Short Message Service (SMS), a cornerstone of the texting world, has evolved beyond personal communication. Today, the SMS business landscape is thriving, with companies leveraging it for customer outreach and product marketing. Given the popularity of mobile devices, SMS business communication stands out as a direct, efficient and universally accessible tool.
Let’s delve deeper into the world of SMS business messaging, its applications, and its significance in modern business communication.
At its core, SMS, or short message service, is a text-only format capped at 160 characters. It does not include multimedia content, such as video or images. Developed in the 1980s, SMS is among the pioneering texting technologies, retaining its popularity despite the emergence of newer communication methods.
Comparing SMS with other communication modes:
According to a SimpleTexting survey, 70 percent of consumers have chosen to receive business text messages, demonstrating that business texting is integral to a great customer experience.
In the realm of SMS business communication, there are distinct types of SMS messages you can send:
All SMS message types support business communications that help organizations connect with their target audience and market their offerings.
The integration of SMS messaging into business operations has revolutionized text message marketing and customer communication. Below are the primary ways businesses harness SMS business messaging:
Companies use SMS business messaging to increase sales by dispatching promotional content, sales alerts, coupons, and more straight to consumers’ mobile devices. Additionally, SMS business platforms facilitate data collection through surveys and enable the hosting of contests.
The potency of SMS business messaging ensures heightened visibility of messages, fostering enhanced customer engagement and revenue generation.
According to Forrester data, businesses that sell online and use text marketing attribute 12.8 percent of their online revenue to its use.
SMS business messaging is an excellent way to send customers alerts, notifications and reminders. For example, when customers place an order, they can receive an automated SMS business message when their order has been processed and another when it’s out for delivery. Similarly, appointment bookings can be complemented with reminders or updates via SMS.
Knowing the impressive open rates of SMS business messages, businesses know that customers will receive and read their SMS messages on time. Customers appreciate getting appointment reminders and delivery updates and businesses enjoy lower cancellation rates and less time spent on the phone handling customer queries.
SMS business messaging is an easy way to send digital coupon codes, discounts and exclusive deals. The convenience of accessing offers directly on their phones, without needing any physical coupons, enhances the customer experience.
Promotional SMS business messages simplify the purchasing journey, bolstering customer engagement and sales. Getting discounts is a big incentive for customers to sign up for SMS business messages in the first place. According to a Klaviyo study, 62 percent of consumers look forward to receiving text discounts, promotions and sales announcements.  
A growing number of enterprises are weaving text messaging  into their customer support systems. SMS business support is characterized by its efficiency, enabling representatives to multitask and manage multiple queries concurrently. If needed, customers can switch to voice calls for in-depth resolutions. This SMS business model can increase contact center efficiency without hiring additional staff.
In the SMS business landscape, safeguarding customer data is paramount. Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) or multifactor authentication (MFA) via SMS business messages fortifies login processes, help complete order verifications, and minimizes password breach risks. This SMS business security procedure is more secure than using passwords alone and adds another layer of protection when verifying an individual’s identity.
SMS business platforms allow companies to take advatnage of group messaging to three or more customers. Certain devices even support expansive group chats with up to 30 members. This enables your business to communicate with multiple parties simultaneously. This type of SMS business communication can be advantageous when time is a factor, such as when a family is purchasing a home.
You can also accept mobile payments via SMS by working with an SMS payment provider. The best credit card processors often provide SMS payment processing services.
The integration of SMS into business strategies offers a plethora of advantages, especially in the context of text message marketing campaigns:
According to a Constant Contact survey, 20 percent of respondents said they made a purchase after receiving a marketing text from a small business.
The best text message marketing services can help your organization start reaping the benefits of SMS for business  messaging. Here are some of the leading SMS business marketing services that stand out:
Jennifer Dublino contributed to this article.
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