Text Message Marketing For Small Business: 5 Best Tools in 2025

One of small businesses’ biggest challenges is maintaining consistent and effective communication with their customers.

With countless marketing messages consumers receive every day, capturing attention can be difficult.

Traditional methods like email marketing often see low engagement rates, and social media platforms are overcompetitive.

This is where text message marketing for small business owners becomes beneficial. With the ability to reach customers instantly, it offers a direct line of communication that can boost engagement and drive sales.

This blog post will explore the five best text message services for small businesses. You’ll discover the essential features to look for and practical tips to help you implement text messaging into your business strategy.

Why Should Small Businesses Use Text Message Marketing?

Text message marketing is a simple way to send SMS (text) or MMS (messages with pictures or videos) directly to your customers. You can use it to run promotions, send reminders for appointments, follow up with customers, or confirm orders.

Unlike email or social media, text messages let you send more personal and targeted messages. This makes it easier to connect with customers and feel relevant to their needs.

For small businesses with tight budgets, text message marketing is affordable and effective. Many platforms offer low-cost options, like pay-per-message or cheap monthly plans, which makes it easy to fit into a small budget.

Moreover, with SMS marketing, there are no additional design costs. You don’t need to hire a graphic designer or spend time crafting elaborate emails. You can simply write a concise, value-driven message and hit send.

Start-up businesses benefit from higher engagement rates because text messages are typically read quickly. Unlike social media posts, which may require multiple exposures to elicit a response, SMS prompts immediate action.

Small businesses often struggle with handling routine tasks like appointment reminders, follow-up messages, or order confirmations.

Business texting platforms allow for the easy automation of these tasks, freeing business owners and staff time to focus on more strategic activities.

5 Best Text Messaging Services for Small Businesses

Given the numerous options available, choosing the best SMS marketing tool for your small business can be daunting.

We have compiled a list of five top providers with their key features and pricing.

1. Textellent

Textellent is designed for small businesses that want a reliable and powerful way to connect with customers. It combines powerful features with a user-friendly interface to help connect with customers, automate tasks, and drive sales without added complexity.

Let’s take a closer look at the features that make Textellent the best choice for small businesses.

Use Your Existing Phone Number

With Textellent, you don’t need to get a new phone number to text. You can use your existing business number, which keeps things simple and familiar for your customers. This helps build trust and ensures that customers recognize who is contacting them.

Send Images and Videos with MMS

Not every text messaging platform allows you to send images or videos, but Textellent does. With MMS, you can include eye-catching visuals or videos for more engaging and professional messages.

Personalized Keywords with Real Phone Numbers

Textellent allows you to use keywords with shared short codes or long codes. However, the key difference is that all responses come from a real phone number instead of a generic shortcode. It gives customers a more personal and authentic experience.

Advanced Appointment Management

Scheduling appointments is much easier with Textellent’s sophisticated tools. Unlike basic apps like Calendly, Textellent sends text reminders before, during, and after the appointment. Your business stays organized and keeps customers engaged every step of the way.

Flexible Integration Options

Textellent works well with other tools and software if you want to integrate it into your existing systems. But even if you don’t use integrations, the platform is fully functional on its own. It’s simple if you want a quick and easy setup.

Tagging and Segmentation for Better Targeting

With Textellent, you can send personalized messages to different customer groups. You can create tags based on what customers like, their past purchases, events they attended, or specific actions they’ve taken (like receiving a quote).

Excellent for Lead Generation and Follow-Up

Textellent makes it easy to manage leads. When a customer reaches out, you can instantly send them a personalized response.

The platform also helps you follow up with drip campaigns, which are automated text sequences designed to nurture leads and turn them into customers. These campaigns can also be triggered by events like a new purchase or updated preferences, so you’re always staying connected.

Track Response and Conversion Rates

Want to know if your texts are working? Textellent lets you track response rates and conversions, especially when you include links in your messages. 

