When you’re working with a small business budget, you want to save where you can. This is especially true in the nonprofit sector. Even though the core part of SMS marketing – sending messages – costs money, you can minimize costs to get more out of your marketing funds.

In the end, affordable SMS marketing isn’t really about what you pay, it’s about how you use it to reach your customers and contacts to achieve a good return on investment (ROI).

Read on to learn about the return on investment of text message marketing and how to get the most bang for your buck.

Is SMS marketing worth the price?

While text message marketing requires a bit of an investment, businesses that use SMS for customer communication find it’s worth it. Consider these two factors:

The cost of SMS vs other marketing channels

SMS marketing costs are about on par with channels like email and cheaper than more extensive options like content marketing.

Let’s look at the price of texting first. SMS marketing messages cost a fraction of a cent each – between $0.01 and $0.05 per text – and services often bundle those messages into credit packages. For example, SimpleTexting charges $29 per month (plus a carrier charge of $10) for 500 credits and all features.

The cost of other channels varies depending on their complexity. Email has similar costs – take Sinch Mailjet as an example. This email service provider (ESP) offers a limited free plan. Then you can unlock more features as you grow. A premium Mailjet plan is $27/month.

According to Siege Media, outsourcing content marketing campaigns can cost $6,000 or more a month. That’s their estimate on the low-end. Many small business owners feel they lack the time to create their own content, but hiring an agency may not be in your budget.

It’s become much harder to reach people on social media in recent years as the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn changed their algorithms to keep users on their platforms instead of visiting your website. So, in what feels like a bait-and-switch, brands and small businesses must pay to reach people on social media.

How much are business paying? Quite a bit. According to research from WebFX, more than half of businesses (52%) pay between $100 and $5,000 per month on social media management. That’s on top of paying for social media advertisements, which around half of businesses pay between $1,000 annually to as much as $25,000 per year. The truth is, big brands are spending a whole lot more than that on social media promotion.

SMS marketing ROI (return on investment)

You want to make more money from any money you invest in marketing, including SMS marketing. Fortunately, text messaging has a great ROI (return on investment) for many businesses.

Take it from businesses themselves. In our 2024 SMS marketing study, 81% of businesses agreed that text message marketing was a useful option for driving revenue. On top of that, 40% of businesses reported that SMS marketing contributed to 11% to 20% of their revenue.

Plus, some returns from investing in affordable SMS marketing come in the form of savings and operational efficiency. For example, Vogel Heating cut 50% of its phone calls by communicating with customers over text messages.

How to find an affordable SMS marketing service

You can get even more out of your text message marketing by choosing an affordable SMS marketing tool that fits your needs. Follow these tips as you look for the right software:

• Compare cost per credit: As you check prices across tools, look at the price per credit in addition to the monthly price. Even if one service costs more than another, it could have a lower cost per credit overall.
• Factor in additional costs: Consider the costs of additional services and features like number registration, extra numbers, and extra teammates. (And if a tool doesn’t openly share them, that might say something about it.)
• Look for money-saving features: The SMS marketing services out there manage credits in different ways. Keep an eye out for tools that help you get the most use out of your credits. For example, SimpleTexting credits roll over until the end of the following month.

5 affordable text marketing services to try

With so many services out there to choose from, it can be hard to know where to get started. Here are a few lower-cost choices that appear in lists like our best services for small businesses:

1. SimpleTexting: Choose SimpleTexting for a well-rounded range of texting tools and flexible pricing for managing customer communications via SMS and MMS.
2. MessageMedia: This platform offers slightly higher pricing with the Basic plan along with a higher volume of monthly messages. You’ll also find MessageMedia integrates with lots of other applications and marketing platforms.
3. ClickSend: With ClickSend, customers are on a pay-as-you-go system. Your total costs will vary based on what you send each month (additional carrier fees apply). This can support affordable SMS marketing but could also make it trickier to have a set budget.
4. EZTexting: This platform is known as a great starting point for marketers, although it can have some technical issues.
5. Textedly: Textedly is another well-known, affordable service with the option to add voice calls to your plan, but its integrations often cost extra.

With most affordable SMS marketing platforms that have monthly allotments, you are able to exceed the limit and switch to a pay-as-you-go model for the remainder of the month.

5 tips for lower SMS marketing costs

Once you find an SMS marketing solution that fits your budget, you can also adjust your texting habits to save money. Here are seven strategies to make your text message marketing more affordable:

1. Use SMS and MMS wisely

Did you know that different types of messages have different costs? Text messaging services usually charge more for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages than Short Message Service (SMS) messages.

Here’s how SimpleTexting charges each type of message, for example:

• SMS (up to 160 characters): One credit
• Extended SMS (161-306 characters): Two credits
• MMS (up to 1600 characters): Three credits

The higher cost of MMS doesn’t necessarily mean you should only text with SMS, though. Since SMS supports up to 160 characters and MMS supports up to 1600, it depends on how much you have to say. MMS could actually save you money on campaigns longer than 480 characters (that’s three SMS messages).

2. Save on credits with AI

Sometimes, you’ll find your message getting just too long to count as a single SMS. If you find your text going over the 160-character limit, you can save credits by shortening it with AI.

SimpleTexting makes this process easy with the AI Message Rephraser feature of our AI Assist. Click the lightbulb icon when you draft a message in the Inbox and choose Short and sweet to shorten it.

Here’s a before and after example:

Before:

After:

The rephraser also has Expand, Friendly, and Formal options for you to lengthen your message, make it sound more friendly, or make it sound more formal. These choices can save you time on editing, which also saves you money in the long run.

3. Advertise your texting lists with free templates

You may have a text list you need to advertise to get more people to join, such as a deals and promotions list. But this advertising can cost money if you don’t have graphic design skills.

We made six sets of free Canva templates to help you save on these costs. They all include the necessary disclaimers under TCPA regulations to help to stay compliant, too. Dig into them here and customize them to fit your business.

If you haven’t used Canva before, it’s free to use most of its features. It’s perfect for marketing teams trying to reduce costs.

4. Make the most of free SMS marketing tools

While SMS marketing services – the tools you use to send texts – generally aren’t free, there are plenty of free tools out there to support your texting. We offer a variety of free text marketing tools, including:

• Text marketing plan builder: Take a short quiz to figure out what text marketing tactics could work for your business and how much they would cost.
• Graphic generator: Create graphics to promote your text lists and keywords.
• Click-to-text button: Add a button to your website for customers to text you.
• Mobile sign-up widget: Enable customers to sign up for your texting list from your website.

You can also get thrifty with your apps and look for free tools to organize your marketing. Some marketing tools also have surprisingly generous free plans – ask other folks in your industry for their picks. In some cases, you can use a spreadsheet instead of investing in a new app, too.

5. Follow text marketing laws

At SimpleTexting, we always encourage SMS marketers to comply with text messaging laws because it’s the right thing to do. But as a bonus, it also saves you money that you’d waste on:

• Fines for noncompliance
• Marketing costs on people who don’t want to be part of your list
• Texts lost to spam filters due to noncompliance

Texting compliance is fairly simple, too – it just takes a little attention to detail. The process involves steps like:

• Registering your number as a business number
• Adding a disclaimer to any materials promoting your texting list
• Creating clear opt-in and opt-out processes
• Texting appropriate content at reasonable times

You can learn more about following texting laws from our compliance guide. This isn’t legal advice, though – talk to a lawyer if you need advice specific to your business.

The bottom line on affordable SMS marketing

Findings from Sinch’s report The art and heart of customer communications reveal that U.S. consumers typically choose either SMS or email as they’re preferred channel for hearing from brands. Your customers want you to reach them via text messaging. So, the real question might be can you afford not to use affordable SMS marketing?

Think about it this way…. One SMS messages will cost you just a fraction of a penny. But that message might win you a customer’s loyalty for a lifetime. It could save you from losing their business. Using SMS connects you with your customers in a way that’s not just effective and reliable, it’s also personal and conversational.

As you look for an affordable SMS marketing service, give SimpleTexting a try. We outline all of our costs on our pricing page so you can make an informed decision.

Best of all, we offer a free 14-day trial – with no credit card required – for you to take all of the features for a spin. Give it a shot today.

The post Your guide to affordable SMS marketing: Tools, tips, and tactics appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

What is mass texting and why do you need it?

If you’re trying to figure out how to text multiple people at once, there’s a good chance you have a particular audience you need to reach with a specific message. 

Mass texting—also known as bulk SMS—refers to the sending of SMS or MMS messages to a large list of contacts. You can use mass texts to communicate with staff, send updates or emergency alerts, and stay in touch with customers. SMS marketing is also a great way to let your customers and clients know about promotions, events, and more.

These mass texts are best sent using a dedicated software solution known as a business texting service. As your business and your contact list grow, you’ll need a solution that scales with you while helping you stay compliant with privacy laws and regulations. Texting multiple people from your own smartphone may no longer be a viable or legal option.

We’ll cover why that’s the case and how you can use SimpleTexting to send multiple SMS messages online below.

How much does It cost to send multiple SMS online?

Before we go any further, you probably want to know what the cost of a text messaging service is.

Our pricing plans start at $29 per month for 500 SMS. With that, you get a free number, dedicated support seven days a week, and unlimited keywords. You can also text-enable your existing landline or toll-free number.

Here’s more information on the cost of mass texting–and its ROI.

Send multiple SMS from a phone

In an effort to avoid any investment in new software, you might wonder if it’s possible to send an SMS to many numbers at a time from your mobile phone.

The problem is that:

• Most default messaging apps only let you text around 10 people
• There is no way for people to opt-out of your messages

This isn’t a major problem if it’s a group of friends coordinating dinner plans but it quickly becomes one if you want to send one SMS to multiple numbers as a business.

There are other benefits of using a paid SMS service to send messages. You can also:

• Collect phone numbers using tools like web forms, Text-to-Join, and our Mobile Sign-Up Widget
• Manage your list with custom fields and segments
• Schedule SMS campaigns in advance
• Send automated text messages
• Run Text-to-Win SMS marketing campaigns
• Use our mobile app

That’s just a small number of our powerful features.

Challenges with native messaging apps:

• iPhone: To send mass texts, iMessage should be turned off, and highlight the contact limit for broadcasting groups (25).
• Android: Mention the contact limit for broadcasting groups (20-30) and the steps to turn off group messaging in the settings.
• WhatsApp: Explain WhatsApp’s broadcasting feature, noting its contact limit (256) and requirements (recipients must have WhatsApp and save the sender’s number).
  

Legal and compliance issues:

While it’s possible to manually copy and paste messages to multiple recipients with your phone, dedicated SMS platforms provide a streamlined process, ensuring compliance with regulations, tracking engagement, and delivering messages quickly to large groups. Unlike your phone, professional software offers advanced features such as list segmentation, personalized messaging, and analytics, making it ideal for businesses aiming to optimize their communication strategy.

Send one text to multiple numbers online with SimpleTexting

It’s incredibly easy to send an SMS to many numbers at a time with SimpleTexting. In just a few minutes you can conveniently and effectively communicate with all of your contacts. 

All you need to do is…

1. Sign up for an account

Try our SMS broadcast service for free for 2 weeks. With our platform, you can send text messages to multiple recipients quickly and efficiently. You’ll also get a free text-enabled number. (We don’t ask for your credit card so there are no strings attached.)

2. Import any existing contacts

If you already have a list of contacts who have given you permission to send them text messages? You can import them directly to our platform by following these instructions.

3. Build your list

Even if you have no experience with SMS marketing, it’s easy to collect numbers. Just add a web form to your site or invite people to text a unique keyword to your text-enabled phone number.

4. Send your message

Once you’ve got everything set up and ready to go, it’s time to write your special promotion, appointment reminder, emergency alert—whatever you want, really—and then click send or schedule it for later.

Watch the video below and we’ll walk you through each step:

Get started sending multiple SMS online

If you have more questions, you can also request a demo. Alternatively, you can text or call us at (866) 450-4185 or use the chat at the bottom of your screen.

If you’re ready to take us for a test drive, sign up for a 14-day free trial.

FAQs

The post How to send one SMS to multiple numbers online appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

These are questions we hear every day from business owners starting out their text marketing strategy. The good news is, both SMS and MMS are easily accessible text marketing tools.

We’ll walk you through the differences between SMS and MMS text messages along with instructions for using both to send audio, video, GIFs, and more.

What is SMS?

SMS, which stands for Short Message Service, is a fancy term for text messages under 160 characters. If you want to get technical, it’s a special communications protocol created to send and receive text messages over cellular networks. 

The first text message was sent via the SMS protocol way back in 1992. It is the most widespread and frequently used texting technology.

What is MMS messaging?

MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service, and it’s a type of texting that involves media (like videos, images, GIFs, and audio) and up to 1,600 characters. 

MMS is an extension of the core SMS protocol, and it was developed to enable the transmission of multimedia content via text message. 

What is the difference between SMS and MMS?

TL;DR: SMS comes with a 160-character limit, while MMS allows for 1,600 characters as well as media such as pictures, videos, or audio.

The main difference between SMS and MMS messages is the type of content you can send. With SMS, you can only use plain text under 160 characters. (With extended SMS, you can send up to 306 characters.) 

MMS allows you to send images, videos, audio, GIFs, PDFs, and text up to 1,600 characters. However, because of the increased character length, MMS messages typically cost more to send.

You’ll run into these two terms most often in the phrases “SMS marketing” and “MMS marketing.”

Let’s get into some more specifics about both.

SMS vs. MMS at a glance

Almost all devices support both SMS and MMS, so you usually don’t need to stick to one over the other. Realistically, a good text marketing strategy should include a combination of the two for variety.

As you can see here, SMS and MMS text messages can look quite different, meaning you can match the message type to the text you’re sending.

