9 Ways to Leverage The Power of MMS vs SMS Messaging for Business

But first, we have to define “SMS.” How are short messaging service (SMS) texts different from standard text messages? There is zero distinction between them. Do you have the ability to send an SMS? Yes. The full name for text messaging is “Short Message Service” (SMS).

Text-only SMS messages are restricted to 160 characters (no images or videos). This is in contrast to the wide variety of everyday interactions that you may refer to as “texts.” As an example, despite widespread misconception to the contrary, iMessages are not the same as text messages. In terms of messaging protocols, SMS is one of the older alternatives, having been present since the 1980s. Though there are other alternative methods of communication, this one remains popular.

You now know what short message service (SMS) entails; what do you do with this information? We’ve included some FAQs for your convenience.

Is there a penalty if a text message goes beyond the maximum length of 160 characters?

The SMS will be broken up into many messages based on its length. Most service providers will have linked these transmissions in the proper order by 2020.

How commonplace is the use of SMS?

About six billion short messaging services (SMS) texts are sent and received every day in the United States.

Compared to iMessage and WhatsApp, what sets SMS apart?

“Over the Top” (OTT) applications include iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat. These rely only on the internet for transmission, therefore there is no requirement for a cellular network. To read these messages, the recipient’s phone must have the same app installed. If the recipient also has an iPhone, for instance, and iMessage is installed, the message will be sent as an iMessage. In the event that they are not, your iPhone will automatically switch to SMS, which will appear as a green bubble instead of a blue one.

When, if ever, will SMS be obsolete?

RCS communications, according to experts, are expected to replace SMS messaging as the major protocol in the near future.

So, what is MMS, exactly?

MMS is an abbreviation for “Multimedia Messaging Service.” A step up from a standard SMS message. Of course, the ability to include media files in a message is the key differentiator between SMS and MMS (MMS). Everything from full-length films to individual frames, from sound bites to GIFs and other animated multimedia falls under this category. Also, an MMS Messaging may be much longer than an SMS one, up to 1600 characters.

You’ve probably been using SMS quite a bit, so you’re starting to get the hang of it. SMS may be easier to understand if shown graphically. Discover the relative merits of text messages and specialized multimedia messaging services in this side-by-side evaluation. When included in a larger communication strategy, two identical pieces of material may seem extremely different due to the variances between SMS and MMS. The preceding illustration is based on an iPhone interface, although the ratio of SMS to MMS remains constant regardless of the operating system.

Disadvantages and Advantages of SMS and MMS

Both short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) are excellent approaches of contacting customers, but each has its advantages and disadvantages. One may be superior to another in terms of efficacy, but this depends on the specific situation and the outcomes you want.

The Benefits of SMS Are Numerous:

• Mobile phone text messages are succinct and to the point. Because of the limit of 160 characters, they need little effort or time.
• The cost of sending anything is lower than you may think.
• In Australia, most mobile phone companies provide unlimited texting plans at no extra cost to their customers.

Challenges using SMS:

• Video, pictures, and even emoticons are not supported in a standard SMS message. If you want to offer your customers something more eye-catching, MMS might be the way to go.
• If your use case calls for conveying a lot of information, the 160-character limit of SMS may be limiting.

Benefits of Multimedia Messaging Service:

• Consumers are more likely to open messages that include a picture or video, therefore MMS texts have an advantage in this regard.
• Since MMS allows up to 1600 characters per message, it’s a good option if you need to send text blasts that cover a lot of ground in each letter.

Implications of MMS:

• The cost of sending an MMS message is higher. You may want to limit the number of MMS messages you send monthly if your company is cost-conscious like many others.
• The capability to send and receive MMS messages is not universal. Many individuals now have smartphones, but not everyone does, and some people still could not have MMS enabled on their cellular plan.
• If you’re not a designer, you’ll need to pay someone to create the visuals for your entry.

Disparities in MMS and SMS Pricing

There will always be an additional fee for sending an MMS message regardless of your chosen SMS advertising platform. This is due to the fact that users want far more detail than what is typically included in an SMS message, and network operators are obligated to give it. Depending on your carrier’s pricing, Guni’s MMS advertising might cost you twice as much as a standard SMS campaign. This depends on your unique strategy.

Sending an SMS to everyone on your list will eat up 200 of your 1,000 monthly allotted texts if your plan allows for 1,000 texts but you have 200 persons on your SMS messaging list.

If you were to send the same list over MMS, it would need anywhere from 400 to 600 messages, depending on your plan.

Marketers who use MMS report an increase in response rates of 15–20 percent compared to those who use standard SMS.

More than twice as many people are likely to share them with others or post them on social media. In the end, it depends on the nature of your use case and the needs of the given context. Sending an SMS or MMS via a short code is less expensive than sending the same message from a standard 10-digit phone number. To put it simply, a short code is what you need to use in bulk text messaging. In order to send a large number of SMS at once, short codes are the most effective option. The cost of communication systems is higher since they must accommodate large volumes of data. Short codes are already being used automatically by the majority of SMS marketing tools.

Which is better, sending an SMS or an MMS?

Consider your target demographic and the characteristics of your use case when picking between SMS and MMS. Do you want people to immediately open your message and click the link you provide? Perhaps sending a text message is the best option in such circumstances. If you can afford the extra cash and really need to get something in front of their eyes immediately, MMS is the way to go.

The last and most important stage is to examine the facts and change your approach to get the highest possible return on investment. In order to find a happy medium between price and response rate, the vast majority of Guni users will send a combination of SMS and MMS messages.

Mobile marketing may be improved with the use of MMS messages

Reward your regulars and keep them interested in continuing their patronage. When sending an SMS or MMS, it’s preferable to send messages that are timely, relevant, and prompt a quick response. Combine visuals with a call-to-action and a clickable link to not only monitor engagement but also provide immediate service to clients.

