Getting Started: Instant Connect | OnlineKix Digital Marketing

One of the most important things that we ever implemented in our customers' businesses over the last decade was to start paying special attention to their existing customer database and to make sure that we spent more time marketing to them than we did trying to get new customers.

Every business has to have new customer marketing but the vast majority of businesses spend all of their marketing time and money on this endeavor. And it's very expensive.

The secret to massive growth will always be to spend about 20% of your time and money on getting new customers and spend the other 80% on getting your existing customers to come back more often and to spend more when they do.

When you use our system to collect email addresses and cell phone numbers, and broadcast to them month after month about new things going on in your business, seasonal reminders, or offers, you stay top of mind for more referrals and repeat business. As you build this internal marketing channel every month, you can reduce your advertising expenses over time.

Please hear me when I say that the difference between big businesses and ones that stop growing is the implementation of email and text marketing to communicate with existing customers.

This article walks you through what we're building, the benefits of it, and getting started steps to help you rock and roll with it faster.

Let's dive in.

When you build your own text and marketing channel, you gain all the benefits we've already discussed...but just to be thorough in sharing what we've learned, here is a recap of all the goodness.

Reason #1: Direct Communication. 

Text and email marketing allow for direct communication with customers. This direct line ensures your messages are delivered straight to the customer, bypassing third-party platforms.

Reason #2: Personalization and Segmentation. 

You can segment your audience and personalize messages based on contact type, preferences, or what they've purchased. More targeted messaging boosts impact.

Reason #3: The Most Cost-Effective Marketing Channel.

Compared to traditional marketing channels like print, TV, or Google ads, text and email marketing are relatively low-cost but can yield a high return on investment.

Reason #4: Increased Customer Engagement.

Regular communication through texts and emails keeps your brand top-of-mind for customers. This consistent engagement can build loyalty and repeat business.

Reason #5: Automation and Efficiency.

Many aspects of email and text marketing can be automated (like welcome emails or birthday messages), saving time and ensuring timely communication.

Reason #6: Immediate Delivery and High Open Rates.

Text messages are typically read within minutes of receipt, making them ideal for time-sensitive offers. Emails also have high open rates, especially when personalized.

Reason #7: Control Over Your Audience. 

Unlike social media where algorithm changes can affect your reach, your email and text lists are your own. You have complete control over these channels.

Reason #8: Drive Traffic to Other Channels.

Email and text campaigns can be used to drive traffic to your website, social media profiles, or physical stores.

Reason #9: Customer Retention. 

Regular, relevant communication via text and email can significantly improve customer retention by keeping customers informed and engaged with your brand.

Reason #10: Feedback and Customer Insights.

These channels can be used to gather customer feedback, which is crucial for improving products, services, and overall customer experience.

Reason #11: Crisis Management.

In times of crisis or urgent updates, email and text lists provide a reliable way to communicate important information quickly to your customers.

While setting up your Email or Text Marketing systems are something that you can absolutely do on your own, your time is valuable and that's why we're here to help with the technology, messaging, lists, and offers for you. 

Here’s the core steps to what we're setting up for the long term:

Step #1:
Use our systems that allow you capture lead details and send out mass broadcasts to everyone on your list all at once using both email and SMS methods. 

We'll be putting the system phone number everywhere....on your website, the website lead widget, your Google Business Profile, Social media, etc. 

This phone number is what powers the magic that is going to happen and we're taking care of all the software, technology, and automations that make it work behind the scenes for you.

Step #2:
Help us access your existing email or phone list so we can import it into the system. You've probably got this information in a various places. We're the catalyst to help you get all your leads and customer contact details in one place....and start sending marketing communications to them to drive loyalty, referrals, repeat purchases, and revenue.

Step #3:
We'll start by planning a full communications calendar for each month of the year. A lot of times these communications prompt replies that further a sales cycle forward just because we reminded them you existed and they have a need on the backburner.

Step #4:
Throw in a coupon or special promotion with a time limit on it to help drive business fast. Sometimes we pitch it as an insiders VIP club with exclusive access to deals, offers, and alerts they won't see anywhere else. We're building this together, so we do need your feedback on what kinds of offers align with your wishes.

Step #5:
Gauge the reaction of the people on your list and mix up how often you send promotions based on feedback. Some of the businesses we help send out messages once a week while some send out several messages a week or less frequent and only once per month. 

Download our Business TextChat & Instant Connect app to your mobile phone. It’s a communication tool for your website, Google Business Profile, and any advertising using your business sales phone number that we verified with the carriers for approval to use in your marketing plan. 

You’ll be leveraging the convenience of text messaging (while following legal SMS regulations) to engage faster with more customers to win more revenue. You can answer calls from this app or let them go to voicemail to kick off the first text message response.

