SMS Bulk Messaging 101

Bulk messaging puts your business in front of customers and colleagues instantly, generating engagement rates that email can't match. Yet launching a successful SMS campaign is about more than just hitting send.

Instead, you need the right tools and strategy to use this marketing channel effectively. Learn how bulk SMS campaigns can transform your communication strategy and get inspiration from real-world examples.

What Is Bulk Messaging?

Bulk messaging is a method of sending a large number of text messages to a group of recipients at the same time. It's a marketing and communication tactic that businesses use to connect with customers and staff at scale.

Also known as mass texting, bulk messaging offers:

• High deliverability and customer engagement rates
• Speed, as you can send thousands of messages instantly
• Compatibility with various mobile phones and smart devices

Who Uses Bulk SMS and Why?

Both B2B and B2C businesses use SMS as a cost-effective method to communicate with prospects, customers, and team members. Some of the most common use cases include:

• Retail and ecommerce: New product launch announcements, limited-time discounts, and promotional offers
• Healthcare: Appointment reminders, customer support messages, and health campaigns
• Education: Event notifications, staff updates, and emergency alerts
• Nonprofit: Training reminders, volunteer opportunity notifications, and campaign announcements

Across industries, bulk texting delivers impressive results. Businesses report average delivery rates of 98% and average response rates of 45%.

The return on investment (ROI) from this method doesn't disappoint, either. The average ROI of SMS marketing is $10 for every $1 spent.

Benefits of Bulk SMS for Businesses

When done well, mass texting offers a long list of benefits. Here are some of the biggest perks of sending bulk SMS messages.

Reach and Accessibility

Skip the headaches that email marketing often causes. With its higher average delivery rates and compatibility across devices, SMS offers superior reach and accessibility.

Cost-Effectiveness

Compared to traditional marketing methods, SMS is one of the most cost-effective options. Between its high average ROI and relatively low monthly subscription costs, this channel offers excellent value.

Personalization Options

There's no need to send the same message to each subscriber. Segment your list and add personalization automatically to effortlessly tailor your SMS messages.

Customer Retention

Keep your business top of mind with customers. Send timely SMS updates to improve awareness, drive repeat sales, boost loyalty, and retain customers for the long run.

Real-World Stories of Success with Bulk Messaging

By now, you have a sense of how bulk text messages could theoretically help your business. Take a look at these real-world success stories to learn how Sakari's clients have successfully developed SMS marketing strategies.

Customer Story 1: Treehouse

Treehouse, an EV charger installation provider, struggled to communicate efficiently with prospects, making deals take longer to close. At the same time, the company's marketing team wanted to personalize campaigns based on behaviors like email opens or replies. Yet neither team had the right tool for the job.

Using Sakari, Treehouse integrated its SMS platform with HubSpot, its CRM and email platform. This integration allowed marketing and sales teams to simplify communication while keeping conversations transparent and easy for everyone to access.

Adopting Sakari allowed Treehouse to grow its sales footprint by 400% while increasing its sales team by just 50%. SMS became Treehouse's primary communication channel, enabling 95% of sales to close virtually without onsite visits.

As Treehouse Chief Product Officer David Francis stated, “Sakari has been a productivity multiplier for our team.”

Customer Story 2: RenoRun

RenoRun, a construction material delivery service, faced challenges with low engagement from email campaigns. The lack of feedback and limited replies to NPS surveys and promotions negatively affected the team's ability to maintain high customer satisfaction.

Using Sakari, RenoRun gained the ability to reach customers at scale. By bypassing email inboxes and focusing on text campaigns, the company improved engagement and open rates.

After implementing text message campaigns, RenoRun saw a 30% improvement in engagement rates. The team then analyzed SMS responses and developed successful strategies to improve client satisfaction and retention. 

According to Paul Wurth, Head of Sales at RenoRun, “Sakari has allowed us a highly scalable and powerful way to connect with customers, store structured data, and bring transparency across teams.”

How to Get Started with Bulk SMS

Use these steps as a quick start guide for bulk SMS marketing. For a more comprehensive walkthrough, check our complete guide to how mass text messaging works.

