Shopping by Text Messaging

Ashley Gregg • Feb 24, 2022

As technology advances, the way brands interact with customers naturally goes through transformations. Customers have become discerning with so many options out there. You need to stand out from your competition by providing customers with the type of personalized experience that they want and need. You need to be able to reach your customers on the devices and apps where they already spend their time, and conversational commerce makes this possible. 

What Is Conversational Commerce?

Conversational commerce is the process of brands communicating with their customers online, similar to the service they receive from a sales clerk in a physical store. Research shows that customers are using messaging more than ever. They are more likely to make a purchase from a brand when they can message them. 

Conversational commerce takes these ideas and expands them beyond the availability of a chatbot. Rather than waiting for customers to ask a question or seek assistance, conversational commerce can detect when the customer may have a question and reach out to them. It lets the customer know someone is there and ready to help them, as would be the case in a physical store. 

It expands beyond offering assistance while the customer is on the site. You can text message the last product they were browsing or left in their cart, and they can respond, "Buy" to purchase the item. If they have additional questions, they can ask them; technologies like Radiance Commerce can detect whether they need a live agent. 

What Is Conversational Checkout?

With conversational checkout, customers can checkout in messaging apps with two clicks. You can link your ecommerce website to messaging and look up orders, reorders, and more. 

Conversational checkout integrates with most of the standard ecommerce platforms, including Salesforce, BigCommerce, and Shopify. Your entire product catalog can be available in messaging for ordering. It allows ecommerce brands to offer a frictionless checkout experience. When customers are ready to buy, they can text "buy." It's that simple. These orders will be inserted into your ecommerce platform so that you can manage them just as you would any other website orders. 

The Future of Conversational Checkout

Conversational checkout is the future of sales. It helps you engage, acquire, and retain your customers. These personalized conversations are one-on-one, and customers feel valued and satisfied. Take a look at how conversational checkout is the future of message marketing. 

1. Conversational Checkout Increases Customer Acquisition and Retention


People today use their mobile devices and messaging apps for purchases and online shopping more than any other method. Research shows that people spend 44% of online time on social media and messaging apps. When brands focus on marketing to customers where they spend their time, they have higher acquisition and retention rates. 

Text messaging lets brands invite customers to engage no matter where they are. You can re-engage with past customers, upsell, and cross-sell by sending product suggestions and special or exclusive offers. When they receive notifications via SMS, they make purchases with two-click checkout right within the message.

2. Customers Prefer Brands That Know Their Preferences


Customers prefer to make purchases from brands that know what they want and can assist them in the purchase process. They are no longer willing to click on an ad and end up on a landing page, where they need to fill out forms, close pop-ups, and search for the product they are interested in. They prefer the simplicity and convenience of conversational commerce, where you guide them through the purchase journey. 


Most customers say they prefer to use messaging apps to engage with brands, and they want personalized, one-on-one messaging. Customers don't have to search for offers or other products because conversational checkout can answer questions and show them what they want to see. It is efficient and offers the simplicity and convenience that customers demand today.


3. Conversational Checkout Differentiates You from Other Brands


Adopting this new technology separates you from your competition. When the experience you provide customers is better than your competition offers, you gain loyal customers and brand advocates. 


4. It's a Great Way to Collect Useful Data


Conversational checkout gives you a range of data on your customers. You will learn their interests, what they need and want, their preferences, whom they shop for, their general budget, and more. You can use this data to make the messaging experience even better and integrate it into your tools, such as your CRM, ad platforms, and more. 


5. You Don't Need to Wait for Engagement


Traditional marketing may put your message out there, but you have to wait for your customer to choose to engage. With conversational checkout, you no longer need to wait for the customer to engage. You can engage with them and make it simple for them to respond. They can respond with one word to make a purchase or learn more about products. 

Final Word

Conversational checkout is the future of marketing, and it is simple and convenient for customers. It boosts conversions and leads to customer satisfaction. You interact with customers in the messaging apps where they already spend their time online and are more likely to engage with you. You can separate yourself from your competition by adopting this technology. 

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