The biggest differences between SMS and MMS messages go beyond the visual elements and MMS’ ability to include media. 

SMS messages are best for quick text-based alerts or notices, while MMS messages are perfect for highlighting products, sales, or anything that needs a visual element.

The table below highlights some of the practical differences between MMS and SMS messages to help you pick the best option for each scenario.

You can group the main differences between SMS and MMS into three areas:

• Character limits
• Supported media
• Pricing

MMS gives you more characters

Where SMS marketing only allows for up to 160 characters per text, MMS marketing allows for an unlimited number of characters per text, technically speaking.

Practically speaking, wireless carriers tend to limit the length of MMS messages, but the result is still roomier than SMS.

At SimpleTexting, for example, you get up to 1,600 characters per MMS message.

MMS lets you embed rich media

MMS also gives you the ability to embed rich media like images, audio files, baby elephant GIFs, and short video clips. 

With SMS, you can only include links to your media — you can’t add it directly to the text itself.

SMS and MMS messages have different pricing

MMS messages cost a bit more than SMS messages because they involve transmitting more data.

The difference in cost varies from provider to provider. With SimpleTexting’s text messaging platform, MMS costs 3 credits per message. SMS, on the other hand, costs 1 credit per message.

The nice thing is that you can mix and match your MMS and SMS messages to suit your messaging strategy. 

For example, if you buy a 1,000-credit plan, you can send 400 SMS messages and 200 MMS messages. (400 + [200*3] = 400 + 600 = 1,000.)

In case you’re wondering, “Why should I pay more for MMS?”, the answer is simple: MMS campaigns have a 20% higher opt-in rate than SMS campaigns. MMS messages are also 8x more likely to be shared on social media.

Don’t take our word for it, though. Check out these SimpleTexting customers who got amazing results using MMS.

• Whisker Seeker Tackle Uses MMS to Achieve a 25% Conversion Rate
• This Upscale Dollar Store Keeps Customers Coming Back with Exclusive Texts
• Using MMS Messaging, Life is Beautiful Delivers a Sharable Lineup Poster Image

When to use SMS messages

We recommend choosing SMS for messages where “short and sweet” makes the most sense. SMS is perfect for communicating important details, from order confirmations to time-sensitive alerts.

SMS messages are also great for campaigns where you’re bringing contacts in using a keyword. 

A keyword is simply a short word or phrase that contacts can text to your number to agree to receive texts from you. If you’re expecting a lot of new contacts, using SMS for your confirmation message can help keep your costs low. 

Here’s an example:

SMS messages also work well for transactional texts like:

• Order confirmations and delivery tracking
• Appointment reminders and updates
• Updates
• Password resets and two-factor authentication (2FA)

Finally, many of our awesome customers also use SMS for marketing and promotions, generating new sales, and improving engagement with coupons and other offers.

When to use MMS messages

Most promotional text messages benefit from photos, GIFs, or videos. 

The reason is simple: Those who use visual communication to get their message across to an audience are more successful than those who rely on words alone. 

We ran an A/B test with a SimpleTexting customer to prove the concept, and the test found that the MMS message in the test received a 52% higher click-through rate (CTR) than the SMS message. 

Consider sending MMS when you want to:

• Show off your product
• Offer a mobile coupon
• Invite your contacts to an event
• Send a birthday or anniversary message
• Run a competition

The first 50 people who show this image on their phone at checkout receive 20% off their entire purchase. 

Send your contact card with a welcome message

Texting out your contact card with your welcome message encourages your subscribers to save your contact info right off the bat so they recognize and trust your texts going forward.

First thing, you’ll need to create and download a virtual business card (you can design a free one in Canva).

Once you’ve created your card, you’ll attach it to a message. People do this most often with a keyword. 

Keywords are words or phrases that new contacts can text to your number to sign up for your texts. A dog grooming business might use the keyword “GROOMER.”

Your keyword setup will require an auto-confirmation message that automatically replies to new subscribers. You’ll use this message to send your business card.

Send images or animated GIFs for promotions (and beyond)

Images and GIFs help communicate your message more effectively and add an engaging visual component.

If you’re sending a GIF from your phone’s messaging app, you’ll only need to follow a few steps.

1. Copy your GIF from an app or website like GIPHY.
2. Launch your texting app.
3. Paste your GIF.
4. Hit “send.”

The process is just as easy within your SimpleTexting account.

1. Head to the Campaigns tab and start a new campaign.
2. Select MMS as the message type.

3. Hit the paperclip icon above the message box and add your GIF. Highlight the GIF in your media library and click the blue “Include” button.

4. Fill out and send or schedule your campaign as usual. Your subscribers will see the full-size GIF in the body of the text.

Sending an image in your text takes a few more steps.

1. Start a new campaign in the Campaigns tab.
2. Choose “MMS” as the campaign type.

3. Click the paperclip button.

4. Upload the desired image or paste in the URL where it’s located.

5. Click the image once it’s uploaded and hit the blue “include” button.

6. Send your campaign as usual.

Send pictures as links in SMS text messages

It’s still possible to send photos without using MMS, but your image won’t appear in the text message itself. 

With SMS, you can instead include links that, when clicked, send recipients to the photo online.

Here are six steps to attach an image to an SMS message as a link:

1. Open a new campaign.
2. Ensure SMS is selected as your campaign type.
3. Select the image icon.

4. Paste the image’s URL or upload a file from your computer. Any JPG, PNG, or GIF file up to 10MB will work.

5. Hit the “insert” button.

6. Send your campaign.

Send PDFs for invoices or additional information

Texts (even MMS messages) are a super concise way to communicate, and what you have to say might not always fit within 1600 or 160 characters.

In those cases, you can text a PDF that includes the information you couldn’t include in the body of your message.

1. From your SimpleTexting account, go to Campaigns and select SMS as your message type.
2. Click the media icon.

3. Upload your PDF as a URL or a file, then press the blue Include button.

4. Your PDF will appear in your message as a link that will send recipients to the document online.

Send PDFs with two-way business texting

That’s the campaign PDF setup, but you also have the option of sending PDF files through your two-way messaging Inbox. 

Simply open the conversation where you want to send the file and click the paperclip icon below the message box.

Click Upload and add your desired PDF with the blue Include button.

Your PDF will show up in your message as a link just like in a campaign.

How to text a PDF via MMS

While the steps here are the same, PDFs sent with an MMS message will show directly in the message body instead of as a link.

When a subscriber clicks on the PDF, it opens within the text message, where the recipient can save the PDF like a photo.

1. Start a new campaign and select MMS as the message type.

2. Choose the paperclip icon.

3. Follow the steps to upload your PDF as a file or from a URL.

4. Your PDF will show up directly in your message and can open without the need for an internet connection.

Send audio files 

Maybe you’re sending out some content meant for the audio learners on your subscriber lists, like a podcast or a voice memo announcement. Piece of cake.

If you want to send an audio file bigger than 1 MB, you’ll do so via a link in an SMS message.

1. Start a new campaign with SMS as the type.
2. In the message box, paste a link to your audio file.
3. Click the chain link button above your text to shorten your URL. This will help you save space and characters as well as allow you to track who did and did not click on your link for each campaign.
4. Your audio file will show up as a link in the message box. The URL will be automatically shortened, and it will show in the preview box on the right the way your subscribers will see it.
5. Type out your message and send your campaign.

The resulting message will look like this to recipients. When they click the link, they will be redirected to listen to your audio.

How to send audio files via MMS

To use this method, your file must be 1 MB or less. 

If your file is bigger than that, you can try to compress it. There are a few different ways to do so.

The easiest way is by using Adobe Premiere or Audition. You can set your compression to a significant amount (aka 1 MB). There are other free tools out there with a few extra steps, like HandBrake.

Once you’re ready to text your audio file, follow these steps.

1. Start a campaign with MMS as the type.
2. Choose the paperclip icon.
3. Upload and include your desired 1 MB audio file. 
4. Your file will show up in the body of your text where recipients can click to open it.

Send videos

Sending a video text message is one of our top tips for standing out in subscribers’ inboxes and showing off your brand’s voice.

And you don’t have to take our word for it. Let me show you how one of our customers does this. 

Our customer Casey regularly sends texts with a video and a discount on monthly services to customers who book a single cleaning with his company.

Here’s how to replicate the process using SimpleTexting.

1. From your inbox, open a conversation and type a message in the box.
2. Click the media icon.
3. Upload your video and include it.
4. Send or schedule your text. 

MMS vs. SMS FAQs

Still have questions? We don’t blame you. Check out these FAQs from business owners like you.

Start using SMS and MMS messages in your marketing strategy

We all love exciting visuals, so it’s not surprising that text messages with pictures typically drive more engagement. However, with conversion rates from SMS campaigns as high as 45%, your text marketing strategy should include a mixture of both.

If you’re interested in SMS or MMS marketing, here are some helpful links to get you started:

• Pricing and Plans
• Schedule a Demo
• Try Us Free

If you’d prefer to chat with someone, our team of SMS marketing experts would love to help. We’re available 7 days a week. Text or call us at (866) 450-4185 or use the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.

The post SMS vs MMS text messages: definition & differences appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

But if you open Google and search for “best mass text app,” you’ll see dozens of service providers claiming to be the best.

Below, we’ll break down the pros and cons of the top players in the mass texting industry (yes, even alternatives to our platform) and tell you everything to look for in the best mass texting service for your business. 

Even if you decide not to go with ours, we hope this guide saves you some time and helps you make an informed decision.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• The 11 best mass text apps
• Things the best mass text apps have in common
• Non negotiable mass texting app features
• Mass text campaign examples
• Mass texting app FAQs

Methodology

To shortlist the best mass texting apps, I spent hours sending texts, creating templates, adding contacts, and testing out advanced features for 11 SMS platforms. 

I was specially looking at how easy it is to:

• Send and receive messages
• Upload and manage contacts
• Configure the inbox
• Create and use templates
• Integrate with third-party apps
• Automate and schedule texts

These are core to any mass texting app worth its salt. I know this because besides working in the SMS marketing industry for 18+ months, I have experience owning and marketing a small business.

16 best mass text apps – tested

Not sure where to start with your search for the best mass texting service? I’ve got you. Here’s a quick rundown of the top eleven mass texting apps in the industry.

1. SimpleTexting – best mass texting app for small business
2. TextMagic – best mass text app for international texting
3. Textedly – best budget app for mass texting
4. SlickText – best mass texting app for loyalty programs
5. EZ Texting – best quick-start mass texting app
6. Podium – best mass text app for local business operations
7. Attentive – best mass text app for ecommerce business
8. Mailchimp – best app for combining mass email and SMS
9. MessageMedia – best mass text app for mid-market to enterprise
10. DialMyCalls – best mass text app for mass texting and phone call
11. Messente – best mass text app with variable pricing
12. Omnisend – Best for multichannel marketing
13. Klaviyo – Best for marketing automations
14. SMSBump – Best for BigCommerce and Shopify users
15. Postscript – Best for hyper-segmentation
16. Sakari – Best for global users

SimpleTexting: Best mass texting app for small business

Admittedly, I’m a little biased about how amazing SimpleTexting is, but I have the data and testimonials to back it up.

More than 17,000 small and medium-sized businesses choose our platform because of its flexible pricing, user-friendly platform, and advanced features. From text-blasting services to lead generation, we have it all for you.

In an in-depth review of SimpleTexting on Business.com, contributing writer Mark Farlie said that “Having the type of connected system SimpleTexting’s developers created could give your company a competitive edge. That’s why we’ve selected SimpleTexting as the ideal text message marketing supplier for small businesses.”

If you want your SMS marketing strategy to work seamlessly with other tools your business relies on, our team can create custom integrations for your unique needs. We’ve worked with restaurants, healthcare practices, nonprofits, schools, and other organizations to automate text message campaigns and sync their contact lists. If you need inspiration, look no further than our small business podcast.

Pros

• Unlimited keywords
• Mobile app
• Custom integrations and API for all plans

Cons

• No built-in QR code function
• Only available for businesses in North America

Pricing

SimpleTexting offers flexible pricing plans, with the lowest plan starting at $29/month for 500 messaging credits. Any unused credits in a given month roll over to the next month (but only for one month). You can add more credits at any time through the self-serve billing dashboard.

Free trial

To give users a chance to experience the platform’s features, SimpleTexting provides a 14-day free trial without requiring credit card information until you’re ready to upgrade.

Top features

SimpleTexting is best known for its:

• Link tracking
• Unlimited keywords
• SMS polls and surveys
• Data collection
• Seamless experience for mass texting and one-on-one conversations

Device availability

You can use SimpleTexting on desktop, smartphones, tablets, or any other wifi-enabled device. Our mobile app is available for iOS and Android.

TextMagic: Best mass text app for international texting

With its flexible pricing model and international capabilities, TextMagic is great for small businesses and those with customers outside the U.S. and Canada.

TextMagic can identify invalid numbers to improve message deliverability, and it has email-to-SMS capabilities that make communication convenient. With TextMagic, you can send audio files via text and use text-to-speech to make phone calls. This means you can communicate beyond just words on a screen.

While most SMS platforms have pricing tiers, TextMagic charges $0.04 per text, making it a flexible option for businesses with variable sending volume. 

Pros

• Has a pay-as-you-go pricing model, instead of monthly or annual plans
• Allows you to text contacts in 200 countries

Cons

• Pricing model may not be cost-effective for companies sending a high volume of texts

Pricing

TextMagic’s pricing is pay-as-you-go. So, you only pay for the number of messages you send, rather than paying a fixed amount every month or year. 

The cost begins at $0.049 per text to U.S. numbers. If you send more than 100,000 messages every month, you can request custom pricing.

Free trial

Try TextMagic free for 30 days with $0.40 in messaging credits.

