SMS Marketing vs. Email Marketing: Which is Better for Your Business?

Last Updated: 

September 27, 2024

For decades, email proved itself the king of mass digital marketing. Today, SMS messaging has become the new, cost-effective, and personable way to connect your brand promotions with a target audience. Consumers are constantly bombarded with thousands of ads every day via email, social media, and campaigns. Research demonstrates that people are more likely to open and connect with a text message compared to an email. 

Messages sent via text are shorter, more visual, and pack more punch than email marketing. An SMS message feels more immediate and relaxed. Since most people spend a lot of time looking at their phones, a great marketing text can grab their attention. Small businesses can use an app like AutoForward Text or a reputable online SMS service provider to increase connection and boost sales in a mobile-centric world to make the difference between engagement and conversion. 

Discover how SMS and email marketing differ and how to decide which one is better for your business.

Key Takeaways

  1. Higher engagement rates: SMS marketing boasts a 98% open rate, far exceeding email marketing's 20%, leading to higher click-through rates, views, and conversions.
  2. Immediate and personal connection: SMS messages reach customers quickly, fostering a casual and comfortable environment that encourages interaction and purchases.
  3. Targeted audience: SMS marketing requires opt-in, ensuring that you reach an audience genuinely interested in your products or services, compared to sending unsolicited emails.
  4. Faster response times: Most people open a marketing text message within 90 seconds, while it can take up to 1.5 hours for them to open and engage with an email advertisement.
  5. Versatility in communication: SMS is ideal for delivering alerts, updates, limited-time deals, and engaging in two-way communication, while email is more suited for newsletters and detailed announcements.
  6. Reduced spam perception: With up to 85% of marketing emails being ignored as spam, SMS marketing offers a more reliable way to reach your customers and maintain their attention.
  7. Customisable campaigns: SMS marketing apps allow businesses to tailor their campaigns, set release schedules, and prioritise texts and voicemails for improved customer service.
Want to Close Bigger Deals?

1. Get Better Rates 

We all get tons of emails every day. We can’t click on our email inbox without a flood of new solicited or unsolicited emails. How many of those do you open? How many do you read? How many of these emails actually convince you to act?

In contrast to just 20% of marketing emails, 98% of SMS marketing messages are opened. Up to 85% of marketing emails get ignored as spam. In fact, most people open a marketing text message within a record 90 seconds after it arrives, while the same person usually takes up to an hour and a half to open, read, or take other action with an email advertisement. 

If you’re a business owner looking to boost business and hit your target audience in a fresh, casual, and relevant way, consider using an app that allows you to customise your campaign, and set releases without having to check back in and prioritise texts and voicemails for better customer service.

Compared to email marketing, SMS marketing has much higher rates when it comes to the click-through rate (CTR), views, and sales conversions. This means that your audience will open almost 98 messages out of 100 text messages that you send, while you can only expect an open rate of 20 out of 100 emails sent, but you need to ensure that people also have a way of two-way communication, to avoid customers' questions such as 'why aren't my messages delivering?' which also streamlines communication transparency.

2. Message Consumers Right Away

One of the best things about SMS marketing apps that lets you create, manage, and spread your ads, deals, promotions, or updates is that it creates a sense of immediacy without pressuring consumers. 

A text message gets into the hands of potential customers much faster than a traditional email. It’s also a more informal way to create a connection. Data shows that people tend to engage more with a text message, click on a link, or make a purchase when on their phones. 

Because it’s also more immediate and casual, people feel more comfortable checking out an ad, and the more comfortable people feel around your product or service, and the less pressured that they feel to buy, the more likely they are to complete a purchase. 

3. Let Consumers Opt Out or In

If you’re a small business looking to expand its customer base and grow its revenue, it’s important to make sure that you’re reaching people who want to engage with your company, service, or product. 

Since text messages require users to opt-in, this automatically means that you’re reaching people who want to hear more about your business. Instead of sending email after email out into the dark hoping for customers to bite, consider using an auto forwarding SMS system to streamline your communication and reach your audience more effectively.

While email marketing has its uses and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, adding SMS marketing to your advertising strategy can expand your horizons to meet customers in a personalised way.

When Should You Use SMS vs Email Marketing?

Choosing the right format to deliver your deals, promotions, or message depends on the type of media that you use.

For example, if you want to send out newsletters, large and visual announcements about your products, full-length educational content, press releases, publicity messages, or technical B2B campaigns, an email is the best way to deliver your message to your target audience. 

On the other hand, if you want to deliver an alert, update, or notification, get the word out about limited-time deals or product offers, confirm a purchase, or engage in two-way communication with a consumer, a text message is a fast, efficient, and effective way to do this.

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