Why Combining SMS and Email Marketing Delivers Better ROI

Why Combining SMS and Email Marketing Delivers Better ROI

Email may be the backbone of your owned marketing strategy, but it should not operate in isolation. Consumers expect timely, personalized messages delivered across multiple channels - and combining SMS and email marketing is one of the most effective ways to meet those expectations.

By using both channels strategically, you can drive higher engagement, faster conversions, and more consistent customer experiences. In this guide, we explore the benefits, use cases, and best practices for combining SMS and email marketing - and how LINK Mobility’s MyLINK MarketingPlatform makes it easy to manage both in one place.

Why Combining SMS and Email Marketing Matters

Each channel serves a distinct purpose in the customer journey:

  • Emailoffers space for detailed content, storytelling, and brand-building.

  • SMS provides immediacy and high visibility, ideal for urgent or time-sensitive messages.

Combining SMS and email marketing allows you to balance reach, depth, and urgency in a single customer experience - ensuring you connect with the right people in the right way at the right time.

With MyLINK MarketingPlatform, both SMS and email campaigns draw from a shared customer database, ensuring consistent, personalized communication across channels.

When to Use SMS vs. Email and When to Use Both

Knowing when to use each channel and how to combine them is important for a seamless customer journey.

Use CaseEmailSMSBest Practice
Product launchesEmail for details, SMS for early access
Sales & promotionsEmail first, SMS for last-minute reminders
Flash salesSMS grabs immediate attention
Order confirmationsEmail for receipt, SMS for delivery tracking
Cart abandonmentEmail first, SMS follow-up with incentive
Newsletters & educationUse email for long-form content
Birthday or loyalty offersEmail with full message, SMS reminder on day

With MyLINK MarketingPlatform, you can orchestrate these touchpoints using FlowBuilder, ensuring well-timed, relevant communication.

The Benefits of Combining SMS and Email Marketing

Combining SMS and email marketing gives you the best of both worlds - depth and speed, relationship-building and instant action. Rather than choosing between the two, smart marketers use both channels together to create a more complete, responsive customer journey.

Here are some of the top benefits of this dual-channel strategy:

  • Stronger Engagement Across Channels
    Some users prefer email for detail; others respond quickly to SMS messages. Using both ensures wider reach and better results.

  • Faster Time to Conversion
    SMS adds urgency. Email supports decision-making. Together, they accelerate action.

  • Improved Deliverability and Visibility
    SMS cuts through crowded inboxes and gets noticed instantly.

  • Personalized, Consistent Messaging
    Both channels draw from the same real-time data in MyLINK MarketingPlatform, allowing seamless and personalized communication.

  • Higher ROI
    Email offers industry-leading ROI. SMS boosts responsiveness. Together, they maximize campaign performance.

  • Smarter Customer Journey Mapping
    Using both channels allows you to build cross-channel automation flows that reflect where a customer is in their journey - nurturing leads via email and closing deals or prompting reorders via SMS.

  • Reduced Unsubscribes Through Channel Balance
    When you combine SMS and email marketing thoughtfully, you reduce the pressure on any one channel. That balance keeps communication fresh and relevant - leading to fewer unsubscribes and higher long-term engagement.

10 Creative Ways to Combine SMS and Email Marketing Campaigns

When used together, SMS and email marketing offer more than just reach - they offer timing, relevance, and personalization across every stage of the customer journey. Whether you are welcoming new subscribers, launching a product, or running seasonal promotions, combining SMS and email marketing helps you connect through the right channel at the right time.

Here are 10 smart and creative ways to combine SMS and email in your marketing strategy:

Campaign TypeEmail RoleSMS Role
Welcome SeriesIntroduce your brand and valuesSend a quick discount code or next-step offer
Abandoned Cart RecoveryReminder of what was left behindFollow up with urgency or a discount incentive
Product LaunchesShare full launch details and visualsProvide early access or countdown reminders
Flash SalesAnnounce the sale with full termsSend a last-minute alert as the sale ends
Product RecommendationShare personalized suggestions based on browsing or purchaseHighlight one recommended item with a fast action CTA
Re-Engagement Campaigns“We miss you” email with a special offerTime-sensitive SMS follow-up to prompt return
Event PromotionShare event details and registration linksRemind attendees on the day or update with last-minute changes
Loyalty Program CommunicationShow points balance and exclusive benefitsAlert members of bonus point events or expiring rewards
Birthday OffersSend celebratory content and an exclusive discountRemind the recipient before the offer expires
Seasonal CampaignsHighlight themed product collections and limited-time offersPush final-day reminders or holiday shipping cut-off notices

With MyLINK MarketingPlatform, you can build these cross-channel campaigns visually in FlowBuilder - ensuring both timing and content work in sync to maximize engagement and conversions.

Marketing across multiple channels is powerful - but it also comes with responsibility. When you are combining SMS and email marketing, it is important to respect the privacy and consent rules in every market you operate in. Data protection regulations vary by country, and failure to comply can damage trust, harm your brand, or lead to legal consequences.

Before you launch cross-channel campaigns, make sure your data collection, usage, and consent practices are aligned with local requirements.

Here are the core compliance principles to follow:

  • Obtain separate, explicit consent for SMS and email marketing. Consent for one channel does not cover the other.

  • Include a clear and easy opt-out in every message. For SMS, this usually means a reply option like "STOP". For email, use an unsubscribe link.

  • Follow the rules of each market, including GDPR (EU), PECR (UK), and any national marketing or telecom regulations. Some countries have additional requirements for timing, message frequency, and content.

The Numbers Behind the Strategy

If you are wondering whether combining SMS and email marketing actually works, the data says it does. By layering the immediacy of SMS with the depth of email, brands can achieve stronger performance across engagement, conversions, and customer loyalty.

Here are a few key stats that highlight the impact:

  • 74%

    of European shoppers made a purchase after receiving a brand SMS

  • 90%+

    SMS open rates make it one of the most attention-grabbing channels available

  • 48%

    of consumers prefer to receive loyalty and promo offers via email

This combination delivers both reach and relevance - helping your campaigns stand out and convert across multiple touchpoints.

Combining SMS and email marketing is not just about volume - it is about strategy. To do it effectively, you need a platform that centralizes your data, supports automation, and helps you coordinate campaigns across both channels with ease.

MyLINK MarketingPlatform provides:

  • Shared customer profiles for SMS and email

  • FlowBuilder for cross-channel automation

  • Segmentation and personalization tools

  • Real-time campaign tracking and optimization

  • GDPR-compliant data management

Whether you are creating welcome journeys, seasonal campaigns, or cart recovery flows, MyLINK makes combining SMS and email marketing simple and scalable.

Did you find the article and topic interesting?

If you would like to explore the subject further, discuss ideas, or understand how it could apply to your business, we are here to continue the conversation.

LINK Mobility Group
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info@linkmobility.com
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