Top features

TextMagic is best known for its:

• Ability to send SMS via email
• SMS surveys 

Device availability

TextMagic offers a mobile app for iOS and Android that performs many of the same functions as its desktop app.

Textedly: Best budget service for mass texting

Textedly is a simple, yet effective, mass texting platform for businesses on a budget that are looking for a simple suite of features. If you’re looking for a straightforward SMS platform with a low price, add this one to your list.

When I was testing Textedly out, I noticed some of its features are add-ons. While most platforms include things like automated texts and personalization in their monthly subscriptions, Textedly offers them a la carte for a one-time fee. 

Because its pricing tiers are so inexpensive, these add-on fees may not be a problem for businesses that need basic SMS functionality.

Pros

• One of the least expensive SMS platforms
• Simple and user-friendly

Cons 

• No mobile app
• No API (just Zapier-powered integrations)
• Limited contact segmentation capabilities

Pricing

Textedly’s thirteen pricing tiers range from a $26/month plan for 500 text messages and one custom keyword to the $2,999/month plan, which includes 200,000 text messages and 50 keywords. 

Free trial

Textedly’s 14-day free trial comes with 50 text messages.

Top features

Popular Textedly features include:

• Data collection
• Voice services
• Instagram texting button
• MMS

Device availability

Textedly has a standard desktop app, but they don’t have a mobile app as of January 2024.

SlickText: Best mass texting app for loyalty programs

With its free onboarding session, SlickText is an excellent choice for business owners who want a personalized onboarding experience.

In addition to standard features like two-way messaging, mass texting, MMS, and keywords, SlickText provides advanced capabilities like automated workflows, personalization, and loyalty program software. 

This last feature is helpful for retail companies, restaurants, and service-based businesses that want to keep customers coming back on a regular basis.

Pros

• Offers a mobile app
• Free onboarding session for $139/month plans or higher

Cons

• Limited number of keywords allowed

Pricing

Like SimpleTexting, SlickText’s plans start as low as $29/month for 500 messaging credits. This plan comes with two keywords but doesn’t include automated workflows. Its top-level plan — the Monstro — includes 50,000 messages for $1,250/month.

Free trial

Try SlickText out free for 14 days with 50 messaging credits.

Top features

SlickText offers its users:

• SMS polls and surveys
• Website popups
• Loyalty rewards
• URL shortener
• QR codes
• MMS

Device availability

You can use SlickText on iOS or Android, in addition to desktop.

EZ Texting: Best quick-start mass texting app

EZ Texting is best for business owners with limited marketing experience who are looking for a robust, easy-to-use platform. 

Customers rave about EZ Texting beginner’s guide, which helps you get up and running quickly without feeling overwhelmed. It’s not the cheapest platform on the market, but it’s built with busy marketers and business owners in mind. The ease of use could save you time and, ultimately, money.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Provides a wealth of industry-specific educational content

Cons

• More expensive than similar platforms
• Unused credits don’t roll over month-to-month or annually
• Limited number of keywords allowed for plans under $299/month

Pricing

EZ Texting’s pricing plans range from $25/month for 500 credits and 500 contacts to $3,000/month for 60,000 credits and 50,000 contacts. 

Free trial

You can try EZ Texting free for 14 days with 50 messages and one keyword.

Top features

Popular EZ Texting features include:

• MMS
• Shutterstock media library
• Text forwarding
• SafeSTOP® compliance

Device availability

In addition to its desktop app, EZ Texting has an iOS app that lets you review campaign performance and delivery, send and receive texts, and manage your contacts.

Podium: Best mass text app for local businesses

Podium is excellent if you’re serving local markets and need a reliable mass texting platform. Beyond texting, I like how its reputation management system simplifies the collection and tracking of customer reviews. Podium also lets you respond to reviews from Google My Business and Facebook.

While Podium users like their ability to request and collect customer reviews via SMS, the catch is, Podium isn’t cheap. Its steep basic plan costs $249/month for 1000 contacts. Other budget-friendly alternatives with similar features are DialMyCalls and MessageMedia. 

Pros

• Get reviews easily from GMB, Yelp, and other local business listings
• Offers custom payment solutions 
• Intuitive user interface 
• Audience segmentation

Cons

• Costly for small businesses on a budget 
• Does not integrate with Yelp

Pricing

Podium has the essential, standard, and professional pricing packages. The essential plan cost $249/month for managing 1000 contacts. This plan allows you to integrate 100+ apps and send up to 100 bulk messages monthly. 

Free trial

None. Interested users have to book a demo to get started.

Top features

Podium has some brilliant functionalities, like: 

• Custom-built integrations and APIs
• Intuitive user interface
• SMS and review management on one platform
• Custom payment processing 
• Audience segmentation 
• Auto-responses to FAQs
• Campaign analytics dashboard 

Device availability

Podium is available on Android, iOS, and desktops.

Attentive: best mass text app for ecommerce business

Attentive is a conversational marketing platform with tools like SMS for e-commerce businesses. Their platform has responsive templates and integrates with eCommerce bigwigs like BigCommerce, Shopify, Gorgias, etc. Recently, they partnered with Stamped, a review management platform that enables you to request customer reviews via SMS. Besides the regular features of any SMS marketing software, Attentive has AI capabilities for creating personalized SMS and email campaigns quickly. That’s why, among other reasons, business owners like Paul Goodman recommend it.

However, users like Dave Rekuc claim Attentive isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. What Dave says:

Pros

• Integrates with Shopify and Salesforce
• Simple user interface
• Syncs customer and product data across platforms
• Campaigns are easy to set up and manage 

Cons

• No mobile app
• Email platform needs improvement 

Pricing

Attentive pricing packages are available on request. 

Free trial

Attentive SMS doesn’t offer a free trial. This is limiting because even a demo may be insufficient for you to understand how a platform works. 

Top features

• Email and SMS opt-in list
• One-on-one onboarding sessions
• Predesigned flows 
• Concierge facilities 
• 2-in-1 email and SMS signup units
• AMCA SPAM regulations 

Device availability

Attentive, unlike other platforms listed here, is only available on desktop.

Mailchimp: best mass texting and email combination app

Mailchimp is a conversation marketing platform. It offers robust tools for email marketing and SMS management, including AI-powered functionalities.

Mailchimp allows you to set automatic responses to customer messages based on preset actions and triggers. For instance, if a customer leaves your site without purchasing, you can trigger an automated follow-up message to encourage them to complete their purchase. This enables timely response while simultaneously improving your conversion rate.

Keep in mind that SMS is an add-on service and is only available to US users on standard and premium plans. If you’re looking for a way to send an SMS broadcast, you can easily do so with our platform while ensuring compliance with messaging regulations.

Pros

• Customizable templates and features 
• Free plan for email marketing services
• Simple and intuitive user interface 
• SMS compliance 

Cons

• Not suited for businesses with large contact lists 
• SMS marketing is an add-on 
• SMS marketing services are limited to US residents
• Unused credits expire and don’t roll over to the following month 

Pricing

SMS credits are required to send text messages, and it costs $20/month for 1000 credits. 

Free trial

While Mailchimp has a free trial for its email marketing feature, the same doesn’t apply to its SMS marketing. 

Top features

• Email and SMS signup forms and landing pages 
• Audience segmentation 
• Link tracking 
• Multimedia messaging 
• Automated campaign flows 

Device availability

Mailchimp is available on Android, iOS, and desktops. 

MessageMedia: best mass text app for mid-market to enterprise

MessageMedia is a US-based multi-channel marketing platform for businesses in eCommerce, healthcare, retail, education, etc.

One of its points of attraction is its reliability. They boast of a 100% gateway uptime and avoid network failures. The translation: they provide uninterrupted service to users. In case of a network failure, the system quickly switches to an alternative gateway to prevent further disruptions. 

On MessageMedia, you can send over 40,000 text messages without glitches. Their robust system also promises to handle scalability challenges. 

Pros

• Customizable SMS templates, including QR codes and call-to-actions
• 99.99% uptime  
• Affordable plans for businesses looking to scale 
• Reliable customer support 
• Easy to set up 

Cons

• Advanced features are available on higher plans only 
• Tracking campaigns on the basic plans may appear challenging

Pricing

MessageMedia offers competitive pricing plans. Its lowest starts at $49/month and lets you send up to 1000 SMS and MMS to unlimited users. Access to Pro integrations, advanced analytics, or keywords are available in higher plans. 

Free trial

MessageMedia lets users test its platform for 14 days without making monetary commitments or linking their credit card. 

Top features

• Integrates seamlessly with CRM (customer relationship management) tools, marketing tools, and eCommerce platforms 
• In-depth reporting and analytics 
• MMS, SMS, and mobile landing pages
• GDPR/TCPA compliance 
• Barcodes 
• Link shortener 
• Two–way messaging 

Device availability

Android, iOS and desktop. 

DialMyCalls: best mass text app with phone calling

DialMyCalls is a solid choice for businesses that engage customers through texts and calls. Their automated calling system lets you send pre-recorded voice messages and texts to your contact list via SMS. 

DialMyCalls’s lowest pricing tier costs $6.74/month. This is affordable. However, you still need to pay for basic features like 2-way texting, MMS, and conference calls. 

If you’re looking to test the waters with SMS marketing, DialMyCalls may be a fit. But if you need a comprehensive mass texting app with features like enterprise-grade deliverability, advanced reporting, and API access, SimpleTexting is your best bet.  

Pros

• Affordable pricing plans 
• Free inbound SMS for all plans
• Email marketing services inclusive 

Cons

• Advanced features are add-ons 
• Extremely basic features on the smallest plan 

Pricing

DialMyCalls offers three pricing tiers: standard, premium, and pay-as-you-go plan. The standard plan costs $6.74/month, which covers SMS to 25 contacts, an SMS opt-in widget, and a couple other basic features. Standard features like MMS, 2-way texting, and conference calls come as an add-on and incur separate charges. 

Free trial

Unlike the other mass text apps listed here, DialMyCalls allows you to send 25 emails, SMS, or calls without adding your credit card. Once this is out, you have to subscribe to any of their packages to retain access to the features. 

Top features

• Automated calling system 
• Two-way messaging 
• Offers several custom integrations, including Zapier and Salesforce 
• Bulk emails
• SMS polls

Device availability

You can access, send, track, and manage text messages from the DialMyCalls mobile app (Android and iOS supported) and a Chrome extension for the web version. 

Messente: best mass text app with variable pricing

Messente is under two decades old, but it still ranks as one of the best mass text apps. Its comprehensive mass texting features made it a top choice for businesses. This includes SMS encryption, OTP generator via Verigator, multichannel messaging (WhatsApp and Viber), etc. 

Another standout feature is the security. Besides providing 2FA authentication to verify users, it uses SHA-256 with RSA encryption for securing your account and database. This mitigates the possibility of cyberattacks or phishing scams. 

Messente’s affordability doesn’t deliver sub-par functionalities. The features are enterprise-grade with seamless integration capabilities. 

Pros

• Simple and easy to use 
• Specialized onboarding experience
• Send SMS to customers across 197 countries 
• Integrate over 2000 apps using Zapier 

Cons

• Lack of self-service tools
• Deliverability status unavailable
• No WhatsApp integration  

Pricing

Messente uses a pay-as-you-go system. First, you select the region(s) you’re targeting and the number of texts you want to send. The system then auto-generates a pricing structure based on the information provided. You can also request a custom pricing plan if you send over 10,000 messages. 

Free trial

Signing up for the Messente mass text app gives you free credits to test its features. After using up your credits, you can opt for a paid plan if you’re satisfied.

Top features

• In-depth analytics and reporting 
• Custom APIs
• Two-way SMS
• 2FA authentication
• GDPR Compliance 

Device availability

Messente offers a web version but doesn’t have a mobile app yet.

Omnisend: Best for multichannel marketing

Omnisend is an all-in-one eCommerce marketing automation platform, designed to help businesses streamline their email and SMS marketing efforts. It is widely used by eCommerce brands to create personalized, automated workflows that increase customer engagement and drive sales.

Pros

• Channel Management: This process helps businesses create and implement diverse marketing strategies and techniques to maximize their reach to potential customers.
• Automation Workflows: Omnisend offers pre-built automation workflows for cart abandonment, welcome series, and product recommendations, making it easy to engage customers at key points in their buying journey.

Cons

• Missing Multivariate Testing: Omnisend isn’t capable of evaluating various combinations of webpage elements to identify the most effective one.
• Limited SMS Customization: While Omnisend offers SMS marketing, its customization options for text messages are more limited than those of dedicated SMS platforms.

Pricing

• Standard Plan: Starts at $16 per month.
• Pro Plan: Starts at $59 per month and includes $59 worth of free SMS credits each month.

For sending SMS in the US, the cost is approximately 2.2 cents per message

Free trial

Yes, Omnisend offers a free plan. On this plan, you can send up to 60 text messages per month to 250 contacts. This is a great way to explore Omnisend’s capabilities before committing to a paid plan.

Top Features

• Popups & Signup Forms
• Sales & performance reports

Device availability

Omnisend does not offer dedicated desktop or mobile applications for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android.

Klaviyo: Best for marketing automations

Klaviyo is a marketing automation platform designed for eCommerce businesses, offering tools to create personalized email and SMS campaigns. It integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling businesses to segment their audiences based on behavior and preferences. Klaviyo also provides detailed analytics and reporting to optimize marketing efforts and drive customer engagement and sales.

Pros

• Advanced automation features: Klaviyo excels in automating complex marketing workflows across SMS.
• Data-driven insights: It offers in-depth analytics and segmentation for more targeted messaging.

Cons

• Higher learning curve: Klaviyo’s tools can be difficult for beginners to navigate.
• Costs can scale quickly: Pricing increases with larger contact lists and higher message volumes.

