How Do I Automate Text Messages for My Business?

Automating text messages increases business productivity, efficiency and can lead to higher conversion rates. 

In this article, we’re going to examine what automated SMS is, how to automate a text message, and the most popular types of text automations.

What is SMS Automation for Business?

Automated text messaging for business is revolutionizing the way brands connect with their customers. By using SMS software to send SMS messages automatically based on predefined triggers or schedules, companies can maintain continuous engagement without manually managing each communication. 

This method is very efficient, allowing businesses to send timely updates, confirmations, reminders, and promotional offers directly to their customers' most checked device—their mobile phone.

Automated text messaging is great to save time and resources. It also significantly enhances customer engagement. With a staggering 90% of SMS being opened and read within just 3 minutes of receiving, the immediacy and personal touch of text messaging make it unparalleled in reaching customers effectively. 

From appointment reminders to flash sale announcements, automated texts cater to a wide variety of communication needs, ensuring businesses stay relevant and top of mind.  Additionally, integrating automated text messaging into a broader digital marketing strategy can amplify brand presence and foster deeper customer loyalty.

5 Types of Automated Text Messages

There are different types of text messages that you can automate, improving your efficiency. Let’s cover some of the most popular types of automated SMS in enhancing business communications.

1. SMS Autoresponders: These are automatic SMS messages triggered by specific customer actions. Such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. For instance, a thank-you message post-purchase not only confirms the transaction but also adds a personal touch, fostering brand loyalty. This can even work with two-way texting, like when you prompt someone to reply with “YES” to opt-in to marketing messages.
2. Scheduled Text Messages: Perfect for planning ahead, scheduled text messages can be set to go out at specific times or dates. Imagine reminding your customers of an upcoming appointment or a special event sale, ensuring it's on their radar. Learn how to schedule a text message with Sakari.
3. SMS Campaigns: Like a slow drip of water, these SMS marketing campaigns gently nurture leads by sending a sequence of messages over time. Drip campaigns are designed to gradually build interest and guide potential customers through the sales funnel, from awareness to decision. You can send them exclusively through text messages, or interlink with different channels, such as email.
4. Recurring Messages: For regular updates or reminders, recurring text messages are highly impactful. These could be weekly tips, monthly account summaries, or daily motivational quotes, keeping your audience engaged consistently.
5. Automated Workflows and Reminders: Beyond SMS marketing, automated text messages streamline internal operations for businesses. Appointment reminders, staff scheduling notifications, or inventory alerts help businesses run smoothly, reducing the chance of human error and missed opportunities.

Incorporating these automated text message strategies elevates customer experience and boosts efficiency. Each type of SMS automation serves a unique purpose, and when used correctly, it can transform how businesses communicate and operate.

Fundamentals of How to Automate Text Messages for Business

An automated texting service can significantly enhance your business’s efficiency while boosting customer engagement, brand loyalty, and sales. But successful text message automation isn’t just about setting up a few basic, “Welcome,” or, “Thank you” messages—it’s about building an automation strategy tailored to your business goals and audience.

The first part of learning how to automate a text message is in the groundwork. By mapping out these first few steps, you can ensure your text automation efforts align with your objectives and deliver real value. Here’s a straightforward path to getting started:

1. Define Your Objectives: Like any strategic business decision, begin by clarifying what you hope to achieve with automated text messaging. Whether it's enhancing customer service, boosting sales through promotions, or streamlining appointment reminders, your objectives will guide the setup.
2. Understand Your Audience: Knowing your audience's preferences and behaviors helps tailor your messages for maximum impact. It’s crucial to segment your audience based on factors like demographics, purchase history, and engagement levels to ensure relevance.
3. Choose Your SMS Marketing Software: This step is pivotal. The right platform will make automating your text messaging efforts seamless and effective. Here, Sakari stands out as an excellent choice. It offers a user-friendly interface, comprehensive features like scheduling and segmentation, and seamless integration with major CRM systems. Also, its global messaging capability ensures you can connect with your audience, no matter where they are.
4. Set Up Automated Campaigns: Start with simple autoresponders or scheduled messages, then explore more sophisticated campaigns like SMS drip sequences. Each campaign should align with your objectives and be tailored to your audience’s needs.
5. Analyze and Optimize: The advantage of using sophisticated platforms is access to detailed analytics. Monitor your campaigns' performance, understand recipient behavior, and adjust your strategies accordingly to maximize effectiveness.

Beginning automating text messaging can seem daunting, but with the right platform, it becomes a powerful tool in your business’s communication and marketing toolbox. 

Getting Started with Text Message Automation

No matter what SMS software you choose, there are some basic guidelines that you can follow in order to set up an effective automation flow. You’ll need to decide whether you want to try a basic sequence or if you want to build out a full SMS drip campaign.

To get you started, we recommend a basic interaction sequence. Once you're feeling confident with creation and customization, then move on to your first SMS drip campaign.

How to Automate a Text Message Sequence

1. Find the Automations dashboard within your text message service platform, and select the option to create a new automation.

2. Choose your keyword trigger. Triggers are events that activate your automation. For example, a customer signing up, responding with a specific keyword like “YES” or “JOIN", or abandoning their cart can initiate the process. 

3. Follow-up with an action. Once a trigger is activated, actions determine the next step. Common actions include sending a personalized auto reply text, updating a contact list, or enrolling the customer in a follow-up drip campaign.

