Now that you have crafted your SMS campaign message, it is time to fulfill the last step to success – the stage where you schedule or hit send.
What time is the best time for SMS Marketing? This question is one that every marketing team asks and prioritizes at the execution point of every SMS campaign.
The same way a title is important to an email message is the same way timing is important to SMS marketing and you sure don’t want to miss out on this important part of your campaign.
While the remarkable 98% open rate of SMS suggests a one-size-fits-all approach, the timing of marketing text messages plays a crucial role in their effectiveness.
Just as individuals have unique preferences, their receptiveness to marketing texts varies throughout the day.
Consequently, the best time for SMS marketing is a direct reflection of your objectives, industry, and target audience’s habits.
Table of Content
- Why is timing important in SMS marketing?
- What are the best times of the day for SMS marketing?
- What weekdays offer the best time for SMS marketing?
- Factors that affect the best time for SMS marketing
- How can I determine the best time for SMS marketing for my target audience?
Why is timing important in SMS Marketing?
Yes, the timing of SMS campaigns plays a pivotal role in the success of any SMS marketing.
Sending messages when your audience is most likely to be receptive increases the chances that they will open, read, and act upon your message.
Conversely, sending messages at inconvenient times or when your audience is preoccupied with other activities can lead to them disregarding your message altogether.
What are the best times of the day for SMS Marketing?
The best time for SMS marketing during the day is between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, according to top digital marketing stats.
This is because people are more likely to open and read SMS messages during the workday and this makes the open rates for SMS campaigns highest between these hours.
While TextTalk believes the best time for send SMS marketing is 1 pm – 5pm EST, Mailchimp believes the best time for SMS marketing is during business hours.
Business hours are traditionally between 9 am – 5 pm and 8 am – 4 pm in other climes.
The best days of the day for SMS Marketing ranked from best to worst:
- Thursday – Between 2 pm and 4 pm
- Friday – Between 10 am to 12 pm
- Saturday – Between 8 am and 4 pm
- Tuesday – Between 12 pm to 3 pm
- Wednesday – Between 4 pm and 7 pm
- Sunday – Between 10 am and 4 pm
- Monday – Between 12 pm and 2 pm
Additional Tip: Avoid sending messages early in the morning like 6 am or late at night like 10 pm. People are not typically checking their phones as frequently during these times, so your messages are less likely to be seen or taken seriously.
What weekdays offer the best time for SMS marketing?
The best days of the week to send SMS campaigns are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Depends on a variety of factors, including your target audience, industry, and campaign goals:
1. Thursdays and Fridays
Thursdays and Fridays tend to be the best days of the week to send SMS campaigns, according to studies. This is because people are generally more relaxed and open to receiving marketing messages as the weekend approaches.
2. Saturdays and Sundays
Weekends are also a good time to send SMS campaigns, particularly in the afternoon or early evening when people are winding down from their weekend activities.
Factors that affect the Best Time for SMS Marketing
1. Industry Considerations. The optimal day for SMS campaigns may differ across industries. For example, Telcos may find that sending messages on weekends is more effective due to increased relaxation.
2. Campaign Type. The type of SMS campaign, whether it’s an announcement, promotion, or transactional message, can also influence the best time for SMS marketing. Urgent messages may require immediate delivery, while non-urgent messages can be scheduled for optimal open rates.
3. Test and Refine. Employ A/B testing to experiment with different sending days and identify the most effective approach for your specific audience. Analyze your campaign data to gain insights into open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, and use these insights to refine your timing strategy.
How Can I Determine the Best Time for SMS Marketing?
1. Consider your target audience. What are their demographics, habits, and preferences? When are they most likely to be checking their phones? Understanding your target audience’s demographics, habits, and preferences is crucial for timing your SMS campaigns effectively.
2. Experiment with different timing schedules. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of the best time to send SMS campaigns. Experiment with different times of day and days of the week to see what works best for your audience.
3. Use A/B testing. A/B testing is a great way to test different timing schedules and see which one generates the best results. For example, you could send one group of your subscribers a message at 11 AM and another group of subscribers a message at 1 PM. Then, you could compare the open rates and click-through rates to see which time was more effective.
4. Track your results. Be sure to track your SMS campaign results so that you can see which timing schedules are effective and which ones are not. This will help you to refine your timing strategy over time.
5. Use a reputable SMS marketing platform. A good SMS marketing platform will allow you to schedule your messages in advance and track your results.
This will make it easier to optimize your timing strategy.
Read Also: When is the Best Time to Send Bulk SMS for Maximum Engagement?
