The Introduction of SMS Marketing Automation
Since its early days, SMS marketing automation has evolved significantly, becoming a powerful tool in the hands of marketers. As we move into 2024, the integration of SMS into marketing automation programs is more crucial than ever.
Marketing automation, like that done with tools from Constant Contact or HubSpot, sends out emails automatically based on a lead’s behavior. For example, if a known lead reads your blog about fly fishing, the system will automatically send out an email with a related offer for a fly fishing vacation.
Essentially, the backend CRM system notes the lead’s activity, and triggers an email. Yet, analysis by Campaign Monitor, an email marketing provider, found that the average open rate for emails is just 17.92%. More than 80% of all emails sent to opt-in customers either sit unopened in the lead’s inbox or are deleted.
What many marketers and businesses owners don’t realize is that they could be developing the same marketing automation process using SMS messages instead of email. The CRM would recognize the activity by the known lead and trigger a text message with a related offer.
The difference between SMS and email open rates is stunning. SMS boasts a 95% open rate. When you contrast the numbers, 19 out of 20 SMS recipients open text messages that they receive from brands, whereas only 4 out 20 email recipients see their email messages.
So why aren’t more marketing managers creating marketing automation programs that run through their leads’ phones rather than their inboxes?
Comparing Email vs SMS Costs
There is a perception that SMS messages are expensive, and email messages are free. It’s certainly true that when SMS technology first came out, text messages were expensive. There were stories in the news of teenage girls racking up thousands of dollars in phone bills from their SMS usage, but the reality today is that the price of an SMS message in the United States and Canada is less than a penny, and between 2-5¢ throughout most of Europe (Try our online calculator for any country Messagewhiz.com > Resources > Calculator) without any type of set-up fee, subscription, or registration cost.
Email, of course, is free, although the services you would use for marketing automation programs is not. If you’re using Constant Contact, you’re paying $20 a month for unlimited emails. For the same $20, you could send out 2,857 SMS messages to customers in the United States.
Keeping Your CRM Updated
A CRM is located on a computer server. Email, even when it’s opened on a phone, is on a computer server as well. The offer you are sending will take recipients to a landing page, also located on a server. With all the marketing automation elements sitting on the same type of platform, it’s pretty easy to see how CRM could capture all the information it needs.
SMS messages leave the familiar world of computer servers and moves to the telephone network to deliver the message. After clicking on a link in the message, the recipient is transferred back onto a computer server. Jumping back and forth between platforms may give marketing managers pause, as they worry that important interactions will not be captured by their CRM.
However, today’s CRM systems are smart enough to track a customer journey that moves onto a phone network. The CRM can easily record that a SMS message was sent, capture whether or not the SMS was read, and see if recipients clicked on the link to the landing page.
Advanced CRM Integration with SMS
Modern CRM systems have become increasingly sophisticated in 2024, making it easier to track and manage SMS interactions:
- Seamless Data Capture: Today’s CRM systems are designed to track every customer interaction, whether it happens through SMS, email, or social media. This means that integrating SMS into your CRM provides a complete view of the customer journey, allowing for better segmentation and more effective campaigns.
- Enhanced Automation: Advanced CRM platforms now offer seamless integration with SMS, enabling automated workflows that trigger messages based on customer behavior. This ensures that your communications are timely and relevant, increasing their impact.
Creating the Message
Email allows marketers to share newsletters made up of pictures, articles, and calls to action, while SMS is only capable of 160 characters, including links. Many marketers prefer the aesthetic of email over the utilitarian functionality of SMS.
Interestingly, it is the subject – and not the design – that draws readers into an email. The same text that is luring users into reading an email can be utilized in a text message, with a link that opens up a perfectly designed and executed landing page.
2024 SMS Marketing Trends
In 2024, SMS marketing automation continues to lead the way in customer engagement strategies. Two of the most significant trends are AI-driven personalization and omni-channel integration:
- AI-Driven Personalization: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning have revolutionized SMS marketing by enabling hyper-personalization. AI tools can analyze customer behavior in real-time, allowing businesses to send tailored messages at the most impactful moments. This level of personalization leads to higher engagement and conversion rates.
- Omni-Channel Integration: Successful marketing strategies in 2024 are omni-channel. Integrating SMS with other platforms like email, social media, and chatbots creates a seamless and consistent customer journey. This approach ensures that your messaging is cohesive across all touchpoints, enhancing the customer experience and increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Incorporating SMS into Marketing Automation
While there may be any number of preconceived biases leading marketers to choose email over SMS, the difference in open rates should be enough for marketers to test automated SMS marketing.
As we look forward to 2024, SMS marketing automation is poised to become even more integral to successful marketing strategies. With advancements in AI, CRM integration, and omni-channel marketing, SMS offers unmatched opportunities for customer engagement and conversion. Whether you’re looking to drive sales, improve customer retention, or enhance your overall marketing efforts, SMS marketing automation should be a cornerstone of your strategy.
Contact our SMS experts, and run some marketing automation tests with your leads. You’ll be impressed with your text’s performance.
Looking to add SMS to your marketing mix? Learn about bulk SMS services and how they can drive results across industries—from B2B SMS marketing to SMS solutions for businesses. Explore the future of communication with CPaaS solutions that integrate SMS with other channels for an omni-channel experience.
