What’s the best way to reach customers in 2023? If you guessed SMS marketing, you’re absolutely right. From open rates that are five times higher than emails to customers who are twice as likely to respond, it’s no surprise why so many businesses have jumped on board with SMS.
But what is it that makes SMS such a powerful tool? Is it the immediacy of the messages? The ability to tailor each and every message to fit a customer’s unique preferences? Or maybe it’s something else entirely.
We’ll double down on all of the must-know SMS marketing data from 2023 so that you can decide for yourself. Listed below are justifications as to why now is the perfect time to leverage SMS in your own business. From statistics about audience engagement to trends in messaging preferences, we’ve got all of the data you need.
SMS Open Rate Statistics
If you’re looking to take your SMS marketing campaigns to the next level in 2023, then it’s important to know some of the key statistics. Knowing these figures will help you understand how well your messages are being received and how effective they are at converting prospects.
Let’s start with open rates. According to recent data, SMS messages have an average open rate of 97%. This is significantly higher than emails – which have an average open rate of just 24%.
But bear in mind that the open rate can vary depending on the message itself and its contents. For example, recent research has shown that personalized messages have higher open rates than generic ones. So if you’re looking to maximize engagement, focus on creating compelling, personalized content for your SMS campaigns.
Automated Message Response Rates
So we already established that SMS open rates are the basis of most campaign success. Now, what would happen if we take it a notch further with automated SMS?
Believe us when we tell you they’re even better. Not only are automated text message open rates high, but response rates are also through the roof. Around 82% of consumers respond to automated text messages; over two-thirds (68%) actually go on to interact with a business after receiving an automated SMS message.
Higher Coupon and Voucher Redemption
One of the recent developments brought by the pandemic is the customer’s enhanced affinity for promo offers like coupons and vouchers.
This is another facet in the SMS marketing funnel that showed high improvements in the past year. 80% of these buyers redeemed vouchers and coupons through SMS. This is a clear telling that practicality can be reflected digitally too.
Best Practices for SMS Campaigns
We just laid down the SMS stats for 2023 down and we’re sure you’re curious to know what comes next. By now, you know that SMS marketing is more popular than ever. But did you know that optimizing for mobile is a key way to engage customers?
When it comes to SMS marketing in 2023, making sure that you are following best practices is key. Here are some of the must-know statistics you need to be aware of for effective campaigns:
Opt-In Permission
First and foremost, you want to make sure that you activate opt-in permissions for your campaign. Not only had opt-ins proven their capability in numbers, but adding an extra layer of privacy also enhances brand reliability by being upfront about your database usage.
To give you an idea of the power of permission-based SMS marketing, research shows that campaigns with opt-ins can have a 98% open rate and a 95% read rate within just five minutes of reading.
Timing Is Everything
Timing can also play a huge role in the success of your campaigns — make sure that you are sending messages during the hours when recipients are likely to see them. Data shows that most messages are opened and read within 15 minutes after they’re received so it’s important to focus on timing when sending SMS campaigns.
Keep Your Messages Short & Sweet
People’s attention spans are getting shorter by the minute – so a short-and-sweet messaging approach is definitely the way to go with SMS marketing. The average message length should be around 160 characters; this gives people enough room to take in the information without feeling overwhelmed by text overload.
By following these best practices for SMS campaigns, you’ll ensure maximum effectiveness for your marketing efforts in 2023.
Personalize your User Journey
Businesses tend to overlook the fact that device usage is personal. While we do have some sort of consensus, successful SMS marketing campaigns tend to be optimized per unique user – meaning there are certain best practices you should keep in mind when composing and sending your messages. Here’s a list of tips to consider:
- Keep it concise: Try to make sure your message is no more than 160 characters so it will fit on a mobile screen without being cut off.
- Include a call-to-action: Make sure your messages include an actionable word or phrase like “Learn More” or “Sign Up Now” so customers know what they should do next.
- Include images and GIFs: Visuals help make messages pop and engage readers beyond just words alone.
- Personalize your messages: Add the customer’s name or use language specific to their interests and preferences. This makes them feel special and more likely to take action on your message.
- Make sure tracking works properly: Create customized landing pages with unique tracking codes for each SMS campaign so you can measure success over time.
- Follow up quickly: People expect timely replies from brands, so be sure to follow up as soon as possible after any inquiries or conversations by text message!
Use Automated SMS to Your Advantage
You can leverage automation for your SMS marketing campaigns by:
- Scheduling messages in advance
- Sending triggered messages based on customer actions (like signing up for an account)
- Activating automated follow-ups based on customer responses or lack thereof
- Segmenting lists and personalizing messages so customers get unique texts depending on their preferences
Automation can help you keep track of all your messaging campaigns while also delivering personalized experiences that engage customers and drive engagement even further. Practically speaking, it’s almost impossible to achieve such high open and response rates without tapping into automation!
Benefits of Using SMS Marketing this 2023
If you’re considering using a professional SMS marketing tool, then you must know the many benefits that come along with it.
Increased CTRs
SMS messages also boast higher click-through rates (CTRs) than emails due to the shorter length and clear call-to-action. Studies have shown that SMS messages generate CTRs as high as 45%, while email CTRs are usually less than 14%.
Cost Effective Solution
Finally, using a professional SMS tool can help you save money in the long run since you don’t have to hire a team of specialists or purchase expensive equipment. You can quickly create and send your messages from anywhere anytime, which makes it much faster and more cost-effective compared to other marketing channels.
Thanks to these impressive numbers, there’s no doubt that leveraging a professional SMS tool in 2023 is an attractive option for marketers looking for cost-effective solutions for their campaigns.
You’re in Good Hands with Ringbot!
Whether you’re a marketer looking to capitalize on the SMS marketing trend, or a brand looking to tap into emerging mobile strategies, understanding the power of SMS is key. Choosing the right SMS sending tool is paramount. Relying on key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and more will help you maximize the potential of any mobile marketing campaign.
That’s where Ringbot comes in. With SMS marketing continuing to be a top trend in the digital landscape, partnering with a reliable tool like Ringbot can solve half of your problems – from easily integrating opt-ins to automation.
Ensure your brand stays competitive in the ever-changing mobile age. Give Ringbot a try today!