You might think SMS marketing is outdated—a relic from the early days of mobile communication. After all, who needs text messages in 2024 when there is a flood of apps and social platforms?
But here’s the surprise: SMS marketing isn’t just alive—it’s thriving.
Despite being underutilized—only 10% of customers receive an SMS from a brand during a recent purchase experience—SMS and mobile messaging channels are gaining significant traction. With cluttered inboxes and overwhelming social media feeds, more businesses are turning to SMS to cut through the noise. Recent studies show that SMS boasts some of the highest open and response rates of any marketing channel.
Personalized messages make a difference. Whether it’s an exclusive promotion or a quick update, your texts create a direct line of communication that nurtures trust and loyalty.
With HubSpot’s SMS marketing, you can reach your customers with the right content at the perfect moment, right on their phones.
Why SMS Marketing?
Because 98% of Smartphone Users Are Just A Text Away!
Yes, you heard that right!
SMS marketing reaches 98% of smartphone users, and 45% of those messages actually get a response. Compare that to email’s average 20% open rate, and it’s no wonder SMS is becoming a go-to strategy.
Mobile phones have become part of our daily lives, so it makes sense to reach people where they’re already paying attention. SMS offers that instant, personal connection that drives action.
With HubSpot’s SMS marketing, I’ve seen how powerful personalization and automation can be. You can send targeted, timely messages that resonate with your audience.
From my experience managing sales teams, I know how important it is to get creative when reaching buyers. Calling and emailing prospects are essential, but let’s face it—smartphones are where the real attention is these days. Tapping into that with an intelligent SMS strategy is a game-changer.
Let me show you exactly why SMS marketing is such a powerful tool and why it should be a core part of your marketing strategy:
- High Open Rate
Over 95% of SMS messages are opened and read within 3 minutes, far exceeding email’s 20-30% open rate. - Drives Immediate Action
With a 36% click-through rate, SMS encourages quick responses, driving immediate action from your audience. - Builds Loyalty
Targeted, personalized messages like promotions or exclusive offers show customers you value them, helping to foster loyalty. - Higher Response Rates than Email
SMS achieves higher response rates compared to email, highlighting its effectiveness in engaging customers. - Higher Conversion Rates
SMS boasts an average conversion rate of 25%, significantly outperforming email’s 3-5%, directly boosting sales. - Greater Perceived Value
SMS feels more personal and urgent, creating a stronger customer connection and enhancing loyalty. - Helps You Drive More Business
SMS stands out by creating stronger connections and sparking quicker actions, leading to better responses and more conversions than other channels. It’s a powerful way to grow your business.
What Sets HubSpot’s SMS Marketing Apart from the Crowd?
When you think about SMS marketing, it’s important to recognize the unique advantages HubSpot’s SMS feature offers compared to other platforms. HubSpot is fully integrated into its CRM, offering a 360-degree view of your customer journey and improving communication with personalized, timely mobile messaging.
Here’s how it works :
1. Personalized Messaging at Scale
It takes personalization to the next level, offering much more than just adding a name. You can tap into contact-specific data to create messages individualized for each recipient. Whether it’s addressing them by name or referencing past behavior—like previous purchases or inquiries—these messages build stronger connections and boost conversion rates.
2. SMS Automation
HubSpot’s SMS automation lets you schedule messages based on your customer’s actions, keeping communication timely and relevant. Whether it’s a follow-up after a webinar, a reminder about an abandoned cart, or an upcoming event, the automated workflows ensure your messages hit the right moment.
3. Real-Time, Two-Way Conversations
It lets you have real-time, two-way conversations. This means dynamic, engaging interactions that make customers feel heard. Whether you’re answering product questions or handling service inquiries, this feature shortens sales cycles and enhances the customer experience.
4. Integrated Analytics
One of the biggest advantages of using SMS Marketing is its robust analytics. With HubSpot’s seamless integration, you can easily access metrics like delivery rates, open rates, and conversions, giving you the insights you need to fine-tune your strategy and maximize results.
Stat to Consider: Businesses that leverage SMS marketing through HubSpot report an average increase in conversion rates by 45%. That’s the real impact, backed by data.
Turning Your Cold Leads into Closed Deals with SMS Marketing!
Forget boring promo blasts—SMS marketing, when used strategically, turns B2B engagement into a whole new ball game with your leads and customers:
1. Event Reminders and Registration Boosts
Need to pack the room or grab attention for your next webinar or event? SMS is your go-to tool. Whether it’s a product launch, conference, or industry webinar, text reminders ensure your audience doesn’t forget.
Example:
HubSpot users can automate SMS reminders to attendees 24 hours and one hour before the event. Result? Higher attendance, and no “I forgot” excuses.
