Let’s take a trip down memory lane now, everyone. Think back to the early 2000s when you were proudly sporting a flip phone and sharing your newest polyphonic ringtone with friends. Ah, the good old days. My friends, it’s because SMS marketing began during those sentimental times. Fast forward to the present day, when social media, video calls, and a vast array of apps are commonplace. But what’s this? It’s time we gave SMS marketing the attention it deserves because it’s still very much alive and well.
We’ll take you on a tour of the SMS marketing industry in this article.
What is SMS Marketing?
You’re already familiar with SMS if you’ve ever kept an eye on those three grey dots while impatiently waiting for a reply in the messaging app window. SMS, or short message service, is an acronym. Technically speaking, an SMS is a text-only message with a character limit of 160 (as opposed to longer or media-rich messages), but most people today refer to all text messages as SMSs.
SMS gateway is a tactic used by businesses to interact with customers and increase sales through text messages. Companies can share promotions, convey urgent information, remind customers, advertise new products, solicit feedback, and more using SMS marketing.
SMS is a simple marketing channel with a high potential return on investment. However, it’s more crucial that clients.
You’re already familiar with SMS if you’ve ever kept an eye on those three grey dots while impatiently waiting for a reply in the messaging app window. SMS, or short message service, is an acronym. Technically speaking, an SMS is a text-only message with a character limit of 160 (as opposed to longer or media-rich messages), but most people today refer to all text messages as SMSs.
SMS marketing is a tactic used by businesses to interact with customers and increase sales through text messages. Companies can share promotions, convey urgent information, remind customers, advertise new products, solicit feedback, and more using SMS marketing. SMS is a simple marketing channel with a high potential return on investment. However, it’s more crucial that clients love it.
Advantages of SMS Marketing
SMS marketing has advantages and disadvantages, just like other digital marketing channels. Here are some advantages of SMS marketing supported by data:
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High Open Rate
With more than 85% of US adults having a smartphone in 2021, SMS is a useful tool for instantly getting in touch with clients. While general SMS messages have a 98% open rate, SMS marketing has an average open rate of 82%. It’s interesting to note that SMS messages with URLs typically have a 36% click-through rate (CTR), as customers use SMS to take action.
83% of millennials open texts within 90 seconds of receiving them. The quickest, most dependable way to deliver an urgent message or promotion is via text message.
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Versatile
Big things do, as they say, come in small packages. SMS marketing provides countless options in a small, 160-character package.
Just a few applications for businesses include the following:
- Welcoming brand-new clients
- Remind clients of upcoming bills and provide a simple means of payment.
- Schedule, confirm, and change appointments.
- Conduct flash sales
- Give VIP clients special discounts
- Send shipping updates and order confirmations
- Support for technology
- Distribute customer satisfaction polls
The possibilities for engaging customers through text message app marketing are limitless once you start thinking of ideas.
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Write Clear Messages
You have 160 characters to make a point; use them wisely. If you can, complete it faster. Make sure the writing is simple English and the message is clear and concise. Do not use emoticons, acronyms, or all caps.
Use closed messages only. A message that invites customers to a sale but doesn’t specify when it will end is an illustration of an open-ended message. Whether it is for a day or a month is unknown to the client. Customers are more likely to take action if you specify a deadline for a sale or include an expiration date on a coupon because you’ve provided them with sufficient information and motivation.
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People view text messages as valuable.
SMS increases trust because customers want real-time order updates. Unlike emails, SMS is delivered immediately and alerts the recipient. These days, customers expect notifications from businesses to be brief, important, and relevant. Many customers receive promotional emails, but they never open them. Some people turn off email notifications. However, they constantly get and read SMS messages.
Customers value updates and reminders more than any other type of SMS message, with discounts coming in third.
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Budget Friendly
SMS marketing campaigns that are cost-effective are less expensive than conventional marketing and advertising methods. However, they have the potential to generate a much higher return on investment because of how flexible and adaptable they are.
Furthermore, compared to something like a TV or streaming ad, where it’s impossible to determine precisely what actions customers took after viewing the ad, you’ll have a much more nuanced understanding of each campaign’s performance thanks to the data you can gather from SMS marketing.
What types of businesses can benefit from SMS marketing?
SMS marketing has proven to be a useful tool for many different types of businesses, appealing to a variety of clientele and serving a variety of industry sectors. Businesses that depend on time-sensitive messaging and personalization, like those in the retail, food service, and travel sectors, stand to gain the most from it.
Retail businesses can, for example, send promotional offers, product alerts, or store-specific information directly to customers’ mobile devices, ensuring that the information is delivered quickly and catches the consumer’s attention at the appropriate time.
Additionally, restaurants and other food-related businesses can gain a lot from SMS marketing because customised promotions based on client preferences and dietary requirements can increase client loyalty and boost business.
Businesses in the travel and tourism sectors can improve customer satisfaction by using SMS marketing to inform customers of upcoming reservations or changes to travel schedules.
Additionally, businesses in appointment-based and service-oriented industries, like healthcare, finance, and beauty, can change the game by utilising SMS marketing. To decrease the number of missed appointments and increase patient engagement, healthcare providers can use SMS to send notices of prescription refills and appointment reminders.
The platform enables financial institutions to promptly notify customers of account activity, payment due dates, and fraud alerts, keeping them informed and safe. By sending out personalised text reminders and offering last-minute openings, salons, spas, and other providers of beauty services can increase customer retention.
Final Words
You can use SMS marketing to build meaningful connections and produce measurable results for your company by keeping these insights in mind and adopting a customer-centric strategy.
Therefore, dive right into the world of text messaging. Always strive to produce more engaging and pertinent experiences for your audience by experimenting, learning, and iterating. And keep in mind that, occasionally, a straightforward text message can make all the difference in a world of constant noise and distractions.
Best wishes and happy texting!