Here’s Why You Should Text Your Sales Leads

Do you have a plan to connect with fast-moving online shoppers? We endorse the classics – phone and email – though we will acknowledge that they leave gaps in your availability. Missed phone calls and delayed email responses could result in lost leads.

What’s the solution? A quick, direct channel such as texting can provide the link you need to connect with fast-moving shoppers.

What are the benefits of texting?

Texting is rapidly gaining popularity with small businesses, which is not surprising considering shoppers prioritize texting as the #1 preferred communication method. The convenience of texting means shoppers can reach your dealership no matter where or when they are trying to connect, and your team can quickly usher these leads into the sales funnel.

Specific benefits of texting your customers include:

• Flexibility: Mobile phones created the possibility of multitasking communication – sending a quick message while in transit or between tasks. Because mobile phones are commonplace these days, most everyone has the ability to exchange texts with businesses.
• Sustained contact: Texting is so simple and convenient that many shoppers will stay connected with a business beyond the initial purchase. Dealers can encourage customers to remain in contact via text by offering the opportunity to schedule service appointments, receive reminders and send enquiries about their purchase all from their phone.
• Direct feedback: Good-quality reviews go a long way in generating business for dealers, but gathering feedback from customers isn’t always easy. The majority of customers don’t get around to leaving a review online. By offering texting, you can send follow-up texts after a purchase and invite customers to text their feedback of the experience. Then, you can share these reviews on your social media and website.

How can you boost the efficacy of texting?

Texting is most effective on shoppers who are already in the sales funnel. In order to channel shoppers into the funnel, we recommend implementing a chat feature on your website to get shoppers talking with your dealership when they first land on your website. Once shoppers are ready to progress beyond your website, you can invite them to convert to texting with your team.

Here’s what you can gain from blending website chat with texting:

• Online and offline communication: Offering both website chat and texting helps you reach shoppers at any stage – whether they are shopping on your website or scheduling a maintenance appointment.
• Seamless transitions: When leads move beyond chatting on your website, you can stay in contact with them easily by inviting them to text your dealership.
• Increased shopper confidence: Every lead has their own communication preference, and knowing that your dealership can be reached in more than one way increases confidence in your business.

The upcoming change in seasons can spell an increase in business for your dealership, which means your communication channels should be top-notch and flexible in order to capture fast-moving sales leads. Texting – as a standalone or paired with website chat – offers a flexible channel that benefits both you and your shoppers.

If you have questions about implementing texting and other communication channels into your sales strategy, feel free to connect with TCS today and strategize with our tire and wheel experts!