Automotive Marketing Strategies: Why Text Message Marketing is the Best

These days, the automotive industry is continuously evolving. According to Statista, approximately 75% of US customers own cars, and the number is increasing day by day, which is a part of the automotive industry. Automobile production is expected to reach 11.7 million units in 2025. Therefore, forward-thinking auto dealerships must shift gears in their automotive marketing strategies approach to get ahead in the highly competitive auto industry. That does not mean traditional marketing methods are invaluable. However, they are not sufficient on their own. If automotive businesses want to stay competitive, they must adopt innovative strategies that perfectly align with their modern, tech-savvy customers. One such marketing strategy of the automobile industry that is highly effective is – text message marketing. With a 98% open rate, 45% response rate, and instant delivery, SMS offers a direct line to existing and potential buyers, which is invaluable for nurturing buyer relationships.

You might think it is hard to incorporate automotive text messaging into your marketing strategy, but don’t worry! With AI-powered SMS marketing platforms like Textdrip, you can easily set up your SMS campaigns and encourage potential buyers to come in and get their brand-new cars.

This blog explains everything you need to know about automotive marketing strategies, benefits, best practices, key challenges, etc. Let’s dive into it to steer your dealership on the road to success.

What is Automotive Text Message Marketing?

Automotive text message marketing is the instant and direct way for auto dealerships to increase sales by reaching out to their existing and potential customers. Many people might think it will look odd when the dealership texts its customers instead of calling or sending an email. Are you also one of them? The reality is that text message marketing is highly effective for the automotive industry.

Dealerships can use this marketing method and car sales text message templates to inform potential customers about sales. Besides, SMS marketing can be helpful to get customer feedback and keep the communication lines open with someone who has shown interest in the brand and what it has to offer. Automotive text message marketing includes sending promotional offers, service updates, appointment reminders, building customer loyalty through SMS service reminders, document submission reminder, paperwork submissions, online document signing, sending a link to videos that showcase what customers can expect after service booking, and other important notifications directly to the customer’s mobile device.

How Automotive Text Message Marketing Works?

The three pillars of automotive text message marketing are SMS campaigns, automation, and personalization. Businesses can send bulk messages to inform customers about their sales events, discounts, and service reminders, showcase specific vehicles or their parts video (attaching video link into SMS), document submission reminders, and offer special offers. They can even run SMS campaigns to nurture leads who have shown interest (either through a website or in-person visit) and send them a personalized text. It can make a major difference and convert the initial spark into a sale.

Businesses can run engagement campaigns by sending thank you messages for customers’ interest, inviting them to upcoming sales events, or sending a follow-up survey link to build trust and support.

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You can use an automated text message marketing platform with features like SMS automation, reminder drip, two-way texting, personalization, etc. For example, two-way texting and SMS automation are ideal for sharing some sales-related documents and appointment scheduling. The personalization feature is perfect for sharing auto parts, service, and vehicle recommendations. The reminder drip is perfect for sending automated appointment reminders, service reminders, etc. When customers receive valuable and timely messages, they see value in being a part of your subscriber list, trust your business, and are encouraged to buy from you.

Adding a personalization touch to SMS marketing strategy helps you drive desired results. All you need to do is use the right SMS marketing platform, like Textdrip, which comes with a contact segmentation feature. By segmenting the audience based on past interactions, service history, and vehicle type, dealerships can drive impressive results. For that, you don’t need to send too many messages, two-three hyper-relevant texts per month is more than enough. It will help you convert your customers into SMS subscribers with an impressive retention rate. Here, you can see how Bill Dickason Chevrolet implemented an SMS marketing strategy with hyper-relevant 1 or 2 texts per month through contact segmentation and drove impressive gross profit. They have opted for a cost-effective approach – text message marketing for it.

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How does Text Message Marketing Differ from Traditional Marketing?

Let’s understand now how text message marketing differs from traditional marketing.

Why Text Message Marketing Works for Automotive Businesses?

Customer and convenience are the two main pillars of the success of dealerships. All you need to do is create an environment that identifies and serves customer needs. And no other tool than text messages does this better. SMS message marketing is a highly effective marketing strategy for the automotive industry. It offers immediate customer engagement, high open rates, and cost-effective outreach. Here are a few ways through which it creates optimum customer experiences:

1. Automated Client Engagement

Most consumers want to hear from their dealership after they make a purchase. It is not easy for salespeople to keep up with this demand. SMS marketing platforms with features like scheduled texts, autoresponders, and SMS templates ensure that all important information is sent to customers directly. Once the customer receives your text, they can also text you. It helps build stronger customer relationships.

2. Improved ROI Via SMS Offers

You must understand the line between encouraging and pushing regarding high-value purchases such as cars. Text messages are personal but give customers the space they want throughout the decision-making process. It helps you stay on top of your customers’ minds without customers making you feel that you’re on top of them. You can use automated text messages to deliver special discount codes to customers.

3. Sheer Convenience

Auto dealerships compete not only with other dealerships but also with local mechanic shops in terms of servicing. You can send customers automated service reminders and promotional texts and encourage them to return to you for servicing done based on complete convenience.

4. No More Phone Calls

One of the most significant and fantastic benefits of SMS is that customers can contact you based on their preferences and terms. Nowadays, people prefer to drop a message instead of making phone calls on the go. Text messaging lets customers contact you via a quick text instead of wasting time on making phone calls. It will ultimately help increase conversion rates.

