How to Collect Phone Numbers for SMS Marketing: A Detailed Guide

July 9, 2024

In digital marketing for B2B businesses, SMS remains a powerful tool for reaching customers directly and effectively. However, the success of SMS marketing hinges on building a robust and compliant subscriber list.

Supercharged SMS guide explores various strategies to collect phone numbers for SMS marketing, ensuring you grow your list ethically and effectively.

Understanding the Importance of Consent

Before collecting phone numbers, it’s crucial to understand the importance of consent. Compliance with regulations such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is mandatory.

These laws require explicit consent from individuals before you can send them marketing messages. This protects consumers and ensures that your marketing efforts are both ethical and legal.

Read More: SMS Marketing Laws in the US

Expert Advice Strategies to Collect Phone Numbers

Listed down are the expert tips on How to collect numbers of quality leads for SMS Marketing:

1. Website Opt-In Forms

➡️ Strategically Placed Forms: Place opt-in forms on high-traffic pages of your website, such as the homepage, blog pages, and checkout pages. Make the forms prominent and easy to fill out. Consider using contrasting colors and concise copy to draw attention to the forms.

➡️ Incentivize Subscriptions: Offer incentives such as discounts, freebies, or exclusive content in exchange for subscribing to your SMS list. For example, a 10% discount on the first purchase can be a powerful motivator. Use persuasive language to highlight the benefits of these incentives.

➡️ Clear Call to Action: Use clear and compelling calls to action (CTAs) that highlight the benefits of subscribing. Phrases like “Get exclusive offers” or “Be the first to know about our sales” can increase sign-ups. Ensure the CTA stands out visually on the page.

2. Pop-Ups and Slide-Ins

➡️ Timed Pop-Ups: Use timed pop-ups that appear after a user has spent a certain amount of time on your website. This ensures that the visitor is already engaged and more likely to subscribe. Avoid triggering pop-ups too soon to prevent annoying users.

➡️ Exit-Intent Pop-Ups: Trigger pop-ups when a user is about to leave your site. This last-minute appeal can capture potential subscribers who might otherwise leave without signing up. Use compelling copy and limited-time offers to create urgency.

➡️ Slide-Ins: Less intrusive than pop-ups, slide-ins can appear at the bottom or side of the page, gently prompting visitors to subscribe. Test different slide-in timings and placements to find what works best for your audience.

3. Social Media Campaigns

➡️ Promote Your SMS List: Use your social media platforms to promote your SMS marketing list. Regularly post about the benefits of subscribing and include links to your opt-in forms. Utilize engaging visuals and videos to catch users’ attention.

➡️ Social Media Contests: Run contests that require participants to enter their phone numbers to join. Offer attractive prizes to boost participation. Ensure that the contest rules are clear and that you comply with social media platform guidelines.

➡️ Leverage Stories and Live Videos: Use Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, and live videos to promote your SMS list. These formats are engaging and can include swipe-up links or direct prompts to subscribe. Highlight the exclusivity and immediacy of SMS updates.

4. Email Campaigns

➡️ Cross-Promotion: If you already have an email list, use it to promote your SMS marketing. Highlight the unique benefits of SMS, such as instant notifications and exclusive offers. Segment your email list to target the most engaged subscribers first.

➡️ Incentive-Based Emails: Send targeted emails offering incentives for subscribing to your SMS list. Clearly explain the added value they will receive by joining. Use personalized subject lines to increase open rates.

➡️ Follow-Up Emails: After a purchase or significant interaction, send follow-up emails that include an invitation to subscribe to your SMS list for future updates and offers. Use transactional emails as an opportunity to promote your SMS list subtly.

5. In-Store Sign-Ups

➡️ Point-of-Sale Sign-Ups: Encourage customers to subscribe at the point of sale. Train staff to ask customers if they’d like to receive exclusive offers via SMS and provide a simple way to sign up. Use tablets or printed sign-up sheets at the checkout counter.

