{"id":162553,"date":"2024-07-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constantcontact.com\/blog\/?p=162553"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:02:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:02:57","slug":"sms-marketing-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constantcontact.com\/blog\/sms-marketing-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to SMS Marketing Statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When people think of modern marketing channels, they typically think of email or social media marketing, maybe search engine marketing. But one cost-effective, impactful option that’s easy to overlook is text message marketing, also known as SMS marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SMS marketing<\/a> might be just the strategy you need to connect with customers and grow your business. Let’s dig deeper into the effectiveness of this marketing channel with in-depth insights from SMS marketing statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is SMS marketing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Businesses use SMS marketing to send promotional marketing messages via text to customers who provide their phone numbers. It’s similar to email marketing<\/a>, except the messages are generally shorter and go straight to the recipients’ smartphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is by no means a new strategy, but as phones have become more and more powerful, SMS marketing has become a more versatile tool for businesses. Marketers can send images, links, forms, and more via SMS, giving audiences new ways to engage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key texting and SMS marketing statistics overview<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every day, users worldwide send billions of texts, not even including messages sent through non-texting apps. Nearly 70% of people worldwide<\/a> have a smartphone, which means more people have access to cell phones than safe indoor toilets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In North America, smartphone usage and text messaging are even more prevalent. Ninety-seven percent of Americans<\/a> own a cell phone, and 90% have a smartphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those text messages are incredibly valuable for brands, so they’re investing more and more in this marketing channel. In 2024, companies are expected to spend $790 million worldwide on SMS marketing.<\/a> Think of how many text messages that adds up to! U. S. companies invest the most in SMS advertising, making up around 40% of the SMS ad spend<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ve probably received plenty of promotional text messages from brands, letting you know about things like sales and exclusive deals. Across industries, 47% of businesses<\/a> use mobile messaging to promote their products and services. Some of the major brands taking advantage of SMS marketing are Michaels, Domino’s, and Kohl’s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sign-up
When customers create an account on the Michaels website, they can check a box to easily sign up for text messages. The legal disclaimer provides more details. Image Source: Michaels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Companies use SMS marketing because it drives measurable results. Across industries, the average conversion rate for SMS marketing messages is between 21% and 30%<\/a>. That’s up to ten times higher than the average email marketing conversion rate<\/a>. You can expect a large portion of your SMS subscriber list to engage with your promotional text messages, making texting a very effective marketing channel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumer response to SMS marketing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the greatest advantages of SMS marketing is that it’s almost completely instantaneous. Within seconds of pressing send, users all over the world can read and engage with your message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of people read new texts within five minutes of receiving them<\/a>. When you extend that time frame to within 30 minutes of delivery, over 90% of people read their messages<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a time-sensitive message for your customers, texting is the best way to reach them. For example, brands often announce flash sales with text messages. Promoting a flash sale with a social media campaign or email marketing campaign might not get the message across fast enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizations can also use SMS to provide important informational updates, such as announcing new business hours or sharing changes to an upcoming event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attitudes toward SMS marketing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised to learn that consumers are very open to receiving brand texts. Over 90% of consumers worldwide<\/a> have either already signed up for an SMS marketing program or are interested in joining one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumers are more likely to sign up for these programs when brands offer strong incentives, such as complimentary gifts, discounts, or free shipping. You can also entice consumers to provide their phone numbers for SMS marketing by offering personalized recommendations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Engagement with SMS marketing messages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically, customers don’t just provide their phone number and then ignore your messages. Consumers are more willing to read and engage with promotional text messages than you might think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SMS marketing stats show around two-thirds of consumers<\/a> interact with marketing text messages from brands at least twice per week. They open these texts, read the content, and even click links included in the messages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, consumers prefer mobile messages to come by text<\/a> rather than messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. If you make customers download a new app, especially your own branded app, they’re less likely to sign up for mobile messages. Stick to texting for the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you get your SMS marketing messages right, they greatly impact customers. Close to 50% of customers<\/a> consider taking action and choosing one brand over another after getting promotional texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t have to worry about your SMS marketing going off into the void, never to be seen again. While engagement rates vary, you can trust that many customers will read your messages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of using SMS marketing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some motivations for using SMS marketing include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n