Did you know that every character counts in SMS marketing? A message using the GSM alphabet allows up to 160 characters, while Unicode limits you to only 70 characters. This difference makes the difference in the success of your messaging campaigns.

The GSM alphabet represents an optimized technical solution with 138 specific symbols. It uses 7 bits per character, as opposed to the 16 bits required in Unicode. This efficiency not only maximizes the available space – it also directly improves the ROI of your marketing campaigns.

In this article you will learn how to get the most out of the GSM alphabet for your messages. We will show you its technical limitations and the most effective strategies to increase open rates in your SMS campaigns. Remember that the correct implementation of these techniques can determine the success of your mobile communication.

GSM Alphabet Basics in SMS

The GSM system (Global System for Mobile communications) represents the basis for mobile text messaging communications. We will show you how this system uses a special 7-bit encoding, known as GSM alphabet, to optimize the space in your messages.

What is the GSM alphabet and its 138 characters?

You will learn that the GSM alphabet includes 138 specific symbols between letters, numbers and special characters. The key is its efficiency: it uses only 7 bits per character, allowing you to make the most of the space in your SMS.

The GSM alphabet allows you to use:

• Uppercase and lowercase letters of the Latin alphabet
• Numbers from 0 to 9
• Basic symbols such as @, #, $, %, &
• Specific special characters such as Ñ, Ü, ä, ö

Differences between GSM and Unicode

What is the main difference? It all comes down to the technical structure. The GSM alphabet uses 7 bits per character, while Unicode needs 16 bits. This directly affects how much you can write:

• GSM: You have 160 characters per message.
• Unicode: Limits you to 70 characters

Unicode, however, allows you to use:

• Cyrillic characters
• Chinese and Japanese symbols
• Hebrew, Hindi, Thai and Urdu scripts

Technical limitations by mobile operator

Remember that SMS messages have a fixed size of 1120 bits. When you include characters outside the GSM alphabet, the system automatically switches to Unicode, reducing the maximum length of your message.

We explain the most important limitations:

1. Concatenation of messages: For longer texts, you can join several SMS messages up to 500 characters. Please note that each segment is charged separately.
2. Special character handling: If you use characters not included in GSM, such as ™ or ®, the system switches to Unicode. This reduces your message to 70 characters.
3. Device compatibility: Not all phones process characters in the same way. For example, “ç” only exists in uppercase in GSM, but some devices handle it differently.
4. Automatic encoding: Mobile devices switch between GSM and Unicode depending on the characters you use. This change occurs when sending, without warning you.

To maximize the impact of your SMS campaigns, you must consider these technical limitations. Your choice between GSM and Unicode affects not only the length of the message, but also the costs and effectiveness of your communication. We recommend that you plan your content carefully, considering both technical constraints and your objectives.

Short Message Campaign Optimization

Want to maximize the impact of your SMS campaigns? We’ll show you how to analyze performance metrics to ensure exceptional results. The success of your strategy depends on these key elements.

Analysis of delivery rates by coding type

The numbers speak for themselves: SMS campaigns achieve a 98% delivery rate, significantly outperforming email’s 22%. To maintain these extraordinary results, you must consider:

• Database quality: Remember that incorrect or obsolete numbers directly affect your deliveries.
• Message content: Operators will block your message if they detect spam elements, such as excessive capitalization or dubious links.

SMS campaign performance metrics

We explain the key metrics to optimize your campaigns:

Response rate: SMS generate responses of over 20%, while e-mail barely reaches 6%.

Conversion rate: Our data shows conversions between 20% and 27%. To measure these results effectively, you can:

• Create unique codes for each message
• Implement special discounts linked to these codes
• Follow up every two to three months on your active base.

Management of special characters and SMS emojis

Emojis have become powerful tools for engagement. However, you must use them strategically:

Impact on results: The inclusion of emojis increased openings up to 86%, with a 9% increase in conversions.

