20 SMS Marketing Statistics You Should Know

In today’s modern fast-paced world people are constantly busy, and it’s often challenging to connect with them. That said, their mobile phones are rarely far away, which is why SMS marketing has become so popular among businesses and customers alike. Check out our list of SMS marketing stats to learn more about this form of marketing, along with why it has become the ultimate way to reach consumers and how you can incorporate it into your business strategy.

SMS Marketing Stats (Editor’s Choice)

• 55% of people use native messenger on mobile devices to send texts. (EZ Texting)
• 91% of consumers would opt-in for text messages from brands. (Attentive Mobile Consumer Report)
• 34% of people read their messages within five minutes of receiving them. (EZ Texting)
• Increasing subscription numbers is the number one tactical challenge for marketers. (Attentive Mobile)
• 58% of consumers believe that SMS is the most effective way for brand communication. (Zipwhip State of Texting Report)
• 96% of marketers using text messages said it helped them drive revenue. (Attentive Mobile)

SMS Marketing Stats

1. 55% of people use native messenger on mobile devices to send texts.

Despite the rising popularity of messaging apps, native platforms on devices are still users’ favorite means of communication. Besides the simplicity in design, experts also believe privacy concerns are among the reasons people favor native platforms over online apps.the simplicity in design, experts also believe privacy concerns are among the reasons people favor native platforms over online apps.

(EZ Texting)

2. Americans check their phones an average of 47 times a day.

American users check their smartphones an average of 47 times per day. The exception is the 18-24 age group who admitted to checking their phone a massive 86 times daily.

(Journal of Accountancy)

3. Welcome messages are the most commonly used automated text message response among marketers.

Text message marketing facts reveal that marketers prefer using triggered messages to nurture and set the tone of future communications the most, by sending greeting messages. Other popular uses include re-engaging customers by sending out cart abandonment or browse abandonment reminders.

(Attentive Mobile)

4. 91% of customers are interested in signing up for texts.

While nearly all customers surveyed said they would sign up to receive texts from brands, over half of them said they have already done so. Yet, the supply isn’t keeping up with the growing demand for business SMS messaging. With the demand this high, it is expected that more firms would invest more in

text message marketing software and services.

(Attentive Mobile Consumer Report)

5. 97% of Americans own a cellphone of some kind.

A more comprehensive look into these numbers reveals that 92% of seniors own a mobile phone, as well as 97% of the people aged 50-64. All of those younger than 49 meanwhile own a cell phone or a smartphone.

The latest SMS marketing stats prove that text messaging is not just for the younger generation; you can reach anyone through SMS, regardless of their age.

(Pew Research)

6. 90% of phone users check their phones within 30 minutes of waking up.

The majority of respondents (32%) picked “immediately”. The use of mobile phones has already been on the rise, yet the pandemic breakout even further compelled people to check in with friends and family or read the news first thing in the morning.

While it seems these are the prime times for marketers to invest more in text messaging marketing, it makes issues of frequency and relevance more important than usual to avoid putting off customers.

(EZ Texting)

7. The majority of people (34%) read texts within five minutes of receiving them.

Text message marketing stats further reveal that 89% of phone users would read a message within the 30 minutes they receive it, with 10% under 30 seconds, 26% within one minute, and 34% within five minutes. Though the volume of SMS communication has increased significantly, users still take the time to glance at the messages, and 90% of them will read and respond to the message within 30 minutes of receiving it. Compared to email’s 17.92% open rate, text messages are 134% more likely to be read.

(EZ Texting)

8. 56% of US retailers plan to increase mobile SMS marketing investments.

The pandemic accelerated the adaptation significantly. In January 2020, 51% of retailers reported planning on increasing investment in text marketing; the figure went up to 56% in June. Another analysis showed an 8.5% and 20% growth in the volume of SMS business marketing messages in March and April, respectively, compared to February.

(eMarketer)

9. Increasing subscriber sign-ups is their top tactical challenge among marketers.

Marketers prioritize forming a healthy subscriber base to build their campaigns upon. Text message marketing statistics further reveal that delivering personalized content and prolonging customer texting throughout the lifecycle are ranked high among the main tactical challenges.

