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

[onceandagain216]

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

[#2]

📳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!

[Howard]

@samanthor Thanks for reaching out! We are accepting new Beta testers. Currently you must be subscribed to Square Loyalty and or Square Marketing. 

[samanthor]

Hi Howard, I am!

[JessieJax]

Update on text messaging?

[Howard]

Hey all! Thank you for your interest in testing Text Message Marketing. 

We have seen a lot of enthusiasm around testing this feature!

Thank you to all of sellers who showed interest in joining our testing group and also to those who provided feedback. 

I want to update everyone to say we are no longer adding in more testers to this beta. Our team is working hard to make updates and improvements based on seller feedback. 

That being said, we plan to make this feature available for everyone within the coming months. 

Stay tuned to this thread for further updates. 

Thank you! 

[JessieJax]

We would like to be part of the beta for text messaging.

Note: we’re only enrolled in square marketing (we’re not currently enrolled in square loyalty). 

[ThingsDublin]

Square has been working on this text messaging for almost 4 years now!  It would have been nice to have it up and running for Christmas or Valentines.  I'm very disappointed in Square right now, way behind the curve for retailers.

[Howard]

@ThingsDublin I have reviewed your account and it appears you have the option to send automated text campaigns currently. Just so I get an understanding how were you wanting to use Text Messaging marketing? 

[ThingsDublin]

Signing up for marketing was a confusing process, I spent over an hour reading support pages and finally broke down and called Weebly support and was handed off twice before someone could walk me through it.  Yes, I am now set up to send the marketing texts.  Yes, they are lame.  I would like to be able to send a text encouraging customers to shop for Valentines Day presents on my web site.  Nope, not an option.

[Spittingimage]

We can only use what Square has a template for.  It was my understanding that we would be able to create custome campaigns to notify of sales etc via square text messaging campaigns.  Right now, the only thing I can do is bday and loyalty.  That is not what I am needing.

[Howard]

Hey all! 

We are excited to announce updates for the text message marketing beta.

We are launching general announcement campaigns for sellers with Square Marketing and an automated birthday collection text campaign for all sellers on the beta.

Going forward, all texts that contain a website address will be turned into a shortened Square link (e.g., https://square.ly/abc123). This will allow you to see how many customers click on your campaigns, and help us protect you and your customers should anyone take over your account and send a malicious link.

To review, this beta feature allows you to send manual campaigns. These campaigns are one-time text messages that are sent to your customers. You can select the type of campaign (coupon or general announcement) then customize the copy (and the coupon details) you wish to send your buyers.

Note: Text Message Marketing will vary whether you use Square Marketing only or Square Loyalty and Square Marketing together. For the moment, Loyalty sellers must continue to send coupons with their manual text messages for legal reasons. We’re working to help you get the right opt-in from buyers, as we know this presents limitations to what you can send.

For legal purposes, you’ll need to collect opt-in from your customers to ensure that they want to receive marketing texts from you, even if you already have their phone number in your customer directory. 

Buyer Opt In

Square Loyalty + Marketing: 

Your customers agree to receive text message marketing when they join your Square Loyalty program. Any customers who have previously signed up for your Loyalty program with the most recent legal language will be included as reachable customers. This means some of your Loyalty customers will not yet receive your marketing text messages.

Square Marketing:  

Your customers can sign-up via your Square Point of Sale, or soon via a text to opt-in feature we’ll be releasing. Keep in mind it may take some time to collect opt-ins for your campaigns.

To access manual text message campaigns, you must be subscribed to Square Marketing. 

To join the beta, click Reply immediately below this post and leave a comment to let me know if you're interested.Once you are enabled, I will like your post and send you an email to get started. 

Thank you for your interest! 

Cheers,

Howard 

[Sidhu]

we would like to sign up for text message beta

[Howard]

@Sidhu Thank you for your interest! To use Text Message marketing, you must be subscribed to Square Marketing. Feel free to start a free trial: 

https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5346-get-started-with-square-marketing 

[Debra777]

Can you please sign me up for the text beta marketing? Thank you

[abarzegar]

Thanks for this update, but I'm a little turned around...how do we sign up for square marketing? I'm already enrolled as in loyalty subscription and the only way I see to start the free trial is to go through the process and actually send a message out to my customers? 

am i missing something?

my goal is the following: we are moving locations bc of COVID and I would like to text my loyalty customers about the move. just a notice, etc. 

[Howard]

@abarzegar Currently we don't have the option for a generalized text campaign for sellers to contact their Square Loyalty customers, but are looking to add this soon. 

To answer you first question,  you can start a free trial by sending an email message out to your customers. 

[abarzegar]

please sign us up @Howard 

[DaicyFigueiredo]

We are anxious to utilize text marketing to reach out to customers or send updates as a mass marketing effort rather than emails which go to spam or promotions folders. This is a feature we are researching with another platform that we could possibly switch to if some features are not added to Square promptly. 

[Pops1911]

I want to be a part of the beta to use for sending marketing to sell eGift Cards.

Please email me. Thanks!

[Pops1911]

Hi Howard, I am desperate to get on the text platform to sell egfit cards... I am currently closed and need to get some cash flow to help me open back up...

Can you please set me up ASAP on the BETA text marketing group and I will restart my marketing subscription asap.  I started it today but then deactivated it because I couldnt set up a text blast and 800 of my 950 reachable customers only have cell phones and no email.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Stay HEALTHY

Thanks,

Greg

[Howard]

@Pops1911 Thanks for reaching out and I happy to enable this feature on your account. I will let you know once you are able to send a campaign. 

Note currently with your subscription you will only be able to send a message that has a coupon attached. We are working to update this for our sellers who use Square Loyalty and Square Marketing. 

[Pops1911]

Thank You!!! Will it be soon I hope? I need to get some cash flow because waiting on gov funding still... Thanks Stay safe. Any chance you can email me please?