How to Do SMS Follow Up for Sales Effectively

SMS follow up for sales means sending timely, relevant text messages to prospects after initial contact to keep the conversation alive and move the sale forward. It helps small businesses stay top of mind and close deals faster. This article explains why SMS follow up matters, how to do it step-by-step, common mistakes to avoid, and how HelloGrowthCRM supports SMS follow-ups for Indian SMBs.

Why this comes up / what goes wrong

Many Indian small-business owners rely on WhatsApp chats, phone calls, or manual notes to track leads. Without a clear SMS follow-up process, leads get forgotten or contacted too late. This delays responses and loses sales opportunities. Owners and sales teams juggling multiple leads often miss follow-up windows or send generic messages that don’t engage prospects. Slow or inconsistent follow-up makes prospects lose interest or buy from competitors who respond faster.

SMS follow up is popular because it reaches customers directly on their mobile phones without needing internet, unlike WhatsApp. It’s quick, personal, and can prompt immediate replies. However, without a system to schedule, track, and automate SMS follow-ups, small teams struggle to keep up, especially as leads grow.

Step-by-step

1. Collect accurate mobile numbers: Verify the prospect’s mobile number at lead capture. Check it’s active and correct before sending SMS.

1. Segment leads based on interest or stage: Group leads who want a quote, demo, or payment reminder. This helps send relevant SMS content.

1. Create a follow-up schedule: Plan when to send SMS after initial contact. For example, Day 1 (thank you), Day 3 (reminder), Day 7 (offer), Day 14 (last call).

1. Write clear, concise SMS messages: Use simple language, mention the product or service, and include a call-to-action (CTA) like “Reply YES for a callback.” Avoid long messages.

1. Send SMS according to schedule and track responses: Use a tool or CRM to automate sending and log replies. Check daily for replies and assign follow-up tasks.

1. Follow up promptly on replies: If a prospect replies, call or message back quickly to keep the conversation going.

1. Adjust follow-up based on lead behaviour: Stop SMS if the lead responds or opts out. If no response, consider a final SMS or switch to WhatsApp or call.

1. Review and refine your SMS templates and timing regularly: Test different messages and intervals to see what gets better responses.

Check out sales task boards to organize your follow-up activities and WhatsApp and SMS CRM to manage messages efficiently.

Example (fictional figures)

An Indian electronics retailer receives a lead on 01/05/2024 interested in a ₹1,00,000 home theatre system.

• Day 1 (01/05/2024): Send a thank you SMS: “Thank you for your interest in our home theatre system. Reply YES for a callback.”
• Day 3 (04/05/2024): Send reminder SMS: “Hi, just checking if you have any questions about the ₹1,00,000 home theatre. Call us at 9876543210.”
• Day 7 (08/05/2024): Send offer SMS: “Special offer! Get 5% off on the home theatre if booked by 15/05/2024.”
• Day 14 (15/05/2024): Send last call SMS: “Last chance to save 5% on your ₹1,00,000 home theatre. Reply NOW to book.”

If the customer replies on Day 4, stop the scheduled SMS and follow up personally.

Common mistakes

• Not verifying mobile numbers: Leads may not receive SMS if numbers are wrong. Always confirm numbers at capture.
• Sending too many messages too quickly: This annoys prospects. Space out SMS and keep the frequency reasonable.
• Using generic or unclear messages: Messages without a clear CTA or personalization get ignored. Customize SMS based on lead data.
• Failing to track replies and follow up: Ignoring responses wastes opportunities. Assign follow-up tasks and update lead status.
• Not stopping SMS after a reply: Continuing automated SMS after a reply frustrates prospects. Use sequences that stop automatically on reply.
• Relying only on SMS: Some leads prefer WhatsApp or calls. Use multi-channel follow-up for better engagement. See email automation and sequences for multi-channel workflow ideas.

Doing this in HelloGrowthCRM

HelloGrowthCRM helps Indian SMBs manage SMS follow-ups with these features:

• Activities and task boards: Each SMS follow-up becomes a task with a due date. The day’s calls and messages appear as a clear list, reducing memory load. See sales task boards.
• WhatsApp and SMS: Conversations on WhatsApp and SMS are logged on each lead’s record. Follow-ups can be sent as SMS or WhatsApp messages directly from the CRM. Learn more at WhatsApp and SMS CRM.
• Sequences and campaigns: Create automated five-step SMS or WhatsApp follow-up sequences over two weeks that pause the moment the prospect replies, avoiding over-messaging. Details at email automation and sequences.

Frequently asked questions

How many SMS follow-ups should I send for sales? A typical sequence is 3 to 5 SMS messages spaced over 1 to 2 weeks. This keeps your business top of mind without overwhelming the prospect. Adjust based on responses.

What is the best time to send sales SMS follow-ups? Send SMS during business hours, ideally between 10 AM and 6 PM. Avoid early mornings or late nights to respect the prospect’s time.

Can I automate SMS follow-ups for my sales leads? Yes, using CRM tools with SMS automation like HelloGrowthCRM, you can schedule multi-step SMS sequences that run automatically and stop when the lead replies.

Should I mix SMS with WhatsApp or calls? Yes, combining SMS with WhatsApp messages and calls increases chances of engagement. Some prospects prefer WhatsApp; others respond better to calls.

How do I handle opt-outs or no replies? Always provide an opt-out option in your messages. If a lead doesn’t reply after the final SMS, consider switching channels or removing them from follow-up.

Key takeaways

• SMS follow-up keeps sales conversations active and increases closure chances.
• Plan a clear schedule and write concise, personalized SMS with strong CTAs.
• Track replies and assign follow-up tasks to avoid missed opportunities.
• Avoid common mistakes like over-messaging, ignoring replies, or sending unclear SMS.
• Use tools like HelloGrowthCRM to automate, track, and manage SMS and WhatsApp follow-ups efficiently.

Start your SMS follow-up process today to convert more leads into customers. You can Start on the Free Forever plan (200 leads, no credit card) and manage your sales pipeline better with HelloGrowthCRM.