2. Closing Deals Faster
We all know B2B sales cycles can feel like they go on forever. Leads get cold, prospects ghost you, and deals drag. With SMS, you can follow up with those cold leads or give a nudge to prospects who showed interest but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
Example:
A digital marketing agency using HubSpot can set up automated SMS follow-ups for leads who downloaded a whitepaper but didn’t respond to emails. Think of it as the “gentle reminder” that actually works—because texts don’t get lost in the inbox abyss.
3. Personalized Offers and Upselling
Upselling doesn’t have to be a hard sell. HubSpot’s SMS makes it easy to send personalized offers that feel… well, personal. You can deliver hyper-relevant messages that get noticed by tapping into CRM data.
Example:
A SaaS company can send upgrade offers based on how customers use their software. It’s like saying, “Hey, you’re doing great—how about unlocking a few more features?” Customers appreciate the extra attention, and upgrade rates go up.
Steps to Start Your HubSpot SMS Campaign
Here’s a comprehensive walkthrough to help you get started with the SMS marketing tool. These steps will walk you through everything from setup to execution, ensuring you’re equipped to engage your audience through SMS campaigns effectively:
1. Purchase the SMS Add-On
HubSpot’s SMS marketing is a paid feature. Before proceeding, make sure you have the required add-on. You can purchase it through the HubSpot marketplace, and it’s available to Marketing Hub Professional and Enterprise users.
2. Register Your Business
To register your business, navigate to Settings in your HubSpot account, then go to Marketing > SMS and click Register Business. Fill in your business details, including business name, address, industry, and contact information. This step is required for compliance with telecom regulations, particularly in the U.S. and Canada. Note that your registration may take 6-8 business days for approval.
3. Set Up an SMS Number
After registration, click Get Number in the SMS settings. Choose a U.S.-based phone number, as HubSpot only supports SMS messages from numbers in the U.S. or Canada. Select your preferred area code and generate a number to send messages.
4. Collect Opt-Ins from Contacts
Ensure you have consent from contacts before sending them SMS messages. Contacts must opt in to receiving SMS communications, which is crucial for legal compliance and to avoid issues with privacy regulations.
5. Create and Draft Your SMS Campaign
Go to Marketing > SMS in your HubSpot account and click Create Message. Draft your message, using personalization tokens to make it more targeted and relevant to your recipients. Be mindful of the 160-character limit per message; exceeding this limit will split your message into multiple segments, which could use up more of your monthly message quota.
6. Send a Test Message
Before finalizing your message, you can send a test SMS to verify how it appears to recipients. This step ensures the formatting, personalization tokens, and overall content are correct before sending the message to your audience.
7. Schedule or Send the SMS
Once the message is ready, you can send it immediately or schedule it for a specific time. You can also configure the timing based on your contacts’ time zones to ensure they receive the message at an appropriate time. This helps to optimize delivery and engagement rates.
8. Monitor Performance
After sending your SMS campaign, leverage HubSpot’s built-in analytics to track key performance metrics such as delivery rates, open rates, and click-through rates. These insights help refine future campaigns by identifying what resonates with your audience, enabling you to optimize your messaging for better results.
At the top of the page, you can customize the date range for the reporting data. Then, you can review your aggregate engagement metrics in the Overview section. You can also analyze the deliverability funnel data and engagement and opt-out behavior over time.
Best Practices for Maximizing HubSpot SMS
HubSpot’s SMS tool is incredibly effective, but following these best practices will help you get even more out of it:
- Get Clear Consent: Ensure your customers have opted in to receive texts. This is required by law and ensures they actually want to hear from you.
- Perfect Your Timing: Since SMS messages are opened almost immediately, timing is everything. Avoid sending texts late at night or on weekends unless it’s urgent or time-sensitive.
- Keep It Short: You’ve got 160 characters—use them wisely! Keep your messages clear and concise, and include a strong call to action.
- Use Analytics to Improve: HubSpot’s analytics give you a detailed look at your SMS campaigns’ performance. Use this data to tweak your messages, timing, and targeting for even better results next time.
What’s Next for SMS Marketing in 2024?
The numbers don’t lie: 89% of consumers prefer messaging when communicating with businesses . As companies embrace omnichannel strategies, SMS is poised to be a key player in the marketing mix, especially as demand for personalized, mobile-first communication skyrockets in 2024. HubSpot’s SMS marketing tool is becoming a must-have for businesses looking to stay ahead.
HubSpot’s advanced features, such as personalization, automation, and analytics, help businesses deliver timely, relevant messages that drive real-time engagement.
For businesses that aim to make a mark, HubSpot’s SMS marketing is a strategic asset that drives meaningful results.
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