Using a free business text messaging service is a great way to communicate with customers and employees. Across every metric, text messages are the way people prefer to connect in 2019. Text messages are read more, read faster than email. Today, your customers and employees always have their phone at hand. Text messaging for business is perfect for communicating reminders, job assignments and events.
Things to Consider With Business Text Messaging
- Text Message Volume – are you sending just a few text messages, or hundreds? Most of the free text message options send a single text message at a time, which a few offer bulk functionality (e.g. uploading your contacts from an Excel spreadsheet). The bulk tools make managing large contacts lists much easier.
- Text Message Personalization – Will each person receive the same message? Will each message be customized? Some of the free messaging software options can insert wildcard fields in to your text message. For example, “Hi [FirstName], your appointment is on [AppointmentDate}” will be sent as “Hi Jeff, your appointment is on 8/15/2018.”
- Text Message Responses – Do need or want text message responses from your contacts? Not all free text messaging services can handle responses. We recommend thinking about how you will collect message responses.
There are a handful of ways to accomplish business text messaging from a computer. In this list we’ve outlined four of our favorites. In each case we’re outlined our Pros and Cons for each approach. Let’s get started!
1. Free trials of paid bulk SMS software
Summary
Pros
- Bulk tools, built for business.
- Message personalization
- Include customized website links for each contact
- Send thousands of messages per minute
Cons
- Pay per use, although Sakari doesn’t require a contract and has a trial that includes 100 free text messages
Overall
- Ease of use: High, very easy to use
- Message Speed: High (thousands per minute)
- Automatic Message Customization: Yes. Messages are automatically customized
2. Free business text messaging service through carriers Emails
You may not be aware, but another free business text messaging service option is using email. Using the contacts phone number combined with the carriers unique email address you can send text messages. The downside of this approach is you need to know both the phone number ANDthe carrier of the persons mobile number (e.g. AT&T or Verizon) and you must combine them together.
To send a text message from a computer using this approach, follow these steps:
- Open email client – Open your preferred email client
- Draft your message – Write your message, and be sure to keep it under 140 characters (text messages have character limits). Pro tip: Be sure to remove your email signature and don’t include a email subject line.
- Setup the “Send To” email address. The send to email address will be the persons 10 digit phone number combined with the persons mobile carriers email address (see list below). The phone number should have all spaces, dashes and parenthesis removed. For example, if the phone number is (347) 555-4567, type 5551234567@vtext.com
- Send – Once you’re finished, hit send.
Mobile Phone Carrier Email List
- Alltel: phonenumber@message.alltel.com.
- AT&T: phonenumber@txt.att.net.
- T-Mobile: phonenumber@tmomail.net.
- Virgin Mobile: phonenumber@vmobl.com.
- Sprint: phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com.
- Verizon: phonenumber@vtext.com.
- Nextel: phonenumber@messaging.nextel.com.
- US Cellular: phonenumber@mms.uscc.net.
Summary
Pros
- Free
Cons
- You need to know the persons carrier number
- Manual data manipulation required to concatenate the phone number with the carriers email address
- Text messaging speed is slow
- You have to manually customize each message to each recipient
Overall
- Ease of use: Low, manual data entry
- Message Speed: Low (5-10 messages per minute)
- Automatic Message Customization: None
3. Texting through free online SMS websites
Another free business text messaging service option is using one of the free SMS websites (e.g. example, Text ‘Em, Send SMS Now, A Free SMS, and Txt2day). These sites are generally free, and easy to get started, but with most business applications their downsides will be quickly apparent.
Summary
Pros
- Generally free
Cons
- Text messaging speed is slow
- You have to manually customize each message to each recipient
- Usually they require you to register to receive replies, or you’re required to provide an email address to receive replies.
- Free comes at a price: you’ll be bombarded with paid advertising.
Overall
- Ease of use: Low, manual data entry
- Message Speed: Low (5-10 messages per minute)
- Automatic Message Customization: None
4. Free business text messaging service using Google Voice
Google Voice is a free option that let’s you send single text messages using its web application and you don’t need to know the recipients carrier. This software gives you the option to select a brand-new number, at no cost, or use your existing mobile number. But there are a few restrictions:
- Google Voice only permits you to send and receive text messages to telephone numbers in the U.S. and Canada.
- You send the text messages individually
- You can’t wildcard data (e.g. automatically adding a first name)
In addition to text messaging, Google Voice also offers voice calls, voicemail and call blocking. You can get started at: https://voice.google.com/
Summary
Pros
- Free
- Easy to use
- No ads
Cons
- Text messaging speed is slow
- You have to manually customize each message to each recipient
Overall
- Ease of use: Low, manual data entry
- Message Speed: Low (5-10 messages per minute)
- Automatic Message Customization: None
