An increasing number of companies are turning to SMS messaging for business communications and this is, in large part, due to the widespread use of this texting technology. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a sales team member to hear something like, “just text it to me!” as they engage with a client or customer. Naturally, you want to meet the client where they are with their communication channels, especially when the alternative would potentially require a client to go out of their way and download a messaging app — something that many would be reluctant to do.
SMS text messaging is convenient, to be certain, and this communication channel offers lots of benefits, providing you use the right technology and tools such as an enterprise messaging app with SMS capabilities. This last point is critical because otherwise, you could run into risk management challenges and obstacles associated with regulatory compliance and record keeping laws, amongst others.
Today’s SMS Text Messaging Trends and Statistics
SMS text messaging is a popular business communication channel, with 55% of companies using this messaging technology to connect with customers and clients. Meanwhile, 7 in 10 customers surveyed said they have opted-in to receive marketing-related texts from a business and 6 in 10 customers said they wanted the ability to communicate back and forth with a business using SMS.
SMS texts are associated with rapid engagement too, with more than half of users replying to texts within two minutes of receiving a message. By the five minute mark, 85% of users will have read and replied to a SMS message. On average, users reported that they engaged using text messages more than any other app on their mobile devices, including social media apps.
The younger the user, the faster they tend to engage over SMS. A 2022 study found that nearly half of all Gen Z users check their texts within one minute of receiving a text, which is 27% faster than the national average. Compare these figures to the figures associated with email and the differential is clear. It’s estimated that one-third of users reply to emails within a few hours, while 16% may take a day or longer to reply via email.
These texts are very effective from a marketing perspective too, with many companies reporting SMS click-through rates of up to 35% — a figure that’s around three times higher than the typical click-through rate for marketing emails. Studies have also found that 7 in 10 consumers subscribe to at least one SMS marketing campaign. About 55% of companies surveyed had an active SMS campaign.
With stats such as these, the power of SMS is clear, both from a marketing perspective and from a perspective of business communications.
The Advantages of SMS Messaging for Business Communications
SMS texts offer lots of benefits to companies that opt to leverage this communication channel for their chats with clients, customers and others in the business realm. SMS message benefits are many and varied, including the following.
Texts align with how we naturally communicate; that is, in short bursts as the thought arises. This leads to more effective communications overall, both from the perspective of the sender and the message recipient.
SMS text messaging does not require a client, customer or other text recipient to install a new app or software. They can text with your business using their existing technology. No new downloads or app installs required!
SMS texts can be sent and received via a business messaging app like SayHey Messenger®, allowing for essential message data exports, data retention and moderation. This ensures your company’s communications remain compliant from a regulatory oversight perspective and in terms of record keeping laws.
SMS text messaging allows for timely communications since the messages appear right on the user’s mobile device. The average person rarely finds themselves beyond arm’s reach of their mobile device, making SMS a very efficient channel for connecting with others at a moment’s notice. One study found that the average user checks text messages more often than any other app on their mobile device and one-third of users checked their texts within a minute of receiving an alert.
While the recipient does not need to install and run an app to leverage SMS text messages, your company’s sales team will need to use a messaging platform that allows for legal and regulatory compliance. SayHey Messenger® allows for in-app messaging and external messaging via SMS. This allows users to engage clients or customers using SMS, while maintaining access to compliance-related tools and capabilities.
Boosting Communications Efficiency and Minimizing Risk With a Business Messaging App
It’s clear the instant messaging brings many advantages to companies seeking to connect more effectively with customers and clients, but consumer-grade SMS platforms represent an area of concern in the risk management landscape. Many of these risks can be mitigated with the deployment of an instant messaging mobile app and desktop platform that’s specifically designed for business communications. That is precisely what SayHey Messenger® is designed to do.
SayHey Messenger® is a unique and regulatory-compliant business instant messaging platform that solves many of the challenges that companies face when it comes to communication. The team at 7T developed SayHey Messenger® as a method for patching the holes in your company’s messaging situation.
The SayHey Messenger® app features:
- Data sovereignty for control and ownership of all messaging data;
- Fully compliant instant messaging for regulated businesses;
- Seamlessly integrates into existing company software platforms;
- Admin portal for moderation, auditing, and inclusivity;
- SayHey Spaces for company-wide broadcasts and team collaborations;
- Engaging, intuitive user interface for incredible adoption rates;
- Send compliant SMS messages to external users with full data retention; and
- Custom UI with your logo, colors and branding elements for a style that’s all yours.
SayHey Messenger® offers two deployments: a SayHey Messenger® Business deployment with a mobile app platform (for iOS and Android) and web app portal. There’s also SayHey Messenger® Enterprise deployments, which entail storing all messaging data in the client’s private cloud environment and the platform is fully integrated within the client’s existing software platforms, including mobile applications. This allows users to access their instant messages without leaving the screen, leading to greater productivity, higher user adoption rates and better efficiency.
Consider using SayHey Messenger® as your business messaging platform. And the best part? We can deploy this business messaging solution in a matter of days. Contact us today to learn more about SayHey Messenger®.
