While email is the foundation of most digital marketing strategies, relying on a single channel is increasingly risky. Inbox competition is fierce, attention spans are short, and even your best email campaigns can go unopened amidst the daily digital noise.


Introducing SMS into your strategy isn't about replacing email, it's about strengthening it. By building a multi-channel marketing strategy where both tools support each other, you create a seamless experience that drives higher engagement and better conversion rates.


Here are 10 reasons why you should be using SMS alongside email to supercharge your results:


1. Unrivalled open rates

It's a well-known stat for a reason. While a great marketing email might see a 20-25% open rate, SMS boasts an average open rate of 98%. If you have a critical message that absolutely must be seen, SMS ensures it lands directly in front of your audience.


2. The perfect 'fail-safe' for unopened emails

If a contact hasn’t opened your last few emails, sending another one into a crowded inbox rarely works. Instead, you can use the Force24 Journey Builder to set up a quick automation step: if an email isn't opened within 24 or 48 hours, automatically trigger an SMS. This acts as a safety net to capture those lost conversions.


3. Beating inbox fatigue and seasonal noise

Your contacts receive dozens of marketing emails every day, leading to 'inbox fatigue' where they simply tune out. Because people receive far fewer text messages from brands, SMS naturally stands out. This makes it your secret weapon for cutting through the clutter during hyper-busy periods like the Golden Quarter or Black Friday.


4. Immediate action

Emails can sit unopened for hours or days. SMS, however, is immediate - 90% of text messages are read within three minutes of delivery. When timing is everything - like a flash sale, a booking deadline, or urgent travel updates - SMS delivers the fast results email can't match.


5. A true multi-channel marketing multiplier

The most successful campaigns don't rely on a single communication channel. When you combine email, SMS, and paid media, you reinforce your message across different touchpoints. This multi-channel approach makes your brand feel more professional and present, without overwhelming the user on a single platform.


6. Humanising your brand communication

A beautifully designed HTML email clearly looks like a corporate broadcast. An SMS, by its very nature, feels personal and conversational. For sectors like building a memorable recruitment brand or executing high-touch B2B lead nurturing techniques, a plain-text SMS feels like a helpful 1-to-1 check-in, breaking down barriers and driving faster replies.


7. Capturing short attention spans

Modern consumers skim content quickly on their mobiles. While landing pages linked via email are great for more detail, SMS forces absolute brevity. You have 160 characters to deliver your core message and a call to action, perfectly matching modern mobile browsing habits and offering a frictionless path to purchase.


8. Set-it-and-forget-it automation

You don't need to broadcast SMS messages manually. By integrating text triggers into your set-it-and-forget-it automated campaigns, the platform handles the timing for you based on real-time customer behaviour. It runs quietly in the background, maximising engagement while you focus on other tasks.


9. Targeting your warmest data

People guard their mobile numbers much more closely than their email addresses. Because opting into SMS marketing requires a higher level of trust, your text database is naturally comprised of your higher-intent, warmer leads. Sending to this audience typically yields much higher conversion metrics.


10. The "VIP" lock screen effect

Landing directly on a customer's lock screen carries an implicit sense of exclusivity. Marketers can leverage this by using SMS to deliver exclusive perks - such as early access to a sale, VIP discounts, or instant stock alerts - making the recipient feel part of an inner circle.


Right tool, right time

To get the best out of both channels, use them where they shine:

  • Use Email for: Visual branding, regular touchpoints, multi-product options, and ongoing nurture sequences.
  • Use SMS for: Critical alerts, time-sensitive deadlines, high-value individual updates, and instantly re-engaging contacts who missed your email link.


Ready to get started?

If you're ready to add SMS to your marketing toolkit, this is a great place to start:


Need a hand? If you want to chat about how to best fit SMS into your current journeys or campaigns, just reach out to the team via the platform chat at the bottom right bubble.