The Marchex Blog

The Difference Between SMS and Mobile Marketing

Thanks to the resounding popularity of smartphones and other mobile devices such as tablets, marketers have found ways to integrate SMS marketing and mobile marketing into the fold of digital marketing campaign strategies.

Although both SMS and mobile marketing can be viable tools for your business, it’s important to know what distinguishes one engagement tactic from the other to help you optimize your campaigns. With increasing regulation and filters placed by network carriers today, it’s also more important than ever to follow SMS best practices to avoid being flagged by carriers and improve deliverability.

What is SMS Marketing?

SMS marketing is the use of a mobile phone to send an SMS or text message that contains promotional content, such as special deals, product updates, customer loyalty perks, order updates, or any other marketing information directly to customers. This also includes the sending of follow-ups, which can be handled automatically by AI.

SMS campaigns typically operate on a permission-based model, meaning customers opt-in to receive SMS messages. Businesses can get consumer approval to collect their number when you’re on the phone with them, through a sign-up form on your website, or at your physical store locations.

What is Mobile Marketing?

Mobile marketing is a marketing strategy that focuses on promoting products or services through content displayed on mobile devices. With this strategy, target consumers can access location- and time-sensitive, customized content that promotes certain products, services, or ideas. The key with mobile marketing is to use media commonly accessed via smartphones and other handheld devices to provide potential or existing customers personalized and location-based information or promotions related to your business.

What is SMS Marketing Used For?

SMS marketing is generally used to send limited-time or exclusive offers, or redeemable coupons to your consumer base. SMS marketing can also be an effective channel for driving customer engagement through polls or survey-type messages.

Discover how your business can boost response and engagement rate with Marchex Sonar Business Text Messaging.