17+ Powerful SMS and Email Marketing Stats That Prove You Should Be Using Both

If you’re still relying on just one communication channel, either SMS or email, you’re leaving conversions, engagement, and revenue on the table.

In today’s marketing landscape, success doesn’t come from siloed strategies. It comes from synchronized communication across platforms. And two of the most powerful tools at your disposal? SMS and email.

Consumers in 2025 expect brands to meet them where they are. Sometimes, that’s in their inbox. Other times, it’s in their text messages. The most effective campaigns don’t force a choice. They combine the immediacy of SMS with the depth and storytelling of email.

Still not convinced? The data speaks for itself.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the most up-to-date SMS and email marketing statistics available, demonstrate real-world use cases, and show you why using both channels together delivers superior results. Want to improve your campaign performance? These stats will show you why integrating SMS and email is no longer optional. It’s essential.

The Case for SMS Marketing

SMS marketing isn’t just fast. It’s immediate. With near-instant open rates and unmatched visibility, it’s one of the most reliable ways to reach your audience at critical moments. When you need action now, not later, text messaging is the channel that delivers.

Key SMS Marketing Stats

1. 98% of SMS messages are opened within 5 minutes of delivery. (TechJury)
2. 45% response rate for SMS vs. just 6% for email. (Gartner)
3. 60% of consumers read texts within 1 to 3 minutes. (SimpleTexting)
4. 75% of consumers say they want to receive offers via SMS. (SAP Emersys)
5. SMS campaigns drive 10–20% higher CTR during flash sales or limited-time promos. (Omnisend)
6. 53% of marketers say SMS helps them reach customers they can’t reach through email. (Attentive)

These numbers speak volumes. Whether it’s for marketing, reminders, or customer support, SMS cuts through the noise and gets your message seen.

Real-World Use Case Examples

Retail Flash Sales

Apparel brands, food delivery services, and consumer electronics companies use SMS to announce 24-hour or even one-hour-only promotions. The urgency + immediacy = fast action.

Appointment-Based Businesses

Healthcare providers, hair salons, and auto repair shops reduce no-shows by sending automated appointment confirmations and same-day reminders via SMS.

Service Alerts & Delivery Notifications

Logistics and e-commerce businesses use SMS for real-time updates about order status, shipping delays, or system outages, keeping customers informed and satisfied.

Political and Nonprofit Outreach

During election seasons or fundraising drives, SMS enables real-time donation pushes or event mobilization with minimal lag time.

Pro Tip: Use SMS for time-sensitive CTAs like appointment confirmations, delivery alerts, flash sales, or limited-time offers. The faster the message, the more powerful the impact.

The Power of Email Marketing

While SMS delivers speed, email delivers depth. Email marketing remains the cornerstone of long-form engagement, brand storytelling, and automated nurture campaigns. It allows businesses to educate, inspire, and convert on their own schedule.

Key Email Marketing Stats

1. $36 ROI for every $1 spent on email marketing. (Litmus)
2. Over 4.48 billion global email users, more than half the world’s population. (Statista)
3. 81% of SMBs rely on email as their primary acquisition channel. (SMB Guide)
4. Email is 40x more effective than Facebook or Twitter at acquiring customers. (McKinsey)
5. Automated emails convert 50% better than manual sends. (Omnisend)
6. Personalized subject lines lead to 26% higher open rates. (Campaign Monitor)

Email gives you the real estate to explain, persuade, and inform without the character constraints of SMS.

Real-World Use Case Examples

Newsletters & Brand Storytelling

Weekly or monthly email newsletters are perfect for highlighting brand values, product updates, and customer success stories, building familiarity over time.

Onboarding Sequences

SaaS companies use automated email series to educate new users step-by-step after signup, increasing product adoption and reducing churn.

Re-Engagement Campaigns

E-commerce brands often trigger a reactivation email series when users haven’t purchased or interacted in a while, offering incentives to re-engage.

Drip Campaigns for Nurturing Leads

Email is the go-to for lead nurture. Whether you’re selling a B2B product or raising donations for a nonprofit, drip campaigns help move leads toward conversion by gradually delivering value.

