SMS marketing is one of the best communication channels for businesses. It has a high open and read rate and is a great way to connect with customers and promote your brand. However, creating a text marketing campaign is now as simple as sending marketing messages to your audiences. Even though people seem glued to their phones and check for messages 58 times a day, subscribers’ attention spans vary throughout the day. It leads us to one crucial question, what’s the best time to send marketing text messages?
There are many factors to consider before sending out a campaign, but one of the most important is the time of day. The success or failure of your SMS marketing campaigns can be significantly influenced by when you send them. The timing of your campaign is just as important as its content. You could send out the best discount or the funniest text, but if it’s sent at the wrong time, all your efforts could be well-spent. On the other hand, a less attractive discount sent at the optimal time could perform much better and generate higher engagement. Therefore, consider the value of spacing out your campaigns during prime times. Of course, what counts as a peak time differs based on the industry in which you’re operating and what content is included in your campaign.
When is the Best Time to send an SMS Marketing?
The best time to send SMS marketing varies; what works for one company might not work for another. But there are some key things to consider when determining when your audience will be most engaged with your message. The best time to send an SMS Marketing message is during business hours, from 10 am to 8 pm, as people are more likely to use their phones for work-related activities during this period.
When sending general marketing messages, avoid sending them too early in the morning. You may wake customers up and annoy them. On the other hand, sending it too late in the evening will disrupt their time with loved ones. Many businesses have discovered that odd times like 10:32 am – 11:28 am or 2:31 pm – 3:23 pm work best for their SMS Marketing campaigns since most other messages are sent in the hour or half hour.
Additionally, text marketing messages to announce weekend sales and special events are ideally sent on the Thursday before the weekend or on the morning of the special event. A good rule of thumb for timing your texts is to send them when your customer wants or needs the information in the message. For example, if what you have to share will be especially useful first thing in the morning, aim to shoot off your text between 8 am and 12 pm.
You’re more likely to have people take action on your message if you send it when they’re winding down from their day. Try scheduling your campaign for 5 pm to 9 pm.
Business marketing campaigns are essential, but taking the time to research your customers is vital. Ensure you understand their time zones, markets, and relevant life events. By doing so, you’ll be one step closer to practical conversions.
Who uses SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing is a tried and true method of increasing customer engagement, brand recognition, and sales. It’s one of the most effective ways to connect with customers and promote your brand. SMS marketing is used by businesses of all sizes, from small to large enterprises. Some brands that use SMS marketing include IKEA, Facebook, and Starbucks.
IKEA was founded in 1943 in Sweden. It is an affordable, minimalist furniture and home decor company with more than 400 stores worldwide. The company started using SMS marketing in 2009 to increase customer engagement. IKEA has used SMS marketing to reach both existing and potential customers. Their promotional campaigns send out text messages with links to their website, where people can find more information about the product.
Facebook was founded in 2004 and is the world’s largest social media platform, with over 2 billion active users. Facebook users have been able to take advantage of SMS marketing for years. In 2011, the social media platform began offering SMS chat so customers could stay in touch with friends who used the service. The SMS marketing campaign has been a resounding success for the company, with 2 billion messages sent in 2013 alone. The program has allowed the company to connect with customers and increase sales significantly.
Starbucks is one of the most successful coffee companies in history. Jerry Baldwin founded the company in 1971 and attained great success over the years. However, 1987 proved to be a game-changer when Howard Schultz acquired Starbucks. He quickly turned it into a global powerhouse by utilizing SMS marketing and forming personal customer relationships. After Starbucks ran a text message campaign, their mobile sales increased 75% from the previous year. They also discovered that twice as many customers used their mobile app to pay.
What are the types of SMS Marketing?
There are six common SMS marketing types that businesses run for different goals. These are loyalty programs, flash sales, promotional deals and discounts, SMS coupons, alerts and notifications, and text-to-win campaigns.
Loyalty programs are designed to get people to purchase or recommend products in exchange for free goods or discounts. SMS marketing loyalty programs foster long-term relationships between customers and brands. Customers feel appreciated and valued when they participate in loyalty programs, which motivates them to spend more time and money with the companies that offer these programs.
Flash sales are a typical SMS marketing campaign businesses run when the weekend or a holiday draws near. A flash sale is a short campaign that lasts only a few days and generally includes one or two items from a company. Time is the defining characteristic that separates a flash sale from a regular sale. Sales typically offer offers and reductions for extended periods, whereas a flash sale is known for its urgency.
Promotional offers, discounts, and sales are essential marketing strategies to attract customers. By providing reduced prices on items or services, businesses can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to take advantage of the offer before it expires. Quick sales are what most customers have in mind when they sign up for text message offers from your company. These types of SMS deals will help you achieve those objectives quickly.