Cultural aspects: When using emojis in your campaigns, consider:

• The cultural context of your audience
• Interpretations according to each region
• Compatibility with different devices

To optimize your special characters:

1. Don’t overuse emojis – they can detract from the seriousness of your message.
2. Use them to highlight relevant information
3. Verify compatibility with target devices

We recommend you to perform continuous A/B tests with different combinations of emojis. This way you will identify which elements generate the best response from your audience. Analyze open, click and conversion rates to adjust your strategies.

Effective SMS Marketing Strategies

Want your SMS campaigns to stand out? Smart segmentation makes the difference between success and failure. We’ll show you how personalized messages based on the device and alphabet used can multiply your open and conversion rates.

Segmentation by device compatibility

If you are going to maximize the impact of your campaigns, we recommend you consider these key variables:

• Operating system: Tailor your messages according to iOS or Android to optimize links and targeted content
• Type of device: Users with new devices interact more with new services.
• Network connection: Conversions improve with users on Wi-Fi, especially in app downloads.

Remember that device targeting offers tangible benefits:

1. You optimize resources by contacting only the interested public
2. You increase the relevance of the content for each segment.
3. Improve conversions with targeted messaging

Personalization of messages according to the alphabet

The effectiveness of your message depends on how you adapt the content to the alphabet used. We explain what to consider when personalizing your SMS:

Personalized sender:

• Uses a maximum of 11 alphanumeric characters
• Include your brand to build trust
• If possible, add a brief description

Adaptive content:

• GSM Messaging: Take advantage of 160 characters for complete information
• Unicode Messaging: Optimize your message in 70 characters

To effectively personalize your content:

• Includes recipient-specific data for direct connection
• Substitute [NOMBRE] and [FECHA] with unique information
• Maintain a balance between personalization and naturalness

We recommend that you follow these steps to ensure effectiveness:

1. Verify the correct insertion of personal data
2. Reserve space for variable content
3. Constantly update your database

The combination of these segmentation and personalization strategies generates more effective campaigns. Our data shows that tailored messages significantly increase engagement and conversions. In addition, you optimize resources by targeting specific content only to those who can best take advantage of it.

Conversion Impact Measurement

Want to know if your SMS campaigns are really working? We’ll show you how to accurately measure the impact on conversions. Key indicators will give you a clear view of your return on investment.

Specific KPIs for GSM vs. Unicode campaigns

To evaluate the performance of your campaigns, you should monitor these key indicators:

Open rate: SMS achieves an impressive 97% open rate in the first 15 minutes, while email only achieves 28-33%.

Click-through rate: You may be surprised to learn that SMS generates a 36% click-through rate, surpassing the modest 6-7% of email.

Conversion rate: SMS marketing achieves a 29% conversion rate, well above other channels:

• E-mail: 3.26%.
• Google Ads: 3.17%.
• Facebook Ads: 9.21%.

We recommend that you optimize these metrics:

• Customize content according to device
• Monitors post-click behavior
• Analyzes responses and cancellations

Cost analysis by message segment

Remember that costs vary according to several factors that impact your return on investment:

Pricing structure: Cost is calculated per segment – 160 characters in GSM or 70 in Unicode.

Factors affecting cost:

• Message destination
• Type of coding
• Number of segments
• Operator rates

Costs by region:

• United States: $0.0075 per segment
• Canada: $0.0075 per segment
• Puerto Rico: $0.0400 per segment

If you are going to optimize your costs, consider:

1. Character management: GSM uses 7 bits per character, Unicode needs 16 bits. This difference directly impacts your costs.
2. Message concatenation: Long messages are divided into segments, each with an individual charge.
3. Additional fees:

• Trademark registration: $4.00 (one-time fee)
• Standard research: €38.17 (if applicable)
• Campaign registration: €9.54 (monthly)

To maximize your return on investment, implement these strategies:

• Use unique promotional codes to track conversions
• Create specific landing pages
• Implement tracking URLs

Continuous analysis of these indicators will allow you to adjust strategies and optimize both performance and costs. Our data shows that this detailed monitoring makes the difference between successful campaigns and those that do not achieve their objectives.

