9 Reasons SMS Marketing is Far From Finished
If you have not yet tried SMS marketing, you may have been put off by rumours that the golden age of the text message is over. Many sceptics of SMS messaging have argued that this is an inevitable effect of the ever-increasing popularity of mobile internet and instant communication apps. There is, however, plenty of evidence to suggest that text messaging still has plenty of life left in it. Here are nine reasons why SMS Marketing still has a lot to offer:
#1 Massive Reach
According to the most recent research by Ofcom, 93% of the UK’s adult population personally own or use a mobile phone. The figure for smartphones, in comparison, is considerably lower at 73%. In a nutshell, no other communication channel to date has been able to offer businesses the same potential for reach.
#2 An Active Channel
In the same report, Ofcom reported that the average number of text messages sent per handset per month was 107. Whilst this marks a slight fall from previous years, it is still equivalent to over three messages daily – and any one of them could potentially be a lead or a sale for your business.
#3 Incredible Open Rates
As a business you almost certainly use email marketing, so here’s the big question – what’s your average opening rate? The average is generally reported to be in the region of 22% for small and medium-sized enterprises. The estimated SMS opening rate, on the other hand, is an incredible 98%.
#4 The 3 Minute Rule
If fact #3 wasn’t enough to convince you that your business really needs to be embracing SMS marketing, try this fact for size: 95% of SMS marketing messages are opened within 3 minutes of being received. We challenge you to find any form of marketing that can offer that kind of attention.
#5 A Bird in the Hand...
One of the unique features and key attractions of the SMS is that it places the message right into the hand of your customer, wherever they happen to be and whatever they happen to be doing. Used with care and respect, this gives them an incredibly powerful edge and can be hugely incentivising if the three R’s of marketing are adhered to – that is, the right offer made to the right person at the right time.
#6 It's Personal
One of the beauties of SMS marketing is that customers must expressly consent to receive SMS communications from your brand, related specifically to your offer. In agreeing to participate, the customer has already confirmed an interest in what you have to offer, whether that is now or in the future. Once you have that buy in, careful use of the SMS marketing cycle (before transaction, at the time of transaction and post-transaction) can help to turn leads into sales and turn first-time customers into repeat customers – improving both turnover and customer loyalty.
For more information about how businesses in your sector are taking advantage of SMS marketing, check out our use cases available here.
#7 Low Costs
SMS marketing remains one of the lowest cost forms of marketing currently available. Combined with some of the statistics previously mentioned, this means that it offers substantial potential for ROI. With Fastsms, cost per message is 2.1 – 3.5 pence – making us the lowest priced provider in the UK market*.
If you’ve not used SMS marketing before, you can sign up for an account in under a minute and receive 100 free messages to experiment with. For complete peace of mind, the no-obligation trial does not require any credit card details or subscription.
#8 It's Simple
SMS marketing is one of the simplest strategies to implement. With so many options available from Fastsms including our versatile cloud-based platform, email to SMS and direct messaging from Outlook, small businesses can choose exactly how they want to send and receive SMS messages. In addition, we offer a robust API solution for integration directly into your existing applications, complete with free documentation and access to developer support via live chat.
The Fastsms API uses well-known protocols and is tried and tested on a number of industry standard CRM systems including SalesForce, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and many more – chat to us now to find out more.
#9 Untapped Potential
Despite all the evidence in favour of SMS marketing, many businesses have simply not taken notice of this golden opportunity – largely because of their attention being drawn to louder voices in the traditional and internet marketing sphere. The trouble with these is that it is ever harder to make your voice heard in such a noisy, crowded space. With as few as 14% of businesses using SMS for real-time marketing, you really could use it to stand out from the crowd and get the leading edge in your sector.
If you haven’t tried SMS marketing for your business yet and would like to know more about how Fastsms can help you succeed, call us on 0800 954 5305 and talk to a knowledgeable human now – you’ll soon see why we have the highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry.
*based on a comparison of per-credit prices with competitors using tier-1 delivery routes.
Related Articles
6 Top Tips for Successful SMS Marketing
SMS marketing has come a long way since its introduction to mainstream marketing back in the early 2000’s. As well as dramatic changes in technology, there have also been sweeping changes to the laws governing this powerful and popular form of marketing. With its low cost, high ROI and tremendous versatility, it can now benefit almost every sector. But all this aside, the fundamental rules for successful campaigns remain largely unchanged. So just what are the big do’s and dont’s of SMS marketing? Read this article for six top tips from our team that will help you unlock the key to SMS success
How SMS Can Help Your Local Business Optimise Your Local Campaign
One of the great advantages of SMS: it's completely trackable so you know exactly how your campaigns are engaging your opted in customers and clients. And if you’re a small business, operating in a specific geographical location, then that local knowledge can be invaluable in targeting your campaigns to a local audience.
Proof SMS Messaging Gets Results: Business Growth
Can something as simple as adding SMS messaging propel your business to higher levels than you thought possible? That’s what happened to these two companies. Read the last blog in the Results series to see what happened, and how you can start growing your business too.
What Not to Do When the ICO Comes Calling
The regulations about SMS marketing are quite clear. But sometimes people, and companies, can make mistakes. Find out what happened to a company that reacted poorly to the ICO’s request for information, and how it made their situation so much worse.
7 Ways Business Coaches are Using SMS Marketing
The digital age has seen a rise in demand for business coaches to aid you in every aspect of your entrepreneurial efforts. From money mindset to technological solutions, earning passive income and attracting high-paying clients, these days there's a coach for everything. But running a coaching business isn't as simple as the hype would suggest. SMS marketing is the perfect way of supercharging your promotion of your coaching business, here's how.
How SMS Can Enhance Your Customer’s E-commerce Experience
When handled correctly, SMS can be a dream partner for e-commerce and has a well-deserved place in your customer service suite. Once you have the all-important opt-in for SMS marketing compliance, you can begin to use SMS as a way to differentiate your e-commerce offer to make your customers' purchasing experience particularly pleasurable.
5 Tips to Stay Ahead for Your Bank Holiday SMS Marketing
SMS Marketing Best Practice: Do’s and Don’ts
Whilst social media has gained the attention of many small businesses as a marketing technique, SMS marketing has become a highly beneficial way of keeping your customers and clients close and building solid working relationships. According to research, 90% of text messages are read within three minutes, meaning SMS marketing shouldn't be overlooked when it comes to your advertising and customer service strategies. SMS marketing may be an ideal tactic for your business marketing, so here's a list of what to do and what not to do to ensure you're making the most of your campaign.
The Ultimate Guide to SMS Marketing for Small Businesses
SMS marketing or short messaging service marketing is swiftly gaining popularity all over the world. Using text messages for business purposes is convenient and quick. It's also extremely cost-effective when compared to other methods of communication. When used correctly, an SMS marketing campaign can do wonders for your business reputation, not to mention your profits.
7 Tips for a Successful SMS Marketing Campaign
SMS marketing is still one of the most effective marketing channels available to businesses but is often overlooked in the pursuit of newer, more digitised technologies. When you include SMS marketing as part of the marketing mix, you're in a far greater position to increase engagement with your campaign, helping you generate a greater return on your investment. As with all channels, there are certain ways you can ensure your campaign is more effective, by following these simple steps.