New research shows that despite consumers’ wariness about sharing personal data, they are open to some types of personalized messaging, Protecting consumer data privacy has been in the spotlight for the last two years—first with the adoption of GDPR in 2018, but more recently with troubling news about how giants like Google and Facebook leverage and share user data. The interest isn’t likely to fade anytime soon: Data privacy legislation is in the works across the globe, from California’s imminent rollout of CCPA, to new…, Understanding consumers’ wariness about data privacy, A recent study from the highly respected US research organization, Pew Research Center, finds Americans feel out of control when it comes to protecting their data. 63% report they understand very little or nothing at all about regulations and laws intended to protect their data. And 8 in 10 believe they have little-to-no control over the data companies collect about them. (These concerns aren’t…, Understanding data collection as a value exchange, Research from Sinch , which surveyed 2,300 mobile phone users globally, supports many of these ideas. Sinch’s Mobile Consumer Engagement 2020 study found the majority of consumers (72%) say they are concerned about mobile apps tracking their movements, and 60% avoid putting apps on their phones because they don’t trust how companies use their data. When asked what steps they take to protect their…, How do consumers protect privacy? Two Factor Authentication is a top choice, Consumers are also wary about sharing their email and phone numbers with businesses, particularly those they don’t know/trust. A surprisingly high number are at least “somewhat comfortable” sharing their contact information. While only 32% would share their phone number with an unfamiliar brand, that number jumps to 68% when asked to share a phone number with a brand they use. (Social media…, Concerns about sharing mobile phone numbers - How comfortable are consumers when it comes to sharing their mobile numbers with brands?, , Even more interesting: younger generations are much more willing to share personal contact information. Nearly 80% of the Gen Zers Sinch polled says they are at least somewhat comfortable sharing their phone number with brands they use, and 71% of Gen Y say the same. And this makes sense: many businesses’ product/service offerings are intricately linked to the mobile phone experience—a…, Even data-distrustful consumers see value in messaging businesses, In an earlier blog post , we looked broadly at consumers’ willingness to receive messages from businesses, examining scenarios across industries—from travel and banking to healthcare and retail. But what of those consumers that have a higher level of distrust for how businesses use their personal data? Would they be similarly interested in engaging with businesses using their mobile phones? We…, Testing messaging scenarios with wary consumers - The most distrustful consumers welcome most of these messaging scenarios, Lessons for 2020, You can find a lengthy discussion of key takeaways for executives in the full report , but the following are some important considerations related to data privacy:, Treat data trustworthiness as a strategic asset:, When companies are exposed in the media for data hacks or data misuse, the crisis is not only about the legal findings or financial penalties related to these breaches — it’s the breakdown of consumer trust. Customer experience — and in particular mobile experience — depends on the flow of data between consumers and the brands they trust. When a company loses consumers’ trust, they also lose a…, Develop owned ecosystems:, Growing regulation of customer data is arguably long overdue due to abuses by bad actors in the tech industry. The change, however, means companies must double down on growing owned ecosystems. Rather than buying massive swaths of user data from third parties, companies will need to develop digital and mobile experiences that are worthy enough for customers to willingly share information in…, Personalize interactions for the individual:, Our research shows that even while the majority of consumers welcome a wide range of messaging scenarios, in each scenario a sizeable share does not. Full stop. Today’s consumer experience must be tuned to individuals and their unique preferences, not target markets or personas. What does each of your customers want when they interact with your brand, and have you provided a rich ecosystem of…, Privacy 2025, :, While companies adapt to the growing raft of data privacy regulations, they must also keep their eyes on the preferences of millennials and Gen Z. Young people are more willing to share their data according to the Sinch research and many other studies. If you’re not convinced, Paypal’s announcement that it intends to purchase Honey for $4 billion should sway you. Honey collects users’ online…
Type: Blog Article
2019’s nearly over and what a year it’s been for Sinch! Here's our top highlights of the year and a sneaky peak of what we expect to see in 2020. 1. New year, new look! We started the year off with a bang! Merging all brands into one big happy family we became Sinch in February . A new brand identity with a shared name and a shared vision to enrich engagements for all! 2. Sinch Engage launch In…
