What we can Learn from South African SMS Marketing Services

One of the key benefits of using the short message service (SMS) to market your product or brand is the fact that it’s an instant dialogue between you and the consumer. You have their immediate attention.

The growth of SMS Marketing services around the world has been phenomenal in recent years, and nowhere more so than in South Africa. In a country with 52 million people, over 80% of them use a mobile, and only around five million use landline, it’s easy to see why SMS is such an effective business tool there.

Research in South Africa shows that there’s a very high engagement rate, with 97% of people messaged having read their SMS within five minutes of it being sent. All the statistics show that SMS Mobile Marketing has overtaken many of the more traditional ways of advertising and reaching potential consumers.

South Africa is now rated 3rd in the world for mobile marketing, with over 150 million SMS ads sent each month, and growing. Many businesses and organisations there have recognised the importance of having a SMS or mobile marketing strategy to advertise their products and services.

In the UK, with a population of 61.6 million, we own on average 1.8 mobile phones per person. The potential for the growth in SMS marketing in the UK is still huge, and more and more businesses are making it a key part of their advertising strategy.

So why is this kind of marketing so effective? It builds an instant relationship with the consumer who can respond to a call to action within minutes. Consumers can also forward messages to their friends or colleagues, spreading the word. It’s inexpensive and it means businesses can build databases for future marketing or campaigns.

Virtually any business or service can implement text messaging as a powerful way to connect with consumers and potential customers. If you own a restaurant, you can let people know about any special deals you have running. The same applies if you’re a florist, a hairdresser or furniture store. 

SMS Marketing is a great business tool for estate agents who can tell potential buyers about properties that have come on the market. Dentist and GP surgeries find it a useful way of reminding patients of appointments, which helps them to run their practices more efficiently.

For every 100 people in the UK, there are 122 mobile phones. That alone makes a compelling case for SMS Marketing.