Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
SMS open rates are as high as 98%
The average click-through rate usually hovers around 19% for SMS marketing
29% of targeted customers click on a link in an SMS even without buying immediately
SMS marketing coupons are redeemed 10 times more than print coupons
50% of US consumers make direct purchases after receiving an SMS branded text
The conversion rate for SMS marketing is approximately 29.5%
90% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes
The average response time for a text message is 90 seconds
60% of customers read texts within 1-5 minutes
54% of consumers would like to receive marketing promotions via text messages
64% of consumers believe businesses should use SMS messages more often
75% of consumers are particularly frustrated when they cannot reply to a business text message
SMS engagement rates are 6 to 8 times higher than email marketing engagement rates
Email marketing has an average open rate of 20% compared to 98% for SMS
The click-through rate of SMS (19%) is dramatically higher than email (3.2%)
Channel Comparison
- 1SMS engagement rates are 6 to 8 times higher than email marketing engagement rates
- 2Email marketing has an average open rate of 20% compared to 98% for SMS
- 3The click-through rate of SMS (19%) is dramatically higher than email (3.2%)
- 4SMS marketing costs can be higher per message but ROI is often 25% higher than social media ads due to conversion
- 5While email frequency is tolerated daily, SMS has a fatigue point of 2-4 messages per month max
- 6SMS opt-out rates are generally lower (under 5%) compared to email unsubscribe rates (varies widely)
- 7Social media organic reach is <2% while SMS reach is 100% of valid numbers
- 8Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) on SMS is often 50% lower than programmatic display advertising
- 9While Apps have a 25% retention rate after 90 days, SMS lists retain 60% of subscribers in the same period
- 10Banner ads have a 0.1% CTR while SMS has anywhere from 11% to 19% CTR
- 11SMS outperforms email in speed of response by 6000%
- 12Direct mail response rates are 4.4% compared to SMS response rates of 45%
- 13SMS marketing ROI beats TV advertising ROI by notable margins for small businesses due to entry costs
- 14Email spam filters catch 50% of marketing emails while SMS carrier filtering catches less than 3% of legitimate marketing texts
- 15PPC conversion rates average 3.75% while SMS averages 29%
- 1684% of Facebook News Feed stories aren't viewed, whereas 98% of texts are viewed
- 17Cost per interaction for SMS is $0.01-$0.05 versus Call Center interaction at $6-$12
- 18Push notifications have a 60% opt-in rate on Android but only 45% on iOS, typically lower than SMS verified opt-ins
- 19Cold calling has a 2% success rate while cold texting (where legal/B2B) can see 8-10% reply rates
- 20Integration of SMS with Email automation increases Email open rates by 20-30%
Interpretation
Think of SMS as the caffeine shot of marketing, reaching nearly every valid number, waking customers into 98 percent opens and 19 percent clicks compared with roughly 20 percent and 3 percent for email, slashing acquisition costs and response times, and, when used with restraint at two to four messages per month and paired with email automation, delivering markedly higher retention and ROI.
Conversion Performance
- 1SMS marketing coupons are redeemed 10 times more than print coupons
- 250% of US consumers make direct purchases after receiving an SMS branded text
- 3The conversion rate for SMS marketing is approximately 29.5%
- 4SMS produces a 45% conversion rate for brands focusing on customer service
- 5Consumers who get SMS marketing messages are 40% more likely to convert than those who do not
- 6Texting a prospect after first contact can increase conversion rates by 112%
- 7E-commerce brands see a 9.3x ROI on SMS marketing spend
- 866% of consumers state they would pay more for something if supported by a mobile messaging channel
- 9Abandoned cart SMS reminders recover between 20% to 33% of lost sales
- 1091% of users who opted in to receive texts from a brand see those messages as somewhat or very useful
- 11Customers receiving SMS marketing have a 25% higher customer lifetime value (CLV)
- 1233% of SMS recipients react to CTA (Call to Action) offers
- 13Retailers see a 30% increase in customer retention when using SMS loyalty programs
- 1480% of people use text messaging for business, accelerating the sales cycle conversion
- 15Text messages can boost survey completion rates by nearly 20% compared to email
- 1677% of consumers are likely to have a positive perception of a company that offers text capability
- 17Follow-up texts regarding quotes convert at a rate 40% higher than phone calls alone
- 18SMS drives 48% of traffic to the point of sale for mobile-first campaigns
- 19Companies using SMS for sales see a 20% reduction in cost of sales
- 20Real estate agents using SMS see a 100% increase in lead conversion compared to email only
Interpretation
Think of SMS as the fast lane of marketing: 91 percent of users who opted in find texts useful, coupons are redeemed ten times more than print, texts deliver roughly a 29.5 percent conversion rate and a 9.3 times ecommerce ROI, texting prospects after first contact can lift conversions by 112 percent, abandoned cart reminders recover up to a third of lost sales, and overall SMS boosts lifetime value and retention while lowering sales costs, so if you want fast, measurable revenue, start texting.