5. Everything Under One Roof

The best thing about text message marketing is that one SMS marketing platform can be used by all your employees (salespeople, service providers, and billing agents). They can use it to run promotional and transactional SMS campaigns.   Therefore, all SMS campaigns across dealerships can be managed and accessed from one location.

In short, SMS marketing for automotive dealerships offers instant communication, improved customer engagement, high open and response rates, and a cost-effective marketing approach. You can even easily integrate SMS marketing platforms like Textdrip with existing CRM.

Best Practices for Automotive Text Message Marketing

If you want to increase engagement and response in SMS marketing, you should follow a few best practices.

1. Get the Consent First

You must obtain permission before sending any promotional message to consumers. Respect customers’ privacy. Give them easy and clear opt-in and opt-out ways. Make sure your customers can unsubscribe anytime easily if they no longer wish to receive messages.

2. Keep the Text Short and Sweet

Send clear and to-the-point text messages. Ensure the text message you send is clear, concise, and grabs instant attention. Use engaging language that sparks curiosity or offers benefits.

3. Give Your SMS Personalization Touch

Include your customer’s name in the SMS and craft a tailored message based on their preferences. You even segment your target audience based on gender, purchase history, past conversations, preferences, etc. and send them messages accordingly.

4. Offer Value

Ensure each message offers something useful like discounts, appointment reminders, service updates, maintenance tips, etc. Your subscribers should feel like joining your community is their prudent decision.

5. Include a Clear Call-To-Action

Clearly mention what action you want your customers to take, like visiting your showroom, booking a service, making a purchase, etc.

6. It’s All About Right Timing

Only sending the right message to the right people is not important. Another important factor in the SMS campagin’s success is the right timing. Sending messages at the right time helps maximize engagement.

How to Overcome Challenges in Automotive SMS Marketing?

Undoubtedly, SMS marketing offers many benefits. However, it comes with a few challenges. Let’s discuss how automotive businesses can tackle these challenges.

1. Blocked By Spam Filters

If your messages are perceived as spam, you need to keep a few things in mind. Send messages to only customers who’ve given explicit consent. Also, keep the message frequency reasonable.

2. Hefty Fines

If you want to avoid hefty fines, make sure you follow TCPA and GDPR guidelines for SMS marketing and craft and send messages accordingly. It will help you avoid legal issues.

3. Customer Expectation Management

You need to set clear expectations regarding message frequency and message type your customer will receive.

4. Perfectly Balance Automation and Human Interaction

Of course, you should use automation to improve efficiency, but provide personalized customer support whenever required.

How to Get Started With Text Message Marketing for the Automotive Business

Starting with text message marketing for the automotive business is simple, especially when you’ve an AI-powered SMS marketing platform like Textdrip. This platform offers various features tailored to automotive businesses.

1. AI-text Message Generator

Do you want to use AI capabilities to craft compelling and engaging SMS with various options to choose the best one? Textdrip’s AI-text message generator feature can help you with it. It uses artificial intelligence and NLP capabilities to create grammatically correct and relevant messages to your subscribers. You can generate multiple copies of text messages for your SMS campaigns without paying any additional amount.

2. Positiveintent.ai

It is an AI-based smart text intent detection and classification tool which uses AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze text responses. Based on the intent of the responses, it classifies text messages into one of three categories – interested_general, neutral, and opt-out. In short, it makes your SMS campaign smarter with AI.

3. Drip SMS Campaigns

You can craft a series of automated text messages which guide customers through the sales funnel.

For example,

After the customer expresses interest in a vehicle, you can send them messages highlighting its key features, financing options, and an invitation for a test drive.

4. Reminder Drips

You can set up automated reminders for service appointments, lease renewals, or warranty expirations. The main goal of such reminder messages is to ensure customers stay informed and engaged.

5. Personalization

You can use Textdrip’s personalization feature to craft customer-specific SMS, including their name, service history, or vehicle model. It improves the personal touch.

6. Two-way Texting

Let customers converse with you in real-time using Textdrip’s two-way texting feature. This feature allows customers to ask questions, confirm appointments, or request information. Two-way texting improves customer service and experience

7. SMS Automation

You can use SMS automation to send messages based on triggers such as service milestones, inquiry submissions, etc. It ensures relevant and timely communication.

So, create your account on Textdrip or integrate Textdrip with your existing CRM, build your subscriber list, craft an SMS campaign, and monitor and optimize your campaign to improve its effectiveness.

Wrap-Up!

SMS marketing is one of the most powerful automotive marketing strategies. It lets automotive businesses engage with customers immediately, increase service appointments, and drive more sales with minimal effort. SMS campaigns, automation, and personalization are the perfect combo to help dealerships create meaningful customer interactions and drive business growth.

Suppose you are looking to implement a cost-efficient, engaging, and result-driven marketing strategy for the automobile industry. In that case, Textdrip is the right SMS marketing platform to start your text message marketing journey for your automotive business.

With impressive features like SMS automation, schedule messages, SMS drip campaigns, reminder drip, contact segmentation, bulk texting, etc., you can build long-lasting customer relationships and boost your sales. So, book a demo or take a FREE trial today and see how Textdrip can transform your automotive marketing strategies, and SMS can become your dealership’s engine for growth. Get, Set, Go!