As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and influences our lives, business owners are exploring ways to stay in touch with customers. With uncertainty continuing to loom, for businesses, it is important that you be available to answer your customers’ questions, communicate your business’s status and offer support to your community. It may mean you try completely new ways to reach your customers, such as SMS texting, email, or webchat.
And while many are frequenting the online space, SMS in the first few weeks of March increased by at least 32% compared to the same weeks of January. Additionally, research from Gartner reports that while emails are opened about 20% of the time, SMS messages are opened up to 98% of the time.
It is with these statistics; we delve into why SMS campaigns are better than email during this COVID-19 pandemic.
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SMS Messaging is a Highly Effective Form Of Communication
SMS is proving to be an exceptionally valuable and effective communication tool in these unprecedented times as it is contact-free, direct, immediate, and cost-effective.
Intergo Telecom founder, Marios Italos, notes that the scope for using SMS to flatten the curve is so much greater. He explains that:
“Governments, regional authorities, and their health departments can and should utilize two-way SMS to proactively open a real-time live communication line with the general public. Most people have mobile phones that can receive SMS. This makes it a fast and efficient way to contact large numbers of people – and allow them to respond. The potential for this at a time of limited physical contact and resources is enormous.
But more than that, SMS presents an opportunity for businesses to ensure that customers and staff are kept up to date with the changing landscape. Possibly empowering vulnerable groups to access the most-needed services.”
Why You Should Use SMS As Your Central Messaging Campaign
If you are still not convinced, here are more reasons why you should make SMS your core medium of communication.
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Immediate delivery
The first major benefit of SMS marketing during COVID – 19 is that they are opened more as compared to emails. SMS is very fast and efficient and is delivered in a matter of seconds, so your marketing message will reach your target audience (clients) almost immediately upon being sent. According to research, 98% of the texts that are sent to the customers are read within 3 minutes of being received, compared to some, if not most, emails being unopened or unnoticeable.
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Adaptable and Customizable
At the point when it comes to advantages of SMS advertising, you cannot ignore that it is easily adaptable. You can blend, edit, and match instant messages to fit with various things to help advance your business.
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Time management is easy
With SMS marketing, the time needed to execute your campaign is far less than that of email, enabling you to focus on different zones within your business. Sending an SMS is quick and easy while advertising your products and services far and wide.
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Mobile friendly
Nowadays, for all of the marketing campaigns, it is imperative to be mobile-friendly. People use their cell phones more than their laptops or PCs. Additionally, with many still limited with internet access; it is necessary that you make your marketing campaign mobile-friendly so that it can cater to the maximum number of people at the same time.
So, what can be more mobile-friendly than an SMS? - leading to SMS marketing during COVID – 19 is a major part of business today.
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Cost-effectiveness
SMS marketing is considered to be one of the most budget-friendly forms of marketing with the higher ROI compared to emails and other media. In a time where budgets are already constrained SMS campaigns during COVID – 19 is the sensible choice for your business.
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Direct
With just 160 characters permitted when sending an instant message, this usually promotes succinct messages rather than a busy campaign. The consumers face a barrage of advertising and often becomes numb to lengthy adverts. This type of marketing is simple and easier for clients to read and respond.
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Works well with other types of marketing
SMS campaigns need not be the only channel you use. It can be used in conjunction with other channels ensuring further reinforcement of your message or campaign. Using a shortened hyperlink is a great way to direct users to your website. A simple SMS reminder saying, "check your email for important updates", can also increase your email open rates. Demonstrating the ability of SMS to boost other forms of marketing and reach a wider demographic.
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Better engagement of the customers
2-way SMS communication can be used to keep your customer engaged, and more frequently, leaving your business top of mind, so to speak. Connect with your clients more and be available to them at all times. With SMS holding a 45% response rate (email has just 8%), the interaction with these texts is also significantly higher than other marketing tools.
Thus, SMS campaigns during COVID – 19 lead to increased business activity, which ultimately benefits you and your customer community.
iTouch Is Here For You
In light of the pandemic, the future will be ever more dependent on the digital approach to business. With so many options out there it can be a daunting task to decide which technologies best suits your business. Since this has been and remains our focus, let us guide you to the latest in technologies and tailor-make that which best suits your business. We have a wide range of communication solutions and it’s not always a situation where “one size fits all”.
Several of our clients require urgent communications sent out to their customer base as a result of COVID-19 and the impact associated thereto. As such we are committed to prioritising this requirement and have our teams available beyond the usual call of duty. If you feel your request demands this of us, please email priority@itouch.co.za
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