Pricing

• Klaviyo charges per SMS sent, with pricing starting at $0.012 per message. 
• Paid plans start at around $20/month for smaller contact lists, with costs scaling as your list and messaging volume grow.

Free trial

Yes, Klaviyo offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts, allowing users to test its SMS capabilities before upgrading.

Top Features

• Marketing automations
• Advanced segmentation

Device availability

Klaviyo has no dedicated desktop or mobile apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android.

SMSBump: Best for BigCommerce and Shopify users

SMSBump is a marketing platform designed for eCommerce businesses to run SMS campaigns and automations. It integrates with platforms like Shopify, allowing businesses to send personalized messages, automate workflows (such as abandoned cart reminders), and track campaign performance. With its segmentation features and compliance tools, SMSBump helps brands increase engagement, boost conversions, and stay compliant with SMS marketing regulations.

Pros

• Seamless integration with eCommerce platforms: SMSBump is specifically designed to integrate effortlessly with Shopify and BigCommerce, making it ideal for online stores.
• Automated SMS marketing: It offers powerful automation tools to trigger SMS campaigns based on customer actions, like abandoned carts or completed purchases.

Cons

• Limited beyond eCommerce: While excellent for Shopify and BigCommerce users, SMSBump lacks features that non-eCommerce businesses might need.
• Learning curve for customization: Setting up advanced automations may require some time to master, especially for beginners.

Pricing

SMSBump uses a pay-as-you-go model, with SMS pricing starting at around $0.014 per message in the U.S. There are no monthly fees unless you choose additional features or higher-tier plans.

Free trial

Yes, SMSBump offers a free plan that includes basic SMS capabilities to test the platform’s core functions.

Top Features

• eCommerce automations
• Customizable templates

Device availability

SMSBump integrates directly with Shopify and BigCommerce platforms but does not offer standalone desktop or mobile apps.

Postscript: Best for hyper-segmentation

Postscript is an SMS marketing platform designed specifically for eCommerce businesses. It helps brands connect with customers through personalized text messages, driving engagement, sales, and loyalty. With features like targeted campaigns, automation, and integrations with platforms like Shopify, Postscript enables businesses to effectively manage and optimize their SMS marketing efforts.

Pros

• Advanced segmentation capabilities: Postscript allows users to create highly detailed customer segments based on behavior, purchase history, and engagement.
• Seamless Shopify integration: Specifically designed for Shopify, making it ideal for stores looking to implement hyper-targeted SMS campaigns.

Cons

• Limited to Shopify: Postscript is primarily focused on Shopify users, which can limit its appeal to businesses on other platforms.
• Pricing can increase with high-volume messaging: Costs can increase quickly for larger campaigns due to per-message pricing.

Pricing

• Per SMS Cost: Postscript’s pricing starts at $0.015 per SMS.
• Monthly Fees: The Starter plan requires a $25 monthly minimum spend. Higher-tier plans offer lower per SMS costs and additional features.

Free trial

Postscript offers a free trial with a $1,000 usage credit for 30 days. This credit can be used towards message and carrier fees, allowing users to test the platform’s features.

Top Features

• Hyper-segmentation
• Personalized messaging

Device availability

Despite Postscript’s Shopify integration capabilities, the service lacks dedicated desktop or mobile applications.

Sakari: Best for global users

Sakari is a messaging platform that provides SMS and MMS communication services for businesses. It enables organizations to send bulk text messages, manage SMS campaigns, and engage customers through automated and personalized messaging. Sakari’s services include text reminders, marketing promotions, alerts, and two-way messaging. The platform integrates with popular CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, making it easy to streamline customer communications and improve engagement.

Pros

• Wide international reach: Sakari supports SMS messaging in over 200 countries, making it ideal for businesses with a global audience.
• Multi-language support: Offers multi-language SMS options, allowing businesses to communicate effectively with customers worldwide.

Cons

• Higher costs for international messaging: Pricing varies by country, and sending messages internationally can become expensive.
• Limited eCommerce integrations: Sakari integrates with platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce but focuses less on eCommerce than other competitors.

Pricing

Sakari follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, with costs starting at $0.03 per SMS message in the U.S. Pricing varies for international messages based on country rates.

Free trial

Sakari offers a free trial that includes $5 in messaging credits, equivalent to about 100 SMS credits. This allows users to test Sakari’s global messaging capabilities.

Top Features

• Global reach
• Flexible API

Device availability

While there are no dedicated desktop or mobile apps, Sakari provides an easy-to-use API for custom integrations.

7 things the best mass text apps have in common

Everyone promises their group messaging service or text message marketing platform is the best in the industry. And there are certainly several great ones out there.

To ensure you’re signing up for the best mass text app that’d give you a positive ROI, look out for this seven elements:

1. Affordability for SMBs. Look for an app that offers competitive pricing, and compare how many credits you get in each pricing tier.
2. Ease of use. Test the app with a free trial to make sure it’s user-friendly and easy to navigate.
3. Automation. Look for features such as autoresponders and scheduled messages to save time and respond to your contacts faster. 
4. Security. Ensure the app is secure and encrypted.
5. Personalization. Look for features that allow for personalization, such as custom fields and the ability to segment contacts. 
6. Responsive support. Search its ratings on third-party sites for “support” to see what customers have to say about the app’s customer service.
7. Analytics. Check if the app provides detailed reports and analytics so you can see if your mass text campaigns are performing.

Who can use a mass text messaging app?

Many users just need an app for personal group texting. However, business text messaging goes beyond sending and receiving SMS texts. Here’s how texting brings value to several industries.

Restaurants

Leaders in the food industry use mass text message apps to take reservations, send coupons, and inform customers about weekly specials.

Real estate agents

Top-performing real estate agents use SMS messages for lead generation. How? They create a keyword and place it on their riders. Interested buyers can text in this keyword to request more information!

Retailers and e-commerce stores

Retailers who need to drive more sales rely on texts to engage customers and move products. They do this by creating customer loyalty programs and offering exclusive discounts by SMS.

Schools

Text messages facilitate communication between schools, parents, and students. The best mass texting services make it easy to send important school alerts or host fundraisers.

Churches

Successful churches find inspiring ways to connect with their congregations. Texts allow ministries to send inspirational and devotional texts, including information about upcoming events.

These are just a few of the industries that use text messaging. Read our in-depth industry guides and handbooks to learn how mass text apps can make your message heard.

7 must-have mass texting app features

Every mass text app can send SMS messages to large groups of people at once. If you’re using text messaging for your business or organization, you probably want an app that does beyond mass texting.

Before you sign up for a texting service, make sure it can deliver to multiple recipients and has the following features:

Scheduled texts and autoresponders

Sometimes you don’t want to send a text right away. Scheduled texts let you specify a future date and time for your SMS. And with autoresponders, you can set up group texts that go out at a set period of time after someone joins your list.

Keywords

Before sending a bulk text message, you need contacts. Keywords help with that. Simply set up a word or phrase that customers can text to your number to subscribe to your SMS texts.

Lists and segments

Lists and dynamic segments let you organize your contacts and send the right messages to the right people. 

MMS messaging

A good mass text messaging app lets you send more than just SMS texts. MMS allows you to include photos, videos and other files in your messages.

Link tracking and analytics

You shouldn’t be guessing if your SMS campaigns are working. Link tracking and easy-to-understand analytics let you know if your mass text messaging app is bringing value to your business.

Custom fields

Texting should feel personal. The best mass texting service gives users the ability to include Custom Fields such as first name and last name when sending messages.

Number options

Depending on how you plan to use SMS, for mass or one-on-one messaging, you’ll want the option of selecting a phone number to fit your needs. For example, a standard 10-digit number or a memorable dedicated short code unique to your business.Use the features above as a rule of thumb to assess mass texting apps that make the cut. In some instances, you may need fewer features, and in others, you may need more. Check out everything you can do with our mass text messaging app here.

Mass text campaign examples

We’ve covered the how, the why, and the who. Now let’s review some real-life examples of companies who have seen success with a mass text message app.

All of the customers below used SimpleTexting (yes, that’s us.) You can download our app for free on the App Store or Google Play.

Delta Sonic car wash

Delta Sonic is one of the largest car wash and convenience store chains in the U.S.

They use a mass text message app to communicate with thousands of customers every week. During slow seasons, they send out text blasts about promotions and services. Their text club was so well received by customers that they grew their list from zero to tens of thousands of subscribers in just a few years.

Get all the details about how Delta Sonic uses SMS.

Honey + Thyme food delivery

Honey + Thyme is changing the way people think about food delivery services.

Their menu highlights local, in-season ingredients and changes every week. Text messages help them keep customers up-to-date on the latest items that are available to order. Read more about how they drive orders with text messages.

South Arkansas Community College

As we explained in this article, a mass text message app should do more than just send messages to lists of people.

South Arkansas Community College uses the 2-way messaging feature of SimpleTexting to connect with current and prospective students. Check out their success story to see how they use texts for recruitment and organizing campus tours.

Mass texting app FAQs

Download the best mass text message app

After working together with thousands of customers, including Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, we’ve learned exactly what makes a text message app the best.

We’re confident in our app, which is why we let anyone try it completely free for 14 days. No credit card needed.

The post Best mass texting app in 2024 appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Their reason was simple: people avoided picking up phone calls and didn’t respond to emails.

They aren’t alone in their pivot towards SMS. Organizations of all stripes and sizes are turning to business texting services to communicate with their audiences and take advantage of the 98% open rates of SMS.

It’s not just businesses that are benefiting from this shift. A full 75% of Canadians said they would consent to receive communications (“opt in”) from a brand they trust.

If you’re looking to get in on the action, we have good news for you. In this article, we explain how our SMS marketing service service works.

• Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation and SMS Marketing
• How to Start SMS Marketing in Canada
• How Canadian Businesses Use SimpleTexting
• How to Choose a Canadian Texting Service

Is SMS marketing legal in Canada?

Yes, SMS marketing is legal in Canada.

If you have a list of phone numbers, you will need to be aware of compliance requirements. That’s because Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) requires anyone sending text messages within Canada to:

• Get express consent before they send people marketing SMS messages
• Provide identification/contact information and an unsubscribe mechanism in all SMS

We always advise our customers to consult with their legal counsel to understand the details of compliance legislation and how it may affect your texting campaigns. We also encourage you to review our compliance guide for more general information about compliance.

How to start SMS marketing in Canada

It’s incredibly easy to start text marketing in Canada with SimpleTexting. You can get up and running in just four steps.

1. Sign up for a plan

At any point in your free two-week trial, you can head over to the billing page and upgrade to a paid plan. This will give you full access to our suite of SMS marketing tools and texting capabilities.

Note: You’ll need to register for a Canadian 10DLC number to send texts to Canadian numbers. After upgrading your SimpleTexting account, you can let our customer support team know that you’d like a Canadian number. If you want to send messages to both U.S. and Canadian numbers, you’ll need to register for a toll-free number.

2. Import any existing contacts

If you already have a list of contacts who you have express content to text, you can import them directly to our platform by following these instructions.

3. Build your list

Even if you have no experience with text marketing, it’s easy to collect numbers. Here are three tried-and-tested methods you can use.

SMS text-to-join keywords

An SMS keyword is a word or phrase that your customers can text to your phone number to receive future messages. Also known as text-to-join, you can set it up so that you also collect email addresses.

Web signup form

You can also have your customers subscribe via a web form on your website. With SimpleTexting’s web form, you can capture phone numbers, first names, last names, and more. To add one to your website, all you have to do is copy and paste a small piece of code.

Mobile signup widget

If you’re after 670% list growth, then our mobile signup widget is for you. 

When someone clicks on it, their phone’s native messaging app opens with your phone number and keyword prefilled.

All they have to do is click send and they’re subscribed to your messages.

4. Send your message

Once you’ve got everything set up and ready to go, it’s time to write your first promotion, update, event reminder—whatever you want, really—and then send or schedule it for later.

What are the benefits of SMS marketing for Canadian businesses?

SMS marketing is a dynamic and impactful tool for Canadian businesses, offering distinct advantages in today’s digital landscape. Its directness, efficiency, and expansive reach make it an indispensable tool in the modern marketing mix. Here are five key benefits:

1. Immediate reach and high open rates: The remarkable immediacy of SMS marketing ensures that over 90% of messages are opened and read within minutes. This rapid engagement is crucial for delivering time-sensitive information and offers.
2. Enhanced customer engagement: Personalized text messages create a more intimate communication channel with customers. This approach keeps your brand relevant and top-of-mind, fostering customer loyalty.
3. Supports multichannel marketing strategies: SMS marketing complements other marketing channels, like email, to enhance the overall effectiveness of your campaign. It provides a direct and concise way to reinforce your brand message and stay connected with your audience.
4. Effective promotion of events and offers: Use SMS to promote events, special offers, or sales. Text messaging allows your audience to receive these promotions here and now, increasing the likelihood of a positive response.
5. Building a loyal customer base: Customers demonstrate a significant interest in your brand by opting to receive your text messages. This platform is ideal for nurturing this interest into brand loyalty through exclusive offers, VIP programs, and targeted engagement.

For Canadian businesses, SMS marketing represents a direct, efficient, and highly personal way to connect with customers, enhancing brand engagement and fostering long-term customer relationships.

How Canadian businesses use SimpleTexting

Text message marketing is just one of the many ways that you can use bulk SMS.

Here’s a simple table that covers a small portion of all the different types of SMS campaigns businesses send daily.

It’s worth calling out here that businesses can do more than send text blasts. You can use our SMS chat to have two-way conversations and:

• Provide text-based customer service
• Text 1-on-1 with sales leads
• Set up a text-an-expert hotline

If you want to see some real-world examples of the above use cases, we recommend you check out our success stories.