(Attentive Mobile)

10. Dollar-off discounts are the number one incentive for signing up for an SMS program.

Consumers are eager to opt-in for text message marketing and wish to benefit from it. Besides finding the best deals, the survey shows that customers would also like to be informed about the exclusive offers like free gifts with the next purchase, resource access, and loyalty points.

Ultimately, SMS marketing facts underscore that SMS is not only a robust acquisition tool but can also be used for retention and upselling with the help of a personalized touch.

(Attentive Mobile Consumer Report)

11. 51% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase if they receive a text message with images and media.

The audio-visual dominance in the digital realm is reflected in the text messaging service for business as well—and the channel already has developed multimedia options. Text message marketing statistics show that today messages that contain a GIF, image, or video compel snatch the attention of over half of customers, while regular messages don’t have that strong of an effect. Yet, the relevance of the content is almost as important—33% of customers say they don’t mind whether it is an SMS or MMS, as long as the text message ad is relevant to them.

(Attentive Mobile Consumer Report)

12. Customers find appointment reminders the most valuable texts they receive from businesses.

Though customers enjoy benefits in terms of purchasing, most still find appointment reminders (64%) and shipping/delivery updates (48%) the most valuable forms of business text messaging. Using SMS for reminders and updates of sorts seems more feasible for customers, as it avoids risking being overlooked in an email inbox.

(Zipwhip State of Texting Report)

13. The majority of consumers (42.04%) prefer receiving four to six messages per month from businesses.

SMS marketing statistics further reveal that almost 40% of customers would like to hear from brands two to three times a week, while almost 19% are okay with receiving promotional SMS once a day. While statistics as such are helpful to get a general idea, it’s important for firms to determine what works the best for their specific audience and run tests either on their own or with the help of digital marketing specialists. Customers value timely and relevant SMS advertising at a reasonable frequency, which is also considerate of the sales cycle and personal preferences.

(Attentive Mobile Consumer Report)

Stats on SMS Marketing Effectiveness

14. The average click-through rate for SMS marketing is 19.3%.

This compares to 4.2% of all emails that result in clicks. A bulk text messaging system, on the other hand, delivers a much better click-through rate, making it one of the number one ways for lead generation online.

(Text Republic)

15. The average open rate for text message marketing campaigns is 98%, compared to 20% for email marketing campaigns.

Compared to email, the SMS open rate stands much higher. This shows that most customers see texting as a more trusted, personal way to communicate and receive marketing offers. Text messaging ad campaigns are also cheaper than many email campaigns and have a higher return on investment.

(ManyChat, MarketerHire)

16. Text messaging has six times the engagement of email.

SMS text marketing statistics suggest consistently high read and open rates for promotional messages, while email rates hover around 20% across verticals. Though the majority of the world now owns a smartphone and is online most of the time, emails still come with the bandwidth and connection speed requirements to load and read emails with several attachments. Texts, on the other hand, require no connection and deliver the immediacy that results in easy access and effectiveness.

(EZ Texting)

17. 96% of marketers using text messages said it helped them drive revenue.

Nearly all marketers using text messages for business said it helped them drive revenue, with almost 60% reporting overwhelmingly increased revenue generation. Given its low cost and high engagement rates and reach, small business SMS marketing stats favor firms with low budgets. Research also suggests that firms can get up to $71 for every dollar they spend on SMS text messaging marketing.

(Attentive Mobile)

18. Half of the consumers respond to a text within three minutes.

People are swift to reply to a text, and the response rate contrasts significantly with sales calls, which have a conversion rate of 15%, and cold calling, which only converts about 1% of the leads. This makes text message advertisement strategies essential for time-sensitive, participation-heavy offers and events, such as limited time/supply sales, contests, or event registration.

(EZ Texting)

19. 66% of marketers are likely to adopt text marketing in the near future.

