By definition, SMS marketing allows businesses to reach out to customers through SMS text messages. SMS, an acronym for short message service, has become an increasingly popular way for companies to build more direct relationships with new and existing customersespecially with the near-ubiquity of mobile phones.

However, SMS marketing has become synonymous with marketing on other messaging channels such as RCS marketing, MMS marketing, or WhatsApp marketing.

Yes, text messages, whether by SMS, RCS, or MMS, can be a highly effective marketing channel.Industry studiesshow open rates averaging 98%. Additionally, 90% of users read their messages within three minutes of delivery, making it a fast way to reach customers.

Text message marketing makes customer communication easy with fast delivery, near immediate viewership, high open rates, andhigh click-through rates. It can be personalized which is important for todays customers who increasingly expect value and relevance from communications. Additionally, many customers prefer SMS over traditional marketing channels.

SMS marketing can be used for loyalty campaigns, welcome messages, product announcements, time-sensitive promotional offers, abandoned cart notifications, and more. Personalized SMS campaigns are also highly effective. (Like offering a discount code to customers for a product theyve shown interest in previously.)

Use opt-in forms on your website, run text-to-join campaigns, offer exclusive deals, or collect numbers at checkout. Always make sure customers understand what theyre signing up for.

Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but the key is balance. Too many messages can lead to unsubscribes. Most marketers find success with 24 messages per month, depending on relevance and value. Test it out and optimize based on your findings with your customers!

Absolutely. You can personalize your messages with customer data including name, location, product preferences, or purchase history. Personalized texts typically perform better in terms of engagement and conversion, and they make your customers feel seen.

Start by choosing a messaging provider, then build a compliant subscriber list (with clear opt-in), and define your campaign goals. From there, you can segment audiences, personalize your marketing messages, and schedule sends based on customer time preferences or triggers.