Every text marketer should know the basics- one being what is the difference between SMS and MMS?
Oftentimes, text messages as a whole can be referred to as either SMS or MMS. The main difference between the two is that MMS messaging allows for more features than SMS messaging. There are three key differences that set the two apart:
Subject Lines– MMS messages allows brands to utilize a subject line, like the example above. The subject line can be up to around 40 characters, which allows a brand to hook the customer and entice them to keep reading the message. On some mobile phones, the subject line is also bold, so it really attracts the subscriber’s attention to the message. In a SMS message, a subject line is not an option.
Character Limits– In SMS messages, there’s a limit of 160 characters per message. With a MMS message, brands can send up to 5,000 characters of text, as you can see in the example above. This gives organizations the opportunity to fully get their message across.
Media Content– MMS messaging allows brands to include a file or media content, like the example above. Popular media examples include video, image, GIF, vCard, or even a sound file. This is why a lot of brands choose MMS over SMS messaging, as they can be more eye-catching and allow brands to showcase their products more visually.
Some brands prefer MMS messages because they allow for more creativity. They are also more eye catching for the recipient. However, both SMS and MMS are ways for brands to interact with their consumers and deliver special deals. If your brand isn’t using text message marketing, now is your time to start!
Check out text message marketing examples of both SMS and MMS messages on SMS Archives!
Don’t know where to start? Read our text message marketing basics blog post here!