Getting people to actually sign up to use your SMS tools is the hardest part, but it really isn’t that hard! However, it does take a little bit of dedication and effort! It is a new way of thinking, so it will take a certain amount of mental gymnastics to change your mindset to automatically think, “I should use this event to get people to opt-in!” We like to think of it as more as leaving your keys on the kitchen table and not remembering them until you get to your car. It’s a pain to remember something so simple but vitally important, until it’s too late. However, just like remembering your keys once you do it before you get to your car, you will be so glad that you did!
Thinking about it before the fact, is going to be your biggest challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. Take the time now to develop your strategy for using StormFront today, so you don’t have to beat yourself up because you forgot about it tomorrow. It is a service you are paying for, so you might as well get the most bang for your buck, and we are going to show you how to do just that!
It is as simple as A-B-C:
This is so simple that it will feel silly that it ever was a problem after you see how easy it is!
The first thing is to ADVERTISE! You will want to advertise your keyword with an invitation to opt-in on EVERYTHING! Put it in a prominent place on your website (We even have a widget for that so call your sales rep to find out how you can get one.), all social media, memes, and printed materials. Send an email to your members list asking them to opt-in. This first email should be just to ask for the opt-in, nothing else! Be sure to explain what they will benefit from doing so. Use events to ask for Opt-ins. Print the invitation on the volunteers t-shirts, flyers, posters and billboards. Ask people to opt-in at the registration tables.
Remember this is BRAND NEW! Hardly anyone knows what SMS is, let alone what it stands for. So your job is going to be to be BOLD and BRAVE about sharing it and educating your members on it’s uses. Each time you ask for an opt-in, also tell them what they will get out of it. People do not want to give up their phone number unless there is something in it for them, so give them a reason! Be sure to use the give-aways and promotions tool in exchange for the opt-in. Use the Flash Poll to gain opt-ins at large events by asking the audience a question. People love to share their opinions with you, so ask for them!
And lastly, CULTIVATE a quality message. It’s easy to get the opt-in, but you also want to keep them. So make your text messages, polls, giveaways and requests for donations count! Show your members real value in receiving a text message from you. In addition, do not send too many messages. If your users opt-in they can also easily opt-out if you bother them too much, so don’t.
Don’t let asking for opt-in keep you from growing your base of support! If you need more ideas on how to get and keep your opt-ins, please call your sales representative to schedule a 30 minute presentation on how to get the most opt-ins.