For DTC e-commerce brands, SMS opt-ins are critical for driving customer engagement and increasing conversions. 

SMS marketing boasts significantly higher open rates than email, making it a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. 

This blog will provide actionable strategies to effectively grow your SMS subscriber list using Klaviyo.

Benefits of SMS Marketing

SMS marketing boasts a 95% open rate, nearly five times higher than email. Additionally, 90% of people open a text within three minutes, and 85% of smartphone users prefer SMS over emails or calls. SMS subscribers tend to be more engaged, enhancing customer engagement and conversion rates, making it a highly effective direct communication channel. (Sender)

For brands looking to enhance their email marketing alongside SMS, our guide on 8 Strategies to Boost Your Open Rates offers proven tactics to increase email engagement.

5 Proven Techniques for Increasing SMS Opt-Ins in Klaviyo

1. Creating Effective Multi-Step Sign-Up Forms for New Customers

To maximise SMS opt-ins, simplify your approach with these steps :

• Add SMS after the email touchpoint: Encourage users to sign up for SMS after they’ve provided their email, capturing additional contact information.

• Make the SMS offer unique and exclusive: Offer a special deal that’s only available through SMS to entice sign-ups.

• Test lever movers to optimise: Continuously test and refine designs, copy, and CTAs to see what drives the best results.

Examples: Successful campaigns feature mobile-optimised forms with strong CTAs that offer tangible value, such as “Sign up for SMS alerts and get 15% off your first order.”

A well-structured sign-up form is also crucial for email capture. Learn how to create high-converting email pop-ups with our guide on Top 8 Klaviyo Pop-Up Form Strategies to Drive Conversions.

Source: Poppy Barley

Source: Cami NYC

2. Target Existing Email Customers with Sign-Up Forms

Tailored Messaging: To effectively target your existing email subscribers, you can also segment your audience based on behaviour, such as recent purchases or browsing history. Use this data to create tailored SMS sign-up offers. For example, offer cart abandoners a discount if they sign up for SMS notifications, or entice recent product viewers with a special bundle offer.

Examples: 

• Exclusive Early Access:  “Join our SMS list for early access to our Black Friday sale—available only to our SMS subscribers! ”

• VIP Discounts: "Join our SMS list and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your next purchase."

• Product Launch Alerts: "Be the first to know about our new product drops in X category by subscribing to our SMS notifications."

  
  

Segmenting email lists effectively can dramatically improve conversion rates. Discover 3 Klaviyo Segmentation Strategies to Boost DTC Sales to refine your audience targeting.

Source: Textline

3. Cross-Pollinate Your Email Subscribers onto Your SMS List

What: Your VIP customers and highly engaged email subscribers are ideal candidates for your SMS list. Periodically send them targeted campaigns that highlight the benefits of joining your SMS program, such as exclusive deals, faster customer service, or more personalised communication.

Why: SMS subscribers generally have a higher lifetime value because SMS is a more personal and direct channel. These customers are typically more engaged, leading to better open rates, higher click-through rates, and more conversions.

If you're looking to improve customer retention beyond SMS, our insights on 8 Essential Klaviyo Flows to Boost Customer Loyalty can help nurture long-term engagement.

4. Leverage Cross-Channel Promotion with Tap-To-Text

What is Klaviyo's Tap-to-Text Feature?: This feature allows businesses to capture phone numbers directly through social media platforms like Instagram. By embedding a "tap-to-text" link or button in your stories or posts, users can easily initiate the sign-up process with a single tap, making it more likely they’ll subscribe.

Linking Klaviyo with social channels like TikTok can further amplify your reach. Read our TikTok x Klaviyo: Integration Guide to Boost ROAS to learn how.

Source: Listrak

Why is it Beneficial?: This seamless experience reduces friction in the sign-up process, leading to higher conversion rates. It also allows you to reach potential subscribers where they are most engaged—on social media—thus expanding your reach and optimising engagement.

