and SMS marketing\n"],"filePath":[0,"src/content/blog/03-2025/whatsapp-sms-marketing.mdx"],"digest":[0,"958f35926d2ba853"],"deferredRender":[0,true],"collection":[0,"blog"],"remarkPluginFrontmatter":[0,{"categories":[1,[[0,"Omnichannel messaging"],[0,"SMS marketing"],[0,"WhatsApp marketing"]]],"description":[0,"WhatsApp and SMS are among the top channels preferred by customers. In this post, we'll cover how to integrate them into cross-channel campaigns for maximum impact."],"heroImage":[0,"/blog/content/images/2025/03/WhatsApp-SMS-marketing-Pushwoosh-blog.png"],"keywords":[1,[[0,"SMS marketing"],[0,"WhatsApp marketing"],[0,"cross-channel campaigns"],[0,"customer support"],[0,"mobile marketing"]]],"pubDate":[0,"Mar 21 2025"],"slug":[0,"whatsapp-sms-marketing"],"author":[0,"anna-kvasnevska"],"title":[0,"WhatsApp & SMS marketing: Driving cross-channel success in 2025"],"head":[1,[[0,{"tag":[0,"title"],"content":[0,"WhatsApp & SMS marketing 2025: Driving cross-channel success"]}]]],"minutesRead":[0,"11 min read"]}]}],[0,{"id":[0,"sms-push-notifications"],"data":[0,{"title":[0,"How to Use SMS and Push Notifications to Build a High-Potential Omnichannel Presence"],"description":[0,"Learn when to use SMS and push notifications alone and when to opt for both channels to ensure the best communication with your target audience."],"keywords":[1,[[0,"SMS marketing"],[0,"push notifications"],[0,"mobile marketing"],[0,"omnichannel marketing"],[0,"customer engagement"]]],"pubDate":[3,"2023-09-05T00:00:00.000Z"],"heroImage":[0,"/blog/content/images/2023/08/Push-Notifications-and-SMS---Pushwoosh-Blog.png"],"author":[0,{"id":[0,"anna-kvasnevska"],"collection":[0,"authors"]}],"categories":[1,[[0,"Omnichannel messaging"],[0,"Push notifications"],[0,"SMS marketing"]]],"head":[1,[[0,{"tag":[0,"title"],"content":[0,"Unlock Omnichannel Presence with SMS and Push Notifications"]}]]]}],"body":[0,"With omnichannel presence carved into every marketer's mind and annual strategy,\nit's easy to lose track of which channels work best for your audience. Today,\nwe're looking into two major mobile-friendly communication strategies to help\nyou build an omnichannel presence for your business: SMS and push notifications.\n\nWait, SMS? But we’re no longer in 2007! Well,\n[the latest report](https://techjury.net/blog/sms-marketing-statistics/)\nsuggests that 75% of customers would like to communicate with business via SMS,\nand 60% read texts within the first five minutes of receiving them. Isn’t that a\nlovely business opportunity? Especially since more than 85% of SMS gets\ndelivered successfully.\n\nPushes, in turn, may have a slightly lower visibility due to their placement;\nyet, they still capture users' attention effectively, especially when\naccompanied by sound, vibrations, or rich media. Pushes are known for much\nhigher cost-efficiency compared to SMS, making it an attractive option for\nbudget-conscious businesses.\n\nImagine the results you could achieve by having both of these communication\nstrategies in your arsenal! But first, let's quickly recap each channel and how\nit could become a powerful tool in your marketing communication arsenal.\n\n## SMS and push notifications: Where each kind shines\n\n### SMS: surefire yet costly delivery of sensitive data and urgent updates\n\nSMS is a communication channel that businesses can use to send concise, targeted\ntext messages to customers' phones. SMS offers impressive deliverability and\nimmediate reach, making it ideal for communicating urgent and time-sensitive\nreminders or updates. You can also leverage SMS marketing when users prove to be\nunresponsive to your push campaigns, capturing more customers. \nIt's an irreplaceable channel for industries like finance & banking, insurance,\nand travel, where immediate communication is needed. Yet, the benefits of SMS\ncome at quite a **high price** for the business. Moreover, their interaction\npotential is limited, usually leading to links or simple responses.\n\n### Push notifications vs. SMS: more cost-effective for retention-driving messages and promos\n\nPush notifications, in turn, are real-time alerts sent directly to a user's\nmobile or desktop device from an app or website.\n\nPushes are more cost-effective, and they can contain interactive elements, such\nas buttons, images, and GIFs, allowing for more engaging content than SMS. Users\ncan take action directly from the notification, such as liking a post or making\na purchase. This makes push notifications a smart choice when a business needs\nto grab users' attention with updates, promotions, or tailored content. As a\ndirect and instant form of communication, pushes can boost engagement,\nretention, and conversions. The general recommendation is to use pushes to\nmaintain brand presence and nudge user engagement with\n[personalized promotions](/blog/personalized-push-notifications/) at lower costs. And\nSMS will stay your go-to channel for time-sensitive and secure messages. With\nthe right automation engine, you can ensure each channel works seamlessly.