Apple’s iOS 18 reveal in September sent a ripple through the marketing world with the announcement of RCS messaging support. This could be a major turning point for SMS marketing, opening up new opportunities to deliver richer, on-brand experiences. Here’s why eCommerce marketers should take note.
Think of RCS as SMS with Superpowers
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the next level of texting. Unlike basic SMS (Short Message Service), which is limited to plain text, RCS introduces a host of modern features such as brand personalization, verification indicators, advanced analytics like message opens, enhanced customer interactions within message threads, high-resolution images, and more.
Essentially, RCS aims to bring the functionality of popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage to standard SMS messaging.
Imagine sending a text with a short product video or a carousel showcasing your latest collection. Pretty cool, right?
What Does RCS Look Like?
When sent via RCS, a typical SMS message could look something like this:
How Does RCS Stack Up Against Regular Texting?
RCS completely opens up new possibilities compared to standard SMS:
- Brand personalization: Show off your brand personality through branded templates with logos, custom colors and layouts, enhancing brand recognition and user engagement. Think contact cards, but better.
- Trust factor: Verified sender tags build trust and help prevent phishing scams.
- Visual appeal: Rich media like GIFs, videos, audio messages, and carousels embedded within message threads enhance engagement globally.
- Improved analytics: Provides detailed delivery and engagement metrics, such as message opens, link clicks, and media views.
- Two-way communication: RCS enables smooth back-and-forth conversations, overcoming historical limitations in certain regions, and more personalized 1:1 connection.
Early Results are Promising
“Since going live with RCS, we’ve seen our opt-outs decrease by 21% over the prior period, presumably attributable to the trust RCS provides. The improvement in opt-outs really speaks to me because opt-outs are a reflection of the long-term trust our customers have in us, in my opinion.” – John Perasco, VP of Digital at Saie
Use Yotpo SMS & Email to Power RCS Experiences
If your brand is looking to uplevel your SMS strategy, cut through the noise and build more trust with your customers, get started with RCS today. With Yotpo, you have the tools to seamlessly integrate RCS into your customer engagement strategy, delivering experiences that are not only visually engaging but also foster deeper customer relationships.
Take the next step with Yotpo and RCS– connect with your Customer Success Manager or request a demo to learn more.
