Whether you’re an influencer, artist or entrepreneur, you know how much your success depends on...
So you got yourself a public phone number… excellent! You can’t imagine the changes in store for your brand. But do you ever find yourself staring at those special new digits now and wondering… ok, now what? How do you get those calls or texts to start filling up your inbox?
We recently shared how it’s possible to turn a public phone number into a powerful tool that can help you sell your content. Getting a public phone number is also one of the best ways for deepening your overall connection with your audience.
But of course, like anything, your public phone number is only going to be successful if people know about it and use it. Luckily, that’s where the power of promotion comes in!
We know there are a lot of questions out there about the best ways that influencers and small businesses can promote their public phone number. We’ve got some great tips and ideas for you, and a few real-life examples, for how to make the magic happen. Read on for some helpful ideas to get promoting and get one step closer to better connections with your audience.
1. Announce Your Phone Number Like It’s a Gift for Your Followers… Because It Is
Often when you read articles about public phone numbers, SMS marketing, and techniques for building engagement, they’re all centered around *you*, the influencer/creator/entrepreneur. You learn all about the ways that getting a public phone number can massively benefit you, like helping you sell your content, expand your services, and grow your audience.
But when it comes to promoting your public phone number to your audience, it’s time to switch it all around. It’s not about you anymore.
When you announce your number to your followers, especially for the first time, make it clear that you’re taking this step towards better communication because it’s a huge benefit for *them*.
For example — in April 2020, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, model and influencer Cara Delevingne , who has more than 40 million followers, shared a video on Instagram announcing her public phone number.
“Hey everybody, I hope you're well and safe,” she said in the short video. “Some of you may know I'm pretty crazy so I'm going to do something mad. I'm going to give out my number so you guys can text me. Check it out.”
What Cara did there is put her phone number in the context of the pandemic (“I hope you’re well and safe”), and she immediately showed empathy too: she understood that her followers were going through a lot right then. She offered her phone number as a way for them to connect with her — she told them that she was “doing something mad” for THEIR sake, so they could text her. The move was simple but brilliant — she got a ton of positive response from her followers at the time, and some nice media coverage, too.
Remember, in the end, it really *is* all about your audience. We’ve written here before about how what your followers really want is more connection. By getting and promoting your second phone number, you’re making that happen for them. It’s a win-win situation all around.
2. Include a Call-to-Action With Your Number in Your Profiles
Maybe this goes without saying, but once you get a public phone number, you need to share that phone number EVERYWHERE. Put it on your webpage if you have one, in all your social media profiles, your email newsletters, on a sign — if your name is on it, your phone number should be too. Don’t be shy — get it out there.
But there’s one tiny trick that will make a big difference: include a call-to-action whenever you share your number, too.
Sure, you could opt for a minimalist approach like comedian Amy Schumer and just include your phone number in your profile, nothing else. There’s a sort of fun mystery there.
But most of us aren’t *quite* as famous as Amy Schumer (yet). So you’ll probably want to include a little more info and a call-to-action with your number.
A call-to-action is just a fancy marketing-speak way of describing an instruction that you give your audience. You write it as if it’s an order, and that phrasing triggers their brain to wake up and take a closer look. It shifts their brain from “passive reading/watching mode” to “oh, I should maybe be doing something now” mode.
It doesn’t have to be that complicated, we swear. A call-to-action in this case can really just be two words:
- Call me ###-###-####
- Text me ###-###-####
Check out how artist John Legend shares his number on his personal webpage:
>>> Instagram Pro Tip: If you have an Instagram Business account, you can even add a neat Call-to-Action “Text Me” button on your profile. That would free up space in your main profile description for other info.
And of course, you can include a more specific call-to-action that ties your phone number into a contest, giveaway, or other promotion. Keep reading for more on that!
3. Promote Your Phone Number While Promoting Something Else, Too
As an influencer, artist or business, you know by now that an excellent way to get your audience’s attention is to give something away. Who doesn’t love free stuff and winning, right?
For example, DJ ILLENIUM promoted his phone number and a new song at the same time. He posted a simple graphic with his phone number on Twitter and then included not just one but TWO tempting reasons for his audience to pay attention and use the number. Anyone who texted him got an exclusive preview of his new song AND a chance to win a jersey.
What type of promotion you do is going to depend on your audience and your brand, of course. But no matter what,
linking your phone number to an enticing offer or exciting promotion is going to make a BIG difference in how many people notice it.
Here are a few other promotion ideas too, to help spark some creative ideas for you:
- Host a vote or poll. Invite your followers to use your phone number to vote on their favorite idea for your next new product or video.
- Release a “teaser” or “trailer” for new content — and then tell your followers you’ll send the content to their phone if they text your public phone number.
- Announce a big sale and offer anyone who texts your phone number early access to the sale before ordinary customers.
- Make a VIP group (or, depending on your brand, a Fan Club) that your followers can join by texting you. Give your VIP followers access to content, sneak peeks, or direct communications with you that they can only get through your phone number.
- Host a special virtual event that your followers can only get an invite to if they text you through their phone number.
And remember, if you do a giveaway — make sure to post the results afterwards and keep the calls-to-action coming. (For example: “John A. won a free copy of my new book by texting me at 555-555-5555. Text me to get the first heads up on future giveaways I’ll do.” That will be yet another way to promote your number!
4. Post Screenshots of Your Text Conversations With Your Followers
Let’s face it — sometimes we all tend to be a little cynical about a marketing promotion or tactic that might seem too gimmicky.
When you post your phone number, there may be some skepticism that it’s actually your number and a real way to reach you “Oh sure, he has a phone number, but I’m just going to get robo-texts selling me stuff all the time. It’s not really him.”
So… Prove them wrong!
Post some screenshots on your social feeds of short examples of text conversations you had with your followers.
(Just make sure to get their permission first or else remove any identifying info for them from your screenshot.)
And of course… include your phone number and a call-to-action in those posts, so that people can quickly see that THEY can have real conversations with you, too.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative and Go All Out
At the end of the day, when you’re promoting your public phone number, don’t forget to have some fun with it. Be true to yourself and your brand, and get creative!
Look no further for inspiration than entrepreneur and influencer Gary Vaynerchuck aka Gary Vee, who’s gone all out on promoting his phone number. He’s printed custom hoodies with his phone number on it or included his number literally hundreds of times in a single video.
Why not mix things up with your own promotion efforts, too? Have you ever considered promoting your public phone number by creating:
- A TikTok dance video
- A meme with one of your pets
- A song or jingle with your number
- Unique merch for your brand with your number printed on it
Or, how about a murder mystery game night, where the winner is the first person to call your public phone number with the identity of the murderer? Ok, ok, sure, that’s a little crazy. But you get the point — don’t be afraid to be a little crazy and take some risks when it comes to promoting yourself and your number.
After all, what have you got to lose, except the chance to gain a whole lot of benefits for you and your audience?
TL;DR:
Promoting your public phone number is key to making it as successful as possible for you and your brand. When you announce your new number for the first time, make sure to put the focus on your audience and why you’re taking this step for them. Put your phone number everywhere, and make sure to include a Call-to-Action when you do. Don’t miss out on the chance to double up and promote your phone number at the same time as promoting another initiative you’re launching. And finally, be creative and don’t be afraid to take risks when it comes to promoting yourself and your number. Good luck, and have fun!
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