The History of SMS Marketing

SMS marketing has come a long way since its inception. Let’s take a journey through the history of SMS marketing and see how it has evolved over time.

The Origins of SMS Marketing

SMS, or Short Message Service, was first developed in the early 1990s as a way for mobile phone users to send short messages to each other. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that businesses began to see the potential of SMS as a marketing channel.

The Evolution of SMS Marketing

In the early days of SMS marketing, businesses would send simple, text-only messages to their customers. As technology advanced, businesses began to experiment with more advanced features, such as multimedia messages, mobile coupons, and two-way messaging.

The Impact of Mobile Technology on SMS Marketing

The widespread adoption of mobile technology has profoundly impacted SMS marketing. With the rise of smartphones, businesses can now send more visually appealing and interactive SMS messages. Mobile technology has also made it easier for businesses to target their messages to specific groups of customers based on their location or past purchase history.

 

The Resurgence of SMS Marketing

SMS marketing is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and for good reason. Let’s explore the factors contributing to this resurgence and why SMS marketing is more relevant today than ever before.

Increase in Mobile Device Usage

With the rise of smartphones, mobile devices have become an integral part of our daily lives. The majority of consumers now carry a smartphone with them at all times, making it easier than ever for businesses to reach their target audience through SMS marketing.

The Rise of Conversational Commerce

Conversational commerce, or the use of messaging apps for commerce, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp have become a preferred way for customers to communicate with businesses. SMS marketing is a natural extension of this trend, as businesses can use SMS messages to engage with customers in a conversational way.

Advancements in SMS Technology

Advancements in SMS technology have made it possible for businesses to create more engaging and interactive SMS messages. For example, businesses can now include images, videos, and links in their SMS messages, making them more visually appealing and interactive.

Integration with Other Marketing Channels

SMS marketing can be seamlessly integrated with other marketing channels, such as email marketing, social media, and mobile apps. For example, businesses can use SMS messages to drive traffic to their website or social media channels, or to promote special offers or discounts.

 

Why SMS Marketing Works

SMS marketing is a highly effective and valuable tool for businesses to reach their target audience. Let’s explore the reasons why SMS marketing is still relevant today more than ever.

High Open Rates

SMS marketing has an impressive open rate of 98%, which is significantly higher than email marketing’s average open rate of 20%. This means that almost all SMS messages are read by the recipient. Such high open rates make SMS marketing a highly effective way to reach your audience with important messages or promotions.

Quick and Direct Communication

SMS messages offer a direct and instant way of communicating with your audience. Unlike other marketing channels, such as email or social media, SMS messages are typically read within a few minutes of being received. This makes SMS marketing an excellent channel to deliver time-sensitive information or promotions.

Cost-Effectiveness

SMS marketing is highly cost-effective, especially when compared to other marketing channels like TV, radio, or print media. With SMS marketing, businesses can reach a large audience at a fraction of the cost of other channels.

Personalization

SMS marketing offers a great opportunity for businesses to personalize their marketing efforts. By using customers’ names, past purchase history, or location data, businesses can create targeted and personalized SMS messages that are more likely to resonate with their audience.

Engagement and Response Rates

SMS marketing has impressive engagement and response rates. Studies have shown that SMS messages have a response rate of around 45%, which is much higher than email or social media marketing. Such high engagement rates make SMS marketing an excellent customer retention and loyalty channel. We have a great article outlining some of the different ways brands are using SMS to engage with their customers and grow sales.

That said, if you’re going to start using SMS then there are some SMS do’s and dont’s to be aware of before you get started.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

SMS marketing is a highly accessible and inclusive marketing channel. Unlike other channels that require an internet connection or specific technology, SMS messages can be received on any mobile device. This makes SMS marketing an ideal channel to reach a broad and diverse audience.