\n\n[Pushwoosh Customer Journey Builder](https://www.pushwoosh.com/products/customer-journey/)\nallows you to alternate and combine SMS with push notifications, choosing the\noptimal channel for your specific case:\n\n\n\n**The difference between push notifications and SMS**\n\n| | SMS | Push notifications |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| User opt-in | User shares their phone number and explicitly agrees to receive text messages | User confirms they would like to receive push notifications from within the app or a website |\n| Delivery method | Over a cellular network to the mobile phone. No internet connection is required. | From a downloaded app to a mobile device, such as a phone or a tablet; or from a website to a user’s desktop, only an internet connection is required. |\n| Interaction opportunities | Limited, usually leading to links or simple responses. | More options of interactive elements, such as buttons, images, and GIFs, allowing for more engaging content. Users can take action directly from the notification, such as liking a post or making a purchase. |\n| Industries that can find them irreplaceable: | _ Finance _ Insurance _ Healthcare _ Airlines _ Hospitality _ Retail | _ E-commerce _ Gaming _ News & Media _ Travel _ Education _ Lifestyle and other subscription apps |\n| Best used for (although in some cases, can be interchangeable): | _ Urgent communications _ Delivery updates _ Appointment reminders _ Security alerts | _ Behavioral triggers _ Personalized promotions _ Habit building _ Product updates _ Breaking news _ Welcome messages \\* Feedback requests |\n\nEach of these channels shines bright on its own, yet it is omnichannel we are\ntalking about, so \"bright\" may not be enough. Instead, you need to be able to\npredict any possible touchpoint and react if the customer deviates from the path\nyou've envisioned for them. To pick up a slack, if you wish.\n\nThat's why we strongly encourage you not just to choose between either push\nnotifications or SMS but to **incorporate the two concurrently into your\nmarketing strategy**. The results will impress you!\n\n## When push and SMS notifications come together: real-life use cases\n\nLet's look at some real-life examples of how you could use SMS and push\nnotifications to build a comprehensive omnichannel presence for your brand.\nWe'll be providing examples from different industries as we go, not to overpower\nyou with theory.\n\n### 1. Enhanced personalization\n\nWe all know about the importance of personalization. But what if you could\n**personalize beyond the content** and rely on messaging to show your customers\nthat you care?\n\nLet's say your business operates in the travel industry. There are tons of\nmessages you could be sending, ranging from special deals on flights from their\nhometown for Christmas to transactional communications about their flight\nstatus. Should you go with mobile or web pushes, or is it better to send an SMS?\nAssuming the contact has opted in for receiving both types of communications,\nyou could adjust your channel based on the [event type](/blog/what-events-to-use/),\nfurther enhancing their personalized experience. For example, your push\nnotifications could go off several hours before the flight, inviting the user to\ncheck in early. Airlines do it all the time:\n\n\n\nSince the message doesn't require any urgent action but has the potential to\ndrive the user back to the app, the airline is not losing anything vital if the\nuser chooses to ignore the push.\n\nIf, however, the information could significantly affect the user's travel plans,\n**it's advisable to do both**: send a push notification hoping to catch the user\non their phone and send a follow-up SMS with more details regarding the\nsituation:\n\n\n\nThis way, the airline ensures the user gets all the critical details and the\ncourse of action in one message. Sending the push ensures you'll reach the user\neven if they have already switched off their phone preparing for the flight.\n\nWith Pushwoosh Customer Journey Builder, you can send SMS and push notifications\nin response to any important events. Start your messaging journey with a\n[Webhook-based entry](https://docs.pushwoosh.com/platform-docs/send-messages/customer-journey-builder/journey-elements/webhook-based-entry/),\nand such critical information as flight cancelation will be passed to the\nPushwoosh platform in an API request. Then, plan an SMS and a push notification\nto alert affected customers.\n\n\n\n### 2. Loyalty programs & rewards\n\n**Selecting the right messaging channel** for driving loyalty to your brand can\nmake or break the deal in most industries. But let's take retail as an example\nhere.