Content Distribution

Email helps distribute whitepapers, case studies, event invites, and other downloadable resources, perfect for long-term relationship building.

Reminder: Email isn’t just for selling. It’s for educating, guiding, and building trust with your audience. Think of it as your slow-burn conversion engine.

SMS + Email: The Perfect Marketing Duo

Think of SMS and email as the power couple of marketing. One is fast, disruptive (in a good way), and commands immediate attention. The other is thoughtful, long-form, and designed to nurture over time. Used together, they create a synchronized communication strategy that consistently outperforms single-channel campaigns.

Key Integration Stats

1. Campaigns using both SMS + Email see up to 47% higher customer retention. (Omnisend)
2. 91% of marketers report increased conversions when they integrate SMS into their automated email flows. (TxtCart)
3. Cart abandonment flows that combine SMS and email have 3x higher recovery rates. (Omnisend)
4. SMS click-through rates jump 25% when part of a multi-step email campaign. (Postscript)
5. 41% of consumers prefer receiving follow-ups on more than one channel, often SMS after email. (Attentive)

These stats reinforce a simple truth: marketing channels aren’t competitors; they’re collaborators.

Practical Use Case Examples

Webinar Registrations

Send an initial invite via email, a same-day reminder via SMS, and a thank-you/follow-up recap by email afterward. This improves attendance and engagement rates.

Flash Sale Campaigns

Email launches the sale with product details and images. SMS follows 24 hours later with urgency: “Only a few hours left to save!”

Appointment Reminders

Use email for the initial confirmation and details, and SMS the day before as a reminder. This combination reduces no-shows dramatically in industries like healthcare, fitness, and beauty.

Lead Generation Funnels

Capture both SMS and email on landing pages. Then, deliver nurturing content via email and send SMS nudges to re-engage inactive leads.

Abandoned Cart Recovery

Start with an email reminder, follow up with a time-sensitive SMS offer, and close with a final call-to-action email, automated and personalized.

Pro Tip: Use SMS for immediacy and urgency. Use email for storytelling and nurturing. Let them work together in sequence, not in isolation.

Implementation Framework: How to Use Both Channels Effectively

So, you’re convinced that SMS and email together are a powerful combination. But how do you actually make them work in harmony without overwhelming your audience or burning through your list? Here’s a practical framework to help your team implement an integrated strategy that drives results.

1. Map Your Funnel

Start by identifying where each channel shines in your customer journey.

Top of Funnel (TOFU)

Use email for education and lead nurturing (newsletters, welcome sequences).

Middle of Funnel (MOFU)

Use email for product education, reviews, and comparisons, then insert SMS for nudges (promo codes, event reminders).

Bottom of Funnel (BOFU)

Send cart or booking reminders via SMS, followed by a confirmation email.

Post-Purchase

Use SMS for shipping updates and reviews; email for upsell/cross-sell and loyalty building.

2. Use Automation Tools That Integrate SMS and Email

Choose platforms that allow you to trigger SMS based on email behavior (and vice versa). Some examples:

• Send an SMS if a contact doesn’t open an email within 24 hours.
• Trigger an email sequence if a user clicks a link in an SMS.
• Combine both in your workflows for welcome series, event follow-ups, and cart recovery.

3. Segment Aggressively

The more relevant your message, the better your results.

Behavior-based Segments

Target those who opened/clicked or didn’t engage at all.

Lifecycle Segments

New leads vs. long-time customers.

Preference Segments

People who prefer text alerts vs. those who like emails.

Tip: Ask for communication preferences in your forms. Then honor them.

4. Respect Compliance Laws

Marketing to your list isn’t just about etiquette. It’s about staying legal.

SMS

Follow TCPA (U.S.) and local laws. Require express opt-in and include opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”).

Email

Comply with CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and other regulations. Always provide an unsubscribe link and honor it quickly.

Ignoring compliance can get your messages flagged or your number blacklisted.

