SMS campaigns remain a valuable method of reaching and engaging with customers directly in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape. SMS marketing has seen success with a higher open rate than email and a more personal touch than other marketing channels.
The key point is that timing is critical to the sending of SMS marketing campaigns. But the optimal time to send your very own messages plays a critical role in open rates, customer engagement, and conversion rates in 2025.
Ready for the best time to send your SMS marketing campaigns? In this blog, we’ll explore the latest trends and insights to help you plan your marketing strategy better.
Why Timing Matters in SMS Marketing?
How is timing really important to SMS marketing? Before we talk about the specifics of timing? Unlike most forms of marketing, SMS messages are read incredibly quickly after they are received. However, studies have shown that SMS has an enviable open rate of 98% (very far ahead of a typical email open rate). But sending the message at the wrong time could result in low engagement, annoyance, and even unsubscribes.
It’s about sending your SMS at the right time so that your message connects with the right people when they’re most engaged. The outcome could mean the success or failure of the whole campaign. Now, in 2025, time is everything when it comes to SMS marketing, and businesses want to squeeze the most out of their marketing budgets and efforts.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Time to Send SMS Marketing Campaigns
Before you declare the times to send your SMS marketing messages, you’ll need to consider these internal factors that may well have an impact on engagement.
Target Audience Demographics
There are different customer segments, and they’ll behave differently, depending upon the time of day. A targeted campaign aimed at a professional office audience will fare better with respect to when they would target, compared to a campaign aiming at students or millennials during the week or the weekend.
Geography and Time Zones
Besides, the timing of the SMS also affects different ways, depending on where your target audience is located. If you have an audience in all different time zones, you’ll want to take into account when people in each zone are most likely available to check their phones. For global campaigns, this is particularly important.
Industry-Specific Timing
The time to send your messages is also dependent on the type of business or service you are promoting. For instance, if a retail brand sends promotions during the weekends or holidays, it may be more successful than a financial institution that might try to manage sending reminders on weekdays.
Frequency and Message Content
Furthermore, it will also depend on the frequency of your messages and the content of your messages. A casual brand update may find more success if it’s sent in the evening, when people have more free time, while a limited-time offer can do better if they respond soon enough (and have time to respond) first thing in the morning.
Behavioral Data
The more you send an SMS campaign, the more insights you will get about past campaigns. Examine the time and day of your past messages and look for patterns in the open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. This historical data will allow you to fine-tune your future campaigns and find the sweet spots for your target audience.
Best Times to Send SMS Marketing Campaigns in 2025
The following recommendations for SMS marketing campaign delivery times come from current market patterns and professional guidance for 2025:
Mid-Morning (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
SMS marketing initiatives achieve maximum response during mid-morning hours, according to most experts and industry studies. People have completed their morning email checks and now have available time to read their text messages. This messaging time slot suits companies that service busy professionals and people who get started early in their day.
Online store flash sales and promotional offers yield maximum engagement when sent to customers during the mid-morning period. Before starting work, the majority of customers will read and respond to your marketing message.
Lunchtime (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)
Businesses receive the most success with SMS marketing during lunchtime. People use their phones for brief rest breaks when they take their lunchtime. Target working professionals during this period to deliver product updates alongside promotional offers and reminders. Food delivery discounts, together with restaurant promotions, perform exceptionally well as promotional content during this time period.
SMS engagement increases during relaxed periods because people tend to read messages that include immediate time-sensitive deals.
Late Afternoon (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
SMS marketing efforts yield better results through late afternoon communications specifically directed to audiences that consist of office professionals. People usually experience reduced energy during this time, so it becomes ideal to offer something attention-grabbing.
Businesses can benefit from this timing for sending reminder messages about previous communications or promotional materials. A time-sensitive follow-up message sent around mid-afternoon after an initial morning message can boost conversion rates.
Evenings (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
Customers are most reachable through evening phone calls since they have completed their work hours. Phone users become relaxed at this moment while browsing their phones; thus, they are available to receive text messages. The late afternoon and evening hours present retailers and restaurateurs with their most opportune window to attract customers.
A fantastic moment for gyms to send evening class invitations along with membership promotions to their subscribers. Restaurants operate successfully with dinner promotion and drink deal campaigns, which they dispatch during this specific time period.
Weekends (Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
Weekend time slots offer professionals unique opportunities to send messages due to consumers having additional free time during this period. People who shop or plan activities after 10 AM on weekend mornings represent an ideal audience for promotional marketing.
E-commerce businesses, along with local stores and restaurants, should employ this strategy since it properly targets consumers seeking leisure activities and shopping opportunities. During this time, businesses can effectively relay event alerts alongside special promotions that will begin the weekend.
Conclusion
So, the best time to send the SMS marketing campaigns will depend on different factors such as the industry, the target audience, and the geographic location for the year 2025. But the optimum times for contacting your customers are mid-morning, lunchtime, late afternoon, and evenings. This will ensure that you have better engagement and conversion rates with your SMS campaigns.
Make sure to use your past campaign data to continuously improve and optimize your SMS marketing strategy. Knowing the timing and combining it with a good message will help you get the most out of your SMS marketing campaigns.
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