Still not sure about making the jump into the SMS marketing world? Here’s 4 reasons you should. 

Have you been thinking about investing in SMS messaging for your company? If so, what’s holding you back? Are you afraid that it won’t appeal to your audience — or maybe that it’s too time-consuming to get implemented? 

Well, we’re here to tell you that now’s the time to jump in. SMS messaging is a great way to communicate with your customers and provide them with the content they want. In fact, after opting in, 75% of customers want to receive SMS messages from the brands they know and love. 

That means that if you’re not already using text-based marketing for your company, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. When done right, it can be a simple process that will increase your engagement and sales numbers. 

In this article, we’ll debunk 4 common myths around SMS messages. Here’s a quick look at the topics we’ll address: 

• SMS messages are only useful for reaching younger audiences
• SMS messages are impersonal and spammy
• SMS messages just get deleted as soon as their sent
• SMS messages are time-consuming and too difficult to create

4 SMS Marketing Myths

You can’t believe all of the rumors you hear — and that’s the case for SMS marketing as well. These rumors can get started by people who just don’t want to take the time to learn something new or automatically assume it’s a costly investment. 

Luckily, SMS messaging is well worth the investment and will provide you with a new marketing tool that is proven to reach your customers and increase engagement. Let’s take a look at 4 common myths and misconceptions that get spread around about SMS messaging.   

SMS Messages is Only For Younger Audiences 

A common misconception when it comes to SMS messaging is that it will only help you reach your younger audiences. That they are only successful when sent to the tech-savvy generations who spend the majority of their time on their phones. 

But this just isn’t true. 

SMS messaging is a great way to reach customers of all age groups, from Millennials to their parents. 96% of Americans own a cell phone, that means your customers have and are using cell phones — regardless of their age. 

Adults of all ages use cell phones on a regular basis, not just those in the younger generations. It’s a great opportunity for you to reach customers in all age groups and provide them with relevant information where they want it. Image courtesy of Pew Research, 

Using SMS messages to communicate with your customers opens a huge opportunity for you to reach them where they already are. SMS is the most widely used service around the world and nearly 7 trillion messages are sent per year. 

While it is true that the younger generations are using their phones and sending more messages per day, SMS messages can help you reach your entire audience base. Sending messages directly to your customers’ cell phones will result in better engagement and higher-performing campaigns. 

SMS Messages Are Impersonal 

The next myth we’ll debunk is the idea that SMS messages are impersonal and spammy. 

While it is true that if they are not done properly, they very well could end up impersonal, they also offer a way to provide an enhanced personalized experience. As with any other marketing tactic, there’s a fine line between providing customers with relevant content and spamming them with too much content. 

There are a number of reasons why people subscribe to SMS messaging lists, from coupons and discounts to exclusive content. Knowing what your customers want and why they subscribed will help you provide a more personalized experience. Image courtesy of Listrak. 

Here are a few ways you can personalize SMS messages for a more personalized experience: 

• Use browse history to share relevant coupons and products
• Send abandoned cart message reminders 
• Implement appointment reminders 
• Provide transactional messages such as shipping and delivery notices

As you learn more about the needs of your customers you can begin to segment your list and improve personalization. The right personalization can improve customer experience and turn everyday customers into brand evangelists. 

SMS Messages Just Get Deleted

Are you afraid that you’ll put the effort into creating your SMS messages and they’ll just end up getting deleted? You’re not alone — this is a common fear among companies starting out. 

But the good news is that SMS messages do get read and actually encourage two-way communication. In fact, 98% of SMS messages are read and 32% of recipients actually respond back to the messages they receive. 

When you compare the read rates between SMS messages and emails, the numbers talk for themselves. You’ll reach more customers quicker when using SMS over email marketing. This means people are getting and reading your SMS messages. Image courtesy of ItechCode. 

That means that not only are they not being deleted automatically, but they are actually increasing direct engagement with your customers. With SMS you’ll reach more customers, quicker, and capture their attention with a simple text than any other marketing tactic.  

So if you’re looking for a way to increase engagement and better reach your customers — look no further. SMS messages will provide you with the metrics you want to see and can improve sales and customer service with a simple two-way communication method. 

SMS Messages Are Difficult and Time-Consuming 

The last myth we’re going to bust is around the idea that using SMS messaging is difficult and time-consuming. 

With the right partner, creating an SMS marketing campaign can be easier than you’d think. Having the right tools can make SMS messages a simple addition that can make your marketing toolbox more robust. 

You’ll find that once you get started, SMS messages are simple to create and provide you with impressive engagement rates. It’s a great investment because it’s a low effort, high return marketing solution. 

A simple process with impressive statistics, SMS messaging is well worth the effort. You’ll take more out of the platform than you put in. Image courtesy of Good Firms. 

Even if you have a very small marketing team, using SMS messaging won’t take hours to create. It can be as simple as deciding on the right message, coming up with a unique keyword for new subscribers, and hitting send. 

It’s as simple as that! 

You don’t have to spend hours of your day trying to learn a new tool, analyzing how your customers are engaging, and seeing what content is working — an SMS platform will do this for you. With the help of automation, you can reach your customers anywhere, at any time. 

Know the Truth About SMS Messaging

Now you know the 4 most common myths about SMS messaging and understand why they just aren’t true. 

It’s a tool that will help you reach customers of all age ranges, that can provide an improved personalized experience, and that won’t simply get deleted upon arrival. SMS messaging is proven to increase engagement and will provide your customers with a better experience. 

So what are you waiting for? Start providing your customers with the communication they want from you: SMS messages.