➡️ Printed Materials: Use printed materials such as flyers, receipts, and posters to promote your SMS list. Include QR codes or short URLs that customers can easily use to subscribe. Place these materials in high-traffic areas of your store.

➡️ In-Store Events: During events or promotions, have dedicated stations or staff members encouraging attendees to sign up for your SMS list. Offer event-specific incentives for signing up, such as exclusive event discounts.

6. Text-to-Join Campaigns

➡️ Simple Keywords: Use easy-to-remember keywords and shortcodes that customers can text to join your list. For example, “Text JOIN to 12345 for exclusive offers.” Promote these keywords across all marketing channels.

➡️ Promote Across Channels: Advertise your text-to-join option on all marketing channels, including your website, social media, email newsletters, and in-store. Consistent promotion helps reinforce the call to action.

➡️ Instant Gratification: Provide immediate rewards for signing up, such as a discount code or entry into a giveaway, to incentivize participation. Make sure the reward is valuable enough to prompt action.

7. Partnerships and Collaborations

➡️ Collaborate with Other Brands: Partner with complementary brands to cross-promote each other’s SMS lists. This can expand your reach and introduce your brand to a new audience. Ensure that the partnership is mutually beneficial.

➡️ Joint Promotions: Run joint promotions or contests that require phone number submissions, benefiting both brands involved. Use co-branded marketing materials to promote the collaboration.

➡️ Influencer Marketing: Work with influencers to promote your SMS list. Influencers can share the benefits of subscribing with their followers, encouraging them to join. Choose influencers whose audience aligns with your target market.

8. Webinars and LinkedIn Free Resource Sharing

➡️ Webinars: Host webinars on topics relevant to your audience and promote your SMS list during the event. Offer additional resources or exclusive content to attendees who subscribe. Use registration forms to collect phone numbers.

➡️ LinkedIn Free Resources: Share valuable resources on LinkedIn, such as eBooks, whitepapers, or guides, and require users to provide their phone numbers to access the content. Promote these resources through LinkedIn posts and ads.

➡️ Follow-Up Engagement: After the webinar or resource download, follow up with personalized messages encouraging attendees or downloaders to join your SMS list for ongoing updates and exclusive offers.

Best Practices for Collecting Phone Numbers

You and your marketing team comply with the best-advised practices to gather numbers with proper consent.

1. Ensure Transparency

Be transparent about what subscribers can expect. Clearly communicate the type of content they will receive, how often they will receive messages, and how they can opt-out. Transparency builds trust and reduces the likelihood of unsubscribes.

2. Simplify the Process

Make the sign-up process as simple and quick as possible. Avoid asking for too much information upfront; a phone number and consent should suffice initially. Streamlining the process minimizes barriers to entry.

3. Regularly Maintain Your List

Regularly clean your subscriber list by removing inactive numbers and honoring opt-out requests promptly. This ensures higher engagement rates and compliance with regulations. Use list hygiene practices to maintain data quality.

4. Provide Value

Consistently provide value to your subscribers. Whether it’s exclusive offers, early access to sales, or valuable content, make sure your messages are worth the subscription. Regularly review and improve the content you send.

5. Segment Your Audience

Segment your subscriber list based on behavior, preferences, and demographics. This allows you to send more targeted and relevant messages, increasing engagement and conversions. Use segmentation to personalize your marketing efforts.

Utilizing Supercharged SMS for Collecting Numbers

Supercharged SMS offers robust tools to help you collect phone numbers and manage your SMS marketing campaigns effectively.

With seamless Shopify integration, you can easily create and promote opt-in forms, track subscriptions, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Supercharged SMS provides analytics and insights to optimize your strategies, helping you grow your subscriber list and enhance your marketing efforts.

By implementing these strategies and leveraging the power of Supercharged SMS, you can build a strong, compliant SMS marketing list that drives engagement and boosts conversions.