4 Ways Tours Can Survive in The Texting Era

If you take a moment to look around at a busy restaurant—or pretty much anywhere—chances are you’ll see someone bending over their phone, tapping away. Calling people has seemed to fall out of favor, with quick text messages being the most common way to keep in touch. As a savvy tour company, learning how to utilize this popular method of communication can make a big difference in how people perceive your business. If you’re ready to get started, here are a few ways you can add text messaging to your business.

1. Allow Customers to Text Straight From Google

Google is the most popular search engine, making it the favorable way many consumers begin their research into a potential tour company. Google now allows you to add a textable phone number to your Google My Business page. All you have to do is log in, add your textable number, and include a greeting. It’s quick, easy, and will pave the way for customers to reach you via text messaging.

Just opening the doorway to letting customers text you can mean a big change in business. Some people feel uncomfortable talking over the phone, especially if they are shy, busy,  or easily persuaded into buying something they actually don’t want to. Texting can be easier for them to communicate, and when the opportunity is offered, they will jump at the chance to utilize this method of communication first.

2. Offer Tour Updates by Text

Customers love being able to get updates on their phone by text. Calls can sometimes be inconvenient if your customer is on a plane, eating, or in a meeting, but a text can be read quickly and easily in a spare moment. If you need to reach a customer to alert about a change in tour times, dates, or cancellations, a text can automatically be sent out by many software programs, making it easy for your customers to be notified.

Texting is also a great way to send reminders, booking confirmations, and other automatic messages. Many customers appreciate being reminded of the exact time and day of their tour a few days in advance, as well as being able to go back to their text message to check their bookings quickly and easily.

3. Help Stay in Touch During the Tour

Even with the most reliable tours, or with the most experienced tour guides, problems are bound to come up at some point. Having the ability to text can be a lifeline for your customers to help smooth out problems quickly and efficiently. It can make the difference between an okay experience and a great one, just by adding this one extra line of communication.

4. Occasional Marketing

Nobody likes having their phone blown up with constant marketing messages. If you have a great deal you know your customers will love however, offering an exclusive offer via text can sometimes yield quality results. Ninety eight percent of all text messages are opened, compared to the rate of emails at less than 20%, making text messaging a superior form of communication.

Texting has become a part of our world, and adding it to your line of communication is a sign that we are aware of the times. Give your tour company an edge by adding texting as part of your regular communications today.

For more information, visit TourTools at https://www.tourtools.com/