\n\nImagine running a coffee shop and wanting to double your foot traffic and\nconversions through the loyalty program. You want quick results, so you may\nannounce a limited-time offer that is only valid until the end of this week.\n\nSince it’s a promo, **push notifications will be the best channel to attract\nyour loyal customers’ attention**. And since you want to drive conversions\nquickly and you only target your offer at a limited number of your loyal coffee\nlovers, you can **add SMS to the campaign to maximize engagement**.\n\n\n\nTo attain your targets, you don't need to send both. Instead, make sure you\n**track user behavior** on your automation platform and only **use SMS for\nreaching customers who haven’t converted after a push notification**. This way,\nyou can maintain your campaign budget while increasing your reach and boosting\nconversions.\n\nOne way to always keep track of your customers' reactions to your communications\nchannels is to use\n[Pushwoosh Customer Journey Builder](https://www.pushwoosh.com/products/customer-journey/)\n– it will help you choose the best promotion strategy based on each user's\nengagement and purchase history.\n\n\n\n### 3. Learning & development\n\nAnother way to benefit from push notifications and SMS marketing is a popular\nuse case in the edtech industry. Here, you can leverage different messaging\nchannels to **improve your students' experience** with your platform **and\ncommunicate important updates** in the most effective (or the most engaging) way\npossible.\n\n_Duolingo_ really excels at their push notifications going viral:\n\n\n\nYou can use notifications to help users build their daily habits, complete their\ncourses on time, and achieve their goals. An admirable application, don't you\nagree? However, _Duo_ is teaching us another valuable lesson: **ensure the tone\nof voice of your messaging matches your audience's vibe**.\n\nThat's why **push notifications may not be enough if your communications tend to\nbe more official** and consequential – they can easily get lost or ignored. For\nexample, your platform offers paid certification programs. Then, the learner\nneeds to be able to follow the syllabus and complete their modules on time. If\nthat's the case, SMS might be a better option:\n\n\n\nYou can **use SMS to deliver time-sensitive information** and drive necessary\naction, while **push notifications can address real-time learning needs** and\ninform students of new updates to the courses you offer.\n\nBy leveraging both, you ensure that every student feels included.\n\n📘Discover more cases and inspiring examples of\n[lifecycle messaging for educational apps](/blog/lifecycle-messaging-educational-apps/)\n\n### 4. Event-based triggers\n\nAnother effective way to use SMS and push notifications in your strategy is to\n**set up automated workflows that would trigger such communications based on\nuser behavior**. Let's take a look at an example from the banking industry.\n\nYou can start by advising users to have mobile push notifications set up for all\ncard transactions. Here is an example from _Revolut_ that does just that:\n\n\n\nYou can bet on customization and **ask the user if receiving such communications\nvia push notifications or SMS is more convenient** and stick to the preferred\nformat.\n\nRegarding push notifications vs. SMS security, both channels can be secure.\nHowever, **pay attention to regional regulations and policies** as some require\nto only use SMS for sensitive data communication.\n\n📘With\nPushwoosh, fintech & banking apps can rest reassured in the\n[safety & security of their messaging](/blog/secure-messaging-for-fintech-banking-apps/)\n— read the blog post to learn more\n\n### 5. Appointment reminders & confirmations\n\nAnother prominent use case of SMS and push notifications is **ensuring all\nappointment reminders reach your visitors on time**. Here is a quick example\nfrom the healthcare industry that could be sent _either_ as a mobile push\nnotification _or_ as a text message, depending on the user's personal\npreferences and reachability score:\n\n\n\nYou could send out _both_ the push and the SMS, yet it may come across as\nintrusive and will likely result in additional costs for your business without\nany additional gain. Your ultimate goal should always be to **reach the customer\nthrough the most convenient channel**, not to spam them across every platform\nimaginable.\n\nTo achieve this,\n\n⏰Set a\n[Dynamic Time Delay](https://docs.pushwoosh.com/platform-docs/send-messages/customer-journey-builder/journey-elements#delay-based-on-user-or-event-data)\nto deliver a personal reminder to each client within a specified time period\nbefore their upcoming appointment.\n\n📲 Do a [Reachability Check](/blog/reachability-check/) to see whom you can send push\nnotifications instead of SMS reminders. By doing so, you can decrease your\nexpenses on SMS sending.