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Business Texting for Beginners

Recent studies show that customers would prefer to text businesses rather than call them, if given the option. However, most businesses don’t text their customers. If you’re here, that means you’re looking to change that for your business, and you’re very wise to do so. Here’s what you need to know about texting with your customers.

What is business texting?

Business texting is exactly what it sounds like—simply texting with customers, rather than using traditional channels like email or phone calls. Business texting can be used to enhance your existing customer support experience, increase engagement on marketing efforts, schedule and confirm appointments with customers, and request or deliver payments, to name a few. And because text messages boast a 98% open rate, it offers businesses a unique opportunity to engage their customers in a highly personal and highly-effective way.

Why business texting?

Well, there are a few more jaw-dropping statistics, for starters:

• The average response rate for text messages is 45% — emails get a 6% response rate on average
• Response rates for text messages are 295% higher than response rates from calls
• 9 out of 10 consumers say they prefer to text with businesses
• 63% of consumers would switch to an equivalent company that offers text messaging

Additionally, when we consider that people spend more time texting than they do on any other application on their phone, it becomes clear that a business texting strategy has the potential to transform your business.

How to start business texting.

There are several available options. You could text directly from your personal or business phone, which can be a great way to start. But if you want to keep business things separate from personal, it’s smart to use a dedicated business texting platform that links with the business number you already have. Index was designed specifically to do just that, as well as giving you one-touch access to appointments, payments, reviews, and more. You can even send individual messages to entire lists of customers, giving you an easy way to increase your reach with minimal cost or effort.

However you choose to start texting with your customers, you’ll surely find it to be an incredible new paradigm for the growth of your business. For even more tips on getting started with business texting, read our top 3 Customer Re-Engagement Tips for Small Businesses.