Text messaging, also known as SMS, has a history dating back to 1992, when the very first text message was sent. Interestingly, despite the passage of time, the core essence of how people utilize SMS has remained remarkably consistent. Surprisingly, its popularity has only grown, particularly when it comes to business communication.
So, why should your business consider SMS as a primary service channel? Beyond the unwavering reliability of SMS messaging, text messages offer rapid delivery, cost-efficiency, and the ability to swiftly analyze results. SMS is not only efficient but also incredibly straightforward to set up and employ, yielding almost immediate effects on response rates and sales opportunities. SMS boasts distinct advantages over conventional email and other marketing strategies.
How to Use SMS as a Service for Your Business
Once your customers willingly subscribe to your services and provide their mobile numbers, you gain the opportunity (with their consent) to employ this information as a channel for communication and marketing purposes.
When utilizing service providers for various programs, you have the flexibility to assign specific keywords, or even subsets of keywords, to individual customers within your database. Additionally, you can categorize these customers into various groups based on factors such as their product preferences or interests. Subsequently, contacts have the option to opt-in to receive targeted messages from your organization.
The process of incorporating the Sinch SMS API is a straightforward one. This integration empowers you to seamlessly include SMS messaging within your existing CMS and this allows you to have an efficient mode of communication with your customers. For instance, if a customer sends an SMS to your company's phone number, you can effortlessly receive and respond to it through the Sinch API.
Comparing SMS to Email
When it comes to SMS messages versus email, there's a notable disparity in their "open rates." Sinch API SMS has an enviable open rate of more than 90%, which considerably higher compared to email.
Additionally, with email, there's always the risk that your messages might end up languishing in your customers' spam folders, never to see the light of day. On the contrary, if an SMS message fails to reach its destination, you typically receive feedback regarding its delivery status. One study shows that using Sinch SMS API for text messages resulted in a 12% increase in conversions.
Yes, emails have their own place in marketing and are effective for customer communication and boosting sales opportunities. However, as the adage goes, "the money is in the list”. So, using the list to send SMS offers distinct advantages in terms of speed and overall security.
Advantages of Using SMS as a Service for Business
Here are compelling reasons why integrating SMS text messaging into your business strategy is a wise choice.
Instantaneous Delivery: SMS boasts rapid and efficient delivery, reaching a vast audience within seconds. Few communication methods offer such immediate and personalized access to your target audience.
Immediate Insights: With SMS, you gain instant visibility into who received your message and access valuable analytical data, including open rates and response rates. These real-time insights are invaluable for assessing the effectiveness of your communication.
Personal Touch: SMS messages are inherently personal, as they are directly delivered to each individual recipient's mobile device. This personalized approach often elicits more immediate and intimate responses, further amplified when messages are crafted individually.
Cost-Effective: Text messages are cost-effective, particularly when sent in bulk. This affordability stands in stark contrast to traditional marketing avenues like TV, radio, or print media.
Simplicity and Accessibility: SMS is a universally recognized communication channel due to its simplicity. Nearly everyone can open, read, and respond to text messages, making it a highly accessible and user-friendly platform.
Global Reach: Text messages have the potential to reach anyone with a modern mobile device and access to a cell phone signal, transcending geographical boundaries and allowing you to connect with millions worldwide.
Direct Communication: SMS ranks among the most direct forms of communication, rivaling face-to-face meetings and direct phone calls. Its simplicity and immediacy make it a clear winner.
Precision Targeting: Segmenting your audience enables precise targeting with tailored marketing messages. Understanding what resonates with different groups empowers you to optimize your approach for maximum sales potential.
Easy Scheduling: Scheduled text messages save time in campaign planning, eliminating the need to compose individual messages. This efficiency frees up time for other business priorities and managing the influx of sales opportunities resulting from SMS campaigns.
Tracking and Analytics: Sinch SMS API allows businesses to track their SMS campaigns. The delivery reports offer invaluable insights into the success of your SMS deliveries, enabling you to refine your strategies for future campaigns.
Reliability: SMS messages are generally more reliable than email, as mobile phones lack spam filters. SMS ensures dependable inboxing of your messages to customers, with the rare exception of potential phone number blocking.
The Bottom Line
Sinch SMS API uses more than 600 carriers around the world and has an open rate of more than 90%. That ensures businesses can incorporate the API into their CRM systems and enhance their communication, marketing, and customer engagement efforts.
