3 More Reasons to Use SMS Marketing This Year

Are you still holding out on using SMS marketing for your business?
If so, the “usual” statistics that get thrown around obviously aren’t going to help you decide to start now. But what about something that will convince you of the value of it? Especially the long-term value it has for you and your customers? Sound interesting?
There are three excellent reasons to use SMS marketing that go deeper than just open, read or click through rates. Together they paint a picture of why SMS is a critical part of any mobile marketing plan. Let’s look at them one by one.
1. People Prefer SMS
Multiple surveys show the number of people who prefer SMS for brand communications is growing every year. Because people prefer it, it is quickly becoming a crucial part of any brand’s efforts to enhance the customer journey.
SMS supports communication at various stages of a purchase, including order and shipping confirmations, status updates, and account enquiries. That allows brands to maintain a connection that is seen as reliable, convenient and consistent (if done correctly) by the customer. That fosters good feelings towards the brand.
And it offers the opportunity for businesses to keep track of that customer in a way not possible with apps. Too much reliance on app-related marketing can actually make it difficult to maintain a connection with a single customer. Today a customer may be on WhatsApp, then SnapChat, then the next popular thing, then back to Facebook Messenger. Which leads to the next reason to use SMS.
2. SMS Provides Stability
It’s hard to effectively use mobile marketing when your user base is unstable. But that’s exactly what happens when you try and leverage the latest popular app, and then the next and the next (because no one stays on the top for too long).
The truth is people stop using apps, or even delete them, on a regular basis. For the “average” app, one estimate is that 77% of people stop using it within three days. That statistic is probably too aggressive when talking about a new popular app that takes hold, but still most of them eventually decline.
This is where SMS marketing shines. Most people keep their mobile number for years. Even when they switch phones or carriers they take their number with them. So, once they are on your list, you have a direct connection to them for as long as they choose (until they opt out).
The relationship you build with them using SMS stays with both of you. You don’t have to bother trying to get them to connect with you again on a different platform, you just keep sending SMS messages.
3. SMS Saves You Time and Effort
Marketing can be exhausting. I think that’s particularly true in mobile marketing. Trying to keep up with the latest social networking or instant messaging apps is time-consuming. And often it’s hard to know whether or not your effort and money is being spent wisely.
New platforms require new training, new processes, and lead time. When you use SMS marketing though, you know what it is. You may vary the content, timing, or list management but the channel itself isn’t going to change – at least not quickly.
It is also easy to measure your success and calculate ROI with SMS. And with SMS you have low, fixed costs per message sent.
Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t try out marketing in new platforms and apps. There is no one-size-fits-all in mobile marketing. But when you include SMS in your mix of channels, it can be the foundation you use for “guaranteed” ROI while you experiment with other options.
Related Articles
Why you want to keep your SMS marketing database clean
The Truth About SMS Opt Out Rates
You’ve read all about getting subscribers, the legal and recommended guidelines, and put great offers out to your list. But people still unsubscribe. Should you be worried? Are you doing something wrong? That depends. As the saying goes, you can’t make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. You will have opt-outs, but whether you have too many is the question you should be asking.
SMS Mаrkеtіng for Wеb Dеѕіgn and Digital Marketing Agеnсіеѕ
Copywriting Principles for SMS Marketing
In a recent post I covered how to create urgency in your SMS marketing messages. It didn't feel right to leave out a few other key components - the U companions. In copywriting circles they are often called the 4-Us. They are: Urgent, Useful, Unique, and Ultra-specific. So to make sure I don't leave anything out, here I'll show you how to use the others in your SMS messaging.
Increase Conversion in Your SMS Marketing by Doing This One Thing
Good copywriting is something marketers understand. But it's easy to forget the basic principles when running SMS marketing campaigns. You only have 160 characters after all (or 453 characters if you're using fastsms). While there are many elements to successful copywriting, there's one element that is often either overlooked or over-used. What is it? Urgency.
Do Your SMS Marketing Messages Sound Spammy?
If you aren’t seeing a positive response from your SMS marketing then your list may be thinking of it as spam and just ignoring it like they do much of their email. So take your latest marketing messages and examine them again with these four questions in mind.
One Great SMS Marketing Opt In Campaign Example
In a previous blog post I shared how getting my movie tickets delivered to me via SMS made going to the cinema with my family easier than it’s ever been. I signed up to the company’s SMS marketing list too and I want to share the process with you because it was so easy, so seamless for me as a consumer, that it makes a great example for others to follow.
5 Amazing SMS Statistics from Salesforce
Every year Salesforce releases its State of Marketing report. It offers insight into how marketers use and see the various tools and channels available today. In the 2016 report, much of the content focused on social and email, but also included a good deal of information on mobile marketing too.
Five Things Every Marketer Needs to Know About SMS
There's no better time to take a closer look at SMS marketing - could it fit your marketing strategy? What should be at the forefront of your mind when you look at whether SMS could fit with your business? Here we've highlighted five things you should know before getting started.
3 Tips on Making SMS Messaging an Integrated Part of Your Marketing
One of the key takeaways from the Salesforce 2015 State of Marketing Report was that when mobile is integrated into your marketing strategy, everything performed better. That makes sense when you think about it. Mobile is a unique channel that provides you a direct link to your customers.