SMS or MMS?
For campaign organizers, the choice between SMS and MMS isn't merely a matter of text versus multimedia. It's a strategic decision considering cost, flexibility, and engagement with the audience.
While SMS might seem like a simple and cheap option, the reality of segment pricing often makes MMS a more practical and cost-effective choice for campaign communication. By opting for MMS, campaigns can create richer and more engaging messages without the constraints of character limits, often at a lower overall cost.
SMS in Campaigns
Pricing Per Segment:
In campaigns, SMS messages are priced per "segment," with a segment typically being 160 characters. However:
- Special characters or encoding can reduce this limit.
- If the message exceeds one segment, it's divided into two or more, doubling or tripling the cost.
The Two-Segment Reality:
Crafting a campaign message that fits within one segment can be challenging, especially when including calls to action, links, or specific wording. As a result, most campaigns end up sending two segments, doubling the cost.
Cost Example:
- 1 SMS segment: 4 cents
- 2 SMS segments (common scenario): 8 cents
MMS in Campaigns
More Creative Freedom:
MMS gives campaigns the ability to send not only text but also images, videos, or audio, allowing for more engaging and visually appealing messages.
Cost:
- 1 MMS message: 6 cents
Why MMS Makes Sense for Campaign Communication
1. Cost-Effective: MMS can be cheaper than sending two segments of SMS, even if you only send text. Limited space in SMS texting often leads to using two segments, costing 8 cents for a basic text message vs 6 cents for an MMS message.
2. Engaging Content: The ability to add multimedia can make campaign messages more compelling and memorable.
3. Unified Messaging: No need to worry about segments; MMS lets you send a longer message without dividing it.