How to choose a Canadian texting service

If you’re only starting to research text messaging services in Canada – and not ready to sign up for a free trial – then here are a few things to look for in a text messaging service. (Beyond the ability to send and receive text messages.)

• A lot of text messaging platforms allow you to either text 1-on-1 with customers or send bulk texts. You want a platform like SimpleTexting that will enable you to do both. It gives you the flexibility to expand the ways you deploy texting.
• Do you need to integrate with other platforms or send automated text messages? If so, you’ll want a service that offers multiple SMS integrations.
• Businesses need to be careful of services that limit the number of keywords and contacts they can have. (We don’t limit either.)
• You’ll need a text messaging service that has a mobile app so that you don’t need to be in front of a computer to manage texts.

The final consideration is the pricing structure of a Canadian texting service. The per-message price is a huge factor. It’s also worth understanding if credits roll over from one month to the next.

Pricing for SMS marketing in Canada

The cost for all of our pricing plans are the same for Canadian users, except that we have them listed in USD, so they will be charged differently in CAD.

Local number carrier fees

The current fees for SMS and MMS sent to devices on Canadian wireless plans are listed below. The fees below are listed in CAD, but will be charged in U.S. dollars (based on a trailing-average CAD to USD exchange rate). All rates are subject to change.

Toll-free carrier fees

In early 2021, Canadian carriers applied surcharges on outgoing messages to Canadian phone numbers from toll-free numbers.

The current Canadian fees for SMS are below; MMS is passed through at twice this cost. Fees are charged in U.S. dollars (based on a trailing-average CAD to USD exchange rate).

All rates are subject to change.

Dedicated short code pricing

For Canadian users, dedicated short codes come with a $4500 app fee and $12k/year for leasing and hosting.

Which Canadian wireless carriers does SimpleTexting support?

SimpleTexting supports many of Canada’s most widely used wireless carriers. Check out the full list.

Toll-free carriers

• Acrovoice
• SaskTel Mobility
• Fibernetics
• MTS Mobility
• Public Mobile
• Telcentris
• MiKE
• Txtwire
• Cityfone
• Mobilicity
• Rogers Wireless
• Telebec Mobilite
• Videotron
• ISP Telecom
• Fongo
• Thunderbay
• Chatr
• Les.net
• Voxbone
• NorthernTel Mobility 
• Koodo Mobile
• K-Net Services
• Gogii
• Bell Mobility
• GoogleVoice
• Northwestel
• Text Me!
• Ice Wireless
• Solo Mobile
• Fido 
• Eastlink
• Line2
• Telus
• Virgin Mobile

Local number carriers

• Fibernetics
• Bell Intl
• Bell Mobility
• Eastlink, Inc.
• Execulink
• Fongo – Canada
• Genband
• Freedom Mobile, Inc
• Globalstar
• Globalstar Spot 4
• Textplus – Iristel
• Google Pn
• Google Thinktel
• Ice Wireless
• Imimobile
• Isp Telecom
• K-Net Services
• Les.Net
• Les.Net – Iristel
• Fido
• Mts Mobility
• Rogers Wireless
• Sasktel
• Ssi Micro Ltd
• Telecom Na Pri Can
• Telus Mobility
• Text Me
• Videotron
• Wightman
• Xplornet Communications Inc

Get started with text marketing

If you have more questions, you can also request or watch a demo. Alternatively, you can text or call us at (866) 450-4185 or use the chat at the bottom of your screen.

The post Canadian texting service: How to reach your customers with business texting and SMS marketing appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Or, maybe you just want to organize a surprise party for your friend, and using the BCC function allows you to invite guests discreetly without revealing their identities to each other! Luckily, BCC text messages are a simple solution. With the right tools, you can send BCC text messages without any hassle or worry.

In this guide, we cover how to send texts to multiple contacts without creating a group message using an iPhone or an Android device.

For businesses, a BCC text messaging app like SimpleTexting will help you easily organize your communications and stay compliant with SMS regulations.

I’ll show you how to send BCC texts using all three methods.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is a BCC Text?
• How to Send a BCC Text
• Send a BCC Text on iPhone and Android
• BCC Text Message FAQs

What Is a BCC Text?

A BCC text message, also known as a mass text or a blind group text, is an SMS message that goes out to a group of contacts where only the sender can see recipients’ phone numbers and replies.

BCC stands for blind carbon copy. According to Merriam-Webster, “This meaning comes from the use of carbon paper, which was used to make copies of documents by pressing pigment onto an additional sheet of paper underneath. ‘Blind carbon copies’ were copies that didn’t let the recipient know it was a copy.”

For BCC text messages, that means:

• No giant threads where everyone sees the replies.
• No phone numbers shared with the whole group.

It’s like a group text message without reply all — recipients can’t see each other’s replies or phone numbers, and you respond to questions and comments one-on-one.

Did you know you can personalize BCC texts? If you need to send your BCC text to a group of 1,000 people, you can make each one feel like it was sent directly to them by adding custom fields for their name. We’ll cover how in the next section.

How to Send a Group Blind Text or BCC Text

To send a BCC text message, you’ll need a bulk messaging app. Want to test one out? Sign up for a 14-day trial of SimpleTexting (completely free, and no credit card needed). 

If you like what you see after your two-week trial, sign up for a paid plan (starting at $29/month) to get full access to the features I mention in this tutorial.

Note: For now, you can follow along with the steps below and upload up to 50 contacts. Any messages you send will start with “SimpleTexting:”, but the watermark goes away after upgrading your account.

Check out the video walkthrough and written guide

The video above covers exactly how to send a blind group text. Here are the key steps:

1. Gather Your List of Phone Numbers

Get your list of phone numbers together in a spreadsheet and add a header row to the top that says, “Phone Numbers.” Add additional rows for details like your contacts’ first names if you plan to personalize your texts.

Please note that just because you have a list of phone numbers, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear to start sending BCC text messages to them.

You must follow the rules set out by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). That means obtaining express written consent (a legalese word for written permission) before a single message goes out the door.

This may sound intimidating, but our SMS compliance guide breaks down the terms you need to know and will point you toward the right resources.

2. Import Your List

Go to Contacts on the left-hand side of your SimpleTexting dashboard. Click Add contacts then follow the prompts: Drag and drop a spreadsheet list, and create a new list. For example, you may name the list “Employees.” Click Next.

After that, just map the fields you want to import and click Next. Confirm your import and agree to the terms and conditions, then click Import.

3. Write Your BCC Text Message

Go to Campaigns on the left side of your dashboard. Select New. Give your message a name for your reference, then type out your group blind text message.

4. Add a Personalized Custom Field to Your Message (Optional)

Because your message will go out to contacts individually, you can choose to personalize each one with your contacts’ information. 

For example, if you add %%firstname%% to the beginning of your text message, it will appear on your contacts’ phones with their first names.

5. Schedule Your Message or Send It Now

You can select a specific time and date for your BCC text message to go out or send it immediately. Because our BCC text app will send the message to each person individually, replies will only go to you, the sender.

Send a BCC Text Message on iPhone and Android

We covered how to text from your computer above, but you can also send a BCC text message from your iPhone or Android with the SimpleTexting mobile app. 

If a BCC text message app isn’t for you, you can send blind group texts from your personal phone.

Can you BCC text messages on iPhone?

Yes, you can send BCC texts from your iPhone to up to 25 recipients. Here’s a way to send a group text without showing all recipients:

1. Go to Settings > Messages. Toggle the iMessage and Group Messaging settings off. 
2. From your text inbox, tap the new message button and add your contacts in the “To” field.
3. Send the message. You’ll receive replies as individual messages in your inbox.

Can you BCC text messages on Android?

You can send BCC texts on an Android device, but you’ll need to download Google’s Messages app first.

1. In the Messages app, tap More Options (three vertical dots on the top right) and navigate to Settings > Advanced.
2. Go to Group messaging, and then select “Send an SMS reply to all recipients and get individual replies (mass text)”.
3. Send a group text as you normally would.

BCC Text Message FAQs

Learn More About Group Texting Services with SimpleTexting

If you engage in SMS marketing for your business or organizational strategy, we highly recommend investing in a group texting service.

These services can help keep your text marketing running smoothly and fully organized. They’re also great for time-sensitive messaging like emergency text alerts or SMS marketing messages.

SimpleTexting provides powerful text messaging services for businesses. Try a 14-day trial for free today, no card required.

This piece was originally published January 2021. It was refreshed in March 2023, and most recently in June 2023. Alfredo Salkeld contributed to this piece.

The post BCC text messages: How to send a group text without sharing recipients’ phone numbers appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

We’ve shared some ideas before on how to write SMS messages for marketing.

While these tips are still relevant, we recognize the added challenge of texting a lead with a call to action that asks them to hand over their money.

It may even seem contradictory to write your sales pitch like you’re talking to a friend, considering many people purposefully avoid asking friends for cash.

The following list of sample texts is our solution for the pesky tone, timing, and topic questions that arise when you write and send a sales message.

1. First touch

A first touch text is, well, your first impression when speaking to a contact. That makes it extra important in the overall customer interaction cycle. 

Your first touch text should set expectations on what customers will receive from you, introduce your brand voice, and invite the customer to contact you with questions or concerns. 

Note: As you can see, all these templates include a brand name. This is an SMS industry compliance requirement, so don’t forget to fill in the name of your organization. 

• Hi Trish, this is Amy from LoomLily. Thanks for joining our text alerts! As you explore our offerings, reply to this text with any questions you may have.
• Hello Brady! Peter from Haven Hill here. Thrilled to have you on board! Have you had a chance to dive into our services? I’m here to guide you and answer any questions.
• Whisper Wares: Thanks for joining our community, Bev! Have a blast checking out what we offer. Let me know which products you’re most interested in.
• Hey! It’s Linda at Spire Co. Welcome aboard! We’re excited you’ve joined us. I’m only a text message away if you have questions.
• Hello Joan, this is Jim reaching out from Ambrose Essentials. Welcome to our text family! Keep an eye on your inbox for text-only coupons and early access to new products and events. 
• Wag Pet Products: Hey Annie, it’s Russ from Wag! I wanted to welcome you to our text program. Which of our products caught your eye?
• New Leaf Skincare: Thanks for joining our text club! We’ll share exclusive deals and discounts right here.
• Mountaineer Sports: Hi Barb, Lisa from Mountaineer. I wanted to reach out and personally thank you for signing up for our text club. Any questions as you look through our catalog?
• Arctic Inc: Tina, welcome to the Arctic Club texting list. Here, we’ll share lineups, specials, and events with you each month.
• Armstrong and Sons: Hi Kryss! I wanted to introduce myself, I’m Pete. Just dropping in to let you know I’m a real person, not a robot, and I’m here to answer any of your questions.
• Pump Up Fitness: Jane, I wanted to drop in and see if you had any questions about your new gym membership. I’ll be here if you need anything!
• Spectrum Gear: Josh, thank you for sharing your number with the Spectrum team. Please reply with Yes if this is the best way to reach you!
• EZ Financial: Laura, you can text us at any time, but we wanted to share a link to our help center in case you need assistance outside business hours! [link]
• Ellison Security: Hi Kelly, I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Bea and I’ll be your dedicated sales rep. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything! 
• TFR Warehouse: We want to get to know you! Please reply with the type of messages you’d like to receive from us.

2. Cold touch

Cold leads are leads that have dropped off from communicating with you or using your service, and texting offers you a great way to re-establish contact and move them (gently) toward a sale.

• Stellar Health: Hey Andy! Mia here. We’ve missed you! I’d love to catch you up on some exciting new updates. Ready to reconnect?
• Hi Jean, it’s Jake from ReadyQuill. We haven’t connected lately. Check out our latest products at [link] and take 10% off your next order. 
• Nebula Tech: Long time no see, Jenny! Let’s reconnect and talk about some of the new packages we offer. Are you interested?
• Cozy Crafts: Hi Tammy! We’ve been crafting some amazing things. Let’s reconnect and discuss how we can weave more magic into your business.
• Hello Brett! John from Tranquil Oils. I noticed it’s been some time since we chatted. I’d love to catch up and see how we can continue making a positive impact. Ready to reconnect?
• Leafland Auto: Hey Julie, I haven’t heard from you in a while, so I wanted to check in. Is there anything I can help you with?
• Hi Mel, Chris here from Mainframe. I wanted to reach out and verify that this is still the best number to reach you at.
• Atlas Sports: Missy, it’s been a little while since we first spoke, so I wanted to share our recent blog detailing anything you missed since you left! [link]
• StraightShot Security: Jamie, I just wanted to circle back and see if you received my last text. Your time is valuable, so I want to ensure I share the most useful resources.
• ANH Consulting: Julia, I just took a look at your website, looks great! I think our sales eBook could really help you with contacting leads [link].
• Frank CPA’s: Ashley, we just published a case study that I think you’d find interesting. Here it is if you want to have a look! [link]
• Score Marketing: Nick, we’d love to invite you to our free leadership webinar on 7/1 at 12 p.m. EST. Feel free to shoot us a text for more info!
• Ann’s Boutique: A bit has changed since you last visited, Kelsie. In case you’d like to stop by, we’re now open until 9 p.m. every night!
• AmRecords: Paul, we haven’t spoken in a while, so I wanted to see if there was anyone else on our team I could connect you with who may better address your needs.
• Cam here from ShutterInc. I wanted to reach out and see if there was anything I could do for you while you decide if we’re the right fit for your needs.
• Kira, I wanted to personally reach out and invite you to start your free trial with Cadence Booking. 2 weeks, no credit cards or contracts! [link]
• TFH Warehouse: Welcome to your free trial, Elena! I’m here if you have any questions.
• AnyTech: Jake, I noticed you haven’t been active on your trial yet. Is there something I can help you with to get started?
• Lisa, I wanted to reach out with a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your ElloFix free trial. Here’s a link to a quick video: [link]
• Cronin Solutions: Alexa, you’re halfway through your trial and I’d love any feedback you may have for us. Feel free to reply directly to this message!
• QuikTaxes: Mo, just a reminder that your trial ends in 2 days!
• Hi Jackson! With your A+ Education trial coming to a close, I’d love to hear your feedback. Feel free to book some time on my calendar to connect. [link]
• Apex Marketing: Hi Carla, with your trial ending tomorrow, I wanted to share some options if you’d like to move forward with us! [link]
• JewelClub: Thank you for completing your trial. I noticed you didn’t upgrade your service. Would you mind sharing why?
• EduQuest: Hi Brandon, before you go, I’d love to have 5 minutes of your time to find out if there’s anything we can do to keep you!
• Hi Trisha, thanks for completing our free trial! Know anyone else who might want to try StudySecret? Send us their contact information and we’ll offer you 50% off your first month.

