7 SMS Myths. 7 Receipts.
Myth 1: “SMS marketing is basically spam. It’s risky.”
Busted: Legit SMS marketing is permission-based and regulated.
[facts] Under FCC/TCPA precedent, text messages are treated as “calls” and telemarketing texts require prior express written consent.
[evidence] Carriers and aggregators can demand proof of opt-in. If opt-out rates exceed 0.5% in 24 hours, you should expect a consent audit. At 4%, campaigns can be suspended.
Want us to audit your opt-in + compliance setup in 15 minutes?
Myth 2: “People hate getting texts from brands.”
Busted: People hate irrelevant, high-frequency messages. They like useful, timely ones.
[facts] Reported SMS unsubscribe rates are typically under 3.5%, often under 1.5%, when programs are run well.
[evidence] Carrier audit thresholds make this binary. High opt-outs trigger audits and suspensions, so good programs are built around relevance and consent hygiene.
We’ll map your message cadence to stay below carrier risk zones.
Myth 3: “SMS doesn’t perform. It’s just noise.”
Busted: SMS wins on speed and action.
[facts] Commonly cited benchmarks show 90% of texts are read within ~3 minutes.
[evidence] Reported SMS CTR often lands ~21–35%, and reported conversion rates ~21–30% (varies by industry and offer).
Let’s pick one use case (abandon cart, appointment, promo) and prove lift in 14 days.
Myth 4: “SMS is expensive compared to email.”
Busted: Cost-per-send is not the metric. Cost-per-outcome is.
[facts] For outbound channels, SMS is frequently positioned as one of the cheapest and fastest ways to reach people.
[evidence] The engagement velocity and CTR benchmarks above explain why SMS often wins on cost per click and cost per conversion, even if CPM-style comparisons feel weird.
Send me your average order value or lead value. I’ll give you a conservative break-even model.
Myth 5: “SMS only works for retail promos.”
Busted: Promos are one lane. Lifecycle and service messaging are the highway.
[facts] SMS strength is immediacy. That maps cleanly to reminders, confirmations, status updates, reactivation, and two-way qualification.
[evidence] The FCC has treated “one-time, on-demand” texts differently than recurring marketing sequences, which is why use-case clarity matters in program design.
Pick your business model. We’ll pick your top 2 SMS use cases.
Myth 6: “Carriers randomly block messages. Deliverability is luck.”
Busted: Deliverability is reputation plus compliance plus content hygiene.
[facts] Best practices emphasize: consistent identity (don’t rotate numbers), identify your brand in-message, and avoid “snowshoeing” behaviors that evade filtering.
[evidence] Carrier consent audits are tied to opt-out rates and proof of opt-in details (date/time/method/IP, etc.).
We’ll review your registration + sending patterns and flag deliverability risks.
Myth 7: “If my list is not huge, SMS won’t matter.”
Busted: Small lists can print money if they are high-intent and segmented.
[facts] SMS tends to be read quickly and acted on quickly, so even a small, opted-in segment can drive measurable outcomes.
[evidence] Carrier audit mechanics reward clean opt-in and low opt-outs. A smaller, higher-quality list is often safer and more profitable than blasting a massive, shaky one.
We’ll build your first 5 segments and your first 7-message test plan.
