What is RCS and which one should I choose?
Are you looking for a powerful way to engage customers directly in their messaging app? RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the future's answer to SMS, offering a richer, more interactive channel for communication and marketing. RCS tools help businesses send visually appealing, two-way communicative, and targeted campaigns directly to the user's mobile.
Today, there are several providers in the market offering RCS as a service. They provide both the technical infrastructure behind the message dispatches and advanced analytics tools that show how recipients interact with the campaign. Two leading players are Sinch and Google, with the latter being a key player in rolling out RCS globally via Android's Messages app. RCS enables built-in CTA buttons, images, videos, carousels, and real-time feedback – features that traditional SMS cannot match.
More companies are now using AI to further automate and personalize RCS communication. This increases both engagement and conversion rates. RCS is particularly effective for e-commerce, customer support, booking confirmations, and campaigns where you want the recipient to act directly in the message.
When choosing an RCS provider, it is important to consider your technical requirements and your audience's device support (Android has full support, but iOS is still lagging behind). Also, think about how you want to use the channel – for branding, customer service, or pure sales?
At BusinessWith, we have created a comparison guide where you can compare different RCS providers and see which option suits your business best. Welcome to start comparing!
What should we consider when choosing an SMS service?
SMS marketing is an effective communication channel that many businesses successfully use. Unlike social media, where marketing can be targeted at large groups and where accuracy is not always high, SMS marketing is a personal channel that reaches directly into your target audiences.
Before you choose a marketing tool for mobile dispatches, we at BusinessWith recommend considering a number of factors:
User-friendliness: Depending on who in the staff will send out the campaigns and their digital and technical competence, this can be an important issue. A clear interface is crucial for those who want a system that is easy to understand and use.
Customization options: Consider that you want to optimize campaigns to send SMS that engage recipients. Most tools offer this function, but it may be wise to check the possibilities in advance.
Integrations: It is often important that the SMS marketing tool can connect to other systems you use, such as CRM and any e-commerce platform. You obviously want it to be smooth to manage target groups and other data.
Analytics: Always relevant. Once the campaign is sent, it is highly prioritized to analyze the results so you can tweak the next dispatch. This evaluation is often deprioritized, but checking open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates is crucial for increasing the effectiveness of your invested money.
A couple of other important factors are to ensure that the tool complies with laws and regulations for SMS marketing in the UK. GDPR, in particular, is crucial to adhere to. If you are investing in a company based in another part of the world, this is even more important. Here, support and service come into play. Make sure you can get help during the hours when you are working, if that is important to you.
Last but not least, as with all system investments, it is worth considering the possibility of scaling up to send SMS to a larger customer base.
Quick Guide
Quick Guide
Why are SMS marketing tools so good?
Being able to create closer relationships with customers through messages that are often read immediately is valuable for businesses. SMS marketing tools often provide a higher level of attention and significant engagement.
The channel has a large number of advantages, not least its speed. The fact that SMS messages are often read within minutes makes SMS marketing a popular channel. The open and read rates are often high, unlike emails that can end up in spam or be ignored. Most mobile phones can receive SMS, which means you can reach a really broad audience with your marketing.
SMS communication can be challenging, as you are limited to a few characters. At the same time, you are forced to be concise and straight to the point, making your marketing easy to digest. This, combined with the ability to collect data and learn what works for your customers, allows you to succeed with truly engaging communication.
Carefully evaluate the different services in advance, and feel free to read reviews from other users. At BusinessWith, we have created a comparison service where you can review the options available in the market right now. Good luck!
Description of product features
API Integration for SMS Broadcasting
Global SMS Broadcast
SMS Authentication
SMS for Customer Support
SMS Marketing for Engagement
SMS-notices
SMS-notifications
Web interface for easier sending