With more than 83% of millennials opening text messages within 90 seconds of receiving them, SMS is one of the most effective forms of business communication.
Let’s discuss a few factors that make text communication essential for SMBs
1. They Get Read
Text messages have an average open rate of 98 percent compared to open email rates hovering around 20 percent. Moreover, email platforms include automatic email segmentation, which increases the chance of your emails ending up in the spam folder.
Text messages, on the other hand, are easy to access and can be referred back if needed.
2. Text Communication is Immediate
The average response time to an email is 90 minutes, whereas, for text messages, it is 90 seconds.
Therefore, if your communication is time-sensitive, like appointment reminders, then you need to ensure your consumers receive and interact with your message instantly.
3. It is Personal and Accessible
All mobile phones today are SMS enabled; moreover, more than 90 percent of Americans have their mobile phones within reach throughout the day.
Everyone can receive text messages, which makes it an ideal and effective medium to communicate with your target audience.
4. No Internet Required
Text messaging was one of the primary ways to communicate at a distance. Despite the massive boom in the digital world, text messages remain the only communication method that does not require an internet connection.
Mails, WhatsApp, Line, or Telegram all offer great features, but if you can’t pick a WiFi signal, you’ll get stuck. SMS allows you to deliver your message immediately, which improves the open and interaction rate significantly.
Moreover, text communication is download free, so all you need to do is just type and send.
Industries that can benefit the most from text communication
Although every sector can successfully implement text communication, some industries are known to benefit more. These industries include:
- Healthcare Industry
- Service-Related Industries
- Retail Establishments
- Entertainment Venues
- Restaurants And Food Vendors
- Real Estate Brokers And Agents
- Online Companies
- Media
- Education
The healthcare sector tops the list because missed appointments are common, and they cause a significant revenue loss to the providers. SMS enables clinics to send timely appointment reminders, which increase patient show ups. Health providers can also use text messages to send health tips or promotional messages.
Conclusion
75 percent of millennials prefer text communication for promotions and reminders, which certainly makes it an essential communication strategy for business. With excellent open and response rates, along with better accessibility, SMS communications can help engage its customers better. Although all industries can utilize this communication strategy, the healthcare industry is reported to benefit the most.
# Text Communication
# SMB Marketing
# Customer Engagement
# PracticeDilly