The best time to send SMS marketing messages

• The right timing makes a difference: The best time to send SMS marketing messages is between 9 am and 12 pm and between 5 pm and 9 pm. 
• Best days to send: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have the highest conversion rates. 
• Avoid low-engagement times: Mondays tend to have lower response rates. You should also avoid early mornings, late nights, and rush hour. 
• Know your audience: Industry type and customer behavior impact the best sending time. For example, restaurants may benefit from evening messages, while eCommerce brands should send messages around lunch or after work hours. 
• Test and optimize: A/B testing and send-time optimization (STO) tools can help determine the best timing for your specific audience. 
• Follow regulations: Be aware of country-specific laws and restrictions on promotional text messaging. 

• 9 am – 12 pm and 5 pm – 9 pm: In the morning, recipients are more likely to check their notifications as they start their workday, making it an optimal window for engagement. The evening period is another key opportunity, as most people have finished work and are more likely to be on their phones.  
• To maximize effectiveness, consider the weekday power hours: between 7 pm – 9 pm, when people are no longer commuting and can check their messages without distractions. 

• 10 am – 12 pm on Saturdays and 4 pm – 7 pm on Sundays: During this time, people are usually not yet busy with weekend plans, making them more likely to engage with your messages. 
• Sunday evenings also provide an excellent opportunity, as people begin relaxing and preparing for the week ahead. They are often more receptive to offers and promotions during this time. 
• For even better results, consider a two-step messaging approach. For example, when customers are planning their weekend on a Thursday, you could send an initial SMS letting them know about any discounts or offers they could use on Saturday night. Then, follow up with a reminder around noon on Saturday to ensure they don’t forget to take advantage of the offer. 

• Thursday is an excellent day for SMS marketing, as customers have moved past the midweek slowdown and are looking ahead to the weekend. This makes them more receptive to reading and engaging with messages.  
• Friday is another strong choice, as people are generally in a good mood and more likely to associate positive emotions with your brand.  
• Saturday presents a unique advantage because customers are relaxed and receive fewer business messages, allowing your SMS to stand out and capture their attention more effectively. 

While the exact reason varies by industry, it’s likely due to mid-month consumer behavior. By this time, people have settled into their budgets, have assessed their financial situation, and are more willing to make non-essential purchases. This makes it an ideal time to send targeted promotions, flash sales, and exclusive offers.

The last few days of the month are another great opportunity for SMS marketing, as many customers are about to receive their paychecks and will have more disposable income. This period is perfect for high-ticket items, payday sales, and limited-time discounts. Customers are more likely to make impulse purchases when they feel financially secure, so sending timely SMS reminders about special promotions can maximize conversions.

• Your customers’ spending patterns will increase and decrease throughout the year and will generally follow a similar pattern annually. So, it’s up to you to utilize this, along with the data you have for each customer, to send personalized SMS messages at the right time, especially during key periods of seasonal marketing. 
   
• Depending on your industry, you can message your customers during the lead-up to Christmas, Halloween, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Ramadan. You should already have data related to your customers’ browsing habits, including cart abandonment rates, which should give you all the information you need to create an effective SMS campaign. This should increase revenue, reduce churn, and ensure inactive customers log in and make a purchase. 
   
• There are also periods throughout the year when customers expect to receive discounts from their favorite brands, so it is also important to keep on top of those. Black Friday, Summer, and post-Christmas are all times when your customers will be keen to make a purchase but will be just as keen to make a saving. During sale season, make sure your customers know your offers and what they have to do to spend and save money with you. 

Another time your customers will likely increase their spending is during important events. These could be anything from the Oscars to something sports-related like the Olympics, the World Cup, or the Super Bowl. It may even be a major cinema release that ties into your product or service or a convention that takes place nearby. SMS marketing is an excellent tool for reminding customers that they should consider making purchases with you if they plan to do so around these events. 

• Religious holidays: Avoid sending SMS messages on major religious holidays or observances. Customers are less likely to engage during these times as they focus on personal and cultural activities. 
• Early morning or late at night: Sending messages too early or too late can be intrusive and disruptive. Respect your customers’ time by avoiding SMS campaigns outside of reasonable hours. 
• Without consent: Ensure you have explicit consent from your customers before sending marketing messages. Sending SMS without permission is ineffective and may lead to legal issues and unsubscribes. 

1. Use A/B testing: Experiment with different sending times and evaluate open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to understand what works best for your audience. Testing different times of day, such as early morning versus afternoon or weekday versus weekend, can reveal critical insights into your customers’ behavior and preferences. 
2. Personalization matters: Tailor messages based on customer behavior and purchase history. If you know a customer recently viewed a product but didn’t purchase it, you could send a reminder about that specific item, along with a discount or incentive to encourage them to complete the purchase. Personalizing messages based on customer data also builds a deeper connection with your audience, making them more likely to open and act on your messages. 
3. Use send-time optimization (STO): AI-powered tools can predict the best send time for each recipient.