages with emojis and GIFs boost click-through rates but upwards of 200%. Now, before you go adding GIFs and emojis to every message, consumers are often wary of messages with too many GIFs and emojis.
While Gifs and emojis are great tools to build effective communication, overuse can cause your texts to look unprofessional or spammy. On top of this, there is a tendency for marketers to lean heavily on emojis or GIFs to convey a message rather than writing it out clearly. This can then cause your message to appear ambiguous or even offensive.
When selecting the right emoji or GIF, consider your audience, goals, and your personal brand voice. You want to make sure that whatever GIF or emoji you include adds to your message without compromising clarity.
Furthermore, be sure that whatever type of media is attached to your text is compatible and displayable on different devices.
Avoid sending sensitive information
Group Messages are for sharing information that pertains to the whole group. If you have something to share with only a single or few individuals, have that conversation on a different text thread. This is especially important for sharing sensitive or personal information.
You should never send private information through a group chat. In some cases, this could leave you in violation of the law. Beyond the legal repercussions of sharing sensitive information, you also run the risk of alienating or losing a client.
If you need to share sensitive information that may impact the group, contact the individual privately to discuss: a) if it is okay that you disclose the information to the group, b) how you should go about disclosing the information, c) how the individual would like to handle any potential follow-up after the information has been shared.
Double-check who you are messaging
If you are managing multiple group chats, it can quickly become confusing. In order to determine that you are messaging the correct people it is essential to double-check who you are messaging each time you start or sent a message in a group chat.
Double-checking your messages before sending them also helps prevent adding anyone who may not have opted in or be an appropriate fit for the group message you’re organizing.
This also helps ensure that your messages aren’t bouncing and that they are actually reaching those who they are intended for.
You wouldn’t want a customer or colleague to feel left out in the same way you wouldn’t want to miss out on their business by mistakenly adding a stranger to your text thread.
Don’t create a new thread if you don’t have to
When it comes to staying organized and on top of your group text message plan, it’s important to stay simple. When creating a new group message, make sure that you’re not recreating a thread that already exists. This can not only be confusing for you, but also for your members or colleagues.
With that being said, there are some instances where it may be necessary to create a new thread. If, for instance, you switch group messaging software, there is a substantial change in members who should be included in the thread or other unique circumstances of your discretion.
The key here is to help streamline the ways members, clients, or colleagues are able to find or obtain important information regarding your services.
Be respectful
Perhaps one of the most important rules of group texting is to be respectful. One way to do this is to ensure you have received permission for addition to the message from all members. Asking for opt-ins allows members to be as involved as they would like and lowers the chances of them feeling resentment or ill feelings towards your business.
Additionally, it’s important to limit the number of text messages you send and be discerning about how and what materials you are sending over the group message. Constant buzzing from a group chat can quickly become annoying and may result in lower participation from group members.
Finally, it’s important to be aware of what time you are sending out texts. Text messages can often give the illusion of being unintrusive, but sending messages late at night or in the early morning can be disruptive and annoying. Send most of your texts during business hours. This also helps to keep the feeling of the group message business oriented and avoid mindless chatter.
Final thoughts…
Text marketing is a powerful way to build connections and trust between businesses and their clientele or staff–group messages are an extension of that. Of course, group messaging will not be the ideal strategy for every scenario and you will need to use your expertise to determine when it will be necessary and effective.
For fitness businesses, using a group text can be an effective way to build a strong gym community. Having a strong community means higher retention and greater growth. As a gym or fitness club owner, you cannot afford to be missing out on group texts.
Because gyms and fitness clubs rely heavily on memberships, group messages can be the perfect way to engage and build a community to create a more loyal membership base.
With group messaging, you are able to increase your customer buy-in and social value. This will help you strengthen your customer base, build a more positive foundation, and draw in more like-minded customers to help your business grow.
Interested in learning more? Gleantap can help you implement group text message marketing strategies to help turbocharge your business’s growth. Find out how by contacting Gleantap today and scheduling your demo. (P.S. It’s free!)
FAQs
What kind of guidelines should I establish for my group text?
Guidelines will be group text specific. However, things like staying on topic, only sending texts during business hours, and avoiding foul language can be effective.
Is it okay to use emojis and GIFs in a group text?
It is okay to use emojis and GIFs in group texts as long as you are using them appropriately and sparingly.
Get the full story here:
- The Pros and Cons of Using a Group Texting Service
- The 5 Best Text Message Marketing Software for Small Business