‍What is SMS Marketing? Everything You Need to Know

SMS marketing refers to the practice of sending text messages, either as campaigns or transactional messages, with the goal of achieving a marketing objective. These messages can be personalized, including the sender's name, and are primarily used to communicate offers, updates, and urgent alerts to subscribers who have opted in to receive such notifications.

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Building customer loyalty requires effort, and being proactive and present on the platforms or channels your customers use is essential. While you can't visit each of your customers in person, having their phone numbers (with their consent) allows you to send them a text message.

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Moreover, SMS provides an excellent alternative to other channels like social media, as it enables personalized messages to be delivered directly to your subscribers' mobile devices. With the increasing reliance on smartphones, SMS marketing is becoming the most direct line of contact.

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Now, let's dive deeper into SMS marketing and explore why it's considered the new email marketing.

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Why SMS Marketing Is Effective?

While email and SMS marketing have differences in their implementation, they work best when used together. SMS can serve as your most urgent communication channel, while email can be used for more extensive content. SMS messages boast higher open rates compared to email. Approximately 90% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes of receipt, making them highly effective for delivering urgent information with a high success rate. In regions where data is expensive, and Wi-Fi isn't readily available, SMS messages are a much better marketing channel for delivering information.

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SMS marketing has become one of the most valuable marketing channels for several reasons:

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The Convenience Factor

One of the primary reasons texting has gained popularity is its unparalleled convenience. Unlike email, which requires access to a computer and an internet connection, texting can be done anywhere, anytime, as long as one has a mobile device. This flexibility has made texting a preferred choice for quick and immediate communication for brands, because they can easily communicate any changes, cancellations, general information, or updates more effectively than email or other channels.

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Real-Time Communication 

Texting revolutionized communication by providing real-time interaction. Unlike email, texting allows instant back-and-forth conversations. This feedback fosters quick decision-making,for example If your business operates on appointments, then you're familiar with the frustration of clients forgetting appointments or arriving late. It's even more frustrating when they don't show up.

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This not only disrupts your schedule but also wastes your time. Perhaps you could have declined other appointments because you had that time reserved for a specific client. Sending text messages as reminders is a fantastic way to ensure that clients don't forget their appointments and show up at the right time.

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Personal Touch

Another aspect that sets texting apart from email is its informal and personal nature. With texting, individuals can use emojis, GIFs, and voice notes to convey emotions, creating a more expressive and intimate communication experience. The informal tone of texting encourages a more relaxed and engaging conversation, leading to stronger relationships and better understanding among individuals. With the ubiquity of smartphones, sending SMS messages is an excellent way to reach consumers directly. By including a link in the text, you can drive visits to your online store. 

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How SMS Marketing Works

SMS marketing messages are sent from "short codes," typically 5 to 6-digit numbers. These shortcodes can be associated with a sender or shared among various senders. Many countries don't allow modification of sender information, so it's important to include your company's name in the message.

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There are two main types of SMS messages in marketing:

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1. Promotional SMS: These are bulk messages sent via SMS, commonly used to communicate promotions, coupons, sales, or general information such as event details, updates, or weather alerts.

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2. Transactional SMS: Transactional messages are one-to-one messages triggered by specific events or behaviors. Examples include order confirmations or shipping notifications for e-commerce purchases. These messages convey relevant and timely information to individuals.

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Use Cases for SMS Marketing

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SMS marketing can be utilized in various ways to benefit your business. Here are some common scenarios where sending bulk SMS messages can help:

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1. Short-term Promotions for Retailers or E-commerce: Coupons and promotions are an excellent way to drive more traffic to your store or website. If you have a limited-time offer, you want as many people as possible to hear about it, making SMS an ideal channel, especially for on-the-go customers.

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2. Urgent Updates on Events or Customer Orders: Events and customer orders can undergo changes and updates. The more people attending an event, the harder it is to communicate necessary information to everyone. With SMS marketing, you can communicate changes, cancellations, general information, or updates more effectively than through email or other channels.

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3. Appointment Reminders: If your business relies on appointments, you're probably familiar with the frustration of customers forgetting or arriving late. Text message reminders are a fantastic way to ensure customers remember their appointments and show up on time, reducing wasted time and money.

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4. Internal Alerts: Large organizations with over 100 employees often struggle with internal communication. Mass SMS messages are an excellent way to ensure that every employee receives critical information promptly.

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Who Can Benefit from SMS Marketing?

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1. E-commerce Businesses: Whether it's sending promotional campaigns or order confirmations and shipping notifications, SMS is a powerful tool for e-commerce companies.

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2. Travel Companies: Travel companies rely on real-time information. SMS is essential for conveying flight times, gate changes, cancellations, weather alerts, etc.

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3. Service-based Businesses with Appointments: If your business depends on appointments, SMS reminders can save you time and money by reducing no-shows.

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4. Large Organizations: Internal communication is crucial for large organizations. SMS marketing ensures that all employees receive time-sensitive messages.

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Texting has undeniably transformed how we communicate, with its convenience, real-time interaction, informal nature, and multimedia integration making it the preferred choice for many. As we navigate this ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, understanding the strengths and limitations of both email and SMS marketing will empower you to communicate effectively with your customers and build stronger connections.