How you can supercharge your SMS marketing

Let’s be real: building authentic connections with your audience today isn’t always as easy as it should be. Social media algorithms hide your posts, email inboxes are overflowing, and distractions are everywhere. Even your best messages can slip through the cracks and you likely don’t even know it.

Do you know what people rarely overlook? Their texts. That’s why two-way text messaging platforms (also called SMS messaging platforms) are changing the game when it comes to building audience engagement.

Two-way text messaging lets you send and receive messages with your audience through a real 10-digit phone number, unlike the 5-digit short codes we receive in spam messages. It’s a direct line that feels personal, trusted, and way more likely to get a reply.

The best part? No apps to download, no complicated setup. It works just like regular texting, but with zero-party data capabilities to help you maximize engagement, loyalty, and growth.

Let’s get into the nitty gritty. 

Why Text Messaging Matters

People want to connect, they just don’t want it to be hard. And they want it to feel authentic.

Texting is something everyone already knows how to do. And it works because texts actually get seen. But there’s a difference between speaking at your audience versus with your audience. The messaging platforms that are building relationships with their audience have one capability that others do not – they allow recipients to reply back and feel heard to drive engagement. 

These engagement platforms have the ability to send a text from one to many that feels like one-to-one. It feels more like chatting with a friend than reading mass marketing messages or irrelevant text blasts. No pressure, no clutter, just real conversations, right where people are already paying attention: their phones. In fact, text message open rates are much higher than email or social media, with 98% of text messages being read within minutes. So when you have something to say, you'll know it's heard, and the recipient will also feel heard because they’re able to reply.

Conversations, Not Updates

Being heard is one of the biggest advantages of two-way SMS marketing because you don’t just talk at your audience, but you actually hear from them. 

Every conversation is a chance to learn what your audience really cares about: what they like, what they engage with, and how they want to hear from you. Their responses give you real-time insights you can use to make smarter decisions and have more meaningful conversations. This is called zero-party and first-party data. Zero-party data is information your audience provides to you directly. First-party data is information you collect from your audience based on interactions with them. 

For example, if you send a text message asking “What is your favorite type of cuisine,” the responses you receive will give you zero-party data about your audiences’ food preferences. If you send messages every week with different recipes and track who engages with which recipes, you receive first-party data about your audiences’ food preferences.

This is data you actually know versus third-party data that is often bought or borrowed and not based on your own audience. This kind of data helps you build personalized engagement like never before.

Who Is a Text Messaging Platform For?

Anyone who wants to connect in a more human, meaningful way, at scale.

Creators use these platforms to stay close to their fans. Brands use them to keep customers in the loop. Nonprofits use them to rally supporters. Coaches use them to stay top-of-mind between events.

Whether you're just starting out or you have a huge following, texting lets you meet people where they are and keep the conversation going naturally.

Gary Vee Proves the Power of Text Messaging at Scale

If anyone knows how to engage an audience, it’s entrepreneur Gary Vee – and Community helped him take this engagement with his fans to another level.

When Gary launched a campaign with Omaze using Community, he connected directly with hundreds of thousands of fans, and the results were massive: 98% open rate and 90% engagement.

“This is the most powerful shit I've seen since early email... From somebody who has hundreds of thousands of people on text, I'm getting 98% open and 90% engagement...This was actually higher than I expected.”

— Gary Vee, Entrepreneur & Community user (Read the full case study)

This kind of personal engagement is what sets Community apart, and what turns a message into momentum.

Final Thought

A two-way text messaging platform gives you a personal, powerful way to grow. It’s simple. It’s real. And it’s built for authentic connection. 

Community is the best option to make this kind of engagement easier. With tools that help you speak with your audience, automate responses, and spot trends at a glance, it supports thoughtful, data-driven communication at scale, without losing the personal touch.

If you’re tired of chasing likes and fighting social media algorithms, it’s time to build something stronger. Start your Community today and see how far SMS marketing can take you.