Businesses of all kinds are constantly adapting to the latest channels and tools to help them reach their audience — from direct mail to email, from in-person meetings to virtual events, from static ads to videos. In today’s world, where mobility and immediacy are valued, the new frontier for your marketing, research, and employee programs is text message.
The first key is to make sure any software you use to spread your message can adapt with you. Your survey platform, marketing automation tools, and rewards platform should help you as you incorporate SMS messaging.
But even with the right tools, you or your managers might still be reluctant to move some of your email efforts to SMS messaging. That’s understandable, so here are some statistics to show you why you should.
READ MORE: 3 Reasons to Send Virtual Gift Cards via SMS
By 2025, 73% of internet users will access the web only on their smartphones. (Source: World Advertising Research Center)
It’s no secret that many consumers are using their smartphones for everything, including GPS, payments, and web surfing. Before long, that will be the default. Yes, that includes email on smartphones, but the younger generations are even starting to opt instead for more mobile-focused communications, with many deciding to not have or regularly check email. You’ll get better access to those audiences, as well as to those who have a data-enabled phone but no home internet access, by using a rewards platform that can deliver marketing and research incentives via SMS.
The average open rates for SMS messages are as high as 98%, versus about 20% for email. (Source: Gartner)
A third of consumers check their text notifications within one minute of receiving a text message, and 85% check them within five minutes. (Source: Simple Texting)
Fifty-three percent of consumers check their text messages at least 11 times a day, while only 29% check their email that often. They’re also more likely to have push notifications turned on for new texts versus new emails. (Source: Simple Texting)
Less than 3% of SMS messages are considered spam, compared with 85% of emails. (Source: Textedly)
No marketing campaign or survey invitation — not even one with a delightful digital delivery from your rewards platform — will be successful if your audience doesn’t even read it. With the huge number of emails that an average person receives, it’s difficult to make yours stand out (and avoid the evil spam filters!). A text message, however, is far more likely to be seen and opened, rather than simply deleted. And not only that, it’s likely to be opened quickly, so it won’t get buried in an overstuffed inbox. The result for your rewards program? Better claim rates and more happy recipients.
Response rates for SMS surveys average around 50%, compared to 29% for email and 9% for phone surveys. (Source: Voxco)
In 2022, 70% of consumers opted in to receive texts from businesses. (Source: Simple Texting)
Three-quarters of users would like to get offers, including promotions and coupons, via SMS. (Source: Textedly)
Two decades ago, it took awhile for people to get used to email advertisements, and the same can be said for text message marketing. But consumers increasingly want to engage with businesses via SMS, whether that means answering a survey or receiving special offers and promotions. When your rewards platform supports SMS delivery, you’ll give recipients the experience they want and can encourage further engagement in your reward messages.
While SMS is becoming a more popular way to engage certain audiences, it’s not necessarily right for every campaign and every purpose. That’s why you ultimately need flexible tools that allow you to continuously adapt and pivot as needed, giving you options such as delivering rewards by text message, incentivizing survey respondents while maintaining their anonymity, and approving recipients individually or in bulk.
Ready to learn more about the most flexible rewards platform available? Request a demo to see all the amazing features that BHN Rewards has to offer (including SMS delivery)!
Hannah is a reformed journalist who has more than 15 years of experience and now focuses on content marketing for innovative tech companies.
Hannah is a reformed journalist who has more than 15 years of experience and now focuses on content marketing for innovative tech companies.
