WhatsApp Vs SMS Marketing: Which is Better?

In today's digital age, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with their audience. Given its cheap appeal of low pricing & up to 90% open rate, many businesses are currently relying on SMS Marketing for their businesses.

But, is the revenue worth it with SMS Marketing in comparison with the new age WhatsApp Marketing?

The battle of WhatsApp Marketing Vs SMS Marketing is heating up, and we are here to shed light on this debate.

WhatsApp Marketing is certainly gaining the limelight, with many businesses sending Broadcasts on WhatsApp with their official WhatsApp Business API accounts.

Let's dive deep into the world of mobile advertising and understand the exact difference between WhatsApp Marketing Vs SMS Marketing.

Comparison between WhatsApp Marketing Vs SMS Marketing

The below table gives a detailed comparison between WhatsApp Marketing Vs SMS Marketing for marketing.

As you can see, WhatsApp offers a higher Character limit for messages, better media support, support for WhatsApp Green Tick & so much more in comparison with SMS.

Note: The Use Cases in WhatsApp Marketing are given for WhatsApp Business API-driven platforms, not for WhatsApp Business App. 

The Limitations of Traditional SMS Marketing

1. Limited Characters: SMS restricts messages to 160 characters, limiting the amount of information that can be conveyed.
2. No Multimedia: Unlike WhatsApp, SMS doesn't support rich media, making it less engaging.
3. Cost Implications: Sending bulk SMS can be expensive, especially when targeting international audiences.
4. Lack of Interactivity: SMS doesn't offer interactive features like read receipts or instant feedback, making it a one-way communication channel.

WhatsApp's Advantages Over Traditional SMS Marketing

1. Global Reach: With over 2 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp provides a platform that transcends borders. A person sitting here in India can easily connect with someone in the US within seconds. In contrast, SMS marketing is often limited by network providers and regional restrictions.
   
   
2. Click-through Rate: While WhatsApp & SMS have similar open rates, there is a huge difference between the level of engagement that both platforms bring to the table. WhatsApp messages have an average click rate of 25-40% while SMS has an average CTR of 2%.
   
   
3. Rich Media: WhatsApp allows businesses to send images, videos, documents, and even voice messages. This multimedia approach is a stark contrast to the plain text format of SMS.
   
   
4. End-to-End Encryption: Security is paramount in today's digital world. WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your messages are only seen by the intended recipient. SMS, however, lacks this level of security.
   
   
5. Interactive Features: From blue ticks that indicate a read message to the ability to create engaging polls, WhatsApp offers a plethora of interactive features that SMS simply can't match.

How WhatsApp Marketing Can Increase Engagement

1. Personalized Messaging: With AiSensy's smart WhatsApp marketing tools, businesses can send personalized messages based on user behaviour, increasing the chances of engagement.
   
   
2. Instant Feedback: WhatsApp's real-time messaging allows for instant feedback, enabling businesses to address concerns or capitalize on positive feedback immediately.
   
   
3. Group Chats & Broadcasts: Engage with a wider audience through group chats or send targeted messages using the broadcast feature.
   
   
4. Chatbots & Automation: AiSensy's advanced chatbot capabilities ensure that customers receive instant responses, even outside of business hours, enhancing user experience and engagement.

How to get started with WhatsApp Marketing?

The easiest way to get started with WhatsApp Marketing is via WhatsApp Business App.

However, the Business App is suitable only for individual businesses or solopreneurs & has multiple restrictions including:
1. Broadcast limit of 256 users/ day. Also, only those people will receive the Broadcast who have added you to their contacts.
2. No automation or Chatbot integration is available
3. No Green Tick branding

Countering such limitations is the WhatsApp Business API!

WhatsApp Business API allows you to counter such limitations & connect with hundreds & thousands of users in one go easily. While WhatsApp created the WhatsApp Business API, it didn't create an interface to use the WhatsApp Business API.

That's where AiSensy comes in! AiSensy is the Smartest WhatsApp Marketing Platform built on Official WhatsApp Business APIs helping 5000+ Businesses drive the power of WhatsApp Marketing for their businesses. Using AiSensy, you can:

• Broadcast messages to Unlimited users in one go
• Automate useful notifications via integrations
• Send product Catalogues to sell products on WhatsApp
• Automate 80% queries with Chatbot integration

Wish to get started now?

WhatsApp Marketing: The Future of Mobile Advertising

The shift from traditional SMS to WhatsApp marketing is evident. With its rich features, global reach, and the backing of tools like AiSensy, WhatsApp comes out as an obvious winner when it comes to WhatsApp Marketing Vs Email Marketing. As businesses adapt to this change, those who leverage the power of WhatsApp will undoubtedly have a competitive edge.

In conclusion, while SMS marketing has its merits, the dynamic capabilities of WhatsApp, especially when paired with AiSensy, make it the clear winner in the battle of WhatsApp Marketing Vs SMS Marketing. Embrace the future, and let AiSensy guide your WhatsApp marketing journey.