When’s the best time to send business SMS messages?

Timing is everything and the success of an SMS campaign is often related to when it happens. The timing of your message will depend on factors such as your industry, customer habits, and goals.

You could craft the most compelling text with the potential to attract new customers and boost sales, however, if you send it at the wrong time, you could risk lower levels of engagement. On the other hand, a less attractive SMS received at the most optimal time of day, could maximise financial opportunities and perform significantly better. 

Considering that, on average, people in the UK check their smartphones every 12 minutes of the waking day, you would assume that all messages are received equally. However, if you’re a B2B business, you could lose out on potential leads because you’ve sent your text outside of working hours. 

So, when is the best time to send a bulk SMS? Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, there are some rough guidelines that can help you boost engagement and make the most impact.  

Best time to send bulk SMS according to the day 

Weekday 

The best time to text your customers on the weekdays is during the morning or in the afternoon. Individuals are inclined to check their phones for notifications during the first hours of the workday, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. 

Another window of opportunity for the weekdays is during the evening when customers have left work and are looking to disconnect or unwind on their phones. This typically happens between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m, however, you may want to narrow down the time frame to 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to account for rush hour drive time.

Weekend 

Weekend mornings are a great time to make the most of your customer’s attention and send out a bulk SMS before they are busy enjoying their time off. We recommend sending a text between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturdays or Sundays, especially since 75% of consumers check their phone within the first 30 minutes of waking up. 

Another great time to send out a bulk SMS is on Sunday afternoon between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. During this window of time, customers are typically winding down from the weekend and getting ready for the start of a new week.  

Best time to send bulk SMS according to objectives  

Promotional Texts 

Promotional texts are those that generate leads, promote services or products, and increase brand awareness. This can range from discount codes to flash sales and anything in between. 

If you are going to inform your customers about an upcoming sale, we recommend that you do so a day or two before it begins. This will give them enough notice to interact with the sale once it starts. You should only send promotional texts during business hours, which defined by the TCPA, are between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Any earlier or later and you can risk looking unprofessional. You can learn all about SMS marketing and promotional texts here.

Transactional Texts 

Transactional texts are those that contain time-sensitive information and/or help your customers use your services and products. This can range from payment confirmation to appointment reminders and anything in between. 

These types of texts are typically triggered by an action on behalf of the customer, so they can be sent at any time. When your customer makes a purchase, send out a confirmation text immediately to avoid any possible misunderstandings. Appointment reminders should be sent out at least 24 hours before to allow time for rescheduling or cancellations. 

Best time to send bulk SMS according to industry  

Restaurants 

Restaurateurs can use bulk SMS to send offers, promote new menus, collect customer feedback, and manage bookings or orders. Most people visit restaurants during the evening, therefore, the best time to send a bulk SMS is in the afternoon, before they’ve decided where they will be dining.

Sending a text too early could result in your customer forgetting about the message, whilst sending one too late could risk a competitor swooping in and taking your lead. We recommend texting your customers between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., especially on the weekends. If you’re a takeaway venue, look out for large, televised events, like sports games, and boost your orders by sending out a campaign before kick-off. 

Services  

If your business provides a service, such as a barber shop, law firm, or housekeeping business, you can use SMS campaigns to send out reminders and boost efficiency. Not only does sending out reminders reduce the number of missed appointments, but it also improves the customer experience and gives your business a better reputation, which in turn, can attract new clientele. 

Let’s say your client booked an appointment for 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday. Once they’ve made a reservation, you can send them a text confirming their booking to avoid any confusion. You can then send a text message on Monday or 24 hours before their scheduled appointment to remind them of the time, date, and location. You can even give them the ability to reschedule via text if they are no longer able to make this commitment. 

General 

There are many more types of businesses that can benefit from SMS. Before you send out your messages, think about what time of day your product or service will generate the highest amount of interest and engagement. If you have no idea where to start, send out texts across different time frames and see which performs the best. 

It’s all about taking an educated guess and proceeding to make tweaks through trial and error. Not all audiences are the same, depending on the nature of your business and your text, you may find that your audience is more receptive to certain days or times than others. That’s why it’s important to keep track of your metrics, such as open rates and response rates, as they can help you make changes as you go along.

Interested in learning more about the power of SMS and keen to get expert advice? Contact Esendex today or start your free trial.