SMS coupons are short messages sent using the Multimedia Messaging Service, or MMS. These messages are similar to marketing and discount notifications. SMS coupons are more versatile and can be used longer than other methods. Businesses will use appealing graphics and QR codes to make these more attractive to customers. By using SMS coupons, companies see an increase in site traffic and online sales.
Text messages can send various updates and notifications, such as regular business hours, special events at the company, product arrivals, new services, restock notifications, sales, standard corporate communications, and even urgent messages.
In a text-to-win campaign, your company sends consumers a text message to enter a contest. After the deadline passes, the winner is chosen at random. This SMS marketing technique is used by businesses to send winners’ certificates, free items, or even complimentary services. Not only is it easy to do, but it’s also entertaining – for both companies and consumers.
What are the Benefits of using SMS Marketing?
SMS messaging services are a valuable and unique marketing tool, especially for small businesses. Some of the best benefits of SMS marketing are listed below.
- SMS has a broader reach – By using SMS in combination with other international services like online shopping and payment gateways, brands can easily stay connected to customers worldwide.
- Fast and efficient texting – With SMS marketing, messaging is precise and to the point. It does not waste time for consumers or leave them frustrated by marketers not getting to the end.
- SMS Aftercare and customer service – SMS messaging can be a great way to follow up on sales and get honest customer feedback. It helps brands improve their service, and customers don’t feel pressured or interrupted when they receive SMS messages.
- Engaging the Audience – SMS marketing is an interactive way to keep customers updated about offers, sales, or new arrivals. It can also be used to send customer surveys and get real-time feedback.
- Coupons and Discounts – SMS messages offer an easy way for businesses to send coupons and discounts to their customers. It encourages customers to shop more often and try new products.
What are the things to consider before sending an SMS Marketing Message?
SMS marketing is more interruptive than other methods because people feel compelled to read text messages. For some people, this is a positive sign that the company is interested in them. However, others may feel annoyed by the marketing messages, especially if they are irrelevant to their interests. Before sending an SMS marketing message, consider the following things.
- Abide by industry guidelines – Country-specific guidelines for your industry may vary depending on the region. Ensure that you explicitly have your customers’ permission to send SMS messages, and avoid using any sensitive information in your messages.
- Always Introduce Yourself in the First Message – When sending an SMS marketing message, always introduce your company or brand in the first message. It will ensure recipients know who you are and can trust the information in your messages.
- Ensure the Content is Interesting and Relevant – No one wants to receive a marketing message that is not interesting or relevant to them. Use segmentation when necessary.
- Use SMS for urgent and Important Messages – SMS marketing is most successful when it provides value to everyone on your contact list. Texting improves consumers’ relationships with your brand, whether you’re sending time-sensitive information (like a flash sale announcement) or critical updates.
- Monitor the Frequency of Your Marketing Messages – Begin your text campaign with one message a week, and then, as you gain more contacts, experiment with different messaging frequencies to find what works best.
- Be Concise But Clear in Your Message – SMS marketing messages should be clear and concise. The goal is to get your point across in 160 characters or less.
- Use a Conversational and Friendly Tone – SMS allows you to interact with your consumers on a more personal level, bringing your brand’s voice to life. Keep your messages friendly and conversational to create a positive association with your brand.
- Make SMS Marketing A Part of Your Multi-Channel Strategy – SMS marketing is just one part of a larger multi-channel strategy. To be successful, integrate SMS into your existing marketing mix.
How to send an SMS Marketing message?
SMS marketing is easy–even more effortless than email or social media marketing. You don’t need any design skills; all you have to do is follow the steps listed below.
Step 1. Obtain a list of customers you have expressed permission to contact.
In the US and Canada, texting people who have not given you explicit permission is illegal. Before sending an SMS marketing campaign, please double-check that your list of recipients has permitted you to send them messages. If you cannot confirm someone’s permission status, delete them from your list. Loyalty software can help you collect customer info and comply with the law.
Step 2. Use an SMS Marketing Platform
You’ll need software to help you automate your message sends. Some services solely provide text message marketing, while others offer various features. A separate SMS marketing system would require you to upload a list of customer contact info and kept outside of all your other campaigns.
Step 3. Create Your Message
Your texts don’t need to be lengthy; shorter is often better for SMS marketing. Always include a call-to-action and an opt-out method for customers who are no longer interested in receiving messages from you (as required by law).
Step 4. Track Your Results
Keep tabs on your progress by tracking the performance of each message. For instance, if you included a link in one correspondence, monitor how many clicks it received. You can also see whether people used exclusive discount codes attached to your SMS campaign when purchasing and observe how much revenue was generated. To get an idea of accuracy, compare these numbers to the total amount of messages sent out.