So what I want you to understand is that with Instant Connect, we're giving you a way to speed up sales conversations...and in the bigger picture...we're also building a marketing follow up engine for the long term behind this piece. 

You'll change your business just by getting customer communications and follow up dialed in, but you're amplify that impact when you layer in long term follow up broadcasts to these same people for years to come.

So let's get into some specific tips to help you use this sales communication piece effectively.

#1: Login from a computer web browser. 

Check your email for  login details. Go to https://text.onlinekix.com to login 

#2: Streamline communication in a shared inbox. 

Centralize business communications in one place across multiple users. Keep it organized. Best practice is to keep a zero inbox and close out conversations when all follow up and closing steps have been completed. 

#3: Diligently update contact details.

Click the "three dots" in the top right of every conversation. Capture missing details so every record has a First Name, Last Name, Email, and notes for property address, job details, etc. in addition to the phone number. Exceptional marketing requires complete data records to work. Missing data means future broadcasts won't reach as many people.

#4: Tag contacts to stay organized.

Manage your contacts in the shared inbox by tagging them for future reference or to trigger other automation workflows. For example, "cold leads" or "nurture" or "unresponsive" tells you money was left on the table or you potentially lost but you can bring them back later if their chosen path doesn't work out. And identifying your “customers” are your most likely future buyers and referral engine. We treat these two groups differently in broadcast marketing (if we know who falls in what bucket). And tags for "disqualified" and “block” for junk calls help keep you from marketing to or following up with people that are a waste of time.

#5: Use the "Block" button on junk calls.

In the contact details on the web or mobile app, there is a blue "block" button which you should use for robo calls, spam calls, and sales calls you don't want to let through anymore.

#6: "Speed to Response" Increases Win Rates.

Aim for 5-minute or less response times, followed by 1-hour, same-day, and next-day as often as possible. Responsiveness (along with being friendly, conversational, and helpful) go a long way towards building rapport faster, so you win over competitors (even if priced higher).

#7: Convert conversations to text messaging wherever possible.

Did you know 7 out of 10 consumers want to text message with a business over calling or emailing? It's just the fastest, simplest, most convenient form of communication so converting missed calls and email requests into a text conversation generally makes everyone happy. 

#8: Enable monthly outbound communications.

Regular communication through texts and emails keeps your brand top-of-mind for repeat business and referrals. Many aspects of email and text marketing can be automated (like welcome emails or birthday messages), saving time and ensuring timely communication. We're here to configure the system to fit your audience and business processes, as well as build a marketing promotions calendar for the whole year.

#9: Combat slow periods with your own broadcasts as needed.

We'll train you to use the system to send your own broadcasts when you feel like things are slow (even though you don't have to for this system to work). You can also send out offers but sometimes it's as simple as a seasonal reminder or an update about what's new in your business that reminds someone they've been meaning to reach out, but put it off.

#10: Stay compliant with business texting regulations by using our systems.

Your sales number has been verified and approved with the carriers, a process all businesses are being required to take to reduce spam texting that none of us want. And the start of all conversations appends the required opt out 'stop' disclaimer. This is your sales number, so we do try to have broadcast messages coming from a separate system so that marketing unsubscribes don't lead to sales conversation opt outs. Sometimes people want to keep messaging with you one way, but not the other...and that's ok. The choice is in their control.

It is highly recommended that you learn to use the mobile app in your day to day communications. There will be a transition period of trying to phase out the number you've been marketing, and shifting to a new one that has the power of automations and tracking built in.

We're here to help make sure these marketing systems are successful. 

Click Here to Contact Support anytime for any reason....

Reason #1: Training or help. 

Not sure how to do something? We can help explain or point you in the right direction.

Reason #2: Idea for a new automation or workflows. 

Find your repeating the same response a lot? Maybe it makes sense to create an automation that's triggered when you "tag" someone. Other workflows might include asking for a referral, reviews, feedback, or something we might get inspired to build with your input in the future.

Reason #3: Home Advisor "Speed to Lead" automations.

If your business uses this paid lead channel, we can help you connect their system to ours so you can be one of the first to respond.

Reason #4: Text "keyword" to 888 Number Advertising.

In addition to text-enabling your website, Google Business Profile, and social media, you can also text enable other signage (yard bandit signs, truck wraps, billboards, print ads, etc.). We can help you pick a good inbound keyword, and ask the lead for the details you need to follow up.

I hope you've found this article helpful and have a good idea about what we're setting up here and trying to build month after month from here. 

While it takes some work and patience, the results are more than worth it.

If all you do is let the system run, and focus on driving people to your opt in pages, the engine will continue to grow month after month, building revenue gains along the way.