5 reasons why you should use SMS marketing in your business

1. High Open and Read Rates: SMS marketing has an incredibly high open and read rate, with over 90% of text messages being opened and read within minutes of receipt. This means that businesses can be confident that their message will be seen and acted upon.

SMS open rate statistics
  • According to a report by MobileSquared, SMS messages have an open rate of 98%, with 90% of those messages being read within the first three minutes of receipt.
  • Another study by SMS Comparison found that SMS messages have an open rate of 99%, with 90% of those messages being read within the first 3 seconds of receipt.
  • A report by EZ Texting found that SMS messages have an open rate of 82%, which is higher than email marketing, which has an average open rate of 24%.
  • According to a study by Dynmark, SMS messages have an average response rate of 45%, compared to email marketing, which has an average response rate of just 6%.

These statistics demonstrate that SMS marketing has a very high open rate and is an effective way for businesses to reach their customers.

2. Immediate Response: SMS marketing allows businesses to engage with their customers in real-time, leading to immediate responses. This can help drive sales, encourage sign-ups, or promote events, all with a simple text message.

SMS response rate statistics
  • According to a study by EZ Texting, 85% of SMS messages are read within 15 minutes of receipt, which means that businesses can expect to receive immediate responses to their text messages.
  • A report by Gartner found that SMS has a response rate that is 7.5 times higher than email marketing, with 90% of all SMS messages being read within 3 minutes of receipt.
  • In a study by Dynmark, SMS messages were found to have an average response time of just 90 seconds, compared to email, which has an average response time of 90 minutes.

These statistics demonstrate that SMS marketing is an effective way for businesses to receive immediate responses from their customers. With high read rates and quick response times, SMS can help businesses drive sales, promote events, or encourage sign-ups in real-time.

3. Cost-Effective: SMS marketing is an affordable way to reach customers, with minimal costs associated with creating and sending text messages. This makes it an attractive option for small businesses or those with limited marketing budgets.

SMS pricing examples
  • According to a report by Gartner, SMS marketing is one of the most cost-effective marketing channels available, with a cost per message that is typically lower than other channels such as email or social media.
  • Many SMS marketing providers offer pricing plans that are based on the number of messages sent, with prices ranging from a few cents per message for bulk SMS campaigns to a few dollars per message for personalized or targeted campaigns.
  • For example, Twilio, a popular SMS marketing provider, offers pricing plans starting at $0.0075 per SMS for bulk messaging, with additional costs for features such as personalization, targeting, or delivery receipts. Twilio pricing is however quite a bit higher in Europe, so it’s best to shop around.

4. Personalised Communication: SMS marketing allows businesses to communicate with their customers in a personalised and targeted way. By segmenting their customer database, businesses can send relevant messages to specific groups of customers, increasing the chances of a positive response.

Evidence for customers preferring SMS for communications with businesses
  • According to a study by SimpleTexting, 72% of consumers said they prefer to receive SMS messages from businesses, compared to other communication channels such as email or phone calls.
  • In the same study, 75% of consumers said they are more likely to read an SMS message than an email, while 85% said they prefer to receive appointment reminders via SMS.
  • A report by OpenMarket found that 75% of consumers say they are frustrated with companies that do not offer text messaging as a communication option, while 76% said they are more likely to respond to a text message than an email.
  • In a study by Vibes, 90% of SMS messages are read within the first three minutes of receipt, which indicates that customers are highly engaged with SMS as a communication channel.

5. Increased Customer Engagement: SMS marketing can help businesses increase customer engagement and loyalty by providing them with valuable information, exclusive offers, or personalized content. This can help build a stronger relationship between businesses and their customers, leading to increased sales and brand loyalty.

Studies showing increased customer engagement when using SMS
  • According to a report by SMS Comparison, SMS messages have an engagement rate that is 6-8 times higher than email marketing, with click-through rates of up to 36%.
  • A study by EZ Texting found that SMS campaigns have an average response rate of 45%, which is significantly higher than other marketing channels such as email or social media.
  • In the same study, EZ Texting found that SMS messages with personalized content had a response rate of up to 80%, indicating that personalized messaging can increase customer engagement.
  • A report by Salesforce found that SMS marketing has a conversion rate that is 8 times higher than other marketing channels, with 90% of customers reading text messages within 3 minutes of receipt.

References for the statistics quoted on this page

  • MobileSquared report: “A Marketer’s Guide to SMS,” MobileSquared, 2021. https://mobilesquared.co.uk/reports/a-marketers-guide-to-sms/
  • SMS Comparison study: “SMS vs. Email Marketing: A Comprehensive Guide,” SMS Comparison, 2021. https://www.smscomparison.com.au/sms-vs-email-marketing-a-comprehensive-guide/
  • EZ Texting report: “SMS Marketing vs. Email Marketing,” EZ Texting, 2021. https://www.eztexting.com/resources/sms-marketing-vs-email-marketing
  • Dynmark study: “Mobile Messaging: Why SMS is the King of ROI,” Dynmark, 2017. https://www.dynmark.com/resources/whitepapers/mobile-messaging-why-sms-is-the-king-of-roi/