This feature helps you understand how well your SMS marketing campaigns are performing and where you can improve.

Ready-To-Use Templates

Textellent provides a library of message and media templates. These templates are professional and ready to use, so you don’t have to start from scratch every time you want to send a message.

Focus on the Entire Customer Journey

In addition to sending texts, Textellent also improves the whole customer experience. It helps generate new leads, follow up with potential customers, manage appointments, and build long-term relationships.

Textellent’s Pricing

Textellent offers a 14-day free trial, so you can explore the platform without any commitment. The trial includes 25 SMS credits and access for one user.

• The Essentials Plan ($49/month) is great for smaller teams and campaigns, offering 750 SMS credits for one user for basic outreach and local promotions.
• The Standard Plan ($99/month) provides 2,000 SMS credits for two users, which gives you more room to scale your texting efforts and reach a broader audience.
• The Premium Custom Plan allows you to tailor the number of users and SMS credits based on your needs.

All plans come with a 15% discount when paid annually.

Sign up for your free trial or request a demo consultation to see how Textellent can step up your communication strategy!

2. TextMagic

TextMagic offers a simple messaging platform that helps you communicate with customers, partners, and staff. It easily connects to your helpdesk or other essential apps through API, Email to SMS, or Zapier for multi-channel support.

Image Source: textmagic.com

TextMagic allows you to send promotions using short links, coupons, or discount codes. You can personalize offers based on recipient groups.

The platform provides reporting features that show delivery stats, click-through rates, and replies. These reports can help monitor and improve messaging campaigns.

It offers automation tools for replies and workflows. It also connects with over 1,000 third-party applications through Zapier, which may help speed up repetitive messaging tasks.

Pros

• Simple and user-friendly interface
• Ability to assign chats to team members for better organization
• Option to pin top conversations for easier follow-up
• Multiple filters are available to manage messages

Cons

• Character limits (including spaces) may increase SMS costs
• Occasional issues with message delivery
• Pricing may be higher compared to alternatives

Pricing

TextMagic offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, with rates starting at $0.049 per text message. This allows businesses to purchase credits as needed without any monthly fees.

3. SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is a user-friendly SMS marketing tool that simplifies sending texts and conversing with customers. Its two-way messaging feature allows you to engage in real-time conversations with customers.

Image Source: simpletexting.com

For small businesses needing to reach large audiences, mass texting lets you deliver messages to hundreds or thousands of recipients. It also supports scheduled and recurring texts to plan campaigns and maintain consistent communication.

SimpleTexting includes an AI message generator that helps users craft compelling messages. Its autoresponders can be set up to reply to incoming messages and guarantee customers receive replies outside business hours.

Pros

• Engage in bidirectional communication
• No charge for incoming messages
• Create texts using AI

Cons

• Fewer advanced features compared to some competitors
• Limited web/embed integrations
• Nurturing drip campaigns are unavailable
• Hi-Volume lines may not be available

Pricing

SimpleTexting’s pricing begins at $39 per month for 500 credits, with the option to scale up as your messaging requirements grow. You’re only billed for outgoing messages. They also offer carrier registration for an extra fee.

4. EZ Texting

EZ Texting provides a comprehensive suite of SMS marketing tools that simplify and speed up communication with your contacts.

Image Source: eztexting.com

You can send bulk SMS messages to a large group of contacts simultaneously to make your promotions, alerts, or announcements efficient. ​

The platform allows you to organize and segment contact lists to target specific groups for your campaigns. ​It offers features like SafeSTOP to ensure adherence to regulations and provide recipients with easy opt-out options.

