SMS marketing is a somewhat hidden gem amongst the advertising world. It sounds fancy, perhaps even mysterious.

It’s not mysterious at all, however. It’s a vital part of getting your business’s name out there in the mobile-focused world we live in. In fact, most people use SMS every single day.

SMS (or Short Message Service) is just another word for texting. And texting is just as important to marketing as social media or brochures. The benefits of SMS marketing makes it a great choice for any kind of business looking to reach more of its customers.

Listed below are just 10 of the ways using texting in your marketing strategy can strengthen your business.

Key Takeaways:

  • Unmatched Open Rates: With SMS open rates at 98%, your message is almost guaranteed to reach your audience.
  • Cost-Efficiency: SMS marketing is affordable and accessible, perfect for startups or businesses on a budget.
  • Wide Demographic Reach: SMS reaches a diverse audience, making it an inclusive option for businesses targeting various customer groups.
  • Real-Time Delivery: Messages are delivered instantly, ensuring timely communication with customers.
  • Boosts Customer Engagement: SMS allows two-way communication, strengthening customer loyalty and interaction with your brand.
  • Opt-In/Opt-Out Flexibility: Letting customers choose their engagement level increases trust and overall satisfaction.

What Are The Benefits of SMS Marketing?

You’ll want to work with an SMS marketing firm to conduct the best strategies. Consider these benefits:

Higher Open Rate Than Emails

One of the biggest benefits of SMS marketing is the fact that texts are opened up to 98% of the time when received by your customers. This gives SMS an open rate higher than all other advertising options.

It’s easy for emails to get lost in a spam folder and it’s simple for a customer to throw away a flier they pick up at the mall. But with the prevalence of mobile phones and the popularity of texting, text marketing doesn’t go ignored.

More often then not, your customers will open that text and read its contents.

If you want to find a way to reach your customers more consistently, give SMSing a try.

Cost Effective

It doesn’t cost much at all to send a text to a customer. Even when sending to a lot of people, the cost is not a problem. It’s generally much more affordable when you compare it to other marketing options, such as buying a Facebook ad spot.

This makes SMS marketing a great choice for all businesses.

Especially for businesses that are just starting out and are looking for a way to start advertising without spending too much money in one go.

Mobile-Friendly

Being able to present your business as mobile-friendly is incredibly important these days. More and more people are using their mobile devices to do things like shopping and browsing. You don’t want to lose out on that kind of exposure.

SMS marketing is a big part of making your business mobile-friendly and can be a strong asset to your mobile marketing strategy.

Reach a Wide Demographic

Because so many people have cell phones and other mobile devices these days, your customer demographic can widen through the benefits of SMS marketing. Instead of focusing on just one marketing strategy that might only reach one section of your demographic, SMS marketing reaches everyone.

As long as they have a mobile device that can receive texts, they get to enjoy the messages you’re sending them. Plus, with more exposure to your customers, the more you become a part of their world.

With that kind of hold comes more purchases of your product or services.

Works With Other Types of Marketing

SMS marketing doesn’t have to simply be a part of advertising all on its own. You can use it alongside all of the other ways you are marketing your business. It can be a quick and easy way for customers to connect to your message.

Use it to get more customers interested in your social media. Maybe offer a discount for anyone wanting to buy through your online website. Want to promote a new product?

Send out an SMS for that.

Fast Delivery

There’s virtually no wait time when it comes to SMSing. Once you press the send button, you can be certain that your customers will receive your message straight away.

The benefits of SMS marketing really shine here because this kind of advertising requires little prep time. There are no materials to gather or printings to wait for. There are no designs to complete or people to contact.

The only thing you need to do is come up with your message and send it away to your customers. And, because we already know that texts are far more likely opened than emails, you can be certain your customers will see your important news as quickly as possible.

Strengthens Customer Engagement

SMSing doesn’t just give you the option to engage with your customers more. It can also give your customers a way to engage with you.

It lets them feel that your business is more accessible. It makes your business become more a part of their lives instead of being just “that one store I go to sometimes”. Instead, you’re there with them on their mobile phone, prompting them to remember you.

Customers Can Opt-In

It’s a good practice to offer your customers a choice. Sending out mass text messages to share the latest updates about your business is a great idea. Allow your customers to choose if they want to opt-in, as this will make them feel more at ease with your business overall.

