Make the most of mobile messaging trends in 2023
According to Bank My Cell, the number of smartphone users in the world today stands at 6.6 billion
– approximately 84% of the world’s population. With stats like this, it’s little wonder that text
messages have become an essential part of marketing and communication strategies for businesses
worldwide. 2023 is predicted to be another year of growth for SMS marketing, direct carrier billing,
text message comms and more.
1. Make sure you have permission to message
Despite text messaging becoming more and more common, people sometimes forget that it, like any
form of electronic communication, requires permission in order for the user to be contacted. Just
like email, you need to ensure you have permission to message someone and that they have the
ability to opt-out. Some big companies have fallen foul of data protection regulations recently so it’s
important to factor this into your comms strategy.
2. Text message personalisation is a must
Phone ownership is on the rise but so is the amount of time we spend on them. A recent study from
Reviews.org found that the average American checks their phone a whopping 344 times a day!
People are constantly distracted by notifications, alerts and messages. If you want to grab their
attention, you need to speak to them and them alone – as far as they know, anyway! Use your
customer’s first name, send them information about relevant products, offer them a discount on
their birthday.
3. Utilise short codes
Short codes are five to six digit numbers that can be used to send and receive messages in place of
the usual 10 digit mobile number. Not only are these numbers easily forgettable and easily lost in an
inbox amongst unrecognised numbers, a six digit code is typically associated with businesses. These
codes are also authorised by mobile carriers for communication texts and marketing so are less likely
to end up in junk folders. A short code is a must-have for brands and businesses looking to make
mobile messaging part of their customer service and marketing.
4. Use text messages for customer retention
Acquiring a new customer can cost up to five times more than it costs to retain an existing one so
maintaining a good relationship with your customers is essential for business growth. According to
Forbes, spending on loyalty and retention marketing will increase by up to 30% in 2023. Keeping
customers loyal to your brand can be as simple as offering them special discounts and offers, but
there is also the opportunity to integrate text messaging at each stage of the customer journey with
things like order updates, customer service chats and more.
5. Talk to your customers
According to Techjury, 75% of customers prefer to receive marketing offers via SMS and, with an
average open rate of 98%, text messaging can be an incredibly successful marketing tool. However,
with this power comes responsibility. A person’s phone is more accessible but it’s also more
personal. While email inboxes become cluttered with junk mail, people aren’t so careless with their
phones. Junk text, spam and rubbish will quickly be deleted and numbers blocked or lists opted out
of. Make sure your mobile communications are targeting, relevant and of interest to the person
receiving them. You’ll have more success with ten highly personalised and targeted messages than you will with a blanket campaign of a hundred generic messages that aren’t of any interest to the
people receiving them.
6. Be prepared for a mobile-first world
We’ve already seen the shift to a mobile-first world with tech giants like Google prioritising mobile
traffic over desktop and online shopping now account for 35% of the UK’s retail sales. These trends
show no sign of slowing so mobile communications, while still unchartered territory for many
businesses, will soon become essential. More than half of smartphone users prefer texting to phone
calls when it comes to customer service according to Gartner, and the average conversion rate for
mobile marketing is around 29%. It’s unlikely that these figures are going to go anywhere but up as
people become more reliant on their smartphones for many aspects of daily life.
About MessageCloud
MessageCloud is a multi-award winning mobile messaging technology provider. Its cloud-based SMS
and messaging products enable companies to set up and manage one-way and two-way
communications effortlessly. Plus, it offers products to analyse phone numbers, verify users and
accept payments by mobile.
With its range of products, ‘Send’, ‘Numbers’, ‘Verify’, ‘Analyse’ and ‘Pay’, MessageCloud delivers
tools that maximise mobile marketing; from virtual numbers to payment systems for carrier billing.
And with more than a decade of delivering messages for diverse markets around the globe, it is a
service on which you can rely.