What are the Best SMS Marketing Apps for android?
The best SMS marketing apps should be designed for enterprise-scale and non-technical users. SMS marketing apps should be able to facilitate two-way conversations, integrate with third-party apps and services, and allow automation and scalable. Listed below are three of the best SMS marketing apps for Android phones.
Pulse SMS -Pulse SMS provides businesses with great features and functionality. You can select individual contact-level customizations and choose from a wide variety of themes, sound effects, and GIFs. Send replies quickly and easily on mobile and web platforms, schedule messages in advance, search keywords, and protect conversations with a password. Although there is not much hand-holding support available,- it’s still simple enough for anyone to figure out.
TextMagic – TextMagic is perfect for anyone who wants to get started with an SMS service immediately. The simple setup wizard will help you send essential messages. Still, there are also advanced features like templates, contact list importing, audience targeting, message scheduling, third-party integrations, complete campaign management, and analytical reporting. TextMagic’s high delivery and open rates make it an excellent choice for small businesses worldwide – without the need to commit long-term.
EZ Texting – EZ Texting is perfect for those who want an easy way to SMS marketing, regardless of prior technical experience. Once you create an account, you immediately have the option to delight customers, market & engage, or simplify operations. You can then personalize your messaging using 2-way communications to target specific individuals or customer segments. With EZ Texting, you can auto-schedule messages, test their efficiency, run contests, send appointment reminders, and receive keyword reports. Also included is responsive customer support from EZ Texting’s team.
What are the Best SMS Marketing Apps for IOS?
The best SMS marketing apps for iOS should offer a great user experience, high delivery and open rates, campaign management, and analytical reporting. Here are three of the best SMS marketing apps for iPhone:
SimpleTexting -SimpleTexting is the leading text marketing platform utilized by small and large businesses. Text messaging allows users to generate leads, increase sales, and provide excellent customer service. With this app, you can quickly create and send SMS campaigns, track results, manage contacts, and automate your communications. SimpleTexting integrates with Zapier, Salesforce, HubSpot, and other popular business applications.
iMessage Marketing by Omnisend – iMessage Marketing allows businesses to take advantage of the world’s most popular messaging app. With Omnisend, you can send one-time or automated messages, create and manage your contacts, and segment your audience. You can also use iMessage Marketing to increase sales with abandoned cart reminders, product recommendations, first-time buyer incentives, and other powerful eCommerce features.
TextP2P – TextP2P is the perfect app for those who want to use SMS marketing for peer-to-peer communication. At TextP2P, we understand that keeping in touch with customers is vital for your business. That’s why we offer many features, such as sending bulk personalized texts, multimedia (MMS) messages, ringless voicemails, and tracking link clicks. You can also schedule calls and texts, forward messages to other inboxes, use custom fields for organization, and utilize virtual local mobile numbers.
Can anyone receive an SMS Marketing Message?
No. SMS marketing messages will only be sent to and received by recipients who have opted to receive them. They have given you explicit permission to contact them via text for marketing purposes such as advertisements, business promotions, and other transactional messages.
Businesses will be penalized if they breach the Spam Act 2003 by sending SMS messages to recipients without prior consent. So, if you’re planning on starting an SMS marketing campaign, be sure that everyone on your contact list has opted in to receive your texts.
Does receiving SMS Marketing considered a spam message?
No. Spam is defined as “unsolicited commercial electronic messages,” SMS marketing messages are only sent to recipients who have opted-in to receive them. It means they have given the sender explicit permission to contact them via text for marketing purposes. Ensure that your marketing messages are well-written and you send them at appropriate times to prevent your opt-ins from becoming unengaged and unsubscribing from your list.
What is the Difference between MMS and SMS Marketing?
There are two different types of messages: MMS and SMS. There are clear differences to see when you put MMS vs. SMS marketing. MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service and allows you to share multimedia files like pictures, videos, music clips, or voice notes with your contacts. On the other hand, a regular SMS message is just for written words that can only be sent from one person to another.
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) will use data and wifi to send your multimedia files, whereas Short Message Service (SMS) is a standard text message that uses the phone’s service plan. MMS limits the size of individual media file attachments to 300 KB.
MMS messages are delivered more rapidly than SMS since they do not require an extra routing transmission from a cellular network carrier. It usually takes up to 30 seconds for an MMS message. However, it could take several minutes during high mobile traffic congestion.
MMS messages are a little more expensive to send because they require data and wifi, whereas SMS texts don’t. However, you can use MMS to share files with people who do not have an iPhone or Android device if you’re on iOS—although there is no guarantee that the recipient will see it as intended.