Plus, seeing how many customers opt-in to those updates can give you information that you can then use for later marketing strategies.

Customers Can Also Opt-Out

Giving customers the option to decline these messages, however, is perhaps even more important. If you keep sending out your texts, wanting to get an uninterested customer engaged, you could end up losing that customer altogether.

It’s better to give them that option to opt-out of these mobile messages instead of driving them away. They may opt-out, but there are other marketing strategies that you can use for those types of customers instead.

Flexible and Customizable

When it comes benefits of SMS marketing, one of the best is the fact that it is so versatile. You can mix and match text messages to fit with different things to help promote your business.

You can announce a sale, give a temporary discount, reward loyal customers, promote a new product, share news, and more, all from SMS.

It’s a great tool to have for any business, both big and small.

Choosing the Right SMS Marketing Platform

Selecting the best SMS marketing platform for your business is essential to maximize the impact of your SMS campaigns. Here are some key factors to consider:

  • Ease of Use: The platform should be user-friendly, allowing you to easily create, schedule, and send messages without a steep learning curve.
  • Audience Segmentation: Look for a platform that lets you segment your audience based on demographics, behavior, or purchase history. This enables personalized messaging, leading to better engagement and conversions.
  • Automation Capabilities: Automation tools allow you to set up campaigns that trigger based on customer actions or scheduled times, such as reminders, welcome messages, or abandoned cart follow-ups.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Choose a platform that provides real-time data on metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and response rates, helping you track your campaign’s performance.
  • Integration with Other Tools: An ideal SMS platform integrates seamlessly with your CRM, email marketing, or e-commerce platforms, ensuring a cohesive experience across all customer touchpoints.
  • Compliance Features: To protect customer privacy and ensure legal compliance, your SMS platform should include opt-in/opt-out features and follow all regulations around SMS marketing.

Some popular SMS marketing platforms to consider include Twilio, EZ Texting, and SMSBump. These platforms provide robust features and are widely trusted by businesses across industries.

Analyzing SMS Campaign Performance

To make the most of your SMS marketing efforts, regularly analyzing your campaign performance is critical. Here are the top metrics to monitor:

  • Open Rate: Since SMS has one of the highest open rates in marketing, this metric helps gauge if your messages are catching your audience’s attention.
  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): CTR indicates how many people clicked on a link in your message. A high CTR suggests your content is relevant and compelling.
  • Conversion Rate: Track the percentage of recipients who took the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a service, or visiting your website.
  • Response Rate: This metric is particularly useful if your SMS campaign involves a direct call-to-action, such as asking recipients to reply with feedback or a keyword.
  • Opt-Out Rate: Monitor the number of people unsubscribing from your SMS list. High opt-out rates could signal that your content isn’t resonating or you’re sending messages too frequently.
  • ROI: Calculate the return on investment by comparing the revenue generated from the campaign to the cost of running it. This provides a clear picture of your campaign’s effectiveness.

Regularly analyzing these metrics allows you to identify successful strategies and adjust any areas needing improvement, ultimately maximizing the impact of your SMS marketing campaigns.

SMS Marketing for Customer Retention

SMS marketing is a powerful tool for keeping your existing customers engaged and loyal. Here’s how to leverage SMS for customer retention:

  • Personalized Offers: Send exclusive discounts, special offers, or early access deals to your loyal customers. This makes them feel valued and encourages repeat purchases.
  • Timely Updates: Keep your customers in the loop with SMS notifications about order updates, restocks, or new product launches, providing a seamless customer experience.
  • Loyalty Programs: Use SMS to share points updates or rewards as part of a loyalty program. Regularly reminding customers of their benefits strengthens brand loyalty.
  • Surveys and Feedback Requests: Request feedback or reviews via SMS after a purchase or service interaction. Not only does this make customers feel heard, but it also provides valuable insights into improving your service.
  • Birthday and Anniversary Messages: A simple personalized greeting for a special occasion can go a long way. Combine it with a discount or small reward to make the gesture even more impactful.

Experience the Many Benefits of SMS Marketing Today

You can see how beneficial texting can be for your business. While it may not be as popular as social media, it does deliver results. SMS marketing offers many advantages and is low-cost, so there’s no reason not to give it a shot.

Especially when the benefits of SMS marketing give your business that extra edge it needs to stand above all of the competitors.