Definitive Guide to Text Messaging for Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries

Definitive Guide to SMS for Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries

SMS texting for wineries, breweries, and distilleries offers a simple, inexpensive marketing tactic to connect with customers one-on-one.

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Why Use SMS Texting for Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries?


Let’s face it: wineries, breweries, and distilleries alike are big investments. With the alcohol market growing 9% annually over the next few years, it’s important to distinguish your business with great marketing. Sure, there are online reviews, social media, and good old-fashioned word of mouth, but there are much better ways to connect with your consumers in a more personalized manner.


No matter what part of the alcohol industry you are involved in, maintaining good customer relationships is key to running a successful business. While your winery, brewery, or distillery may have a good following, getting customers to come back on a regular basis is what really matters. Creating a loyal customer base will help not only your business profits but also in encouraging new customers to try your products. 


Using SMS texting for wineries, breweries and distilleries is a simple, cost-effective way to continuously engage with your customers and keep your business on the radar. Don’t believe it? Check out these
SMS statistics:


  • Approximately 92% of US adults own a cell phone.
  • 90% of text messages are read within 3 minutes of sending.
  • 91% of Americans have their mobile devices nearby 24/7.
  • 74% of cell phone and smartphone users have no unread text messages.


Clearly, texting is effective. Use it to boost your marketing efforts, and you’ll likely have much more success than just using email or social media. Here are just some of the ways to use SMS texting for marketing your winery, brewery or distillery.



Brewery Text Marketing

Creating a Subscriber List

One of the best parts of SMS text marketing is the constant accumulation of customer phone numbers. Customers joining your subscription list become contacts to connect with whenever and wherever you want. With access to customers’ personal cell numbers, your business will be at the forefront of their screens and their minds. 


The message possibilities are endless. You could send out a mass text to all subscribers reminding them of your business hours, sending them a link to your menu list, and even extending exclusive offers.


For example, your message could say, “Thirsty? [Your business] is open ‘til midnight! Check out our drink list below and get 10% off your order when you show them this message.” 


You can really use this to your advantage if you time it right: you could schedule a message like the one above around 5:00 pm on Friday and create customers’ plans for the night.


Informing Customers About Specials or Sales

Everybody loves a good sale, which is why 85% of consumers will redeem a coupon sent via text within one week. With the ability to send mass messages to your subscriber list, offering a special or sale could increase your sales exponentially.


Maybe you have a seasonal product or low-stock product. You could write, “One last toast! Our [product] is almost gone. Come in and get it while you can for an extra 30% off!”


Give Instant Updates About Stock

It is truly disheartening when you have customers coming into your winery, brewery or distillery and realizing that you’re out of the product they were hoping to drink. SMS texting allows you to communicate with your customers one-on-one about the available stock.


Let’s say you run a craft brewery with a limited stock of your new beers. You could get a text message from a member of your contact list asking about the availability of that particular beer. Your response could look something like, “Thanks for connecting with us! We have 9 eight-packs of our new lager left. Would you like me to put a pack on hold for a few hours?”


Remind Customers of Reservations

While reservations are a great tool to get customers through the door and offer them a more intimate experience, not all of them show up. Using SMS texting to keep the customers and the business in the loop with reservations could save you from unfilled seats.


Let’s say you run a winery and offer wine tasting services. If you ask customers for their phone number when they reserve their experience, you could message them something like, “Don’t forget! Your wine tasting at [winery name] is tonight at 6:00. Text back YES or NO to confirm your reservation. Cheers!”


Encourage Customers to Try New Products 

As a winery, brewery, or distillery, we know that you’re proud of your work. It takes a good amount of time and effort when creating new drinks, so why not let your customers know about them? Informing subscribers about new products with SMS texting is a great way to market them and a great way to make your customers feel special and exclusive.


For example, let’s say you’re a whiskey distillery and just came out with a new bourbon. You could write a message saying, “This just in: Brand new barrel-proof wheated bourbon dropped today! Come in and be the FIRST to try it!”


By creating a sense of exclusivity and a VIP-like experience, customers will want to come in and get a first taste of your product before everyone else.

Get Pictures From Customers to Post on Social Media

Social media is undoubtedly one of the most powerful, influential tools for marketing in existence today. Having a good online presence is practically a necessity in this day and age, and getting pictures from happy customers is an awesome way to show potential customers the experience they could be getting when they visit your winery, brewery, or distillery.


Along with this, there are tons of people that love to be posted on social media. By getting their pictures engaging with your business and its products, you’re creating a sense of loyalty with your customers and giving them something to repost on their own pages for even more eyes.


Let’s say you’re a brewery serving craft beer with a laid-back atmosphere. You could write to your customers, “Hey beer lovers! Send in a picture of you and your party at [brewery name] for a chance to be posted on our social media!” Posting real customers engaging at your brewery shows a genuine look at the atmosphere of your business and the experiences your business gives its customers.


The same could be said at your winery that does wine tastings. You could send a message saying, “Hi [winery name] customers! Send in a picture of you and your party at one of our wine tasting experiences for a chance to be posted on our social media!” Getting pictures to post of real customers enjoying their experience is a great way to entice your following to participate in their own wine tasting.

If You Text Your Friends - You Can Do This

If you’re still feeling a little nervous or overwhelmed about incorporating SMS texting into your business model, there are some services that offer free trials to get you familiarized with the process. After that, you can choose from different plans that tailor to your needs and budgets.


It is no secret that SMS texting is the future of marketing. As the alcohol industry continues to grow, keeping your winery, brewery, or distillery on the map is getting even more important. Finding a provider that allows for a simple, easy-to-use SMS texting service will help you stay on top of the marketing game.


Okay… Does This Really Work?

In short, absolutely. Just look at the statistics showing how SMS text marketing compares to other forms... 


  • The average open rate for text message marketing campaigns is 98%, compared to 20% for email marketing campaigns.
  • SMS response rates are about 300% higher than phone call response rates.
  • Text messaging marketing has a 45% response rate, while email marketing is only 6%.


While a lot of other forms of marketing are either outdated or more annoying than helpful, 75% of people wouldn’t mind receiving an SMS from a brand if they opt-in for the service. You can even encourage customers to subscribe with incentives like offering a free t-shirt when they sign up or free drink next time they come for an extra boost.

Interested in using SMS texting for your winery, brewery, or distillery? Telvero is user-friendly, offers flexible and affordable pricing plans, and is built by communication experts. No technical expertise is required; try it out for free today.

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