3. Warm touch

Keeping up your rapport with warm leads is important for maintaining the relationship, whether they’re a prospect or a future partner. These texts are a friendly way to stay top-of-mind.

• IdeaB0x: Hi Dave, I wanted to thank you for liking our most recent blog post. Let me know if there’s anything else we can share with you!
• Elm Realty: It was great running into you today, Garrett. I’d love to connect and continue the conversation. Is there a time that works for you?
• Erin, this is Meg from SafeScape. Thank you for reaching out, what can I help you with today?
• Cami, I saw on LinkedIn that you’re looking for a wholesaler. I’d love to share what SNA Supply can offer you!
• Hi Robbie, Jane here from Cane Co. You knocked it out of the park at the summit today. I’d love to grab a coffee and share some thoughts with you!
• Beks, I found your blog on text marketing, great stuff. Have you considered partnering with an SMS provider like ShareText?
• OnPoint Solutions: Victor, I got your note asking for more info on our pricing. Here’s a quick sheet to get you started! [link]
• John, last time we talked you mentioned needing new HR software. Have you found a provider yet? I’d love to discuss some of TeamTrust’s options.
• New Heights SMS: Hi Cory, I noticed you recently downloaded our Text Marketing for Beginners eBook. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
• We miss you! It’s been two years since you joined the Globo Gym fam. What can we do to get you back in the center?
• Beauty Space: For a limited time we’re offering an extra 50% off all sale items. Act now, once they’re gone they’re gone! [link]
• Hey there newbie! As a thank you for joining the Ace Shop team, we’d love to offer you 10% off any one item. Enter code NEW10 at checkout!
• Tyra, we’d love to see you again. We can offer you 25% off your first month off if you rejoin Axis Fitness by the 25th!
• Emerson Essentials:‘Tis the season to be jolly. Enjoy an extra 15% off sale items all month long. Shop now: [link]
• Gadgets and Gear: The Cyber Monday BOGO deal you’ve been waiting for is here. Shop til you drop! [link]
• ApparelPlex: This holiday season we want to share the good. For every $10 spent we’ll donate $1 to the charity of your choice!
• The Snack Stop: Do you love free money? Refer a friend to our site and enjoy a $5 credit to your next order. It’s as close as you can get to free!
• Now Fashion: Giveaway alert! Respond back with your favorite piece from the latest collection and why you love it for a chance to win it!
• We need your help. Respond with what artist you’d like RecordNote to bring to the Fillmore for a chance to win free tickets to July’s headliner!
• Sami’s Gifts: Limited-time offer! Early bird pricing is available for the next 20 people on the site [link]

4. Call/meeting request

We obviously love and recommend texting, but sometimes a deal or goal just requires a face-to-face or phone conversation. Reach out with a quick message to schedule your meeting. 

• Hey Amos, it’s Ella from Journey Marketing. Excited to learn more about your needs and explore how we can assist you. Can we schedule a quick discovery call this week?
• Hi Nancy, Jake here from Scale Experts. Your project caught our eye, and we’d love to offer our expertise. Could we arrange a consultation meeting to discuss your goals and challenges further?
• Hello Andrew, Mia at Insight Systems. I’d love to showcase how our solutions align with your needs. Can we set up a demo to illustrate the impact on your business? Let me know your availability.
• Greetings Avery, Lily from Amity Investors. I’ve prepared a tailored proposal for you. Can we meet to discuss details and address any questions you may have?
• Hi Alexis, it’s Max from Align. Delighted to provide you with a detailed quote for services. Let’s schedule a meeting to go over the specifics and make sure it fits your requirements. What time works for you?
• Ashlawn Marketing: Hi Ricky, when you’re back in the office please give me a call. I’d love to connect!
• Nomad SMS: Kate, when you have a moment, would you book a time on my calendar? I’d love to chat about your upgrade options! [link]
• James, this is Emily from First Point Financial. I’d love to grab some time on your calendar to pitch you a few ideas. What time works best for you?
• SalesCanvas: Thank you for meeting with me today, Rachel. How would you like to approach the next steps?
• Rustic Market: Kim, thanks for filling out our partnership interest indicator. What did you have in mind?
• Hi Ben, this is Mandy from CoffeeMate. I’d love to schedule a call to get a better idea of how we can help fulfill your office needs!
• WanderPoint: Adam, it was so nice to meet you at the session today. I’d love to grab a coffee and hear your thoughts, are you free anytime this week?
• Hi AJ, it’s Adrian from Vignette Systems. Your colleague Freida shared your contact info. She mentioned you were interested in our merchandising services. I’d love to learn more!
• PartyPoint Events: Hey Joseph, has your team decided on an event space yet? Let me know and I’d be happy to start getting you set up.

5. Reminders and follow-ups

Your customers are busy, and they can easily forget to click “Check Out” or give you their feedback. 

Reminder texts can decrease your lost revenue from abandoned carts and ensure that you get the reviews and feedback you need. 

• Hi Julie, this is Ella from CloudGrove. Friendly reminder to come back and complete your purchase before our flash sale ends!
• Hello RJ, Max from Pinnacle Apparel. Don’t forget to grab the items from your wishlist before they sell out!
• AimHigh Events: Hello Linda, since we’ve lost contact following my last text, I’m assuming something has come up.
• Greetings Rob, Lily from NebulaNest. Friendly heads up that the deadline for your personalized proposal is approaching. Let’s make sure we meet your expectations. 
• Hi Carl, it’s Alex from Tranquil Synthetics. I enjoyed our discovery call. Eager to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation. When’s a good time for our next chat?
• Hello Frank, Max here from IM Group. I hope you found our demo insightful. Any further questions or details you’d like to explore? Let’s discuss further at your convenience.
• Hey Ida, it’s Jamie at Orion Systems. Thanks for the insightful consultation. I’m excited about our potential collaboration. Can we schedule a follow-up to dive deeper into the details?
• Hi Brandon, Jake from ABC Marketing. I hope you received our proposal. Eager to discuss any questions or adjustments you might have. When’s a good time for you to connect?
• Greetings Ayla, it’s Lily from GlistenGrove. I sent over the quote for your consideration. Any adjustments needed? Let’s connect soon to ensure it aligns with your requirements.
• Secure Rentals: Iris, since I haven’t heard back from you following our discussion, I assume your priorities have changed.
• NewsNow: Hey Angela, your payment is coming up in a few days. Did you know you could save $80 by upgrading to an annual plan?
• TravelPlush: Hi Ronnie! Just a reminder that your reservation with us is coming up next week. Would you like to upgrade your accommodations for $100?
• Wear Well: How did you like your purchase? Please reply with a rating from 1-5!
• Home Heroes: We hope you’re enjoying your Dyson vacuum. Most people also purchase these vacuum bags along with it if you’re interested! [link]
• Design Craze: Your cart is lonely! We held your items for you, click here to complete your purchase [link].
• PlantEats: Do you like our Beyond Burger? If so, you have to try our new Beyond Nuggets!
• Pop Wear: Hello Silas, just a friendly reminder to renew your subscription with us next month. We’re here if you have any questions!
• Dream Kitchen: Elsa, we hope you’re loving your new air fryer. If you have a moment to leave us a review, we would be so appreciative! [link]
• Fullain: Hey Lisa! How much are you loving your new skincare products? Be sure to tag us on Instagram @Fullain for a chance to be featured as our beauty guru of the week!
• Every Inc: Ruby, we want to make sure we’re sending you the best offers. Update your product preferences on your profile so we can be sure!

6. Relationship building and lead nurturing

Texts are a fast, convenient way to send important information. Send out any details your contacts might want to know to make a decision on buying from you.

• The Everything Store: We’re happy to share that we now carry Whirlpool appliances. Come in and check out the newest pieces today!
• HomeFree: Did you know annual pest control can increase the resale value of your house by 15%? Book your treatment today. [link]
• Back in Time Apparel: Have you seen our latest spring drop? Trust us, you don’t want to miss these vintage looks.
• EasySMS: James, we wanted to share our latest guide about SMS for construction workers. Let us know if you find it helpful! [link]
• Did you hear the news? SimpleTexting was recently named Top 10 Tech Companies in North America! We couldn’t have done it without you.
• Can you believe how gas prices have risen? Learn how to cut down the cost of your commute with the Blue Line. [link]
• Better Buys: We’ve recently partnered with Saint Jude to donate a portion of the proceeds from this month to their research facility. Shop now and help us reach our goal of $25,000!
• The Bakery Blog: Lou, I just wanted to check in and see how your trip to Paris was. Were you able to check out that bakery I mentioned?
• Happy Birthday Amy! From the Go Mamma team to you, wishing you the happiest day
• Career Systems: Happy work-a-versary Nina. You go!
• Nadia, congratulations on your recent engagement. Sharing well wishes on behalf of the ladies at You Salon! XO – Kaylee
• Hey Lucy! Isla at 100Forward here. I noticed your organization’s mention in Fortune magazine! I just wanted to pass along my congratulations.
• Local Wholesale: Congratulations on your new job! Wishing you all the best. If you find yourself in need of a new paper supplier, we’re always one text away!
• Hey Judy! It’s Mina from H&J Marketing. I wanted to drop in and see how your presentation went.
• Hey Arick! It’s Rae at Primrose Place Law. I came across your latest article on fracking. I just wanted to let you know it was incredibly insightful. Already shared it with a few colleagues!
• FYI Social Media: Congratulations on your promotion, Rufus! You’re the boss…literally!
• It’s never a bad time to say thank you. On behalf of the Supreme Host Team, I want to thank you for being a loyal customer!
• Beyond Inc: Wendy, we thought you might find this webinar useful. Here’s the recording for you to view at your leisure! [link]
• BetterAuto will be at the Orlando winter car show, will you? It’s not too late to buy your ticket! [link]
• Ready for some good news? You’re one of Anthro’s top customers! Join our exclusive Facebook page to learn about the perks.

7. Deals, discounts, and exclusive offers

Everyone likes to feel like they’re getting an exceptional special deal, and you can double down on that desire with text-specific sales and deals. 

This makes your text program more attractive to potential contacts and keeps current ones tuned in for the next unmissable perk.

• Good Pet Supply: Flash sale! BOGO on all pet products for the next hour! Run, don’t walk to the site.
• BestFriend Company: Since you purchased our reusable waste bags, here’s a coupon code for your next refill. Thanks for doing good for Mother Earth! [link]
• RealRecipes: As a special thank you for being a loyal customer for 5 years, we’ll be sending you a special gift in the mail. Keep your eyes peeled.
• Flash Receipts: Congrats on 500 loyalty points! Go to your dashboard now to collect your reward.
• Amy & Darcy: Vote on our latest product review and you could win a prize package! Check it out on our Facebook page. [link]
• Mama’s Haven: Thanks for liking us on Facebook! Be sure to turn on post notifications so you don’t miss our monthly giveaways.
• Bless Your Home: We recently came across this deal and wanted to pass it along. Happy shopping! [link]
• Sustainable Home Products: Hey Emily! Have you seen the latest news regarding LED bulbs? If you haven’t already, now is the best time to make a switch!
• For You Shoes: Our new line drops on Friday and we want you to be the first to shop it. Use this link to access the collection one hour earlier than the general public! [link]
• ZenScents: A buy-one-get-one offer you don’t want to miss. 2 candles for the price of 1. Get them now before they’re gone [link].
• Hey GreenLife family! We wanted to thank you all for being such stellar ambassadors. As a small token, here’s a link to pick some free merch! [link]
• To our UpWear text club, we’re having a VIP shopping event in the store just for you this Friday after closing. Reply to RSVP!
• Scrappy Crafters: We value all of your feedback, and we’d like to know how we’re doing. If you have a moment to take this survey we would appreciate it! [link]
• This month we at Harmony Hair want to recognize our top-tier customers. If you’re receiving this text, you’re one of them! Click here to learn more about what that means for you [link]
• Joy Home supply customer appreciation week is here. Check out our calendar of events here: [link]
• Hello everyone! I’m here to share some important You & Lou company updates. Head to our latest Instagram post to read about our new in-store policies.
• Little Love Products: Are you interested in beta testing our new products? Fill out this interest indicator and we’ll be in touch! [link]
• The Better Teaching Group: Can we be doing anything better for you all as our VIP customers? Reply to this text to let us know!
• Service update: We will be closing all Quirks and Crafts stores in observance of the demonstrations in our city today. We stand with this community! Normal hours will resume tomorrow.
• Echo Home & Body stores will be closed today but we invite you all to shop online! We’re offering free 2-day shipping for the inconvenience #supportsmallbiz

How to write a sales text message

By now, you may have been able to pick up some of the trends in these business texting templates, but to save you some time and effort, here’s an easy recipe for a can’t-miss sales text message. 