Stats on text message marketing reveal that more and more marketers are beginning to adopt a strategy that is both reasonably priced and promising. Of that, 66.2%, 32.4% are “very likely” to implement campaigns of sorts, and 33.8% are “likely”. 18.3% are “unsure”, and only 15.5% are “unlikely” to take action.

(Attentive Mobile)

20. More than 69% of consumers would interact with businesses via text message.

Text messages have been on our devices long before the internet came along. It’s now habitual to have two-way communication through text messages—and consumers are seeking a similar sort of interaction with the brands, text message marketing trends show. Almost 70% of consumers indicated that they would be extremely likely or likely to connect with a brand to receive SMS customer service, and a further 24% said they would consider it—urging firms to implement support solutions to their marketing efforts.

(Attentive Mobile Consumer Report)

21. 44% of firms using text messaging marketing are unfamiliar with the TCPA.

The US Congress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in 1991 to safeguard consumer privacy and restrict telemarketing activities via phone calls and text messages. Not complying with TCPA rules throughout text message advertising campaigns can result in costly penalties for businesses—and a worrying number of firms are unaware of the appropriate regulations.

(Zipwhip State of Texting Report)

22. More than half of marketers haven’t sent a message to customers who didn’t opt in first.

Though the majority avoid unsolicited messaging, text message marketing stats show that 27% of firms have sent promotional messages to customers who haven’t opted-in. Text message marketing is lucrative and effective only when it is consensual, and the law also prohibits sending spam messages.

(Zipwhip State of Texting Report)

23. Special offers are the most commonly used type of campaign message.

Marketers use various techniques to create buzz around their brands using text messages marketing, but the most commonly sought-after tactic is to develop a sense of urgency among subscribers. SMS marketing statistics cite special offers, like free shipping or limited-time sales, as the most popular type of campaign used by text marketers, followed by new product announcements and exclusive offers.

(Attentive Mobile)

24. 58% of consumers believe text messages are the most effective way for brands to communicate.

The majority of consumers believe SMS is the most convenient and efficient way for businesses to reach them quickly. This has become especially important since the COVID-19 breakout and the subsequent increase in the volume of corporate communications explaining changing regulations and safety mandates.

SMS marketing trends note that it has become harder to reach customers due to the influx of such notifications, as businesses used email and phone calls excessively, singling out company text messaging as a more direct way of communication.

(Zipwhip State of Texting Report)

25. 51% of marketers currently running a text campaign say they aren’t using SMS to its full potential in every area.

Marketers have expressed interest in developing an SMS marketing strategy and getting better results with less spending. Yet, nearly half of those surveyed rate their expertise in text message advertising as average but think they can and should work on it more to better use the channel. Only 22.5% of marketers surveyed feel very confident about their efforts, statistics on text message marketing show.

The channel can be fully leveraged when aligned with other marketing efforts and operated with informed decisions. 26.4% think they fail to use the full potential of SMS, urging firms to consult text marketing companies or other specialized advertising agencies to position their efforts within the larger picture productively.

(Attentive Mobile)

26. Aligning text marketing with other marketing channels is the number one strategic challenge for businesses, text message marketing stats show.

Strategically, marketers struggle to align their text messaging strategies with other marketing initiatives the most. SMS marketing services should complement other simultaneously run campaigns to improve their productivity and avoid clustering. Apart from alignment, firms also struggle with finding enough time and people to develop strategies.

(Attentive Mobile)

Conclusion

As our list of SMS marketing stats shows, incorporating a text message marketing program into your strategy can have many benefits. While many people today have access to email via their smartphones, they hardly open and read their emails as regularly and promptly as they do receive text messages. The fact is, SMS marketing plays a fundamental role in any mobile strategy. Not simply does it have a larger reach than any other form of marketing, but it also runs a direct and intimate communication channel that customers prefer.

FAQs

Source

• EZ Texting
• Attentive Mobile Consumer Report
• Attentive Mobile
• Zipwhip State of Texting Report
• Journal of Accountancy
• Pew Research
• eMarketer
• Text Republic
• ManyChat
• MarketerHire
• OptinMonster
• Vermont.gov

By Idil Woodall