SMS marketing works for small businesses because texts get opened almost every time and read within minutes, which email and social rarely manage. It is cost-effective, fast, and personal when done with permission. This guide covers why it suits small businesses, what to send, the rules to follow, and how to start without annoying your customers.
Are you a small business looking to incorporate easy but cost-effective marketing techniques? For many small business, a common mistake that they tend to make is ruling out certain marketing techniques as they feel that they won’t work for their small business and are only designed for large corporations. One of these marketing techniques that many small businesses rule out is business SMS texting. However, this is entirely untrue and small businesses can use SMS marketing to get amazing results! Bulk SMS marketing campaigns can help to grow businesses and It is extremely efficient and reliable.
Did you know that SMS texting has a 19% click-through rate and that the average time taken to read a text message is just five seconds? This automatically then displays how effective bulk SMS messaging can be.
So, if you are a small business looking to know more about the advantages of SMS marketing and why you should implement it in your business, make sure to carry on reading!
Why Your Business Should Use SMS Marketing
SMS Marketing is Affordable
As a small business, we understand that you will be careful of your finances and won’t have the budget to spend on marketing that the big corporations do. However, one of the great things about bulk texting services is how affordable it is! Advertising agencies can be very expensive, but a business texting service is the exact opposite and can provide you affordable flat rates. This allows you to send hundreds, even thousands, of text messages but without the huge price tag that can be involved in other marketing services such as phone calls or email campaigns. If you want to see how this works for yourself before taking the plunge and spending your marketing budget on it, you can start a free trial here with Sakari.
Before you start an SMS marketing campaign, you will need to make sure that you are going to get the most out of It for your budget. Try and grown your SMS database by using other advertising platforms. You can include instructions to show people how to sign up for your text messaging service. The more people you have on your list, the more you can utilise SMS marketing for the benefit of your business. Another great way to get people signing up to your text messaging service is to run a promotion or competition with it. This could be a reward for those who share it with their friends or family and this has been shown to be very effective for other brands.
SMS Marketing Brings Great Results
Of course, if you are spending money on a marketing campaign, you will want to have the assurance that it really is going to work. With text messaging marketing, there have been many case studies to prove that this form of marketing really does work and, not only that, it is extremely effective. What’s more, what’s great about SMS messaging marketing is that it can work fantastically for both large and small businesses.
For example, a telecommunications service found that email marketing was not best suited to their business and was not bringing in the results that they were looking for. This company then switched to SMS messaging instead and found that they not only reached 30% to 40% more customers but they also saw in increase of 20% in the number of invoices that were paid by their due date.
As you can see, while email marketing tends to still be very popular amongst businesses, it has been proven that, on average, SMS messaging is far more effective. Text messages are hard to ignore and are nearly always opened instantly compared to emails that are sometimes put on the back burner as we can see what it is about from the email subject title. All you really need to know is that while the SMS open rate is 98%, this drops to just 22% for emails. Which would you rather incorporate for your business?
SMS Marketing Offers Improved Customer Service
When it comes to customer service, small businesses always take the lead and have the advantage over big corporations. Many studies have shown that customers prefer to spend their money on a business that provides high-quality customer service and so this is something worth keeping in mind as a small business. SMS messaging is a great way to improve your customer service as a small business and can really help you keep customers returning to you.
So, what are some of the ways in which you can use texting to provide excellent customer service? Well, texting is great for polling! You can send a customer service survey and receive feedback almost instantly. This feedback will then allow you to address anything in your business that can be improved on to provide a better service.
Another great way you can use text messaging to improve customer service is to let people know when you have a cancelled or last minute appointment available. What’s more, you can also remind customers of when they have an appointment so your business has a reduction in missed appointments.
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With SMS marketing, you can also improve your customer service and clients experience by providing them with tips and advice. Sending out relevant tips adds value to your business, plus you can also inform customers of any delays or cancellations and they will appreciate being informed of this update instantly.
Finally, with SMS marketing, one of the big benefits is that you can send out personalised and targeted text messages. When you send out a text message using the customers name, this can provide a more personalised experience and this also allows you to send them targeted deals and promotions that they are most likely to be interested in. This increases customer loyalty and it also ensures that you do not annoy your customers with lots of text message marketing that they are not really interested in.
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Bottom line: SMS marketing gets read. Text messages boast open rates above 90%, most within minutes of delivery, which beats email by a wide margin. If you want a direct line to customers that cuts through inbox clutter, texting is one of the fastest ways to get there.
Frequently asked questions
Is SMS marketing expensive to start?
No. Most SMS platforms offer affordable plans based on message volume, and many start with free trials or pay-as-you-go pricing, making it accessible even for small businesses.
How is SMS marketing different from email marketing?
Text messages are shorter, more immediate, and typically read within minutes, while emails can sit unopened for hours or days. SMS works best for time-sensitive offers and quick updates.
Do customers need to opt in to receive texts?
Yes. Businesses must get explicit consent before sending marketing texts, usually through a sign-up form, keyword, or checkout process, to stay compliant with regulations like TCPA.
What kind of messages work best for SMS campaigns?
Short, clear messages with a single call to action tend to perform best, such as flash sale alerts, appointment reminders, or exclusive discount codes.
