It’s no secret that businesses use multiple digital communication and marketing channels to reach their consumers. These communications solutions encompass a broad set of tools that help businesses engage with customers efficiently and reliably. Traditional marketing can be costly, and unless you have a large advertising budget, you likely need a less expensive way to get info into the hands of your consumers. That’s where mobile messaging comes in. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters, so concise and clear communication is essential for effective messaging.
Mobile messaging tools like push notifications, iMessage, or SMS text messaging are all ways to reach your consumers in real-time. If you’re looking for a less expensive option to connect with your audience and grow your business, SMS notifications may be the ticket.
Defining SMS Text Messaging
SMS is an abbreviation for Short Message Service, and it’s what most of the modern mobile world uses to send text messages. SMS is widely used for delivering important notifications and updates. Mobile phones and tablets that are powered through a cellular network have the capability to send and receive SMS text messages. SMS messages can be sent using cellular data but cannot be sent using only Wi-Fi. A valid phone number is required to send and receive SMS messages.
Even iPhones will use SMS text messages when the user is trying to send a message to an Android device, with message bubbles turning green when the message is delivered through SMS or MMS (Multimedia Message Service). The message is considered received once it appears in the recipient's messaging app.
It’s also worth knowing that SMS messaging can only include 160 text characters, and any photos, video, audio, or other rich media is sent as an MMS message. SMS notifications are commonly used for timely updates, alerts, and customer engagement across various industries.
What Are SMS Notifications?
Now that we know what SMS text messaging is, let’s take a closer look at SMS notifications.
SMS notifications are alerts that allow businesses to communicate with their audience. When an SMS text message is sent, it will appear directly on a user’s mobile phone or device, with the user also seeing a notification. This notification can pop up in several places, such as the device’s messaging application, the lock screen, and the notification center. A badge notification may also alert users to a new message on the messaging app.
The SMS message and the notifications are sent directly to the user’s mobile device, so you don’t have to rely on them to check your app or visit your website. SMS notifications are providing timely and important updates directly to the user's inbox, ensuring that critical information reaches the user quickly. Businesses must make sure users have opted in before sending messages. Users must opt-in to receive text messages, and the user can control where and when they receive notifications through the Settings app on their device. The number of messages sent can be tracked for effectiveness and compliance.
SMS Notification Examples
SMS notifications are a versatile tool that businesses across different industries use to keep their customers informed and engaged. For example, retail businesses often use SMS notifications to alert customers about new product launches, special promotions, and exclusive deals, ensuring that important updates reach customers instantly. Healthcare providers rely on SMS notifications to send appointment reminders, medication alerts, and even test results, helping patients stay on top of their health and reducing missed appointments. Financial institutions use SMS notifications to provide real-time account updates, transaction alerts, and security notifications, giving customers peace of mind and immediate access to critical information. By using SMS notifications for timely alerts and updates, businesses can improve communication, boost customer engagement, and provide valuable information exactly when it’s needed.
Notifications vs Push Notifications: Key Differences
When comparing SMS notifications and push notifications, it’s important to understand the key differences between these two messaging channels. SMS notifications are sent via the Short Message Service (SMS) and appear directly in the user’s messaging app, making them accessible even without an internet connection. In contrast, push notifications are delivered through a mobile app or website and require an active internet connection to reach the user’s phone. SMS notifications typically have a higher open rate than push notifications, making them a more effective way to ensure your messages are seen. While push notifications are ideal for engaging users within your app, SMS notifications are better suited for reaching customers quickly and reliably, regardless of their internet access. By understanding these differences, businesses can choose the most effective communication channel to meet their needs and maximize customer engagement.
Why Are SMS Notifications Important?
SMS notifications are an important communication tool for sending real-time information to your internal teams or external audience. Here are just a few reasons why SMS notifications are important to growing your business.
- An estimated 7.5 billion people will own a mobile phone by 2025, with the United Nations predicting the global population reaching 8.5 billion by 2030.
- 98% of users open and read SMS notifications, meaning you’re reaching more of your audience.
- Nearly 50% of users who react to a CTA after receiving an SMS notification will make a purchase.
- SMS messages have a 209% higher response rate than phone, email, and social marketing. It’s easy to delete emails or have email messages go straight to spam, but SMS notifications are delivered directly to a personal device.
- The average user will respond to an SMS message within 90 seconds. Most people have their phones on them at all times, making it easier to read and respond to SMS notifications.
- SMS notifications also enhance customer service by enabling real-time communication and prompt responses, ensuring customers receive immediate support when needed.
SMS notifications are relevant to building a valuable relationship between your brand and your audience. What makes SMS notifications especially effective is their ability to deliver urgent, time sensitive communications that prompt quick action. Businesses can keep customers updated on their account status or order progress via SMS, ensuring they always have the latest information. Many companies send special offers and promotions via SMS to engage customers with exclusive deals. Restaurants and delivery services use SMS notifications to inform customers about deliveries, order confirmations, and status updates. The users receive personalized news, promotions, and purchase information in real-time, and in turn, your business sees an increase in engagement, traffic, and conversions!
