15 Cool Ways to Leverage Interactive SMS for Community Engagement

In today's digital world, SMS or text messaging is a powerful tool for community engagement. Here are some cool ways to leverage interactive SMS to strengthen your community connections and boost engagement:

What is Interactive SMS?

Interactive SMS refers to a two-way communication channel that allows senders to engage with partcipants through text messages. Unlike traditional SMS marketing, which typically involves sending one-way messages, interactive SMS enables recipients to respond, participate in polls, or access personalized automated question flows directly through their mobile devices. This approach enhances partcipant engagement by providing immediate feedback and creating a more dynamic interaction, which ends up driving higher conversion rates and improving satisfaction for participants.

15 Cool Ways to Leverage Interactive SMS for Community Engagement

• 1. Communicate Special Events and Initiatives

  Keep your community in the loop about upcoming events, new initiatives, and important updates by sending timely SMS notifications.




• 2. Provide Clear and Easy Options to Respond via SMS

  Make the process easier for your community members to respond & RSVP to invitations, surveys, or polls through quick and easy SMS replies.




• 3. Send Community Members Best Practices or Tips

  Share helpful tips and best practices to help your community navigate current events and challenges.(Ex: “Hi Everyone! Quick Reminder, everyone charge electronic devices before the large blizzard tonight. There is a great chance that there will be a power outage later!"




• 4. Get More Donations through Text-to-Donate Campaigns

  Run text-to-donate campaigns to make it convenient for your community to contribute to your cause, driving donations directly through SMS.




• 5. Send Out Surveys or Text-to-Vote Feedback Polls

  Gather valuable feedback by sending out surveys or text-to-vote polls, making it easy for members to participate and share their opinions.




• 6. Send Daily Affirmations, Motivational Quotes, or Inspirational Sayings

  Brighten your community members' days with daily affirmations, motivational quotes, or inspirational messages. (Ex: “You are what you think, don’t hold yourself back from soaring”)




• 7. Share Discounts, Sales, or Exclusive Deals

  Offer special discounts, sales, or deals that may come up, exclusively to your community members through SMS, creating a sense of exclusivity and appreciation.




• 8. Create a Text-Message-Based Scavenger Hunt

  Amplify engagement by organizing an SMS scavenger hunt. Send clues or riddles via SMS, leading participants to different sections of your website. Each correct answer could unlock discounts, special promotions, or exclusive content.Check out our article on event gamification for more inspiration.




• 9. Let Members Tailor Their Experience Through Custom Keywords

  Allow community members to customize their SMS experience by opting into specific types of messages using custom keywords. (Ex: Text “Chef” to subcfribe to our weekly in-house recipes from Chef D!)




• 10. Offer a VIP Experience with Sneak Peeks and Teasers

  Create a VIP experience by sharing sneak peeks, teasers, or early access to new content, events, or products to select community members.




• 11. Follow Up After Events

  Enhance engagement by sending follow-up messages after events to gather feedback, share event highlights, or announce upcoming activities.




• 12. Set Up a Game or Contest at a Live Event Using SMS

  Boost excitement and participation at live events by organizing SMS-based games or contests, encouraging real-time interaction.




• 13. Send Out Fun Quizzes to Community Members

  Engage your community with fun and interactive quizzes sent via SMS, providing a light-hearted way to connect and entertain.




• 14. Provide Informative Texts on Useful Topics

  Share how-to guides, informational content, and short content bites on topics relevant to your community’s interests and needs.




• 15. Create a Sense of Urgency with Events

  Increase participation by creating a sense of urgency around events, using SMS to send timely reminders and last-minute updates.




Utilizing these interactive SMS strategies can seriously boost engagement, strengthen connections, and create a more vibrant and active community. Evant's Text RSVP App can help you easily implement these ideas, ensuring your community stays informed, engaged, and motivated. Ready to take your SMS community engagement to the next level? Contact us at Evant to learn more and start your free trial today.