As society adapts to new technology, marketers adapt, too.
After the invention of the telephone in the late 1800s came sales calls in the early 1900s. After the invention of email in 1972 came email marketing in the late 1970s. As soon as the population adopts one type of communication technology, businesses start using it, too, setting aside older, less efficient channels for the new—and keeping up with consumers in the process.
Today, it certainly seems like people prefer texting to, say, emails or phone calls. But is texting really the be-all end-all of communication methods? Should businesses start using it as their main means of connecting with customers?
Here are 25 statistics to help your business decide.
Constant Smartphone Use Means Consumers Are Always Accessible Via Texting
The majority of consumers have phones that rarely leave their sides. People take their phones everywhere, from home to work—which means that businesses have constant access to them.
- 95% of Americans own some type of cell phone
- 90% of cell phone users carry their prized possession with them all the time
- 71% of adults never turn off their phones
- The average person checks his or her phone once every 12 minutes
Americans Prefer Texting Over Other Communication Options
They may always be on their phones, but consumers don’t just do anything on there; cell phone users show a strong preference for texting over calls and email. Even though businesses can reach customers at any time on their phones, customers are more likely to welcome a text than a phone call or email.
- Americans spend six minutes a day making calls, but 26 minutes texting
- Texting takes up 14.1% of cell phone users’ time
- 55% of heavy text message users (50+ texts per day) say they would prefer to receive a text over a phone call
- About 50% of adults 18-24 say text conversations are as meaningful as a phone call
- 47% of adults 25-34 say text conversations are as meaningful as a phone call
- 65% of millennials and Generation Z interact with each other digitally more than they do in the real world
Consumers Are Ready To Read And Respond To Texts
While in 2000, users only sent an average of 35 messages a month, texting is part of the average consumer’s life now. While an email might go unread (and probably unanswered) for days, consumers are probably going to read your business text message—and there’s a good chance they’ll answer it, too.
- 97% of Americans text at least once a day
- The average adult spends a total of 23 hours a week texting
- 98% of SMS messages are read
- 90% of texts are read within the first three seconds of receipt
- The average response time for a text is 90 seconds
Texting Is Taking Over The Business World
After seeing texting take off, businesses have started to realize that SMS is the best channel for reliable and speedy communication with consumers.
- Business texts can have a response rate as high as 80%, according to Heymarket research
- 19% of people will click a link in an SMS messaging campaign, compared to just 4.2% in emails
- 47% of responders go on to make a purchase
- 79% of companies believe customers want business SMS support
- 80% of people are currently using texting for business
- One in five consumers is likely to prefer a text message from a business to a phone call
- The activities people with text capabilities would most prefer to do via text are: check order status (38%) schedule or change appointments (32%), and make or confirm reservations (31%)
- Over half of customers say they would likely text with a customer support agent
- 52% of customers would prefer texting customer support over their current form of communication
- 90% of leads would prefer to be texted than called
The numbers say it all: texting is quickly becoming a must-have for businesses. Consumers simply prefer real-time communication—fast, personalized, and reliable. Texting has no competition.
Ready to integrate texting into your business? Try out Heymarket (for free!) today.