How SMS Notifications Support Business Growth
With high open, read, and response rates, it’s no wonder businesses utilize SMS marketing strategies. Many platforms are offering flexible SMS notification solutions as part of their customer engagement services. There are several common use cases for SMS notifications in business, such as appointment reminders, order confirmations, and promotional alerts. SMS notifications are used to deliver timely updates and alerts, ensuring customers receive important information quickly. Here are a few ways you can utilize SMS notifications to support business growth.
Keep Costs Low
Unlike social media, you don't need a high ad budget for users to view your content. You also don't have to worry about sponsoring posts or fickle algorithms. Using mobile messaging like SMS to market your business keeps costs low while increasing your ROI. SMS notifications are a budget-friendly tool that will help grow your business.
Reach Your Target Audience
Over 6 billion people use mobile phones worldwide, and SMS messaging is the primary form of texting. This creates a massive opportunity to increase your reach with SMS messaging and notifications. Text messaging allows you to reach a more diverse audience as every age group and demographic uses it.
Create Engaging Content
SMS marketing requires users to willingly opt-in to receive messages; this means the user is interested in hearing from you. Irrelevant messaging can quickly have users opting out, so it’s important to use this opportunity to create engaging, relevant, and personalized content. When users open a personalized product suggestion, reward, or coupon, they are more likely to engage with the CTA and make a purchase. Additionally, businesses can use SMS to inform customers about new features, which helps boost engagement and keeps customers updated.
Increase Brand Loyalty
There's something about SMS text messages that feel more personal than other communication platforms. Some businesses are scared off by this, but it is an opportunity for your brand to create a more humanized and emotional connection with your audience. Consumers are more likely to remain loyal to your brand if they view you as accessible. A dedicated customer base can increase overall engagement, brand-trust and be brand ambassadors by spreading positive reviews for your business.
Have a Multi-Channel Marketing Plan
It's crucial to utilize a multi-channel marketing plan. Having a user-friendly website and mobile app is the first step. Combining email marketing, push notifications, SMS messaging, and other marketing strategies will leave you set up for success across all channels.
Using a Notification Service
Leveraging a notification service can transform the way businesses communicate with their customers through SMS notifications. A notification service streamlines the process of sending SMS messages, managing contact lists, and tracking delivery status, all from a single platform. These services often offer advanced features like automation, message personalization, and detailed analytics, which help businesses optimize their SMS marketing campaigns and improve customer engagement. By using a notification service, businesses can save time, ensure messages are delivered efficiently, and maintain compliance with SMS marketing regulations. This not only enhances the effectiveness of SMS notifications but also ensures that customers receive timely, relevant, and well-crafted messages that drive engagement and build lasting relationships.
Creating a Contact List
Building a robust contact list is a crucial first step for any business looking to send SMS notifications. A quality contact list should include the phone numbers of customers who have explicitly opted in to receive SMS messages from your business. Businesses can gather these numbers through website sign-ups, in-store promotions, or customer surveys, always making sure to obtain clear consent. It’s important to regularly update the contact list to remove inactive or incorrect numbers, which helps improve the delivery rate of your SMS notifications and ensures that your messages reach the right audience. By maintaining an accurate and up-to-date contact list, businesses can maximize the effectiveness of their SMS campaigns and foster stronger customer relationships.
Integrating SMS Notifications with Existing Systems
Integrating SMS notifications with your existing business systems can significantly enhance your communication strategy and customer engagement. For example, connecting your customer relationship management (CRM) software with an SMS notification service allows you to automate appointment reminders, payment alerts, and personalized updates, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. E-commerce businesses can integrate SMS notifications with their online stores to automatically send order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery alerts, keeping customers informed every step of the way. This seamless integration not only saves time but also provides valuable insights into customer behavior, enabling businesses to refine their marketing strategies and deliver a more personalized experience. By integrating SMS notifications with your current systems, you can provide timely, relevant information that keeps your customers engaged and satisfied.
Choose What's Best For Your Business
Bottom line, SMS text messaging and notifications are beneficial tools for businesses to leverage for growth. They allow you to meet your consumers where they are and provide value and information in real-time. SMS notifications are one of the most reliable ways to reach customers.
There are different types of SMS communication: one way communication, which is ideal for sending appointment confirmations, reminders, and transactional alerts, and two way communication, which enables interactive exchanges such as customer feedback and support. Choosing the right way communication—whether one way or two way—is important to ensure your business meets its communication goals effectively.
However, it’s essential to know your audience and understand how each marketing tool works to know what’s right for your business. With MagicBell’s complete notification system, you can refine your communication strategy by notifying users wherever they are and on their preferred channels to boost engagement and retention.
Ready to get started with SMS notifications for your business?