How do you send an SMS that cuts through the noise and still has impact?
+++ To SMS or not to SMS
What is the best recipe for more effective SMS messages from one person to another person (rather than from One computer / BOT to a person …) … and why does your SMS matter?
For about a decade I have struggled with
- Scores of SMS messages that I have received that were pure SPAM and pondering how this can be avoided
- How to builder more authentic and valuable relationships with people I meet and what part SMS could play in this part of my business?
The key observation here for me is that: every person who is a Client and or a Referral Partner for me is on my Phone: in other words I have called them and probably sent them an SMS before they did business with me so:
SMS do matter to me and to my Clients & Referral Partners.
So how can they be used more effectively and efficiently to Sell (build your business) without Selling (SPAM)?
+++ Key Ingredients for your SMS
This is the checklist I use when planning and preparing a series of SMSs messages:
Painstaking – take time to craft the best words for the most valuable message (the faster you send an SMS, the more likely it will be ignored: this is about person to person communication and people like it when you take some time in your conversation with them: speed is for computers not for people)
Personable – add your full name (not just your first name: what if they know more than one “Paul” – they probably don’t have time to work out which one you are … so the more difficult you make it the more likely they are to ignore your message)
Personalise – always address the person by their proper name
Polite – no Heys or Hi’s – we are looking for Hellos or Good Morning – Manners Make Messages Magic?
Positive – always use positive & happy wording (absolutely no negative / dull wording) – “Good morning John, I hope you are having a fantastic morning”
Professional – this is a business communication – not a direct message that feigns friendliness that doesn’t exist (you want to avoid a silent reaction in the recipient along the lines of “I am not sure we know each other that well 🤔”
Productive – make it worth the recipients time to read your SMS: share with them an idea or message of value to them
+++ What not to include in an SMS
On the list of Do’s and Dont’s regarding sending SMS I have found find these Dent’s key:
1) No Hashtags – if your SMS is for people then why include Hashtags?
2) No Hyperlinks – including a link may make the SMS look more like SPAM (and who is going to have the time … or the courage to click on a Link? (Hyperlink) anyway?
3) No Images – images take more time to send, share and for the recipient to consume so use them rarely
4) No Offers – selling or making offers reduces the value of the SMS to the other person (aren’t there better ways to share offers like via email? or web sites? or in person?)
5) No Video’s – otherwise your audience may think “Do we know each other that well?”
+++ Sample SMS
Here are some sample SMS’s that I have used very successfully (i.e. people I have meet and worked with have received these SMS from me over the past ten years and I have upgraded their business relationship with me to clients and referral partners)
When I have just meet someone in person:
“Good morning Maria, this is Paul Jensen (Business Development Mastery & The LinkedIn Strategist) it was great to chat to you at the SHBC event at Sarinos this week 😀”
When I am inviting someone to an informal networking gathering (lunch):
“Good morning Archie, we are having an informal lunch at the Trevi, Lakeside at 12 pm next Friday (6 September) if you are available”
When I am inviting someone to one of my high impact networking lunch
“Good morning Joe, I am hosting my next Invite Only, High Impact Business Networking Lunch in support of Safe Haven DV Charity (tickets are $250 ex GST) at Sarinos in Norwest on Friday 2 August: would you like to join us?”
+++ My SMS Model Summary
These are the three key foundation points for me in sending SMS that Sell without Selling:
Strangers: Don’t send an SMS to a stranger unless you want to be ignored (only SMS people you have meet)
Screens: Don’t send more than a mobile screen words of words if you really want your SMS to be read
Selling: Don’t sell on an SMS unless you want to be blocked
Send more SMS that fit these criteria and your SMSs will Build your relationships with people rather than see you get Blocked.
+++ FAQ #1: WhatsApp or SMS?
The number one question I get asked about this model is: Are you talking here about just SMSs? or do WhatsApp also count?
All of the suggestions I have made here apply equally to WhatsApp messages as the do to SMS: if your audience is global (like mine) then chances are you use a service like WhatsApp (not just SMS)
+++ Final Suggestion
Learning how to use SMSs more effectively (as I have used them very ineffectively for too many years) has been a key change in growing my business and having more real conversations with real people in the real world about real business:
Using SMS’s is built on these two key Business Development Mastery models that I use:
Mobile Database Model: the practice and process of building and harnessing your Mobile Database Model – a Mobile Database (list of names and mobile numbers in your “CRM”) is filled with People you have meet in person and that you are in SMS communication with)
P Plates Networking Model: Prospecting: this is the process I use for all events that I attend and the SMS aspect relates specifically the Prospecting Stage of this model (where all fives stages are: Planning Preparation Perform Post Prospect)
+++ Still have questions?
Would you live to discuss any of these topics with me in more detail: come and join us for our next Zoom FAQ Session
ZSM#002