Why You Need a Business Text Messaging App

Every once in a while, if you watch closely, cell phones make an appearance in old episodes of The X Files. 

No matter how many times you see one of those clunky '90s bricks, they're still as jarring as an extraterrestrial or a Jersey Devil. No wonder Mulder and Scully are always wearing trench coats—what other pockets could contain their cell phones?

Fortunately, cell phones have come a long way since then. And they're no longer reserved for emergency phone calls. (Or FBI agents.) Today, just about everybody you meet uses a smartphone every day. 

There's been another key change since the '90s. Phone calls are also losing their importance. For quick updates or questions, text messaging is a more immediate and convenient option. Texts are also more likely to directly engage people. This holds true across most other forms of communication, including email. 

That's why it's time to invest in a business text messaging app. If you choose not to believe, you could end up stuck in a time warp of your own making. 

Let's take a closer look.

What Is a Business Text Messaging App?

Texting used to be linked directly to a user's cell phone plan. You'd get a certain number of texts per month. If you went over, you'd get a dreaded fee tacked onto your monthly bill. 

While some users may still have these plans, others have found ways to skirt the system. The most common solution? Wifi-powered text messaging apps.

These apps—such as Kik, WhatsApp, or even the iPhone's built in Messenger—allow users to text without worrying about limits. They provide an easy way to trade notes, photos and even video. 

As consumers adopted texting, it became deeply entrenched in their lives. The immediacy and flexibility texting offers reshaped expectations for communication overall. 

For example, dentists and hair salons confirm appointments through texting every day. Some companies even accept payments via text. 

A business text messaging app helps you offer these conveniences, too. In a nutshell, it's a tool that allows you to send text messages to customers. This can occur en masse, or with individual conversations. 

Instead of being limited to your phone's tiny keyboard, you can also send business messages from a central app on your computer. (Of course, most business text messaging apps work on mobile devices, too.) 

In the following sections, we'll explore exactly how business texting apps work—and why they're worth the investment. 

A Business Text Messaging App Is Part of Going Mobile

Your customers have long since gone mobile—but has your business? We're living in a mobile world, and businesses need to adapt or risk becoming irrelevant. 

For example, what happens when a customer visits your website on a mobile device? If they find microscopic text and awkwardly cropped images, they won't stay for long. Websites that are too slow or onerous to navigate can kiss mobile customers goodbye.

Texting can also increase the accessibility of customer service. Not everyone has a job that allows them to call or email during business hours. (Teachers and nurses, to name a few!) Texting, and other chat-based options, allow customers to send a quick note when it's convenient for them.

Your mobile strategy—or lack thereof—directly impacts customer engagement. If you care about communicating with your mobile-obsessed customers, a business text messaging app is a must.

How You Can Use a Business Text Messaging App

So, we've established that your business needs to get onboard with texting. But what does that look like in your day to day operations? 

As time goes on, businesses are finding more ways to get creative with texting. You can use a business text messaging app to send and receive:

• Automated appointment confirmations and reminders
• GPS-powered promotions sent to nearby customers
• Payments for goods or services
• Customer service conversations
• Advertising promotions or sales
• Order and shipment confirmations
• Instantly gathering reviews and feedback
• Notifications about contests

Of course, the possibilities go far beyond this brief list. Texting technology is only going to become more sophisticated as time goes on. 

But before you text, be sure to review best practices. Just because you have someone's number, it doesn't mean they'd welcome a text. Be sure to give customers an opportunity to opt in, or they'll mistake your company for a spammer. Personalizing messages also decreases the risk of seeming spammy.

With these tips in mind, you'll be ready to start texting your customers.

Take the Next Steps Toward a Business Text Messaging App

If you're ready to invest in a business text messaging app, make sure that's not all it can do. 

For example, GoSite's Messenger app provides a central hub for all customer communications. You can text, DM, live chat, and email customers, all from the same platform. If the conversation shifts to a new channel, you can keep it going, all from one messaging tool.

Ready to get started? Check out GoSite Messenger today to see if it's right for your business!