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In this blog, we'll explore why SMS remains a vital tool for retailers during the shopping frenzy, how it can help businesses stand out in a crowded marketplace and how companies can still implement it for this year’s Black Friday event.
Why Use SMS This Black Friday?
It’s Everywhere
Every mobile phone has SMS built-in, so the infrastructure for delivery is already hard-wired into handsets worldwide. With 5.1 billion people worldwide subscribed to mobile services – 67% of the global population – it's safe to say that SMS is one of the most powerful ways to reach your customers.
It’s Always On
In 2020, most countries in the world boasted a solid 89% to 98% 4G network coverage. As of May 2022, about 839 cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa also had coverage from a 5G network. Asia had a total of 689 cities with 5G coverage, while in the Americas 419 cities offered commercial 5G services (Statista). So, the chances that your customers will receive your SMS messages, no matter where they are in the world, are pretty high.
It’s Effective
SMS Click-Through Rates (CTR) are 9.18% higher compared to other digital channels, and customers are thirty-five times more likely to read it than they are an email. With that, it’s no surprise that in 2022, brands sent 68% more SMS messages on Black Friday, resulting in a remarkable 57% increase in orders. Some campaigns delivered an incredible 2000% ROI during the Black Friday shopping mania.
It’s Personal
An overwhelming 80% of consumers want to shop with brands that provide personalized experiences. With SMS, retailers can personalize every message, offering tailored discounts and promotions based on previous shopping experiences - a smart strategy to supercharge Black Friday marketing campaigns.
It’s Quick to Setup
With CM.com, SMS can be set up and sent in minutes, and it's never been simpler. With just a few quick steps, retailers can send marketing messages, promotions and discounts to their opted-in mobile base. There’s still time to reach customers via SMS this Black Friday.
How to Use SMS This Black Friday
Marketing Campaigns
Send promotional SMS straight to customers’ mobile phones about Black Friday sales and communicate with them worldwide on the channels they’re familiar with.
Product Recommendations
Use SMS to recommend products in the Black Friday sales based on customer preferences, shopping behavior and purchase history. Retailers can create a sense of urgency among customers with tailored, time-limited discounts and offers. These campaigns are a powerful tool to direct potential buyers towards online stores, driving increased traffic during this highly anticipated shopping event.
Loyalty Programs
Send personalized SMS to high-value customers with special offers, early access to sales and specialized loyalty programs. Etam, the French lingerie market leader, sends several million SMS messages monthly to its loyalty program members. As a result, Etam has a higher repeat purchase rate when customers have received an SMS, both in number of visits and turnover.
Abandoned Cart Recovery
Send reminders to customers who have abandoned their shopping carts, or even when their favorite items are back in stock, with an additional Black Friday discount code or an incentive to complete the purchase. By including a short link to the cart in the SMS, it creates an easy checkout process, a seamless shopping experience and increases ROI.
Order Confirmation and Updates
Send SMS confirmations when customers place orders and provide updates, such as shipping and delivery notifications with tracking information and estimated delivery times. Takeaway.com (acquired by JustEat), one of Europe’s most popular food delivery services, informs consumers via SMS that the order has been received, removing friction and adding value to the customer experience.
Empower SMS With Campaigns
As Black Friday approaches, remember that the simplicity and effectiveness of SMS make it an indispensable tool for driving traffic, boosting sales, and fostering customer loyalty. With Campaigns via CM.com, retailers can easily send bulk SMS to their customers in a few clicks. Whether promotional messages, product recommendations, loyalty programs, or abandoned cart recovery, Campaigns enables retailers to connect with customers directly, timely and meaningfully.
Businesses can even go beyond regular SMS, add mobile landing pages promoting new arrivals and back-in-stock items using images and videos, and create urgency with limited-time offers and coupons.
With its quick setup via CM.com, there's still ample time to harness the power of SMS and make this Black Friday a resounding success for your business. Do you want to use SMS this Black Friday? Get in touch to speak to an expert today.
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