As you start crafting your message, ask yourself a few key questions: 

• What is the job of the text message?
• Who is receiving this message? What’s their current relationship to your brand? 
• Is it clear to your subscribers why you’re texting them?
• What goal is the recipient trying to achieve? 
• What action do you want your subscribers to take after reading the message? 

To put it all together, I’ll imagine I’m an e-commerce craft store owner letting my text club know about a flash sale I’m holding on sewing supplies. 

First, I’ll answer my own questions:

• What is the job of the text message? 
• To generate sales during my flash sale event.
• Who is receiving this message? What’s their current relationship to your brand? 
• These are text club subscribers who have made purchases with me before and have subscribed to my messages for deals and insider info.
• Is it clear to your subscribers why you’re texting them? 
• Yes, as long as I mention the details of the flash sale and incentivize them to shop.
• What goal is the recipient trying to achieve? 
• Saving money on their favorite products. 
• What action do you want your subscribers to take after reading the message? 
• Visit the store website to make a purchase. 

With all that in mind, my text looks like this:

DIY Nook: Don’t tell…from 12/7 to 12/8, all sewing supplies will be up to 80% off. Text club VIPs can use code DIYVIP23 for an extra 10% off at [link]

Sales texting best practices

I hope these sales text templates have given you some inspiration as you attract contacts and close deals. 

Before you hit “Send,” though, there are a few important best practices to keep in mind.

• Be sure you have express consent to text your contacts. That means no buying phone numbers to text, and you should use opt-in methods like keywords and web forms to stay compliant with texting laws and regulations. Always include a clear way to opt out of your texts.
• Be sure what you’re sending is intentional and valuable. Focus on texting helpful tips and opportunities your contacts will want to take advantage of, and avoid spammy “ACT NOW” language.
• Keep your texts short. Whether you’re using 160-character SMS messages or 1600-character MMS formats, texts are best when they’re brief and to the point. Stick to the important details.
• Personalize your texts. Did you know that 72% of consumers report that they will only interact with marketing messages if those messages are personalized to their specific interests? Personalization pays (literally).

The post 7 sales text message examples that will help you close deals [plus 100+ templates to copy/paste] appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

With businesses that implement SMS marketing being 683% more likely to see digital marketing success, it’s no wonder that they’re growing increasingly interested in this marketing tactic.

Most marketers and business owners don’t doubt the effectiveness of SMS. The question they want the answer to is: how much does it cost to send SMS text messages?

Here’s how to evaluate the cost of SMS marketing and outline what kind of ROI you can expect.

What is SMS marketing?

Before going any further, it’s important to understand what SMS marketing is. SMS marketing, or Short Service Message marketing, involves sending targeted text messages to your audience.

SMS marketing is often used interchangeably with text message marketing. While SMS refers to short text messages of 160 characters or fewer, text message marketing includes Multimedia Message Service, which is simply messages that are greater than 160 characters and those that include rich media like images, videos, PDFs, and other file types.

SMS marketing can be used across several industries to send special offers and promotions, emergency alerts, staff communication, daily text message updates, sweepstakes, and more.

If you’d like to learn more about how businesses are using SMS marketing, we recommend reading through our success stories.

How much does SMS marketing cost?

• Affordable SMS marketing messages cost between $0.01 to $0.05 per message sent.
• Many SMS marketing services sell message bundles, like how SimpleTexting sells 500 credits for $29 per month.
• MMS messages typically cost a little more than SMS. At SimpleTexting, SMS messages cost 1 credit and MMS messages cost 3 credits.
• Some text marketing providers charge for SMS keywords. Unlimited text-to-join keywords are included in the pricing at SimpleTexting — we do not charge you extra for using them.
• Some texting services charge you for incoming text messages. SimpleTexting does not charge you when someone sends an SMS message to your number — incoming SMS messages are free with SimpleTexting. Incoming MMS messages cost 1 credit each.
• Your phone number may also be a cost of SMS marketing. Toll-free numbers are free with SimpleTexting, while local numbers are $10 per month and require a one-time $4 wireless carrier registration fee. Dedicated short codes are another option which can range from $1,000-$1,500 per month.
• Providers like SimpleTexting offer discounts when you purchase annually instead of monthly. SimpleTexting provides a 20% discount for those who purchase annually.

When it comes to SMS marketing, it’s only natural to wonder about the costs involved. Although the answer isn’t a straightforward one-size-fits-all figure, we can break it down to help you understand what you might be spending with a mass SMS platform.

Many elements contribute to the overall expense. Initially, you’ll encounter a baseline cost per text, generally ranging from $0.01 to $0.05 for SMS messages. If you want to send more dynamic content through MMS, expect a slight upcharge. International texting fees can also push the rate to anywhere between $0.25 to $0.50 per message.

Instead of billing you for each individual text, many service providers offer bundles with a set number of message credits. These credits, applicable for SMS and MMS, help businesses predict and manage their expenses effectively. These bundles often vary and allow you to pick one that aligns with your anticipated messaging volume and business goals.

Beyond just sending messages, SMS marketing often incorporates the use of keywords. Keywords are specific terms that customers can text to opt-in for communications from your brand. Some plans include a predefined set of keywords, while others allow you to add more a la carte, adding another layer to the cost structure.

For an additional cost, some platforms even come with an extra suite of features, ranging from API access for deeper software integration to advanced list-building tools and analytics, offering a more holistic marketing approach.

Grasping the complete cost of SMS marketing requires a holistic approach. Consider the per-text charges, the allocation of message credits, the cost or inclusion of keywords, and the availability of extra features.

Each factor will vary depending on the provider, so it’s worth shopping around to find the plan that best suits your needs and budget.

How much does SMS marketing cost with SimpleTexting?

For businesses looking for flexible and comprehensive pricing options, SimpleTexting provides plans starting at just $29 for 500 text credits. With tiered pricing that scales with your needs, a variety of keyword options, and no contracts, it’s a solid choice for businesses of all sizes.

• No charge for incoming SMS messages (and just 1 credit for MMS)
• Unlimited keywords included in your base plan
• Access to all features with any tier plan you choose
• Remaining monthly credits roll over until the end of the following month

Determining the cost of sending an SMS text

First, let’s look at the cost of sending individual SMS text messages. The price can vary depending on your plan and how many texts you’re sending.

With SimpleTexting, our plans start at just $29 for 500 text credits with a toll-free number. Alternatively, you can opt for a local number at $39 with a one-time $4 wireless carrier registration fee.

Each SMS message you send costs one credit, so if you sent 500 that would be $0.058 per SMS message. But don’t panic if you go over your limit; our extra credits are an affordable 5.5 cents each.

Formula:

Cost of text = spend / # messages sent

The flexibility of your plan

Unlike some platforms, SimpleTexting offers flexible options to meet your needs. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan as you see fit, and there are no contracts to tie you down.

We make it easy to adapt your SMS marketing efforts in line with your business goals and customer engagement levels.

Keywords and their costs

Unlike other providers, you get unlimited keywords with SimpleTexting as part of any plan.

Keywords play a significant role in SMS marketing. They allow your customers to opt-in to your messages, usually by texting a specific word to a number.

For instance, you might invite customers to text “WINTER25” to your business number to get 25% off your winter collection.

Additional features

SMS marketing is not just about sending text messages and keywords. Some SMS marketing platforms even offer API access and advanced list growth tools.

SimpleTexting provides tiered pricing plans, each offering a unique set of features designed to meet different needs, from small businesses to large enterprises.

How to evaluate the cost of an SMS marketing platform

Here are the six questions you need to ask when evaluating a mass text messaging service on cost.

1. What is the per-message rate?

Most SMS marketing solutions’ pricing is based on purchasing a certain amount of messages that you can then send on a monthly or annual basis.

You can check out our per-message rates on our pricing page. Like most providers, the more messages you send, the cheaper each message will be.

And before you ask, no, you don’t get charged for receiving SMS messages with our service.

2. Is there an unlimited text messaging plan?

If a platform offers you an unlimited text marketing plan, there’s a catch typically involving a limit on the number of contacts you can have.

That’s because SMS aggregators charge SMS providers like SimpleTexting a price per message. 

If a service says that all of its customers send as many messages as they want without any limits, they’d quickly go out of business. 

3. Is there a platform fee?

We don’t charge any flat platform fee at SimpleTexting–our pricing is based on the volume of messages you send. 

4. What level of service is on offer?

If you’re going to buy a car, the price might be the first thing you’re going to ask about to ensure it’s within your budget. But you don’t stop there. You’ll ask about the number of miles, the engine, and so on.

That’s because if the brakes don’t work, it doesn’t start, and the windscreen is badly chipped––it’s not much use to you no matter how cheap it is.

The same is true for your text messaging service. For example, if you need to send emergency text alerts, you want to know your service offers quality customer service. 

There are also other factors like ease of use. Often when a platform is at the very bottom of the market in terms of price, it’s because there’s been little to no investment in the user experience or functionality. 

The best way to put a value on these “intangibles” is to read reviews on third-party websites like G2 Crowd and Capterra. If they are overwhelmingly positive, it’ll be clear customers feel like they’re getting value for money.

5. Can you upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your plan easily? 

It’s worth making sure that your SMS marketing services’ monthly plans have no contracts or hidden fees. You’ll also want to be able to freely upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. With SimpleTexting, you can do all three right from your account. 

In our quest to give customers as much flexibility as possible, we let them hold onto unused credits. Any credits they don’t use will roll over until the end of the following month.

6. Is there a discount for annual plans?

We offer a 20% discount on our yearly plans and often SMS marketing solutions will offer an annual discount. It’s worth considering if you’re looking to save money in the long term. 

The ROI of SMS marketing

You’ve determined your plan amount, and now you’re wondering what kind of return you can expect.

Of course, how you measure ROI will determine what you’re trying to achieve. But to give you an idea, here are a few examples of what others have achieved:

• Toroe Eyewear generated a 156x ROI
• Global technology firm, CDW, saved 4,200 hours for its recruitment team
• Year Round Brown increased revenue by 20%

The open rate of SMS messages is 98%, the click-through rate of texts is 36%, and the conversion rate of SMS is 29%. 

If you’re using it to save time, the average response time for a text message is only 90 seconds, and the response rate is 7.5x higher than email.

The best way to determine your potential ROI is to apply these metrics to whatever you want to use SMS marketing to achieve.

How do you calculate your SMS marketing ROI?

Calculating the return on investment (ROI) for your SMS marketing efforts is more an art than a strict science. That’s because different businesses have unique goals, and the metrics that matter most can vary widely.

For example, you might focus on the click-through rate (CTR), which measures how many people clicked a link in your SMS message relative to the total number of recipients. Meanwhile, another business could look at the conversion rate to see how many clicks actually resulted in sales or other desired actions.

Another metric to consider is the cost per subscriber. Cost per subscriber accounts for the amount you spend on the campaign and divides it by the number of subscribers you have. Knowing this figure can give you an idea of how much you spend per subscriber, which is crucial for evaluating the financial feasibility of your campaign.

In other words, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on your business objectives—whether that’s driving sales, increasing engagement, or other goals—you’ll need to weigh these metrics differently.

Taking a multi-faceted approach to measuring your campaign’s effectiveness, from CTRs and conversion rates to cost per subscriber, will help you gain a well-rounded view that can help guide future SMS marketing efforts.

An affordable and effective communication channel

There’s a misconception that SMS is an expensive communications tool. The reality is that it’s not only affordable, but it’s also so effective that you have to ask yourself: can you afford not to be using it?

The post What is the cost of SMS marketing? (And what’s the ROI?) appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

You’ll need to follow a few requirements (like your compliance message and introducing your brand), but then, it’s all about setting the right tone and giving your subscribers a reason to keep reading your texts and buying from you.

How you do this will depend on your specific business, but to help you out, we’ll cover some helpful examples across different use cases. 

What are welcome text messages?

Welcome text messages are the first texts you send to new subscribers after they join your list. These welcome text messages should include:

• The name of your brand
• A description of what your contacts can expect to receive in your texts
• Instructions for how to opt out of future texts

You can also add in:

• A thank-you for subscribing to your list
• A special discount or coupon code
• An encouragement to text back with any questions or concerns
• The link to your site
• A CTA to book an appointment 

Why do welcome texts matter?

At its core, a welcome text message is just your first message to a new contact (or contacts). What’s the big deal? 

Besides being that first point of contact, welcome texts serve a few important functions:

• They keep that opt-in momentum going. What I mean by that is, your new subscriber joined your list because you caught their eye. Don’t let that interest fade by failing to follow up. Reach out immediately to keep them invested.
• A good welcome text helps you introduce your brand in the most advantageous way possible. 
• Starting conversations is hard, so a welcome text takes the pressure off your contacts to kick off interactions with your organization.

How to write effective welcome texts

We’ll cover the top seven tips to help you write the perfect welcome text message for new customers.

1. Remind people what they signed up for

When a customer joins your text list, send a welcome message that reminds them what they signed up for. You’ll also need to let them know what they will receive from you, when, and how often.

SimpleTexting simplifies compliance so you can spend more time focusing on making new contacts feel welcome. How do we do this?

We send a free best practice compliance message as a separate text. It automatically sends any time new customers sign up to receive your texts.

This standalone compliance text does the following:

• Includes the frequency of messages
• Adds the option to ask for assistance
• Offers the ability to opt-out
• Lets them know that–in rare cases–message and data rates may apply

This is the customizable compliance message field under the message box in SimpleTexting.

Coffee on the Bean: Thanks for being part of our VIP club! You’ll get 4 carefully curated promotions a month focusing on unique beans. Enjoy!

2. Be prompt

SimpleTexting users often ask the question, “When should I send new contacts their welcome text?” 

The answer is simple: right away.

