Learn how you can Unlock Limitless Customer Lifetime Value with CleverTap’s All-in-One Customer Engagement Platform.
Brands are constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to reach their target audience with compelling messages delivered at just the right time. Two powerful tools in the arsenal of every marketer are SMS and push notifications.
SMS (which stands for Short Messaging Service) messages are text messages sent to a user’s mobile device. Whereas Push notifications (or PNs) are alerts — typically a pop-up or other message — generated by a mobile app when the application is not open. Both are typically used to notify the user of a new message, update, reminder, social media post, and more, and users must opt in to receiving them.
But, marketers often struggle to make their SMS messages more effective. The ones that succeed leverage customer data to make their campaigns more personal — so they resonate with the recipient.
By customizing SMS messages according to each user’s preferences and behaviors, brands can significantly boost user engagement and conversion rates. Let’s explore this type further, how it compares to traditional push notifications, and how brands can use customer data to deliver personalized, engaging, and highly effective messages.
Push notification vs SMS? Both types of messages serve a common goal: to engage users by providing timely and relevant information. However, there are a few significant differences between them.
Push notifications are nifty, clickable messages sent to a user’s device through a mobile app. They are typically used to provide updates, promote new features, and re-engage inactive users who have installed the app.
Examples of when to use push notifications.
On the other hand, SMS messages are simply text messages sent to a user’s mobile phone — making them accessible to both app users and non-app users. SMS has a broader reach since it does not depend on an app being installed. It is also an excellent channel for time-sensitive communications such as one-time passwords, appointment reminders, and flash sales.
Examples of when to use SMS messages.
While push notifications excel for in-app engagement, SMS has unique advantages:
If used optimally, SMS can prove to be a game-changer for any brand’s marketing strategy. But how do marketers ensure their SMS campaigns stand out and provide the desired boost in engagement?
These days, providing personalized communications and user experiences is no longer optional. Consumers expect it from the brands they interact with. This holds true for SMS messages as well: generic, one-size-fits-all messages are not good enough. To organically engage with your audience and drive desired results, consider these strategies:
Collect Comprehensive Customer Data
Segmentation: Divide and Conquer
Behavioral Triggers: Timing Is Everything
Dynamic Content: Make It Personal
A/B Testing
Analytics
SMS messages are a potent tool to enhance customer engagement and personalization is the key to unlock its full potential. By leveraging CleverTap’s product features and capabilities marketers can harness the power of rich customer data and deliver SMS messages that are of value to the users, drive conversions and elevate user experience.
To learn how CleverTap can help marketers achieve this, schedule a demo, start sending personalized messaging using SMS, push notification, or web messaging and watch engagement rates soar.