Type: Blog Article
Type: Component Page
Following on from our webinar late last year: How to verify numbers with Sinch for login or signup , here’s a quick follow up to take a look at the 4 key takeaways highlighted., 1., Competitive pricing, , We offer transparent, competitive pricing and we don’t shy away from publishing our prices, that are the most competitive around. Pay as you go (and grow). With Sinch you only pay for what you use, and with no additional monthly fees, there’ll be no nasty surprises on your bill. , 2. High, est, conversion rates, , We continuously optimize for the best routes, using the real time feedback from our reporting API, which ensures you always get the highest possible conversion rates. , 3. Eas, y to, , trial, with no commitment, , Getting started with the Sinch Verification API and SDK is simple thanks to the extensive documentation for each platform. In most cases, Sinch can be used without needing a back-end or any configuration, just create an account and get started in minutes. With no commitment, you are free to use the Sinch Verification services as and when you need them. , 4. Drop in replacement for Facebook Account Kit, , If your business has an app, and you’re using Account Kit to secure log in, or verify new customers, you’re going to need to find an alternative solution. Not to worry though, our suite of Verification products exposes APIs to solve exactly the same problem, so can be dropped in as a direct replacement for Account Kit to help keep your communities secure. Want more information, or fancy…
Type: Blog Article
Throughout human history, few things have remained constant. Two of those things are 1) Our inherent need to communicate and build relationships , and 2) Our need to trade with each other to improve our quality of life . How we do those things has constantly evolved through necessity leading to invention. Yet each person's needs are different and can vary greatly based on unique personalities,…, Sinch’s research shows consumers are more likely to leave email messages unread than mobile messages, with 40% of consumers admitting they have at least 50 unread emails in their inbox — and nearly 1 in 10 admitting to over 1,000. But unread mobile messages are much less common, with only 4% saying they have 50 or more unread mobile messages., Source: Sinch - Mobile Consumer Engagement 2020 The times have changed since we all got our first smartphone (BlackBerry anyone? 🤙) and can do a lot more than just text and email on it. People like to receive your marketing emails if they've signed up for them, but they rarely ever read them. My personal opinion is that Emails are great for long-form communication, including promotions, lists,…
Type: Blog Article
Over the last 13 years, I’ve had hundreds of conversations with Peggy Anne Salz about mobile messaging. The last one is the most significant for business and marketing leaders. One of the world’s most followed and influential mobile marketers, Peggy is a favorite of mine because she is pragmatic and always views mobile as a potential way to address and solve business problems. Our most recent…
Type: Blog Article
Our latest report, Mobile Consumer Engagement 2020 took a deep dive into how consumers like to be 'spoken to' by businesses. Packed full of stats based on our primary research, the report packs a real punch if you're looking for insights on how to cut through the noise, increase engagements and reach customers in ways that suit them. If you've not had time to check out the full report, don't…, Want to find out even more about consumers attitudes about messaging, data privacy and mobile apps? Read the Mobile Consumer Engagement 2020 report here .,
Type: Blog Article
Have you ever been insulted on social media? , Or felt awful after reading through the comments on an online video? Maybe you’ve even received a negative text message from someone. Have you ever wondered... “Why are people online simply so horrible to each other?” You’re not alone. A recent report found that more than, 50% of social media users engage in arguments, online - even though only 3% of them actually want to see such things! And a third of people in the survey had, ended a relationship due to an online exchange, they had with someone. At the same time, multiple studies have found possible connections between our social media habits, smartphone addiction, and poor mental health. It’s no wonder we feel anxious or depressed if we’re wading through such negativity every time we look at our devices... But does it really have to be that way? Using our tech for good Here at Sinch, we know how to send messages…, 30 billion transactions every year, . We're able to reach virtually every mobile phone on the planet, in seconds or less. So we decided to use our experience handling millions of text messages to fight back against online negativity. By helping to, spread positivity instead – stranger to stranger., #TextForHumanity is the world’s first texting switchboard, connecting people from around the world to share a positive exchange. The idea is simple: Send a positive message to your local number, and we will make sure it gets delivered to a stranger somewhere in the world. And then you will receive someone else’s positive message in return. Hopefully, it will brighten your day! To do this, we…