If someone signs up to receive your text messages and doesn’t hear from you for a while, they might not remember why they originally signed up and then unsubscribe or ignore it when you do get around to texting them.

We’re happy to have you as part of our exclusive SMS community! You’ll get event sneak previews, wellness tips, and discounts straight to your inbox

3. Don’t forget your manners

Unless you were raised by a pack of wolves, you know that it’s good manners to say “Thank you.”

Your welcome text message for new customers is a great opportunity to let your customers know that you see them as individuals (not numbers) and you’re grateful for their business.

Simply put, welcome texts should thank the customer for signing up and make them feel comfortable.

Thanks for joining the Camelbak club! Get ready for discounts, hydration tips, pack hacks, and gear previews.

4. Offer a discount code

Offering a discount code in the welcome text is a triple threat.

• It makes a great first impression. 
• It shows that your text marketing program is (and will continue to be) valuable. 
• It also increases the chances that they’ll purchase your product or service. It’s a win-win-win.

As a thank you for joining the Gerber family, use code MAMA23 for 20% off your order! https://text.tl/mJPLPM

This really works, by the way. Welstand Boutique offers a coupon code in their welcome text message and they’ve seen a 50% mobile coupon redemption rate as a result.

5. Think outside the alphabet

Consider adding images to your welcome message for customers by sending MMS messages. We found that texts with a photo led to a 52% higher click-through rate than SMS alone. 

If you want people to engage with your texts, it’s best to show and not tell (or at least do both).

Welcome to Swell Supplements VIP Club texts! You’ll get access to products and unique promos—be sure to share our VIP program with your squad.

6. Ensure it’s on brand

Texting is an intimate way to connect with your customers–it’s how people communicate with their family and friends, after all.

Don’t be afraid to let your brand’s personality shine through in your welcome message. The fear of fitting into a character count can often make brands sound dull.

Of course, if your brand is professional and not known for its witty wordplay, then it’s best to stay true to that.

The last thing you want to do is make one type of first impression on your customers and throw them for a loop when you change it later.

We you. Not just because you signed up for our texts, but because you love our products and that means you care about the planet.

7. Send a series of welcome texts

Not only are contacts most engaged when they first sign up for your text messages, but the experience they have in the first few weeks will also set the tone for the rest of their time on your list.

That’s a lot of pressure to place on one text. As with any relationship, it can take time to understand each other, build trust, and set expectations. 

So, why not send a series of well-crafted welcome messages instead of just one?

Our drip campaigns feature allows you to send out several text messages at intervals that you set, from one hour to several weeks, or even months. 

It’s also a good idea to send links to a blog post, ask contacts to follow you on social media, or try out different calls to action.

Drip campaigns are particularly powerful when combined with our segment and data collection features. Here’s an article on creating text message drip campaigns using segments and autoresponders.

10 welcome text message examples and templates

With those tips in mind, let’s look at how some real-life businesses set up their welcome text messages.

1. SkinTe: Welcome subscribers with a message from the CEO

Similar to SuperGoop!, SkinTe welcomes its subscribers to its text list with a message from its founder. It’s a nice way to take advantage of a channel that’s already highly personal.

2. Original Grain: Use triggers to learn more about subscribers

As we mentioned in the BROOKS example, learning more about your subscribers is never a bad idea. Original Grain takes the same approach by finding out whether new subscribers are interested in the men’s or women’s collections.

3. Lovepop: Reinforce the benefits of subscribing

Lovepop uses its initial welcome message as an opportunity to welcome new subscribers and remind them what they get from signing up for the brand’s texts.

4. Brooklyn Biltong: Cut to the chase with a deal

Brooklyn Biltong used a Cyber Monday offer of 21% off to build its text marketing list. So it makes sense that it kept its welcome message short and to the point.

5. Funboy: Keep it on brand

After someone subscribes to its texts, Funboy sends a welcome message and a discount promo code for their first purchase. What’s notable about their approach is that it aligns with its brand through the use of emojis and playful copy.

6. Spoonflower: Offer personalized help

Fabric brand Spoonflower goes a couple of steps past simply welcoming new subscribers and sending a coupon.

They make sure to introduce a real human whose job it is to help you find what you’re looking for. 

7. FedEx: Stick to the basics

Obviously, we love a creative welcome text. However, sometimes keeping your message straightforward and minimal is the right approach.

A little context here: The day I signed up for texts from FedEx, I was running frantically all over West Seattle trying to finish my errands. This message told me exactly how to get the notifications I needed and didn’t waste any time.

Sometimes, less is better.

8. Torrid: Send a contact card

We always advocate sending a virtual business card with your welcome text, the way Torrid does here.

This contact card does a couple of very important things: It helps contacts recognize and trust future texts from you, and it may even help keep your texts out of spam filters.

9. PrettyLitter: Pathos-targeting language

By now, you get the idea that how you express yourself in your welcome text really matters.

PrettyLitter sets an excellent example of that principle in their welcome text, and they do it by tugging your heartstrings.

They immediately throw out the “best cat parent you can be” phrase which, if you’re a cat mom like me, immediately warms my heart and motivates me to buy whatever it is that’ll make me the world’s best cat owner.

10. Snapple: Give value, have fun

Welcome text messages certainly serve a purpose, but they don’t have to be boring.

Snapple keeps an upbeat tone here, but they also give you something fun in return for your opt-in (in this case, that’s fun facts).

How to send a welcome text

You’ve got the welcome text tips, now it’s time to put them into practice. While the process may look a little different between different SMS platforms, here are a few options for sending your welcome text with SimpleTexting.

Auto-confirmation messages

If you’re using a keyword or web form to help subscribers opt into your messages, you’ll find an option to customize your auto-confirmation message (the message that sends automatically once someone joins your list).

This auto-confirmation can essentially be your welcome text, and you would then include all the elements we’ve talked about here. 

Autoresponders

Autoresponders (also known as the drip campaigns we discussed earlier) are another type of automatic message you can use to send your welcome text. Where auto-confirmation messages are sent immediately when someone opts into your list, you have to set an autoresponder to send a certain amount of time after they do so. 

To set up an autoresponder, you simply:

1. Choose Autoresponders on the left-hand menu of your SimpleTexting account screen and hit New autoresponder.
2. Decide which list you’ll connect your autoresponder to. 
3. Write out your message. 

1. Set the delay that your message will send on.
2. Set up any advanced scheduling parameters you’d like and save your autoresponder.

You can also make your autoresponders work in conjunction with your auto-confirmation message. You could:

• Thank subscribers and introduce your brand in your auto-confirmation message and tease the content you’ll send in your autoresponder. You can then introduce the kinds of messages you plan to send and what contacts can expect.
• Use the auto-confirmation message as your welcome text and include questions in your autoresponder to gather relevant details like contact locations, product preferences, or other information.
• Send your welcome text in your auto-confirmation message and include information your contacts might need in your autoresponder (like store hours, onboarding steps, or ways to contact your team).

Inbox

If you’re looking to send a welcome text message to just one contact at a time, your best option is to use the SimpleTexting inbox. 

1. Head to Inbox on the left-hand menu.
2. Start a new conversation or open an existing one. 

1. Type out your message in the message box and send it immediately or select the clock icon to schedule it in advance. 

Pro tip: You can add your standard welcome message as a template so it’s ready to go with just a couple of clicks each time.

Campaigns

Campaigns are a good way to get your welcome message to lots of contacts at once. They’re also very simple to set up, send, or schedule.

1. Choose Campaigns from the left-hand menu and click New.
2. Name your campaign and write out your message. 

1. Decide which list will receive your campaign.
2. Send it immediately or fill out the scheduling fields.

The post 10 welcome text message examples [plus 7 tips to write your own] appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Striking a balance between staying top-of-mind for your customers and annoying them with too many messages is important.

We here at SimpleTexting help thousands of businesses through this process every day. So, we’re going to condense the steps for you here.

The quick-and-easy business texting cadence

According to our State of SMS Marketing 2024 report, “Most consumers (48%) who subscribe to SMS marketing want to receive texts from businesses once every other week, followed by 36% who want to receive them once a week.”

So which is it — once a week or every other week? We asked consumer psychologist Dr. Michael Barbera how to think about texting frequency, and he perfectly summarized it for us: 

Oftentimes, for small- and medium-sized businesses, if sales are down, it’s ‘harass, harass, harass.’ So, less is more.

Dr. Michael Barbera

Chief behavioral officer, Clicksuasion Labs

So if you’re looking for a quick and straightforward answer for how often your business should text — especially in your first 30 days — we recommend sending two to four promotional text messages per month (plus transactional and automated texts as needed).

Week 1 Prize text

Examples: promo codes, special offers, or early access to products or services 

Week 2 Teaching text

Examples: how-to guides, quick tips, or expert Q&As

Week 3 Prize text

Examples: promo codes, special offers, or early access to products or services

Week 4 Amusement text

Examples: entertaining content or conversation starters

Noteworthy: Your organization’s goals

Now, we know this framework doesn’t take into consideration:

1. Your organization and its needs.
2. Your “why,” whether that’s growing your business, communicating with your staff, organizing events, or other priorities.
3. What you offer (products vs. services).
4. How frequently customers engage with your organization, including seasonal trends and whether they buy from you weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.

The rest of this article will walk you through how to decide how often to text if our quick-and-easy business texting cadence doesn’t make sense for your organization.

Sample send cadences and ratios by contact engagement

Check out these helpful texting schedules if the weekly cadence doesn’t fit your needs.

Biweekly

For businesses with customers who typically buy every other week, we suggest the following:

One prize text and one teaching or amusement text every other week (on non-consecutive days). Alternate teaching and amusement texts.

Example: Send a promo code on Monday and a how-to vlog on Thursday.

Types of businesses that may fit this use case: Apparel brands, food delivery services and restaurants, e-commerce businesses

Monthly

For businesses that run mostly on monthly orders, stick to:

One prize text twice monthly (pay special attention to whether your customers buy more at certain times of the month to influence timing), with one teaching text each month.

Types of businesses that may fit this use case: Pet supply delivery brands (like Chewy), salons, regular product renewal brands

Quarterly

While brainstorming this article, Dani Henion made the following comment about businesses that provide quarterly orders or services:

If I’m only buying from someone a few times a year, I don’t want to hear from them much more often than that.

Dani Henion

Content Lead at SimpleTexting

So, with that in mind, we suggest the following texting schedule for businesses with quarterly buying cycles:

Send one reminder that your services may be needed soon and a special offer on those services a week or two before you want your customers to book with you.

If that sounds confusing or tough to keep track of, integrate your appointment software with your texting platform to trigger these texts a set amount of time after each customer’s last appointment. This is what Fargo Moorhead Chiropractic does to re-engage clients 30 days after their last appointments (I know that’s a monthly example, but read the article where we break down FM Chiropractic’s approach to learn more).

Types of businesses that may fit this use case: Pest control companies, mechanics, doctor’s offices.

Seasonally

This is a similar setup to a quarterly cadence, but it’s based on specific seasons rather than how much time has passed.

For seasonal businesses, send one prize text as a reminder that the busy season is coming up to incentivize bookings. During the season, send one prize text per month to customers who haven’t yet bought.

Types of businesses that may fit this use case: Tax professionals, event planners, travel agents

Per diem

By this, we mean companies that throw events on their own schedule throughout the year.

This is something our marketing team specifically has a lot of experience with, so let’s look at the cadence we use.

Before events like webinars, we send out one invitation message when we schedule the event (around one month before the day). We then follow up with those who haven’t registered about one week beforehand.

Finally, we send out one more message thanking attendees for joining us and asking for feedback. We make sure this last message contains a recap and Q&A responses for extra value.

Types of businesses that may fit this use case: Any who runs events

3 things to consider as you plan your texting frequency

Hopefully, these example cadences have given you a solid starting point as you plan how often you’ll text.

We do recognize, though, that you may still want to customize those examples further for your own business. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you do.

1. Figure out what you’ll send

Obviously, before you start sending, it’s important to get clear and cohesive on the content of your messages.

• What do your customers want to receive? Use our PASTA framework for some easy categories to choose from.
  • P — Prize texts: Discount codes, exclusive offers, and early access
  • A — Accessibility texts: Instructions, reminders, and crucial details
  • S — Suggestion texts: Creative ideas, lifestyle content, inspiration
  • T — Teaching texts: Demos, tips, how-to guides, Q&As
  • A — Amusement texts: Fun content and conversation kickoffs
• What do you want your contacts to know? 
• What do your contacts need to know?

2. Plan your send frequency based on contact engagement levels

You’ve likely gotten the big picture from the examples above, but there are a couple of important points to iron out from there.

• This will come down to how often your customers buy from you. 
• Best practice: Decide on a particular day of the week you’ll text to keep your workflow simple. (e.g. “I text every other Friday at 1 p.m. in my contacts’ time zone”).
• Refer to our research on the best times to text for inspiration.
• It’s worth mentioning that “quiet hours” when you don’t text are more than a courtesy. They’re actually mandated by text marketing regulatory agencies. Avoid sending texts before 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your subscribers’ local time zone when possible. Segmenting your lists by location can help with this.

3. Set aside dedicated time for texting

By this, we mean set aside time in your schedule for texting. 

• Plan times for when you’ll write and schedule your campaigns and reply to two-way messages in your inbox.
• Best practice: A recurring time block on your calendar is an easy way to remember your set “texting time.” 
• Review your analytics during this time to make sure subscribers are engaging with your text and unsubscribes are low.

Take the guesswork out of how often to text your customers

At SimpleTexting we like to say that texting is powerful, but you have to do it right.

A big part of that is knowing when to send your texts (and how often) for your specific audience.

Hopefully, this guide has given you the tools you need to plan out your texting strategy with confidence.
Ready to try it out? Start a free trial of SimpleTexting and send a text to yourself today to see how it works.

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