5. Track, Test, and Iterate

What works today may not work next quarter. Keep testing.

• A/B test subject lines vs. SMS openings
• Try different timings (e.g., SMS before vs. after email)
• Use integrated reporting to track open rates, CTRs, conversions, and opt-out rates across both channels

Set KPIs for each campaign and measure success across both mediums, not in silos.

DialMyCalls Insight

Users who combine SMS and email see up to 35% more engagement across their contact lists, especially for time-sensitive and event-driven campaigns.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Using Both SMS & Email Marketing

Combining SMS and email can yield impressive results, but only if done strategically. Without a plan, you risk spamming your audience, damaging your brand, or even running into legal trouble. Below are some of the most common mistakes businesses make when using SMS and email marketing together, and how to avoid them.

1. Sending Identical Messages Across Both Channels

SMS and email serve different purposes. What works in an email (paragraphs, visuals, links) won’t translate well to SMS, which is best suited for short, time-sensitive updates.

Fix: Use SMS for reminders, alerts, and prompts. Reserve email for storytelling, educational content, and rich visuals. Think complementary, not copy-paste.

2. Over-Messaging Your Audience

Doubling up your communication efforts doesn’t mean doubling your sends. Overuse leads to fatigue, unsubscribes, or worse, being marked as spam.

Fix: Create a contact frequency plan. Use automation to avoid sending both an SMS and an email for the same campaign unless it’s timed and intentional.

3. Ignoring Time Zones

Sending a promo text at 6 a.m. in New York might hit someone’s phone at 3 a.m. in California. Bad timing leads to annoyed customers and high opt-out rates.

Fix: Always segment your list by time zone. Most SMS platforms (including DialMyCalls) allow you to schedule texts based on recipient location.

4. Failing to Provide Clear Opt-Out Options

Compliance is critical. If users can’t easily unsubscribe from your messages, you risk legal penalties and damage to your sender reputation.

Fix: Include clear opt-out language in every SMS (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”) and in every email footer. Automate removal when someone opts out of either channel.

5. Treating SMS and Email Metrics Separately

Evaluating performance in silos limits your insight. You won’t see how one message impacts the other or get a full view of your funnel.

Fix: Use a marketing platform or reporting dashboard that tracks SMS and email metrics side by side so you can optimize cadence, sequencing, and messaging across both.

6. Forgetting to Optimize for Mobile

More than half of emails are opened on mobile devices, and all texts are. If your email isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re creating friction.

Fix: Use responsive email templates, short subject lines, and bullet points. Ensure SMS links lead to mobile-optimized landing pages.

7. Not Updating Lists Regularly

Outdated lists mean bouncing emails and texts to inactive numbers, hurting your deliverability.

Fix: Use automated list hygiene tools to remove duplicates, unengaged contacts, and bounced addresses. Regularly ask your subscribers to confirm preferences.

Pro Tip from DialMyCalls: Create a unified opt-in journey: capture SMS and email consent at the same time, then tailor follow-ups based on the user’s preferred channel.

Conclusion

If you’re only using SMS or email in your marketing strategy, you’re leaving conversions on the table. The data is clear. Each channel has strengths, but when combined, they drive significantly better results.

SMS offers immediacy, unbeatable open rates, and direct engagement. It’s the best tool for urgent updates, appointment reminders, flash sales, and short-form CTAs.

Email brings depth, storytelling, and long-form education. It’s essential for nurturing leads, onboarding, re-engagement, and personalized experiences that build trust over time.

Together, SMS + Email form a powerful, full-funnel strategy that captures attention quickly and nurtures leads effectively. Stats show that integrated campaigns increase conversions, retention, and ROI, whether you’re a small business, a SaaS startup, or an e-commerce brand.

Ready to Level Up Your Multi-Channel Marketing?

With DialMyCalls, you can seamlessly send mass texts and email broadcasts from a single dashboard. Build smarter campaigns, automate your outreach, and stay compliant, all while reaching your audience where they actually pay attention. Start using SMS and Email together with DialMyCalls to drive better results today.

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