x

Can we use text messaging instead of email for Square Marketing?

Can we use text messaging for marketing instead of e-mail? Most of my customers give phone # only.

127,231 Views
Message 1 of 391
Report
1 Verified Answer
Tom
Verified Answer

Re: Can we use text messaging instead of email for Square Marketing?

📳Hello Everyone!📳

 

I'm reaching out to those who've posted to this thread as we're hosting a question & answer session with the product team for Text Message Marketing on Wednesday, February 17th.

 

Have questions about setting up or feedback on how it's going so far? Please head over to this thread and let us know: Live Q&A: Ask us anything about Text Message Marketing!

1 Best Answer
Admin

Best Answer
 
We know you've been asking for it, and we're excited to announce Text Message Marketing (SMS) in the US, which is now available as an a la carte subscription that allows you to collect customer phone numbers and send them marketing-related text messages.

You can get started by visiting Text Message Marketing on on the Square Dashboard. 

Included are automated campaigns and ‘manual blast’ campaigns, where you can offer coupons, announce sales, promote events, and more. 

 

While Text Message Marketing can be found and used within Square Marketing in Dashboard, you DO NOT need to be subscribed to Square Marketing to use Text Message Marketing.

 

Square Marketing users will likewise need to onboard to Text Message Marketing, and will be billed separately for text message use.

 

What does the Text Message Marketing do?

 

Opt-in Collection

  • Build a list of customers to text BEFORE you pay a cent for the product
  • Collect opt-ins via your point-of-sale (or via Loyalty enrollment)
  • Text customers from a phone number unique to your business. This number will also allow customers to sign up via Text to Join, and can be promoted via in-store, online, or wherever else you’d like

Manual Campaigns

  • Draft a message and send to customers, instantly*
  • Offer a coupon, or include a link to an announcement, event, or online sale (which we automatically shorten to save characters)
  • Send up to 600 characters per message, or 250 if emojis are used. This will separate out into up to 4 texts, BUT we’ll only be charging for one ‘message’ per customer per campaign.

*Note: Texts are sent in 15 minute increments, so if you draft and send a text at 2:05pm, the text would go out at 2:15. Texts can only be sent during business hours in the merchant's time zone (i.e. 9-5). After 5pm, merchants can schedule for texts that will be sent the next day.

 

Automated Campaigns

  • Automatically text a customer with a qualifying event (similar to automated email marketing)
  • General campaigns: birthday collection + birthday reward, lapsed customer. 
  • Loyalty-related campaigns like reminding about Loyalty rewards, and celebrating Loyalty anniversaries

What are the limitations?

 

Feature

Current Limitation

Texting: General

No two-way texting (You cannot yet respond to Buyers by text, Sellers will not see Buyer responses)

Texting: General

No picture message (MMS)

Opt-in: List Building

No phone number list upload 

Opt-in: Loyalty Consent Specifics

Due to the current Loyalty consent language (which permits ‘loyalty-related communication’), Loyalty sellers will be able to send automated messages to  nearly all of their Loyalty enrollees. 

Seller Use Case

Sellers who sell adult products, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, or CBD/cannabis are subject to a standard called SHAFT. This a self-regulation by mobile carriers that can block messages around these topics. 

 

What is the pricing?

Pricing is tiered pay-as-you-go: at the end of the month, a seller will be charged the tier corresponding with how many messages they sent. They will not be charged for months where they did not send any messages. We do not have established custom pricing eligibility or rates established for launch.

 

 

 

 

Howard
Beta Team Lead, Square
Join the Beta Community
Evaluate | Influence | Engage

View Best Answer >

107,657 Views
Message 388 of 391
Report
390 REPLIES 390
Admin

@Karlaa @bloomstudio To join the Beta Program, you need to be subscribed to Square Marketing. Start a free trial and let me know. 

Howard
Beta Team Lead, Square
Join the Beta Community
Evaluate | Influence | Engage
3,944 Views
Message 337 of 391
Report

We would like to be added to the BETA for text messaging please

3,873 Views
Message 338 of 391
Report

I would like to get started with the text messaging beta service. 

 

Please let me know how we can start.

 

Happy to hop on a call or if needed. [personal information redacted]. 

 

Preferred email is [personal information redacted]

4,002 Views
Message 339 of 391
Report

We would like to inquire if the custom text marketing is now available? or is it still in BETA?

 

Could you let us know if BETA is still available?

 

3,990 Views
Message 340 of 391
Report

I am interested in joining the beta.

 

Thanks!

Bryan

3,986 Views
Message 341 of 391
Report

Is the text to opt in feature available yet?  We just setup the beta version but it will take some time to build a database of numbers if the only way we can get people signed up is through transactions on the POS. 

 

Thanks,

 

Tim

3,955 Views
Message 342 of 391
Report

I am interested in the text message marketing for my business, Xude Yoga!

3,943 Views
Message 343 of 391
Report

Hi there. Please allow access to the texting beta for Park Hospitality (locations Lowboy, Bar Flores, Window)

3,921 Views
Message 344 of 391
Report

I'd like to participate in the beta program. Thanks!

4,015 Views
Message 345 of 391
Report

Interested in the beta! Mollycashman@hotmail.com

3,974 Views
Message 346 of 391
Report

Is the ability to TEXT Square Customers (Marketing, not transactional) available yet?

 

Anyone else using a different provider until Square activates?

3,966 Views
Message 347 of 391
Report

Yes it is.  It is limited in what you can communicate, but it is available.  I have done 2 campaigns so far with some results.

3,965 Views
Message 348 of 391
Report

Fantastic - is it customer-by-customer sent from the App or can you run an actual campaign?

 

Could you share URL or steps please!?!

 

thanks

3,962 Views
Message 349 of 391
Report

It is campaign based right now.  The targeted customer list is based on certain criteria, so not everyone will get the text. Below is a screenshot of what you can currently do.

 

Snip20200818_25.png

3,960 Views
Message 350 of 391
Report

Thanks - helpful.

 

The thread mentioned that Text Messaging is part of Square Marketing and Loyalty.

 

Is your screenshot from Loyalty? I don't have those options in Square Marketing.

 

Thanks

3,921 Views
Message 351 of 391
Report

It is part of Marketing.  Unless you have enrolled in Loyalty, Marketing and have access to the Beta, these options will not be available to you.

3,919 Views
Message 352 of 391
Report

Thanks...

 

Hi @Howard , I'd like to get into the beta ASAP please.

 

Thank you!!!

3,925 Views
Message 353 of 391
Report

Howard,

I've been looking for a solution to text my customers each week more efficiently. The goal is to 1) send a mass text message to those who opt-in, and 2) be able to schedule this each week. It would be great if this could reoccur automatically.


Please let me know what solutions you may have! Thank you.

3,854 Views
Message 354 of 391
Report

I'm interested in the text marketing. Thanks!

3,982 Views
Message 355 of 391
Report

We would like to be enabled to send text marketing campaigns.

3,973 Views
Message 356 of 391
Report

I am interested 

3,959 Views
Message 357 of 391
Report