Did you know that over 6 billion texts are sent every day?
According to a new report, millennials check their phones an average of 150 times a day. The rest of the population averages 80 times a day, with some checking their phones more than 300 times a day, especially when on vacation.
With everyone, irrespective of age, chronically attached to their phones, text messaging proves to be a fantastic opportunity for businesses to interact with their customers.
For most businesses, email is usually the preferred means of communication, but only 20% of emails are ever opened, according to Gartner. On the flip side, a whopping 98% of text messages are opened and read.
The message is clear; to win the customer engagement game, you need to leverage texting for small businesses. Here are more reasons why your business needs texting.
1. Texting Is Versatile
The versatile nature of texting makes it the ideal medium for multiple types of business communication. Brands can use text messages for various purposes, including:
- Communicating a sales promotion
- Sending out payment and billing reminders
- Generating leads
- Announcing new products
- Providing customer support
With competition becoming fiercer by the day, your sales and support teams need to be as versatile and agile as they can be. Business text messaging gives them the option to stay ahead of the curve while improving the customer experience.
2. Texting has a Higher Engagement Rate
Text messages have a higher engagement rate compared to phone calls and emails. Here are a few stats to bring this point home.
- Texts have a 99% open rate with a 90 second average response time
- 78% of consumers wish they could have a text conversation with a business
- 90% of prospects prefer to be texted than to be called
In contrast, only 20% of prospects are willing to answer phone calls.
People have grown accustomed to their email inboxes being flooded with spam and are cautious when opening or clicking on email links. SMS inboxes, by contrast, offer more secure communication.
3. Texting Is Quicker
Nearly 50% of all sales go to the vendor who responds first.
This means you could have quality products and competitive prices but still lose half of your opportunities to whoever responds to the customer first.
Texting is generally the quickest and most convenient communication method, so it can give you an edge over the competition. And the reason is quite simple. It takes only a few seconds to compose a text message. Better still, texts are read in 5 seconds of being sent.
4. Texting Is Cost-Effective
Text messaging is one of the most cost-effective ways to get your message across.
Sending an SMS message is significantly cheaper than making a call or placing an ad in front of a potential customer.
Prices may vary, but many platforms allow businesses to send messages for just a few cents each. Even if you opt for bulk SMS messages, the cost can be affordable compared to other marketing options that could drive your budget through the roof.
5. Texting Is Download Free
Last but not least, texting is download free.
Unlike other messaging applications, text messaging is direct. You don’t need an internet connection to send or receive messages. With that in mind, those on-the-go businesses can benefit from the ease of access that text messaging provides.
Texting for Small Business: A Double-Edged Sword
eWeek reports that 80% of professionals are using text messages for business.
While this has many advantages in versatility, higher engagement, quicker response times, and a high open-rate, texting can also negatively impact a business.
For instance, SMS marketing can blur the line between personal and professional communication. Plus, sending too many business text messages can be annoying and intrusive, which can raise questions about your work etiquette and professional demeanor.
With that being said, aside from legacy industries, most professionals are using text messaging as a tool in business and not offering it to your consumers is handicapping your ability to connect with potential clients and customers.