Step 1: Choose the Right SMS Platform

For businesses, typing out individual text messages or sending group texts won't cut it. Instead, you need SMS software like Sakari for high volume messaging.

To find the right business texting service for you, look for features like:

• Automations: With workflows, you can welcome new subscribers, automate sales enablement, nurture leads, or follow up with customers. Sakari's automated campaigns use triggers to send a series of text messages to specific contact lists on a predetermined schedule.
• Integrations: With integrations, you can connect your SMS marketing tools to the rest of your tech stack and run campaigns more efficiently. Sakari supports 1,300+ integrations, which let you achieve tasks like setting up HubSpot bulk text messaging workflows.
• Analytics: With analytics, you never have to guess how your SMS campaigns are performing or how to optimize your marketing efforts. Sakari's real-time analytics offer insight into delivery rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and other key metrics.

Step 2: Build Your Contact List the Right Way

After choosing a bulk SMS service, build your contact list. But avoid adding contacts without consent. Since SMS is a permission-based channel, every subscriber must opt in to receive texts from your business.

It's in your best interest to stay up to date on GDPR and TCPA regulations. This way, you'll stay in compliance and avoid putting your SMS marketing efforts at risk.

Step 3: Segment Your Audience

Once you've attracted subscribers and built your list, segment your audience. When you add subscribers to demographic-, interest-, or behavior-based groups, you can easily send relevant messages to the right people.

For example, you might create separate segments for prospects and customers. Or you might set up distinct segments for new and loyal customers.

Step 4: Craft Compelling SMS Text Messages

Now you're ready to start texting your contact list. Aim to send engaging messages that speak to your audience and prompt them to take the next step—such as booking an appointment or making a purchase.

To provide the best possible customer experience, keep messages short and sweet. Make them as easy as possible for recipients to read while using their mobile devices on the go.

Step 5: Track SMS Performance

Like most marketing channels, SMS isn't something you can set and forget. Monitor these metrics regularly and identify elements that need improvement:

• Delivery rates reflect how often your messages actually arrive in recipients' SMS inboxes
• Click-through rates show how often subscribers tap to view the links you share in texts
• Conversion rates indicate how often contacts take you up on your offers

Best Practices for Bulk Messaging

Without these tried-and-true guidelines, bulk SMS messaging might not deliver the outcomes you expect. Follow these best practices to get the best possible results.

Send Clear, Concise Messages

Making messages concise improves the user experience and keeps costs in check. Most SMS service providers charge by segments or credits, which have a specific character limit. Messages over 160 characters include multiple segments, which cost more and take more time to read. 

Find the Right Time

Ideally, you want subscribers to open, read, and engage with your messages right away. To get this result, you have to send messages during optimal hours. Use your SMS marketing campaign analytics to find the best timing for various audience segments.

Include Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Never make subscribers guess what to do next. Include a clear CTA at the end of each text to drive engagement and conversions. For example, you might say "Book your appointment here" or "Shop now."

Maintain Compliance

Make it just as easy for subscribers to opt out of your SMS list as it is to opt in. Include opt-out language in promotional messages (e.g., "Text STOP to opt out) and honor opt-out requests as quickly as possible.

Why Choose a Business Texting App for Bulk SMS?

The right text blast software simplifies SMS campaigns by handling:

• Scalability: Platforms like Sakari can scale up or down to meet your needs, making it ideal for businesses of any size.
• Automation Capabilities: Schedule messages and workflows in advance to send them at the optimal time for subscribers.
• Built-In Compliance: Include opt-out language automatically so you can easily comply with SMS regulations.
• Integration Options: Sync your SMS platform with your CRM and other tools to reduce manual tasks and work smarter.

Get Started With Bulk Messaging

Bulk SMS gives B2C and B2B businesses alike the power to connect with customers and staff instantly. With the right mass texting platform, you can start driving results and scaling your efforts right away.

Try our bulk messaging service and see the results for yourself. Sign up for a free trial of Sakari (no credit card required) and get started today.

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