Proof SMS Messaging Gets Results: Increase Sales

One of the most consistent results I see with SMS messaging is an increase in sales. Retailers can use different methods in the messages – coupons or limited time sales for example – but the result is almost always a bump in sales (assuming the campaign is done well, following best practices).
In this entry of the Results Series, I’ll share examples of just how big, and fast, those bumps can be.
By the Numbers
The sales numbers I list below come from businesses across the UK, US and Canada. It doesn’t seem to matter what country it’s used in, SMS gets great results.
Here are some of the best sales results published to date:
- A specialty home improvement store had a 32% increase in sales within one day of sending its first campaign.
- A pizza restaurant saw a 33% increase in sales in three weeks.
- A beauty salon and spa had $196,000 in sales in 30 days from one SMS campaign.
- Sales turnover increased between 30-50% for a travel agency after ditching PPC and email for SMS marketing.
It’s hard to argue with sales numbers like these. But not every company is ready to dive in all at once. An international cosmetics company launched a pilot program to test the effectiveness of SMS marketing with their customers. The pilot ran for six months. They found that by the end of the test period, 73% of their SMS list had made an in-store purchase based on their SMS campaigns. Wow!
In the case of the pizza restaurant listed above, they found that the people who acted on the initial mobile offer ended up spending 500% more than regular customers who were not on the SMS list. That is an incredible comparison.
Sales Led to Amazing ROI
The good news doesn’t end for that pizza company either. That same campaign ended up making them 4,200% ROI. That’s not an error. I really mean forty-two hundred percent! That sort of number is possible because SMS messaging is one of the most affordable channels.
It costs just a few pence per message. So it doesn’t take too many customers acting on a promotion to break even with such a low cost. That makes it easy to see how the sales increases can result in unbelievably high ROI numbers.
Alternative Marketing
Did you notice that the travel agency above achieved their increase in sales by going all in with SMS messaging? This particular company decided that their results were so good with SMS that they no longer needed to invest as much in PPC campaigns or email marketing. In just 12 months they completely changed how they interacted with their customers.
In fact, their SMS campaigns get them about 100 well-qualified leads per week for their travel offers. Using it has completely changed their business and led to growth opportunities. If you want to see how SMS helps businesses grow and with customer service, come back for the rest of The Results Series. Or, if you missed out on the other posts in the series, you can start at the beginning with Free Account.
Related Articles
SMS Marketing for Artisan Food Producers
The Lawn People growing through SMS marketing
How are companies sending all those SMS messages illegally?
A recruiter’s guide to SMS messaging
SMS Services : Myths and Misconceptions
What is stopping YOU from using SMS technology in your organisation? Here are some of the lingering myths and misconceptions about using business SMS systems for marketing, or stakeholder engagement, that may be holding you back from benefiting from one of the most effective group communication tools available.
SMS Marketing Disasters – and How to Avoid Them
SMS Marketing, also known as test message marketing, is one of today's most powerful and cost efficient marketing tools when used correctly and offers endless opportunities with a little creativity added to the mix. However, whether careless or intentional, some mistakes can be harmful to your brand and reputation - as well as leaving you in legal trouble in certain circumstances. Luckily, this is extremely rare and it is easy to stay safe and make sure your SMS Marketing is an all round success. In this article, we look at come examples of how not to do things and offer our advice for ensuring your campaigns are effective and profitable.
3 Reasons SMS Messaging is Good For The Environment
Many organisations are looking to operate in a more environmentally friendly way. This includes everything from their office supplies, materials used in creating their products, and also choosing suppliers and vendors that are also environmentally aware. And now, SMS.
SMS Remarketing: What It’s All About
You’ve seen or heard about remarketing online. But did you know you can use SMS to remarket to visitors who abandon their cart in your ecommerce store? According to one study, using it can double your conversion rates. Check out the blog to see the details.
SMS will Change the Way You Communicate in 2017
It seems that reports of the death of SMS have been greatly exaggerated. When once the text message seemed dead in the water thanks to the rise of the app, the SMS business is set to grow to $71.60 billion by 2021 whilst smartphone users are downloading fewer and fewer apps, and the life expectancy of an app on the average smartphone is now around 72 minutes.