• Send a preview of the newest products
• Promotional vouchers are a powerful tool for boosting in-store sales.
• Advertise upcoming in-store activities to subscribers.
• Allow for early purchase access
• Celebrate a birthday or an anniversary with a heartfelt greeting

It’s important to choose the appropriate material

With MMS, you may provide a subject line that will be displayed in front of the attached photo. Note that this is part of the 1,000-character count. We suggest no more than 40 characters for the subject line.

You only have 1,000 characters to get your point through, but you should still consider the actions of your audience. If you want to know how long of a message your audience like, try out a few different options.

Offer just enough material to compel a click through to your site without overwhelming your viewers to the point that they dismiss the window instead of visiting it. Also, don’t bury your call to action towards the bottom of the page.

Send Messages with Perfect Images

There is no standard for how photos are handled in mobile texting. If you open a static picture in preview mode on an iPhone 5s or 6, you’ll see that the top and bottom navigation bars obscure some of the images. Keep your content away from the top 129 and bottom 89 pixels as a result. The following are some more recommendations to make your photographs appear their best across all platforms.

• It’s best to avoid using transparency since it might make your content seem dark on certain devices.
• All static images must be sent in.JPG format and be no larger than 500 Kb.
• All images must be 640 pixels wide by 1,138 pixels tall with a 9:16 aspect ratio.
• All animated pictures must be in the.gif format, with a frame rate of no more than once per half second, and maximum file size of 600 Kb.
• Guidelines for the optimal size of animated GIFs:
• 480 x 480
• 480 x 640
• 480 x 720
• 640 x 640

Ways to Leverage The Power of SMS Messaging for Business

Each SMS marketing strategy is unique, with its own objectives and target demographics. The use of bulk SMS marketing campaigns varies from company to company, with some exclusively relying on them and others seeing them as a complementary tactic. Mobile text message marketing is becoming more popular among companies because of its high success rate. It is projected that worldwide expenditure on mobile advertising would reach $199 billion in 2020.

The retail sector has spent the most on mobile marketing campaigns throughout the globe. Think about it; it’s incredible, right? 90% of text messages are opened and read within three minutes of receipt, making it one of the most favored advertising channels.

Businesses need to master the techniques of maximizing sales via SMS marketing since it is undeniably a profitable and affordable promotional medium. Here are some suggestions for improving a company’s chances of success and bottom line.

1. Get to Know Your Clientele

In marketing, everyone aspires to the top spot, but none can agree on what constitutes success. A good marketer is someone who can relate to customers and meet their needs. In any case, how does it work?

The short and sweet answer is that you may reach out to your target demographic by crafting an effective bulk SMS marketing campaign with the end user in mind. Gaining and keeping clients requires an intimate familiarity with their demands.

2. Set up a specialized SMS marketing group.

No one individual can handle all aspects of a marketing effort by themselves. You need to put up a formidable SMS marketing crew full of really competent individuals with various areas of experience. Everyone on the team has to maintain intense concentration while they work on the marketing material.

Include a product expert, retail expert, marketing program specialist, promotions expert, social media executive, budget analyst, and return on investment (ROI) analyst on your SMS marketing team. Success requires a cooperative effort from everyone in the team.

3. Include a Call to Action

Improve the response rate of your SMS marketing by including a call to action (CTA) in the messages you send out. The goal of an SMS marketing campaign is, after all, to get people to open the message, read it, think about the brand, and take some kind of action.

Calls to action (CTAs) do more than merely increase revenue by encouraging the next step in the sales process. The process is made easier for the consumer, which increases the likelihood that they will make a purchase. A lack of calls to action (CTAs) in SMS marketing copy might reduce conversion rates.

4. Tailor Your Message to Your Audience

Analytics is crucial in ensuring that the appropriate information reaches the right person at the right time. Reviewing client purchases might help you divide your target market into more manageable subsets based on common characteristics. An older person is not the ideal target for a beauty product ad, but you can tell that by using analytics.

Your company’s SMS marketing team can create an effective SMS marketing plan by combining data from several sources. The marketing department will be able to better target their message to potential customers thanks to the information gathered from their customers.

5. The Importance of a Well-Expressed Message and Appropriate Timing

Keep in mind that you only have 160 characters to demonstrate your expertise in content creation. Make sure your message is easy to understand by avoiding jargon, acronyms, and hyperbole. Don’t come across as overly salesy; it’s bothersome.

When sending out a mass promotional text message to your consumer base, the timing is quite important. It would be incongruous to send a promotion for dinner service in the morning, so take care to time your messages appropriately between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Summary and Conclusions

You need to exercise extreme caution with your SMS marketing approach whether you’re operating a little firm, a huge organization, or a brand new venture. Incorporating an SMS campaign into your marketing strategy has the potential to skyrocket your company’s success.

Be careful to schedule your messages appropriately so that most potential buyers can take advantage of them. In addition, you may personalize your SMS messages by including a Sender ID and adding links.

By using Guni’s bulk SMS service, companies may maximize the efficacy of their SMS advertising campaigns. The ability to send a personalized message to your clientele at a low price is a distinct advantage. You may track your marketing campaign’s progress with the use of reporting and analytics so that you can adjust your strategy as needed (if required).

Guni is a frontrunner in the field of SMS and MMS advertising, and many Australian companies depend on it. If you’re considering utilizing SMS or MMS for marketing purposes or even simply for sending out large numbers of text messages at once, we can provide you with a simple and cost-effective option.

Do not be hesitant to contact us if you are thinking about switching to a different messaging provider and would want to speak with a real person. We’re looking forward to talking to you.