Customer Preferences
- 154% of consumers would like to receive marketing promotions via text messages
- 264% of consumers believe businesses should use SMS messages more often
- 375% of consumers are particularly frustrated when they cannot reply to a business text message
- 458% of consumers say that receiving a text makes them view a brand more positively
- 591% of consumers are interested in signing up for texts
- 644% of consumers prefer to receive product details and other marketing info through text over any other channel
- 767% of people would rather text with a business about appointments and scheduling than by email or phone
- 859% of users say that an SMS code is their preferred method of identity verification
- 943% of consumers proactively text businesses to ask questions about products
- 1077% of consumers opted into an SMS program to receive coupons or deals
- 11Only 10% of customers prefer a phone call over an SMS for order updates
- 1248% of consumers prefer SMS for loyalty program updates
- 13Over 50% of consumers say they would opt out of SMS if the content is not relevant to them
- 1431% of consumers opt-in to SMS to get meaningful content, not just ads
- 15Millennials and Gen Z are 4x more likely to prefer SMS communications from brands than Baby Boomers
- 1660% of consumers want to be able to text customer support back
- 1783% of millennials open SMS messages within 90 seconds, showing a generational preference
- 1885% of consumers prefer receiving an SMS over a voice call or email for service notifications
- 1960% of consumers prefer SMS for financial alerts over email
- 20Customers are 70% more likely to share a positive experience via text feedback than email
Interpretation
Ignoring SMS is like leaving money on the table; consumers overwhelmingly prefer fast, two-way, relevant texts for deals, verification, alerts and scheduling, they open most messages within seconds and reward responsive brands while quickly abandoning irrelevant ones, especially Millennials and Gen Z.
Engagement Metrics
- 1SMS open rates are as high as 98%
- 2The average click-through rate usually hovers around 19% for SMS marketing
- 329% of targeted customers click on a link in an SMS even without buying immediately
- 4SMS marketing campaigns perform 7 times better than email marketing campaigns in terms of engagement
- 589% of phone users read text messages within 30 minutes of waking up
- 6SMS messages have a 209% higher response rate than phone, Facebook, or email
- 745% of potential clients would choose a product or brand after receiving an SMS
- 8The average SMS campaign click-through rate is 36% for e-commerce brands
- 982% of people say they open every text message they receive
- 1070% of customers say SMS is a good way for businesses to get their attention
- 1169% of mobile users want to be able to contact a business via text
- 1255% of consumers prefer SMS for appointment reminders which drives engagement
- 13High-volume SMS campaigns can see deliverability rates of roughly 95% or higher
- 1475% of consumers are OK with receiving SMS messages from brands (after opt-in)
- 1596% of marketers rated mobile marketing as producing a significant return on investment through engagement
- 1648.7 million people will opt in to receive business text messages by the end of 2024
- 17SMS read rates often exceed 40% even for cold audiences in B2B settings
- 18Interactive rich media SMS (RCS) generates 20% higher engagement than standard SMS
- 1960% of consumers check their text messages within 1 to 5 minutes of arrival
- 20Welcome texts have an abnormally high open rate of roughly 98.5%
Interpretation
Put simply, these numbers make SMS marketing the pocket-sized powerhouse of ROI — with near-98% opens, blisteringly fast read and response times, click and conversion rates that dwarf email, strong deliverability and opt-in growth, and clear boosts from RCS and welcome texts, any brand not prioritizing text is leaving fast, measurable revenue on the table.
Speed and Efficiency
- 190% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes
- 2The average response time for a text message is 90 seconds
- 360% of customers read texts within 1-5 minutes
- 4It takes the average person 90 minutes to respond to an email but only 90 seconds to respond to a text
- 5SMS campaigns can be created and sent in under 10 minutes on average
- 6Flash sale texts see 3.5x faster purchases than email counterparts
- 780% of business professionals say text is the fastest way to reach them
- 8Text messages reduce missed appointments by up to 50% due to timely delivery
- 934% of people who receive a text will read it within 5 minutes even if they are busy
- 10Customer support via SMS is 50% faster than resolution via email chains
- 1178% of people wish they could have a text conversation with a business for speed
- 12Financial institutions using SMS for fraud alerts see a 60% faster resolution time
- 13Restaurants using SMS waitlists reduce walk-away rates by 25% due to instant notification
- 1450% of US consumers make a purchase after receiving an SMS branded text within 24 hours (Flash sale efficacy)
- 15Immediate SMS follow-up on leads increases qualification rates by 20%
- 16Logistics companies reduce failed deliveries by 30% using timely SMS notifications
- 17Staffing agencies fill shifts 40% faster when using SMS vs email
- 1895% of texts from businesses are read within 3 minutes of receipt
- 19Urgent updates via SMS have a 99% view rate compared to 25% for app push notifications
- 20Two-factor authentication via SMS reduces account takeover risks by 96%, protecting revenue
Interpretation
Put simply, SMS is the VIP lane for the human attention span, delivering near-instant reads and responses, cutting missed appointments and failed deliveries, accelerating fraud resolution and staffing, and converting customers faster for a clear, measurable ROI.
