Why SMS marketing outperforms email campaigns in Hong Kong? In today’s rapidly changing business environment, reaching customers quickly is more important than ever. Many Hong Kong companies have found that SMS marketing is more effective than traditional email campaigns. Unlike email, SMS messages are read almost instantly, helping businesses interact with customers in real time.
Why SMS marketing outperforms email campaigns in Hong Kong?
In this article, I will explain why SMS marketing in Hong Kong is more effective than email, what key metrics can demonstrate its effectiveness, and how Hong Kong businesses can use SMS strategies to improve their business performance.
Key differences between SMS and email marketing
SMS marketing and email marketing are both commonly used customer communication methods, but they differ significantly in how they work:
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Speed: SMS messages are delivered instantly, while emails may go unread for a long time.
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Accessibility: Almost everyone can receive SMS, even without internet access; email, however, requires internet access.
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Interactivity: People typically read and reply to SMS messages faster than emails.
These differences make SMS the best choice for emergency promotions and instant updates.
Key metrics show that SMS marketing is more effective.
Hong Kong companies track key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess which channels are more effective:
Open rates: SMS vs Email
SMS messages have an open rate of over 90%, while emails typically only have an open rate of 20–30%.
Delivery rate and reach
SMS messages can be delivered directly to customers and almost never end up in the spam folder. Emails, on the other hand, are easily filtered or ignored.
Cost-effectiveness
While a single email may be less expensive, SMS offers a higher return on investment (ROI) due to its higher engagement and conversion rates.
Personalization and interactivity
SMS messages can be tailored to customer names or specific offers to increase response rates.
Advantages of Hong Kong SMS Marketing
Instant delivery and high speed
SMS messages can be read within minutes, making them ideal for flash sales or urgent notifications.
Receives without an internet connection
Even if customers don’t have internet access, they can still receive SMS messages, which is especially useful in Hong Kong’s mobile-first market.
Higher interaction rate
SMS click-through rates (CTR) and response rates are generally higher than those of email campaigns.
Lower risk of spam
Emails are easily flagged as spam, but SMS messages are seldom ignored.
Disadvantages of email marketing
Low open rate and click-through rate
Emails in Hong Kong often go unopened or unread because the inbox is very congested.
Spam filtering affects the reach rate
Many marketing emails are automatically filtered into spam or promotional folders by email services.
Inbox competition is fierce
Customers receive a large number of emails every day, making it harder for your message to stand out.
When to use SMS or email marketing?
While SMS is very effective, email is still suitable for delivering detailed news or long-form content. The best strategy is usually to combine both channels: SMS for urgent or instant messages , and email for informational or content-rich events . For Hong Kong businesses, SMS marketing outperforms email campaigns in terms of speed, engagement, and reach . By focusing on SMS, businesses can enhance customer engagement, increase ROI, and ensure messages are read and responded to instantly.
If you want to improve your marketing results in Hong Kong, now is the best time to make SMS your primary communication channel.