Type: Blog Article
Type: Component Page
An updated version of this post is available here: 5 digital banking trends you should know for 2023 . In late 2019, Sinch surveyed 2,300 global consumers to understand their attitudes about messaging, and how they prefer to interact with businesses using messaging. One of the most powerful findings relates to banking-in particular, consumers are open to getting messages and notifications from…, 1. Consumers are 35x more likely to open mobile messages than emails, Mobile messages, even those quickly scanned from a home screen, are more likely to hit the mark than emails, which can be filtered into “promotional” folders or even relegated to spam. , 2. Consumers find value in being able to message their bank, Nearly 3 in 4 (70%) say they would find mobile alerts about suspicious banking activity “very useful,” and 94% say these types of alerts would be at least somewhat useful. Attitudes about personalized banking promotions delivered via messaging were a little less enthusiastic but still positive. , Measuring messaging utility, Which of these scenarios would you find useful?, 3. Younger consumers are more open to promotional messaging, According to Sinch research, nearly all banking customers welcome messaging when it comes to potential banking fraud, but attitudes about promotional messages differ widely by generation. Baby boomers are least likely to welcome these types of interactions (just 30% say they welcome it), while more than half of millennials and Gen Z say the same., Messaging attitudes by generation for the banking industry, Which of these scenarios do you welcome?, (Showing only 'welcome' responses below), 4. Consumers want more messaging options, The research shows a clear “opportunity gap” between how consumers use messaging today, versus how they would like to use it. In the banking industry, 70% want banks to message them about suspicious activity in their accounts, yet only 35% receive this today. Recent research from Facebook shows younger people’s enthusiasm for messaging will put further pressure on the banking industry. It…, 5. Consumers like chatbots as an efficient alternative, 2 out of 3 who have used a chatbot report a positive experience, citing speed and efficiency as the reason why. Most say chatbots served them as well or better than a human agent. What does this mean for the banking industry? Consumers are ready for more … if financial institutions would offer it. Among the big opportunities in banking: , Make it channel agnostic, Some of your customers will feel comfortable with in-app messaging, while others will prefer speaking to a real person on the phone. The key is ensuring you have the right channel for each of your customers-whether it’s SMS, MMS, RCS, chat apps, social apps, email or voice. All of these play a critical part in digital customer experience. , Real-time, security-focused interactions, Let your customers easily set low-balance and unusual activity notification triggers. Remember, 90% of consumers aged 18-34 say they are comfortable interacting with a bank using a messaging app. , Support secure conversations, Give customers options to chat with representatives through the banking app or using a verified phone number over messaging apps--always with an eye toward security. These messaging-based interactions are an important option for customers, who nearly always have their phone on them for a messaging exchange, but may not be in a spot to conduct a voice call or login via computer. , Automating customer service, Not all customer questions require a human touch. For more routine interactions (e.g. how late is my local branch open?), banks can deploy messaging chatbots or rich media messaging response chips (these are pre-programmed scripts and interactive features delivered automatically through messaging). And for customers that need even more support than automated conversations can provide, the app can…, Personalized solutions, A young consumer may be looking for a used car loan, while an older customer may want on-demand retirement advice. Messaging can be an important part of the conversation, giving banks the chance to engage in conversations triggered by a customer’s recent financial milestone. For example, “I noticed you recently set up a direct deposit to your savings account. Would you like to discuss money…, Push-based financial news, For customers that want to stay abreast of leading financial indicators or news, design push-based campaigns customized to the individual--whether breaking news about specific stock holdings in your customer’s portfolio, or releases of economic indicators that affect those nearing retirement. Ultimately, no matter the ecosystem of channels and features, the key is ensuring customers trust their…
Type: Blog Article