8 Benefits of Bulk SMS Marketing for Business

by Audrey Oh

There are currently more than 3 billion smartphone users worldwide and this figure is projected to increase year-on-year. Unsurprisingly, businesses are increasingly using SMS (Short Message Service) messaging as part of their customer service and engagement strategies. SMS marketing allows you to schedule and broadcast customised messages to groups or individual recipients. It’s a great way to capture the attention of your target audience and to encourage an immediate response.

We may not all be on our email 24/7, but many of us are inseparable from our mobile phones. So why should you invest time and money in SMS messaging? Is it right for your business? We’ve put together the top eight benefits of bulk SMS marketing to help you decide.

Instant Impact
Unlike emails, which may not be picked up for days, or direct mail, which may take days to be delivered, an SMS takes less than 7 seconds to reach the intended recipient. Provided you have the correct number, you can rest assured your message will be delivered — and ultra-fast too.
High Open Rate
The open rate of SMS messages has been reported to be as high as 99% compared to just 20% for emails. Of course, not everyone who reads your text will respond. But it stands to reason there is a higher chance of someone responding to your marketing if they’ve seen your message than if they have not. People open nearly every text message they receive, many choose to delete an email without opening it.
Customisable Campaigns
Bulk SMS marketing allows you to target your whole database of contacts, a sub-group or even an individual. Personalising your marketing campaign is key to its success. You’ll want to send a different text to prospects than to existing customers, for example. It’s quick and easy to set up templates and customise an SMS each time you send one out. Consumers are much more likely to respond to a message that appeals specifically to them than to a generic or irrelevant message.
Impressive Conversion Rate
At around 6%, response rates for email are notoriously low. However, a response rate of 45% for SMS is not unusual and may often be even higher. Most people respond to a text within 90 seconds, compared to 90 minutes for email. Whatever the objective of your marketing campaign — promotions, surveys or sign-ups — you will receive a higher response rate than with any other marketing strategy with SMS.
Few Barriers to Delivery
Marketing emails often never reach their intended recipient due to spam filters. This is not the case with SMS. There are no barriers to delivery, so SMS messaging is highly reliable.
Minimal Effort Required from Recipients
There is a 160-character length for SMS, forcing marketers to deliver their message in a concise, easy-to-read way. Brief messages make it much easier for recipients to understand the crux of your SMS campaign than if they have to wade through a lengthy email. Most telephone service providers offer a variety of features that makes responding to your bulk SMS marketing a breeze. The easier you make it for the recipient to read, understand and respond to your message, the more likely they are to do so!
Cost-Effective
Compared to the cost of other marketing methods, such as TV, radio or print, SMS bulk marketing is very affordable. Messaging is low cost and delivers a higher return on investment (ROI) than many other marketing strategies, making it a cost-effective and sustainable option.

Instant Opt-In and Opt-OutRecipients can opt-in or opt-out of your SMS marketing at the touch of a button. While you might see this as a disadvantage, it’s important for your business and consumers that you only target individuals who are interested in your product or service. This stops you wasting time and money on cold leads, builds your reputation as a trustworthy company and protects individuals from unwanted marketing.

SMS marketing has almost limitless potential due to the sheer number of smartphone users worldwide and the extraordinary open rates. The benefits of bulk SMS marketing for small business are many and varied.

Why not check out Callstream’s bulk SMS service and talk to our team about signing up or adding this to your existing package? Call us on 0333 400 9990 and get started today.