Why You Still Need SMS Marketing & How to Get Started [+Data]
By Amy Chamness
The average person spends five to six hours on their phones, while the average smartphone user unlocks their device around 150 times.
What the heck are we doing with our devices all day? Well, when we’re not endlessly scrolling the web or social media, we’re probably texting.
In 2023, 15 million texts are sent per minute while nearly 70% of people open up a new text message within five minutes of receiving it. With endless stats like this in mind, businesses are presented numerous opportunities and touchpoints to engage their target market through SMS.
What is SMS marketing?
SMS, an acronym for “Short Message Service,” is a communication channel used to send and receive text messages on mobile devices. It allows users to send brief messages, typically 160 characters, to individuals or groups instantly. Text messaging has gained immense popularity due to its simplicity, convenience, and widespread availability across different devices and networks.
On the other hand, MMS, or “Multimedia Message Service”, goes beyond simple text and allows users to send multimedia content such as pictures, videos, audio files, and even formatted text.
SMS marketing allows businesses to connect with their target audience through personalized and timely text messages. It leverages the widespread use of mobile phones and the convenience of SMS to deliver promotional offers, updates, reminders, and other engaging content directly into the palm of the recipients’ hands.
Integrating SMS marketing alongside email and social media allows businesses to strike the right balance when it comes to timing and frequency of their messages.
2023 SMS Marketing Usage Data & Results
Based on the compelling trends from 2023, SMS marketing plays a crucial role for businesses in 2024.
With 86% of business owners and marketing managers having embraced SMS marketing in the past year, it’s clear that it’s become an integral part of marketing strategies. What’s more, 71% of those who used SMS marketing reported an increase in their 2023 SMS opt-in rates in 2023, highlighting its effectiveness in engaging and capturing the attention of audiences across many industries.
Think people are bothered by SMS from brands? Think again. Today, the unsubscribe rate for SMS subscribers is less than 5%, demonstrating the high level of engagement and satisfaction. This is in stark contrast to email marketing, where approximately 20% of subscribers leave each year.
Additionally, incorporating an SMS follow-up to an email has shown to increase open rates by 20-30%, proving the effectiveness of a multi-channel approach. Lastly, SMS advertising also boasts an exceptional return on investment (ROI) of approximately $71 for every dollar spent, exceeding the estimated ROI of email marketing, which stands at around $36 per dollar invested.
AI’s impact on SMS Marketing
Gone are the days of spending hours crafting the perfect SMS message. With AI-powered tools at your disposal, you can now quickly generate personalized and impactful messages that will wow your audience.
Harnessing the capabilities …read more
Source:: HubSpot Blog
