Leveraging the benefits of SMS marketing is a non-negotiable for eCommerce as it has emerged as a relevant tool for engaging customers and driving sales.
SMS, or Short Message Service marketing, allows businesses to send quick, direct messages to their customers, and be present right at their fingertips.
Whether it’s promotional offers, abandoned cart reminders, or order updates, SMS enables brands to reach their audience in real-time, ensuring that critical information is received immediately.
This is supported by some relevant statistics of this channel: its 98% open rate, with 90% of all SMS messages being opened within three minutes of being delivered.
So if you’ve been thinking about implementing automated SMS marketing in your eCommerce or business, let’s dive in right into the benefits of SMS marketing.
Benefits of SMS Marketing
We have identified 4 main benefits of SMS marketing and implementing SMS tools in your eCommerce business:
- Effectiveness of SMS marketing in Reaching warm eCommerce audiences
- Leveraging SMS marketing for improved customer engagement in eCommerce
- Integrating SMS marketing with other channels for a Consistent eCommerce brand experience
- Driving eCommerce sales and conversions through SMS marketing
In the next section, we’ll explore each of the benefits of SMS marketing
1. Effectiveness of SMS marketing in reaching warm eCommerce Audiences
Direct Communication with Customers
One of the main benefits of SMS marketing for eCommerce is the ability to communicate directly with customers.
SMS text marketing messages are delivered straight to their mobile devices, bypassing the clutter of email inboxes or social media feeds. This direct connection is particularly valuable in eCommerce, where timing is everything.
Whether it’s an alert about a flash sale or a restocking of a popular product, SMS creates a sense of urgency that can drive immediate action.
Timely Updates: SMS allows eCommerce businesses to send out real-time updates about upcoming sales, special offers, or shipping notifications, ensuring customers are always informed.
Real-time Feedback: After a purchase, companies can easily request feedback or reviews via SMS, strengthening customer relationships and improving service.
In the eCommerce sector, this direct line of communication not only fosters a stronger connection between the brand and the customer but also increases conversion rates by driving timely engagement with the business.
High Open Rates and Fast Response Times
SMS messages stand out for their exceptional open rates and fast response times, particularly within the eCommerce industry, where competition for customer attention is fierce.
SMS enjoy a 98% open rate, with most messages being read within minutes of receipt. This makes SMS an ideal channel for time-sensitive promotions, such as limited-time discounts or flash sales, which require immediate action.
- Instant Visibility: Unlike emails, which may sit unread in a crowded inbox, SMS messages are opened and acted upon almost immediately, making it perfect for urgent promotions.
- Consumer Preference: Over 90% of customers prefer to receive promotional content from trusted brands via SMS, which further underscores its relevance in the eCommerce space.
For eCommerce businesses, this high engagement potential is a key benefit of SMS marketing, enabling brands to reach their audience effectively and drive conversions efficiently.
2. Leveraging SMS marketing for improved customer engagement in eCommerce
Personalised Messaging SMS
Another of the benefits of SMS marketing is personalisation is at the heart of successful eCommerce marketing, and SMS allows businesses to tailor messages based on customer behaviour and preferences.
By using purchase history and browsing patterns, eCommerce brands can send personalised recommendations or exclusive offers that resonate with individual customers.
- Product Recommendations: Based on a customer’s recent purchases, eCommerce businesses can send SMS messages suggesting complementary products or services, encouraging additional sales.
- Exclusive Offers: Personalised messages, such as birthday discounts or loyalty rewards, help customers feel valued and appreciated.
This level of customisation enhances the customer experience and increases retention, making SMS a powerful tool for fostering long-term loyalty in the eCommerce sector.
3. Integrating SMS Marketing with Other Channels for a Consistent eCommerce Brand Experience
Multi-Channel Campaign Coordination
To maximise engagement and conversions in the eCommerce sector, brands should integrate SMS with other marketing channels such as email, social media, and paid digital ads. A well-coordinated multi-channel campaign might include an SMS alert for a limited-time sale, followed by an email with detailed product information and social media posts to generate additional buzz.
- Reinforced Messaging: SMS ensures that time-sensitive promotions, such as flash sales, are seen immediately, while email and social media reinforce the messaging, driving home the offer.
- Improved Customer Tracking: Coordinating SMS with other channels allows eCommerce brands to track customer interactions across platforms, providing valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviour.
By integrating SMS with a broader cross-channel strategy, eCommerce businesses can create a seamless customer journey that boosts engagement and increases sales.
Enhancing Omnichannel Strategy with SMS
In the context of eCommerce, an omnichannel strategy ensures that customers experience a consistent brand message, regardless of where they interact with the business. SMS plays a crucial role in this by providing real-time updates that complement other communication channels.
- Personalised Experiences: SMS can be used to send tailored promotions based on customer behaviour in other channels, such as email or website activity, ensuring that offers are both relevant and timely.
- Real-time Notifications: Whether it’s an order confirmation or shipping update, SMS ensures that customers receive critical information immediately, enhancing their overall experience.
Incorporating SMS into an omnichannel strategy allows eCommerce businesses to improve customer satisfaction and increase brand loyalty, ultimately driving more sales.
4. Driving eCommerce Sales and Conversions Through SMS Marketing
Promotional Offers via SMS
One of the most effective benefits of SMS marketing for eCommerce businesses is the ability to deliver time-sensitive promotional offers directly to customers’ mobile devices. With an impressive 98% open rate, SMS is almost guaranteed to be seen, making it an ideal channel for limited-time sales or flash promotions.
- Clear Call-to-Action: SMS messages should include a simple and direct call-to-action, such as “Shop Now” or “Claim Your Offer,” to encourage immediate engagement.
- Targeted Promotions: By using SMS marketing platforms like Frizbit, eCommerce businesses can segment their audiences and send highly relevant, personalised offers, increasing the success of each campaign.
Using SMS for Abandoned Cart Recovery
Abandoned carts are a major pain point for eCommerce businesses, but SMS marketing can be an effective tool for recovering these lost sales.
A well-timed SMS reminder can encourage customers to complete their purchase, especially when paired with a small incentive like free shipping or a discount.
- Personalised Reminders: Many SMS marketing software solutions, such as Frizbit, allow businesses to send automated, personalised messages, mentioning the specific items left in the cart, making the message more impactful.
- Incentivised Follow-up: Offering a discount or incentive via SMS increases the likelihood of the customer returning to complete their purchase, thus boosting conversion rates.
By leveraging SMS for promotional offers and cart recovery, eCommerce businesses can drive higher conversions and capture revenue that might otherwise be lost, illustrating the clear benefits of SMS marketing.
Conclusion
If you are an eCommerce manager or business owner, SMS marketing should be a tool to be using to target a warm-lead audience.
With its 98% open rate and fast response times, SMS ensures that promotional offers, abandoned cart reminders, and order updates are seen and acted upon quickly.
The real-time nature of SMS, is one of the most impacful benefits of SMS marketing, added with its ability to be integrated into a cross-channel marketing strategy, allows eCommerce businesses to create a seamless customer journey across multiple touchpoints.
By combining SMS with other channels and employing platforms like Frizbit for marketing automation and retargeting, brands can enhance customer engagement, recover lost sales, and ultimately bring their customers back.