\n\n\n\n### 6. Transactional communications\n\nOrder confirmations, delivery updates, one-time passwords, etc. – these are all\nprominent examples of transactional communications. **Their primary goal is to\nconvey information**, not to convert or engage a user. That's why they are a\nlittle bit different from other forms of marketing messages.\n\nSMS would work almost every time, with another popular transactional service\nbeing [email](/blog/confirmation-emails/). But try to reserve pushes for more\neveryday communications and avoid them when passing secure information to ensure\nthat extra layer of data security.\n\n## Best practices for your omnichannel communication strategy\n\nHere are a few tips that will help you ensure the use cases from above not only\ncome to life but also work in the most effective way possible for your users:\n\n### Always check user reachability first\n\nPush notifications can only take you so far. In fact, users will only receive\nyour pushes if they install the app and express consent for these notifications.\nWhat if that never happens? That's where SMS steps in, ensuring you can still\nconnect with your audience even if they don't have your app installed.\n\nOn the other hand, if a user is inactive or has poor mobile reception, a push\nnotification might be more effective than a text message.\n\nAlways check user reachability before deciding your messaging strategy! And when\nchoosing your sender partner, ensure the platform supports both formats. At\n[Pushwoosh](https://www.pushwoosh.com/), we recognize the importance of\nomnichannel presence and allow our users to send push notifications, SMS, or\nboth!\n\n✅Learn more about\n[Reachability Check in Pushwoosh](https://docs.pushwoosh.com/platform-docs/send-messages/customer-journey-builder/journey-elements#reachability-check)\n\n### Track user engagement and segment recipients\n\nHere's a friendly reminder: **Segment your contacts into cohorts according to\ntheir demographics and behavior** based on the user data you have.\n\nLearn whether this specific user prefers one communication channel over another\nand stick to it. [Optimize your send times](/blog/best-time-to-send-push-notifications/). Tailor unique\ncontent based on their on-site behavior and favorite products. Opportunities are\nlimitless!\n\nAnd when choosing the best platform for running your messaging campaigns, look\nfor one that enables\n[content personalization](https://www.pushwoosh.com/products/messaging-personalization-with-pushwoosh/)\nfor each type of notification.\n\n**Remember to always personalize your SMS**. Just like you segment users for\ntargeted push notifications, it's vital to segment for SMS. Segmentation ensures\nthat the right message reaches the right person, reducing the risk of message\nfatigue and enhancing user experience.\n\n### A/B/n test different variations to resonate with your audience\n\nDon't limit yourself to just two options (and don't allow your messaging\nprovider to do that, either!) Conduct\n[A/B/n testing](/blog/push-notification-a-b-testing/) to determine which method, be\nit push notifications or SMS, resonates with different audience segments better\nand experiment with the content of your messages to achieve the best results.\n\nSuch a data-driven approach will help you easily optimize your campaigns and\ndrive even higher customer engagement!\n\n---\n\nEnhance your messaging strategy with automated personalized messaging – run SMS\nand push notification campaigns with Pushwoosh!\n\n[Get a free product demo](https://www.pushwoosh.com/demo/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=push-notifications-sms)\n\nExcited about seeing Pushwoosh in action? Get registered and try the platform\nfor free:\n\n[Sign up for Pushwoosh](https://go.pushwoosh.com/cp/register/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=push-notifications-sms)"],"filePath":[0,"src/content/blog/09-2023/sms-push-notifications.mdx"],"digest":[0,"0806da97fb1380b2"],"deferredRender":[0,true],"collection":[0,"blog"],"remarkPluginFrontmatter":[0,{"categories":[1,[[0,"Omnichannel messaging"],[0,"Push notifications"],[0,"SMS marketing"]]],"description":[0,"Learn when to use SMS and push notifications alone and when to opt for both channels to ensure the best communication with your target audience."],"heroImage":[0,"/blog/content/images/2023/08/Push-Notifications-and-SMS---Pushwoosh-Blog.png"],"keywords":[1,[[0,"SMS marketing"],[0,"push notifications"],[0,"mobile marketing"],[0,"omnichannel marketing"],[0,"customer engagement"]]],"pubDate":[0,"Sep 05 2023"],"slug":[0,"sms-push-notifications"],"author":[0,"anna-kvasnevska"],"title":[0,"How to Use SMS and Push Notifications to Build a High-Potential Omnichannel Presence"],"head":[1,[[0,{"tag":[0,"title"],"content":[0,"Unlock Omnichannel Presence with SMS and Push Notifications"]}]]],"minutesRead":[0,"12 min read"]}]}]]]}" renderer-url="/blog/_astro/client.BPIbHqJh.js" ssr="" uid="Z2dvx6A">