It is a widely accepted fact that text messaging, or sending short text messages, has taken the world by storm as of late. Many brands and businesses now rely heavily on SMS marketing software to efficiently and effectively send out their marketing and sales messages to target audiences.
If you’re looking to use SMS marketing software to grow your business, keep reading. We’ll discuss the various platforms available and how you can put them to work for you.
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging applications worldwide. With over 500 million monthly active users as of March 2021, it is likely that you will already be familiar with this app. WhatsApp uses a combination of text messaging and video calling to allow users to communicate with businesses, brands, and each other seamlessly and effortlessly.
The app is very straightforward, offering users fast and simple access to all the features they might need. In fact, it is one of the most basic and fundamental building blocks of any mobile application. This ubiquity combined with the fact that WhatsApp is free makes it a potentially powerful ally for any business to harness.
Hangouts
Google’s answer to WhatsApp is Google Hangouts. Much like its rival, Google Hangouts brings video calling, presence sharing, group chatting, and SMS messaging to the masses. Similar to its smaller sibling, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts is also incredibly easy to use. Simply create a free account and you’re set to send texts, engage in video calls, and participate in group chats with ease.
Video calling and messaging through Hangouts has become so popular that the application now supports up to 32 participants. This feature makes it the perfect tool for businesses that want to expand their customer base and allow more people to engage with their brand.
Messaging Apps
Mobile messaging apps are a varied bunch, and there is something for everybody. Whether you’re looking for a simple, quick way to send a text or want a full-fledged application that does everything for you, there is an app for that. Here are some of the most popular ones.
iMessage is Apple’s own proprietary messaging app designed to provide an easy and elegant solution for messaging and scheduling. The app gives users the ability to schedule and send texts, photos, links, and VoIP calls to contacts easily and effectively. Apple makes its own iMessage server, providing businesses with a dedicated line and ensuring reliability. Additionally, the company provides businesses with a suite of tools, resources, and training to help them succeed with mobile messaging.
Line
If you’re looking for a simpler solution that still offers much of what you need, then you might want to check out Line, the Japanese messaging application that was originally built for smartphones but now also supports groups discussions, screen sharing, and more.
The Line application is a bit more than just a messaging app. It provides users with a variety of tools and resources they might need in the course of daily business. Additionally, the application allows businesses to create groups to enable group discussions and collaboration. These features make it a perfect tool for any business that needs to improve communication and cooperation between employees, vendors, contractors, and more.
Viber
Also known as WhatsApp, the popular messaging application from the WhatsApp group now supports calls, video chats, group discussions, and more. However, unlike its competitors, TextPlus, or TTYL for short, Viber does not use your phone number as your identifier. Instead, users create a username and a password that are used to identify themselves during login. This allows Viber to guarantee confidentiality of user information.
The application also provides users with features that let them organize their contacts into circles or groups based on mutual interests. This feature is ideal for businesses that want to engage with their existing customer base or find new customers based on shared interests. Having these features combined with the fact that Viber is free makes it a powerful option for any business to consider.
Signal
Finally, we arrive at Signal, the secure messaging app developed by Twitter. Similar to its bigger sibling, TikTok, Signal allows users to share short videos and GIFs. Like other applications on this list, it uses an encrypted end-to-end protocol to ensure all message contents are secure and private.
Signal also supports voice calls and allows users to set up multiple phone numbers for contacting friends and businesses. These features, combined with the fact that the application is free, make it viable for any business to consider.
Choosing the right messaging app for your business can be a challenge. Whether you need an app that allows you to engage with customers via text or a video call, there is an app to meet your needs. Keep in mind that some apps offer more features than others, so it’s important to choose an app that fits your business needs.