SMS Marketing Success Stories

We’ll show you how SMS marketing demonstrates its power in different industries. Companies that adopt this strategy achieve open rates of 98% and click-through rates of over 36%.

Retail campaign results

You will learn from real cases like Toroe Eyewear, which revolutionized its sales with a simple strategy: a pop-up window for SMS discount codes. The results speak for themselves – 200% more conversions and 22% more subscribers.

Baby Tula, experts in baby carriers, teaches us another valuable lesson. Their early access SMS strategy generated exceptional results:

• Opening rate: 99%.
• Click-through rate: 50%.
• Return on investment: 1,668%.

Optimization in financial services

The financial sector has discovered a perfect ally in SMS. We explain the key roles:

Authentication and security:

• Immediate identity verification
• Suspicious transaction alerts
• Confirmation of critical operations

Personalized communication:

• Payment reminders
• Transaction notifications
• Contract updates

Validating phone numbers helps banks reduce access barriers while maintaining security.

Improved engagement in the health sector

Did you know that the healthcare sector has transformed its communication with SMS? Here are the main improvements:

Appointment management:

• Fewer no-shows thanks to reminders
• Automatic confirmations
• Simple reprogramming

Patient care:

• Bidirectional queries
• Precise medical instructions
• Personalized medication reminders

Medical centers that implement these strategies achieve:

• More satisfied patients
• Better use of administrative resources
• Increased continuity of treatment

Integration with medical records allows personalized reminders to be sent, significantly improving adherence to treatment.

These cases demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of SMS marketing. With open rates above 95%, this channel remains essential for direct and effective communications with your users.

Conclusion

What have you learned about the GSM alphabet? We’ve shown you how this fundamental tool maximizes the impact of your enterprise mobile communications. The numbers speak for themselves: open rates of over 98% and conversions of 29%, significantly outperforming other digital channels.

We recommend that you leverage these technical advantages through phone verification and appropriate segmentation. The cases we have analyzed, from retail to financial services, confirm the power of SMS as a direct and effective channel.

To design successful SMS campaigns, remember these three fundamentals:

• Optimizes content according to the alphabet used
• Tailors the message to the receiving device
• Performs detailed metrics tracking

The decision between using 160 GSM characters or limiting yourself to 70 with Unicode can determine the success of your campaign. Our data shows that companies that adapt their strategies according to these technical specifications achieve better engagement and ROI.

SMS marketing continues to evolve as an indispensable tool to connect directly with your customers. The tangible and measurable results we have shared confirm its power in any digital communication strategy. We invite you to implement these techniques and transform your messaging campaigns.

FAQs

Q1. What is the GSM alphabet and how does it affect SMS messages?
The GSM alphabet is an encoding system that allows up to 160 characters to be sent in a single SMS message. It uses 7 bits per character, which makes it more efficient than Unicode, which only allows 70 characters per message.

Q2. How does the use of the GSM alphabet impact SMS marketing campaigns?
Using the GSM alphabet allows longer and more detailed messages to be sent, which can improve the effectiveness of campaigns. Companies can include more information or calls to action in a single message, potentially increasing conversion rates.

Q3. What are the main advantages of SMS marketing over other digital channels?
SMS marketing offers open rates of over 95% and conversion rates of up to 29%, significantly outperforming other channels such as email or social media ads. In addition, messages are usually read within 15 minutes of receipt.

Q4. How can costs be optimized in an SMS marketing campaign?
To optimize costs, it is important to efficiently manage characters using the GSM alphabet whenever possible, avoid unnecessary concatenation of messages and consider region-specific rates. It is also crucial to properly segment the audience to maximize ROI.

Q5. What personalization strategies are effective in SMS marketing?
Effective strategies include segmenting by device type and operating system, tailoring content according to the alphabet used (GSM or Unicode), and including recipient-specific data in the message. It is also important to use a personalized sender and create relevant content for each audience segment.

Q6. What strategies can I use to validate emails?
If you want to check your emails do not hesitate to use the services of Verificaremails. Remember that you can automate the whole procedure with the email validation API.