New to using SMS for business communication, but curious to learn more? Chances are you’ve heard of the effectiveness of texting prospects and customers. Business SMS is a growing trend, and it’s not hard to see why. Text messages are fast, efficient, and nearly guaranteed to be read. What’s more, they can be easily integrated into existing systems and workflows. As a result, business SMS is an increasingly popular way for companies to communicate with customers and staff.
There are a few key trends that are driving the growth of business SMS. The rise of mobile devices has made it easier than ever for people to stay connected. Text messages can be easily accessed on smartphones, tablets, and even laptops. This means that businesses can reach their customers no matter where they are. Second, the rise of chatbots and artificial intelligence is making it possible for businesses to automate many of their customer interactions. This is particularly helpful for companies that need to handle large volumes of customer inquiries. Finally, the ubiquity of business SMS means that more and more companies are beginning to adopt SMS as a primary communication channel.
Before you invest in a text messaging campaign for your business, it’s important to do your due diligence and ensure SMS is the right choice for your team. We’ve compiled 8 advantages and disadvantages of using text messaging as a form of communication for business, so you can increase your chances of succeeding with SMS marketing and sales campaigns.
- Advantages of Business SMS
- Disadvantages of Business SMS
- How to Get Started With Business Text Messaging
Pros of Business SMS
With business SMS, you can reach a large number of people quickly and easily. And because SMS messages have a high open rate—nearly 98%—you can be sure that your message will be seen by your intended audience. Additionally, business SMS is a more personal form of communication than email, making it more likely to encourage customers to take action. Finally, business SMS is a flexible communications tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, from sending appointment reminders to conducting customer surveys. When used effectively, business SMS can be a powerful marketing and customer service tool.
1. Reach a Wide Audience
As mentioned, the ubiquity of mobile devices means that businesses can reach their target audiences no matter where they are. This is a major advantage over other communication channels like email, which require recipients to be near a computer in order to receive messages. It’s simple to set up a bulk SMS campaign that can send text messages to many prospects or customers at once.
2. Instant Delivery
Another advantage of business SMS is that it allows you to deliver your message instantly. This is important because it allows you to take advantage of timely opportunities or respond quickly to customer inquiries. SMS messages are typically delivered within seconds, so you can be sure that your message will reach its intended recipient quickly.
3. Personalized Messages
Another advantage of business SMS is that it allows you to send personalized messages to your customers or clients. This means that you can include the recipient’s name in the message, which can make them feel more valued as a customer. You can also customize the message to include other information, such as a special offer or coupon code.
4. Increased Engagement
Finally, business SMS can help to increase engagement with your brand. This is because people are more likely to read and respond to an SMS message than they are to an email or even a phone call. Additionally, business SMS allows you to track who opens and reads your messages, which can help you to gauge the effectiveness of your marketing campaign
Cons of Business SMS
Despite the many benefits of business SMS, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider. One downside is that business SMS can be disruptive, especially if customers opt-in to receive notifications outside of normal business hours. Additionally, business SMS messages are often limited to 160 characters, which can make it difficult to convey complex information. And finally, customers may not appreciate being contacted via text message for marketing or sales purposes. For these reasons and the ones below, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of business SMS before implementing it as part of your marketing strategy.
1. Can be Spammy
One of the primary disadvantages of business SMS is that it can be used to send spam messages. Spam is defined as unsolicited, often commercial messages sent in bulk. While spam is not necessarily illegal, it can be a nuisance for recipients, who may have to wade through a large number of unwanted messages in order to find the ones they actually want to read. What’s more, if a recipient doesn’t recognize the number, or doesn’t remember opting-in to SMS messages, they might block the sender or opt-out of the message immediately.
2. Requires Opt-in
One of the most significant disadvantages of SMS marketing is that it requires customers to opt-in before they can start receiving messages. This means that businesses will need to put in extra effort in order to convince customers to sign up for their SMS service. Additionally, businesses will also need to make sure that they have a way to track opt-ins and opt-outs in order to comply with regulations.
3. Tight Regulations
Another disadvantage of business SMS is that it is tightly regulated, so businesses must be extremely careful to follow applicable regulations in the country and state they are operating in. For example, in order for businesses to send text messages to people within the US, they must comply with 10DLC regulations.
4. Limited Character Count
Finally, another disadvantage of business SMS is that each message is limited to 160 characters. This means that messages must be concise and to the point, which can sometimes be difficult to do. Longer messages may get confusing, and are prone to getting mixed up upon delivery by different phone carriers. Additionally, this can also make it difficult to include all the information that a recipient might need or want in a message.
How to Get Started With Business Text Messaging
Business text messaging is a great way to stay in touch with customers and clients. It’s fast, efficient, and easy to use. Plus, it’s a great way to build relationships with customers and clients. Here are a few tips on how to get started with business text messaging:
- First, you need to decide which business SMS platform you’re going to use. There are a number of different options out there, so take some time to research the different choices and select the one that’s right for you.
- Once you’ve chosen a business SMS platform, you’ll need to set up an account and purchase a business phone number. This will be the number that customers and clients will text when they want to reach you.
- Once you have your business phone number set up, you can start creating messages. Be sure to keep your messages clear, concise, and professional. Take into consideration these do’s and don’ts for cold texting your prospects.
- Finally, once you have your business text messaging system up and running, be sure to promote it! Let your customers and clients know that they can reach you by text message, and make it easy for them to do so. Include your business phone number in your email signature, on your website, and on social media. By promoting your business text messaging system, you’ll be sure to get the most out of it!