4. Choose your SMS template. Use customizable SMS templates with dynamic fields (like [Customer Name] or [Order Number]) to send messages with a personal touch. For example, insert customer names or order details automatically for personal automation that’s both friendly and completely hands-off.

5. Test the automation. Test your automation by texting your business line from your personal phone to confirm you receive the correct response. (Don’t forget to use the right keyword and timing!)

Once you’ve mastered scheduling automated messages, you can move on to more advanced functions like using short codes, connecting multiple third-party apps, building your own APIs, or A/B testing targeted drip campaigns.

How to Automate a Text Message Drip Campaign

Drip campaigns let you nurture leads or engage customers over time. From, “Thanks for signing up,” to, “Thank you for your purchase,” custom drip campaigns are invaluable for business texting. With Sakari you can:

1. Navigate to the campaigns section of your dashboard to start a new campaign.

2. Choose the contacts you’d like to loop into this campaign.

3. Create the sequence of texts to be sent at specific intervals or based on triggers and actions.

4. Use segmentation to tailor messaging based on actions or audience demographics.

5. Set up personalized auto-replies with Sakari AI, crafting up to three different types of responses just by providing a prompt.
6. Access the SMS campaign reporting dashboard for real-time insights into the performance of your campaigns.

5 Quick Tips on How to Automate a Text Message Successfully

1. Create user personas for better messaging.

Who is your audience? What are you trying to communicate to them with each message that you send? Creating user personas for the different segments of your audience, and sending targeted message to those segments, will help you send more effective messages and get the most out of your text message service. With Sakari you can:

• Configure audience segments and contact lists for targeted messaging.

• Test audience engagement with campaign reports.

• Set up personalized automatic replies with Sakari AI.

2. Map out clear goals for every message or campaign.

Are you looking to drive sales, confirm appointments, or improve customer engagement? Clear goals will guide your automation strategy, ensuring that each message aligns with your overall business objectives and provides value to your audience.

3. Talk to your users, not at them.

Combine triggers linked to form submissions or abandoned carts with dynamic fields, such as customer names or order details, to connect the dots between customer data and actions. You’ll be able to send personalized messages that feel authentic and relevant.

4. Don’t be afraid to experiment with integrations.

The right combination of advanced features can revolutionize your marketing strategy. Connect your SMS platform with CRMs, e-commerce tools, or scheduling apps to streamline communication, build advanced workflows, or automate tasks like sending reminders or follow-ups.

5. Use reporting tools to analyze and optimize.

Regularly review campaign performance using built-in reporting tools. Look at metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and responses to identify what’s working and where improvements are needed. Use these insights to fine-tune your messaging and strategies for even better results.

How to Choose the Right SMS Marketing Automation Software for Your Business

Selecting the right SMS marketing automation software is a significant decision that can influence the overall success of your business's communication and marketing efforts. Here are the key factors to consider:

1. Integration Capabilities: The software you choose must seamlessly integrate with your existing CRM and other tools. This ensures a smooth flow of information and automates tasks efficiently. A platform like Sakari offers robust integration options, making it a compatible choice for various systems.
2. Scalability: As your business grows, so do your communication needs. Opting for scalable software ensures it can handle increasing volumes of text messages and expanding customer segments without compromising performance.
3. Pricing Models: Understand the pricing structure and look for transparent, flexible plans that align with your business size and volume of messages. Consider both immediate costs and the potential for scaling.
4. Customer Support: The quality of support can make or break your experience. Platforms that offer comprehensive tutorials, responsive customer service, and knowledgeable technical support like Sakari alleviate potential stresses in managing SMS campaigns.
5. Compliance and Security: With regulations around digital communication tightening globally, ensuring the platform adheres to compliance standards is pivotal for protecting your business and your customers’ data.

Making a decision based on thorough research of the options available for SMS marketing automation software sets a solid foundation for your business’s communication strategies, directly impacting its growth and customer satisfaction.

The Best Automated Texting Software for Businesses: Sakari

In a digital age where communication is key to business success, choosing the right tools to connect with your audience is critical. Among the many options available, Sakari is known as one of the best automated texting software provider, offering advanced features and unparalleled services for businesses.

Why Sakari?

• Global Reach with Local Touch: Sakari's platform stands out for its ability to deliver messages globally, ensuring your business connects with customers anywhere in the world with the same ease and reliability as local messaging.
• Seamless Integration: Sakari's software is designed to integrate effortlessly with the leading CRM systems. This synergy between your sales, customer service, and marketing efforts streamlines processes and enhances efficiency.
• User-Friendly Interface: Sakari prioritizes ease of use without compromising on functionality. Setting up campaigns, scheduling messages, or segmenting your audience is intuitive, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes.
• Data-Driven Insights: With Sakari, you can access comprehensive analytics that offer deep insights into campaign performance. This data empowers businesses to make informed decisions, optimizing strategies for better engagement and conversion rates.
• Exceptional Customer Support: Sakari's dedication to customer satisfaction is evident in its robust support system. With an array of resources and a responsive team, users feel well-supported throughout their journey.

Embarking on a journey with Sakari means more than just adopting a tool; it's about embracing a partner in your business's growth. As Sakari continuously innovates and evolves, its services will remain at the forefront of digital communication for you.

Ready to transform your business communication and drive growth? Start your free trial with Sakari today and discover the enormous potential of text message marketing.