The first text message was sent in 1992 by a man named Neil Papworth. He sent the words “Merry Christmas” from his computer to his colleague who received the message on a cordless phone. Fast forward a few years– most of us remember the time of the dreaded flip phone or at least when “QWERTY” keyboards were added to cell phones in early 2000. Soon enough mobile phones evolved to modern touch screen keyboards. Now we can even text by speaking into our phones. 

What Does Business Texting Look Like in 2022?

In 2020, COVID-19 affected every business in some way, shape, or form. Businesses were changing safety measures, their business hours, and more. Throughout the pandemic businesses needed to stay connected to customers as well as employees. Texting became an important piece of business communication for direct interactions. Business texting was a preferred method of communication before the pandemic, but it has maintained its traction among businesses as the preferred communication method.

There are many key takeaways from business texting during COVID-19. As this continues to grow as a medium of communication, here are some recommended tips:

• Keep Texts Between 20-30 Words: Clear and concise text messages have a higher engagement rate.
• Text Early in the Morning or Late at Night: Insights have shown that engagement is 50% higher before 9 AM or after 9 PM.
• Include a Call to Action: Text messages that have a positive tone and include a CTA have a much higher engagement rate.

There are 23 billion text messages sent every day across the world. 2.52 billion people text using apps on their mobile phones. That means 270,000 messages are sent every second. Consumer expectations are shifting as text-based communication continues to rise. Trust between businesses and consumers is growing. People are starting to expect businesses to text them sharing updates and information. Truth is, your competitors are most likely already using business texting.

Why Should My Business Text?

Besides getting ahead of competitors, there are plenty of reasons for your business to text. Statistics show that:

• Text messages have a 99% open rate. 
• 45% of text messages receive a reply.
• Texting is 10x quicker than a phone call.
• 78% of consumers wish they could text a business.
• 33% of American adults prefer texting over other forms of communication.

What Are Common Texts From Businesses?

Business texting can be used in a variety of ways. One-to-one communication happens when someone may text you asking questions about location, hours, or inventory. People are typically looking for a quick response to a simple question. In other cases, employees may be texting about potential vacation days, if they’re running late, and more. There’s blast texting where you can promote an upcoming event, product, or special offering. People most likely will not reply to these, however, 99% of them will be opened and read. 

As business texting continues to become more popular, more and more businesses will start looking into this method of communication. Is your business up to date? Want to see it in action? Text us at 757-810-8010 or email [email protected] and visit www.gnymble.com to learn more.