The SMS technology has been around for about as long as cell phone technology has. Most cell phone users text message others using SMS messaging. MMS is not as widely known as SMS, meaning some marketers leave money on the table. The article discusses exactly what SMS and MMS are and how they differ.

What is SMS?

Short Message/Messaging Service (SMS) is a text messaging service used mainly by cell phone users. Text messages sent by SMS are limited to 160 alphanumeric characters.

SMS texting was first introduced in Finland back in 1993. After phone compatibility issues were addressed, SMS technology spread to the rest of the world. By 2010, 80% of mobile phone users used it. Both personal and business texting was being done over SMS.

Nearly everybody who uses a cell phone has developed a habit of keeping it nearby. Therefore, almost all text messages are read soon after being received. Early on, this behavior turned cell phone users into a captive audience for advertisers.

Direct marketers began to send short mobile marketing messages to prospects by SMS. By 2013, almost half of all business revenue was generated by mobile messaging. Naturally, one key to a business making serious money through text marketing is to increase the brand’s subscriber list.

A good SMS marketing service can offer tools that enable quick growth of a subscriber base. For example, a Text-to-Join feature would let you create an easily-remembered short code or keyword. Advertise the code or keyword using the service’s other advertising tools and watch your subscriber list grow.

What is MMS?

A Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) lets users share audio, single images, multi-image slideshows, 40-second videos and long text messages. MMS is interactive and easy to use. You can save or forward received MMS messages.

Since 2004 or 2005, MMS has been a standard way marketers and others have sent multimedia content. With the many computerized programs (“tools”) that marketing services have, MMS can be a powerful business builder.

Text-to-win contests are great lead generators because they effectively engage audiences and build email subscriber lists. After you’ve held your contest by MMS, a special computer program could send the custom winner and loser messages to contestants for you.

Send out text surveys, unique promo codes or mobile coupons. Create a rewards program. Adding photos to MMS messages also significantly boosts engagement. Whenever prospects respond, marketers can use a marketing service’s business text messaging feature to respond. Trackable links also identify people.

All these MMS-based marketing methods cause individuals to self-identify. They also identify subgroups within your target market, giving you a better idea of what your prospects want to buy. Marketing the known desired items to them would, obviously, greatly increase your sales.

One of a marketing service’s many special computer programs can capture your prospect or customer’s name. Knowing details about the people you want to sell to would let you add a personal touch to all your communications with and with them.

What is the Difference between SMS and MMS?

The obvious difference between SMS and MMS messaging is capability. SMS can just transmit short text messages, while MMS can send multimedia content and long text messages. Even so, many marketers prosper by sending short SMS messages to prospects.

iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users can only use SMS but cannot use MMS because iMessages can only send multimedia content on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch device.

MMS messaging provides many ways to attract interest, generate leads, discover subgroups and personalize communications with prospects and customers. MMS can also help you build your brand. Per tutorialspoint.com, media companies deliver news and entertainment through MMS, while retailers use MMS to send coupons, product images, videos and other things.

Additionally, the delivery of MMS messages is accomplished in a vastly different way than SMS messages are, according to tutorialspoint.com. Details of how both technologies work are quite complicated.

SMS and MMS is capable of sending messages to both individuals and the masses. However, MMS enables the transmission of multimedia messages, not just text messages. Marketers using MMS can discover who their customers are and deliver personalized messages to them.

Jane