Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using SMS Shuffle Responders

Businesses use automated text messaging software to quickly answer customer questions. Among these variations of autoresponders are SMS shuffle responders. This can give your customer communications a more personal feel; however, common errors can annoy customers or violate the law. By learning from others’ mistakes, you can circumvent these often costly disruptions to your business and strengthen customer relations. 

What are SMS Shuffle Responders? 

SMS shuffle responders send specific, curated messages to customers when triggered by a keyword in the customer’s message. SMS shuffle responders provide variation between responses. This technology allows you to upload multiple different text responses for a single keyword trigger. The shuffle responder randomly selects one of these variations and sends it to the customer. 

Repetition can cause customers to withdraw and disengage. This is particularly true when responses feel copied and pasted. This feature helps you keep interactions engaging without the manual labor of updating messages daily. 

Frequent Messaging

Nothing irritates customers more than enjoying their evening or being in the middle of a rush at work, only to receive multiple marketing text messages. Customers often respond quickly to text messages, and many customers report feeling frustrated when businesses send them multiple messages too frequently. Especially during busy times of their day, as it is highly disruptive and lowers productivity. 

Using Impersonal or Confusing Language

Many businesses make the mistake of being too formal in their customer correspondence. Customers get the impression that they are being ignored and confused. For messages to be effective, they should sound natural and friendly, with clear information. Another commonly overlooked issue is the use of industry language. While you and your employees may understand what you mean, your customer may not. Ensure all language is easily understandable to your customer base. Failing to personalize messages with customer names or relevant details makes people feel irrelevant. Strategic automated texts are a balance between professionalism and friendliness. 

Failing to Test

A significant mistake companies make is failing to test their software before launching. Assuming the software will work as intended is naive and could leave your company looking incompetent and embarrassed. If a customer sends a message and receives a response unrelated to it, or doesn’t receive a message at all, this can strain customer relationships. Customers could receive misinformation, and this can lead to much larger problems very quickly. 

Relying Only on Automation

It isn’t uncommon for businesses to rely too heavily on automation. Automated texting is a great resource for handling routine questions efficiently, but some situations require personal attention. Customers experiencing complex problems, emotional concerns, or unusual requests need to reach real people quickly. Customer trust is often compromised when they cannot reach a live person about a problem. Any automated message should include an option to connect with a live representative. 

Building Better Text Communication

SMS shuffle responders are an excellent tool for efficiently handling routine communication. However, there are common mistakes you can avoid, such as over-messaging, using confusing language, skipping tests, and replacing humans entirely. Automated software is a great addition to your customer communications, not a replacement. Don’t make the same mistakes other businesses have paid the price for. You can create text systems that customers appreciate and trust and that benefit your business in more ways than one. By implementing intelligently, your business can strengthen customer relationships and save time and money. 

Request a free demo today and see how our SMS shuffle responder improves how you handle customer questions.