5. Build a Healthy SMS Subscriber List with Smart Opt-In

What is Klaviyo's SMS Smart Opt-In Feature?: This feature helps businesses collect phone numbers in a compliant and efficient manner. It ensures that customers provide genuine numbers and gives them a verification code, leading to a more reliable and engaged SMS list.

Why is it Beneficial for Building Healthy SMS Lists?: The Smart Opt-In feature helps maintain compliance with regulations like TCPA and GDPR, while also ensuring that your SMS list is filled with genuinely interested subscribers. This reduces unsubscribe rates and enhances the overall quality of your subscriber base.

Compliance is equally crucial in email marketing. Our guide on Email Deliverability: Step-by-Step Checklist to Stay Out of Spam provides insights on how to ensure strong inbox placement.

Here's a step-by-step guide for customising a Klaviyo sign-up form with Smart Opt-in pre-configured:

1. Create a Sign-Up Form:

• Click "Create sign-up form" in the top right corner.

• Check the "Smart Opt-in" box to filter the form library.

  
  

Source: Klaviyo

• Select a pre-built template with Smart Opt-in.

2. Configure Form Details:

• Name your form and choose the subscriber list.

  
  

Source: Klaviyo

• Click "Create Form" to enter the form editor.

3. Customise Form Content:

• Go to the "Targeting and Behaviors" tab and select "Targeting."

• Under "Location," choose the countries where you have an active sending number.

  
  

Source: Klaviyo

4. Edit SMS Opt-In Steps:

• Customise the content and design of each form step, including the one-time code step.

• Review and ensure buttons are pre-configured correctly.

5. Publish Your Form:

• Click "Publish" once all customisations are complete.

  
  

Source: Klaviyo

FAQs: SMS Opt-Ins in Klaviyo

1. How do I ensure compliance when collecting SMS opt-ins?

• Always include clear consent language in your sign-up forms and follow regulations like TCPA and GDPR.

2. Can I collect both email and SMS in one sign-up form?

• Yes, using a multi-step sign-up form allows you to collect email first and then SMS as an additional step.

3. What incentives work best for encouraging SMS sign-ups?

• Exclusive discounts, VIP early access, and product launch alerts tend to drive the highest conversion rates.

4. Should I send SMS campaigns to all my email subscribers?

• No, segment your most engaged email subscribers first to ensure a high-quality SMS list.

5. How can I track the performance of my SMS opt-ins?

• Use Klaviyo’s analytics to measure opt-in rates, redemption rates for SMS-exclusive offers, and overall conversion impact. If you’re looking to take a data-driven approach to marketing, check out our guide on Mastering Klaviyo DTC Reporting & Analytics.

6. Can I automate SMS opt-in campaigns?

• Yes, Klaviyo allows you to set up automated flows that encourage customers to subscribe based on their behaviour.

7. What happens if a customer unsubscribes from SMS?

• They won’t receive future texts, but you can still engage them via email or re-targeting ads.

Conclusion

Implementing these five proven techniques will not only help you grow your SMS subscriber list but will also enhance the overall effectiveness of your SMS marketing efforts. By focusing on creating high-converting sign-up forms, targeting existing email customers, leveraging VIP cross-pollination, utilising cross-channel promotions like Tap-to-Text, and building a healthy list with Smart Opt-In, you'll be well on your way to maximising engagement and conversions. Start applying these strategies today to see a significant boost in your SMS opt-ins and overall marketing success.

Don’t wait—integrating these strategies into your SMS marketing plan can bring immediate benefits. As your subscriber list grows, so too will your opportunities for engagement and revenue.

Key Takeaways

• SMS marketing has a 95% open rate, making it a high-impact channel.

• Multi-step sign-up forms boost opt-ins by simplifying the process.

• Existing email subscribers are a great target for SMS list growth.

• Tap-to-Text enables frictionless SMS sign-ups via social media.

• Smart Opt-In ensures compliance and high-quality subscriber lists.

• Personalisation and segmentation drive better engagement and conversions.

Ready to turn 'No' into 'Yes' for SMS opt-ins? 

Click here to get started with a free audit today and see how Klaviyo can transform your SMS campaigns!