More than just text: Send diverse messages with SMS attachments

Send pictures and other files via SMS – with SMS attachments

What if you could combine the undeniable advantages of SMS with multimedia content? You think you have to wait for RCS to become widespread? We got a better idea: you can send your attachments via SMS. Use our new service to easily extend your effective short messages and include pictures and brochures to convince your customers.

In this article we will show you examples of how others use SMS attachments to their advantage. But before we get started with those, we’ll give you an overview of how you can use the attachment feature and what you should keep in mind before you get started.

Invitations and tickets

You want to send an invitation for an event? SMS make it particularly exclusive and personal. Here, too, you combine the best of both worlds with SMS attachments. The SMS is well received and your sent invitation is designed exactly as you want it, without compromise.

Of course, you can also send the actual digital ticket. This way, your guests only have to show the saved file on their smartphone when they arrive at your event. However, since your customers can also download the file, they can choose whether they prefer to print the ticket instead. This means that you are offering an environmentally friendly alternative to the classic ticket, but you don’t exclude the option for your customers.

Newsletters

There is no doubt about it: newsletters are valuable marketing tools. They can be used at all stages of the customer journey, are flexible, and can be customized to make every corner of the email look like your brand. The big drawback? The open rate of newsletters sent by companies via mail averages around 20%. The average open rate of SMS, on the other hand, is 98%. So, if you attach the content of your newsletter as a PDF to an SMS, you can potentially reach many more recipients.

Now you may have objections. After all, recipients have to open the attachment and actively read it. This is certainly true, but SMS have a clear advantage here as well: their personal character. If you get into the privileged situation of being able to send an SMS to a person, they will perceive the content of the message as much more relevant. If the content of the newsletter is also personalized and interesting for the respective recipient, you are in the best possible situation. You are in personal contact with your customers and are perceived as relevant, ideally without appearing promotional.

Your personal use case

Of course, these examples are not the only situations where SMS attachments can be useful. In conversational marketing and support, you can use the attachment via SMS to send images that illustrate your point. Educational institutions can send documents via SMS attachments without worrying about the mixed audience. Organizations effectively send out personalized info sheets to interested parties. Animal shelters send updates about their animals to adopters.

Wherever media effectively extends the text of the SMS, you can use attachments to reach your full potential. Do you have your own idea on how to use SMS attachments? We would love to hear about your ideas, criticism and suggestions!

Header: iStock.com/DisobeyArt, edited color.