How to increase CTR, click through rate, on SMS marketing messages?

When your click rate is low, a user does not have compelling needs or reasons to click the link that you provide. As we are an SMS messaging service provider, Noc Solutions have tested and learned what makes users have compelling reasons to click the link. Here is how.  

SMS message content is limited to 160 characters and we reserve:

• 20 characters to personalize the first name, 21 characters for the url shortener, and 20 characters for "Reply STOP to Cancel", CTIA compliance

We are left with 99 characters, including spaces. What has worked well for us are the followings:

a. personalize first name

• We are seeing a 6~12% increase in CTR using a personalized first name.
• It depends on your data and contents that cause wide fluctuation in CTR.

b. start with a warm and inviting opening

• Rather than saying "Hi", try "Welcome back", "Happy Friday"

c. connect to users

• find out what triggers their mindset to take an action
• if a user is trying to lose weight: " Happy {Friday} {Michelle}. You will look great in your new outfit! Come here {link} to our SmartWeightLoss program! Reply STOP to Cancel"

Be sure to use AB split tests so that you are seeing improvements in your new ad campaigns. Make small incremental changes so that you will know what keywords cause your CTR to go up.

Noc Solutions provides SMS messaging services to online/affiliate marketers that collect mobile numbers from the registration process. We have seen over 2000% ROI in good campaigns by generating leads for our partners.