SMS text message marketing is a powerful tool in your digital marketing toolkit with many benefits, but it can feel a little intimidating for small businesses to dive into.
SMS, otherwise known as Short Message Service, is really just texting. And more than 560 billion texts are sent every month worldwide, and about 81 percent of Americans text regularly. In fact, Americans text twice as much as they call, on average.
Simply put, text message marketing is a type of digital marketing that communicates promotions, sales, coupons, confirmations, news and other updates to your potential and existing customers (who’ve opted in) through text messages on their mobile devices.
If you’re on the fence about incorporating text messaging into your digital marketing efforts, the following are seven text message marketing benefits.
Strong open rate
SMS text messages boast about a 98 percent open rate, which is higher than most other marketing channels, including email.
It’s simply a very direct form of communication that is hard to ignore, while emails can get overlooked or not seen at all (if lost in a spam folder).
So, by using text messages, you’re more likely to reach your potential and existing customers with your marketing messages.
High conversion rate
Another text message marketing benefit: Text messages enjoy a relatively high conversion rate, which means that mobile users respond to calls-to-action in texts more than any other marketing channel.
In fact, the average conversion rate for brands using SMS text message marketing is about 45 percent, while the average email conversion rate is about 15 percent.
Because texts are short with few links and images, the call-to-action is clear and concise (and more effective).
Cost-effective method
While texting is not free, it is relatively cost-effective when compared to some other marketing channels (such as Facebook ads).
And, unlike other marketing, text message marketing is conversational and 2-way. This enables you to create engaging conversations with your customers for generally less.
DailyStory offers the ability to use SMS text message marketing and can break down the cost for you at a level that serves your small business best.
But just considering the return on investment alone, text messaging is a cost-effective digital marketing tool.
Mobile-friendly option
As small businesses aim to be more mobile-friendly for consumers who are using their mobile devices more and more, texting is a great show of mobile-friendliness.
According to Statista, mobile devices (excluding tablets) generated 51.53 percent of global website traffic as of 2020, consistently hovering around the 50 percent mark since the beginning of 2017.
And mobile internet usage is only growing. Gone are the days when we can assume that most website visitors are viewing your website on a full browser.
Mobile optimization is about making sure that visitors who access your website through mobile devices have an outstanding experience that’s customized to their device. The most successful mobile optimization should feel seamless for the mobile user. And that’s where text messages enter.
Check out our six reasons why mobile optimization matters, as well as 14 expert tips to improve your mobile marketing specifically.
Complements other types of marketing
SMS text message marketing doesn’t have to stand alone. It’s a tool that can actually be paired up with all the other ways you market your business.
Some ideas include:
- Generating interest in your social media channels
- Offering a quick discount for anyone who buys through your website for a limited time
- Following up on a promotional email that was sent out (with different messaging based on whether they’ve opened that email or not)
Consider the digital marketing campaigns that you’re already doing. Where can SMS fit into those? And how can it make those campaigns more successful?
Check out these eight surprising ways you can use text message marketing.
Strengthening customer engagement
Text message marketing isn’t just a broadcasting medium. Similar to social media, it gives an opportunity for consumers to engage with you. This is another text message marketing benefit.
This makes your business more accessible for them, which can help it become more of a part of their lives as you continue to build stronger relationships.
To better prompt that engagement, check out our eight tips to write an effective marketing text message.
Flexible and customizable
Another text message marketing benefit: Text messages are extremely versatile. Depending on how you segment your audience and what goals you have for different groups of contacts in your database, you can easily send different messages to different consumers.
It could be a “miss you” message to customers who haven’t purchased from you in a while, a “don’t forget” message to those who’ve abandoned their shopping cart on your website and/or an exclusive discount offer. The sky’s the limit.
In addition, you can personalize these text messages with something as simple as the recipient’s first name. That alone can make your messaging that much more impactful.
Learn more about personalization, as well as our eight benefits of personalization in your digital marketing.
In conclusion
When incorporating SMS text message marketing into your larger digital marketing strategy, take a moment to consider your overall goals and where text messages can support those goals.
If you’ve never texted on behalf of your brand before, check out our six things to know before starting your first texting campaign.
While you’re getting started on text message marketing, think about your digital marketing process. Is it everything you want it to be? DailyStory features automation, audience segmentation and more that can boost your email and text message marketing. Schedule your free demo with us today.