Blog Post

Is This a Bad Time? The Art of Timing Business SMS for Successful Communication

April 17, 2024 TextUs Team

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Mastering the art of communication can be the difference between a deal won or lost, a candidate being hired or ghosting the recruiter, and a market opportunity seized or missed. When it comes to text messaging, not only is the content important, but the timing of your message can succeed or fail your marketing efforts. Gone are the days of the ‘whenever you can’ strategy; it’s time to sync your communication with the growing fast-paced needs of your audience.

Text messaging is both an intimate and immediate form of contact. It has the potential to cut through the noise of emails and the formalities of phone calls, getting straight to the point and into the hands of your recipient. But what is the best day and time to deliver these text messages in the business world? In this blog, we’ll not only discuss optimal timing but also equip you with tools to enhance your business SMS strategy, no matter the industry or occupation.

What Time is the Best to Text?

Every industry segment and profession has its own “Golden Hour” for text messaging. For instance, business owners might find pre-market hours optimal for a quick check-up on their firms, while recruiters may land more responses during the early evenings when job seekers have wrapped up their day. Segmentation is key here. Analyzing the preferences and behaviors of your audience is the first and most crucial step in timing your business text messages successfully.

Strategies for Early-Risers

Early morning texts can be the worm that hooks the bird – getting your message read before the mountain of work hits.

The healthcare industry might find peak engagement from patients and professionals before the clinics and hospitals fill up. Likewise, manufacturers and supply chain managers who start their days with the sun may find this to be the perfect time for business updates. And educators and administrators can effectively receive information that involves their schedules, meetings, or curriculum planning before the students arrive.

For these industries, scheduled morning SMS messages can be a strategic move to ensure messages are seen and acknowledged during a calm time.

The Afternoon Hustle

In contrast, the middle of the day can be a mixed bag for professional replies. The best engagement can be expected in fields like sales and marketing, where outreach efforts can coincide with lunch breaks. Furthermore, software as a service (SaaS) providers and social media managers are likely to hit their stride during user’s screen time mid-day. Retail businesses, particularly those with online shopping options, find the middle of the day ideal for promoting flash sales or exclusive deals. Consumers on their lunch breaks or in a midday lull are more likely to engage with these messages, making impromptu purchases or decisions.

However, this is also the time when busy professionals may have their schedules packed with meetings and tasks. As such, it’s important to avoid sending too many messages during this period as it could come across as disruptive or overwhelming.

The Evening Buzz

Evening hours are ideal for interactions outside standard working hours, making it an attractive window for real estate agents and entertainment venues that cater to customers after work.

The evening provides a unique opportunity for industries to engage with their audience when they are more relaxed and have the mental space to consider offers or information. Real estate agents, for example, can benefit greatly by sending property listings or open house invitations during this time, catching potential buyers when they’re likely discussing housing options or planning their weekend activities. Entertainment venues sending SMS promotions about upcoming events or ticket availability may tap into the audience’s spontaneity, prompting immediate plans among friends or family.

Essentially, by tailoring messaging strategies to the evening, these professions increase their chances of meaningful engagement, as recipients are not distracted by the demands of their workday.

What Days are the Best to Text?

Determining the ideal days to send text messages for sales, marketing, and recruiting efforts requires a nuanced understanding of your audience’s weekly routine. For sales and marketing professionals, mid-week days, particularly Tuesday through Thursday, have been identified as the sweet spot. This period avoids the doom and gloom of Monday when individuals are gearing up for the week ahead and the distraction of Friday when they are winding down. People are more likely to be in a decision-making mode and receptive to sales pitches or marketing messages during these days.

In the realm of recruiting, the scenario slightly shifts. Wednesday stands out as a prime day for sending out messages, as candidates are settled into their weekly routines yet still planning for the week ahead. Avoiding weekends is crucial across all segments, as this time is often reserved for personal activities and family, where professional messages may be seen as intrusive or overlooked.

Tools and Techniques

Using an SMS texting service, like TextUs, offers an array of tools for scheduling and analyzing, providing the necessary insight for successful timing strategies for each target audience.

Using Automation in Text Messaging

Businesses can benefit from using text drip campaigns to create a series of targeted and timed 1:1 text messages that automatically get sent to selected contacts over a period of time. By delivering messages at the right time, recruiters and sales professionals can deliver a better experience throughout the candidate or buyer’s journey. By automating your outreach, drip campaigns allow more pipeline creation and improve conversion rates throughout hiring and sales cycles.

Using A/B Testing in Text Messaging

Leveraging A/B testing enables businesses to make data-driven decisions regarding the optimal timing and days for sending out text messages. By dividing the target audience into two or more groups and sending them the same message at different times or on different days, companies can meticulously analyze which scenario yields higher engagement rates, whether it’s open rates, reply rates, or conversion rates. This method allows for a comparative analysis that takes the guesswork out of strategic planning. Implementing A/B testing as a regular part of a communication strategy not only optimizes outreach efforts but also enhances the overall customer experience by engaging with them at times when they are most receptive.

This level of strategic scheduling, supported by automated text messaging, not only improves the efficiency of communication efforts but also enhances the overall success rate by reaching recipients when they are most receptive.

Dial In for the Future

Understanding the optimal times and days for sending business SMS messages is pivotal in today’s fast-paced business environment. By aligning communication efforts with the daily patterns and weekly routines of the target audience, businesses can significantly increase the effectiveness of their messaging strategies. This targeted approach ensures messages not only reach the recipient but are received at a time when they are more likely to be read, considered, and acted upon.

By planning the timing of text message deliveries, businesses not only increase the efficiency of their communications but also create stronger connections with their audience, ultimately driving greater results in sales, marketing, and recruitment efforts.