Pros

• Easily trigger personalized texts
• Track performance with EZ Texting’s reporting features
• Instantly deliver information with automated texts
• Handle unlimited contacts for large-scale texting

Cons

• Higher costs for larger message volumes
• Limited advanced features in lower-priced plans

Pricing

• The Launch plan costs $25/month for up to 500 contacts
• The Boost plan covers 500 to 2,000 contacts, starting at $75/month
• The Scale plan begins at $125/month for 2,000 to 50,000 contacts
• Large businesses with over 50,000 contacts can choose the Enterprise plan, starting at $3,000/month

5. ClickSend

ClickSend is a business communication platform that lets you connect with customers and staff through SMS, rich media, email, and direct mail. 

Image Source: clicksend.com

The platform supports multiple communication methods, including SMS, MMS, voice calls, letters, postcards, and chat.

For developers, ClickSend provides powerful APIs to build apps that use the fastest and most reliable cloud communication services.

It also supports rich multimedia messaging for engaging experiences with real-time conversations via RCS or messaging apps. It can also integrate with popular business apps to improve workflows without disruption.

Pros

• Multimedia messaging capabilities
• Advanced content options with rich messaging capabilities
• Audio communication features
• Digital to fax solutions

Cons

• The length of the text is short for its price
• Basic reporting tools

Pricing

ClickSend features a pay-as-you-go pricing structure, starting at $0.0236/text per text message (under 5k). Volume discounts are available for businesses that send a large number of messages.

How to Start Text Message Marketing for Small Business

The key to successful text message marketing is to have a clear strategy, the right tools, and a solid understanding of connecting with your audience through SMS.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to launch SMS campaigns.

Step 1: Set Your Text Message Marketing Goals

Knowing what you want to achieve will guide the direction of your messaging, the frequency of your texts, and the types of campaigns you run.

Here are some common goals for small businesses using text message marketing:

• Increase sales: Promote special offers, flash sales, or exclusive discounts
• Improve customer engagement: Send personalized messages to build stronger customer relationships
• Appointment reminders: Reduce no-shows by sending timely reminders
• Customer support: Use SMS for quick responses to customer inquiries

Your goals should be clear and something you can track. Having numbers tied to your goals helps you see how well you’re doing and if you need to make changes.

Step 2: Build Your Customer List

Before adding anyone to your list, you must get their explicit consent to receive text messages from your business. This is a best practice and a legal requirement under laws like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

You can ask for consent in several ways. Customers can sign up for text updates during checkout, through your website, or by texting a keyword (such as “JOIN”) to your designated number.

When asking for permission, be clear about the types of messages they will receive, how often you’ll send them, and how they can opt out if they change their mind.

Promote your texting program across different channels to encourage more customers to join your list. You can place signs in your store, mention them in your email newsletters, or include a call to action (CTA) on receipts.

Offering an incentive, such as a discount or a free item, can also boost sign-ups. Customers are more likely to subscribe when they see immediate value.

As your list grows, you must keep it organized. Many text marketing platforms, like Textellent, provide tools to help you segment your contacts. You can group customers based on their preferences, purchase history, or engagement levels to send more personalized and relevant messages.

Step 3: Choose the Right Text Message Marketing Platform

As mentioned earlier, choosing the right platform is key to successful campaigns. Consider what you want the platform to help you achieve, whether it’s sending promotional messages or automating responses.

Most platforms offer features like scheduling, automation, and analytics, but it’s essential to pick the one that fits your business’s specific needs.

Questions to ask when choosing a platform:

• Does the platform integrate with my CRM or eCommerce system?
• Can I segment my audience for personalized campaigns?
• Are there tools for automation and scheduling?
• Is the platform compliant with SMS marketing regulations?

If you need a platform that handles appointment reminders and follow-ups, look for one with comprehensive appointment management tools like Textellent.

Textellent goes beyond basic scheduling with pre- and post-appointment reminders, intake forms, review requests, and follow-up appointment scheduling, all designed to boost revenue.

Its AI-powered features include system-generated responses for faster communication, sentiment analysis to gauge customer feedback, and automated opt-out processes to maintain compliance. These smart tools help you save time while delivering better service.

Step 4: Create Your Text Message Campaign

With your goals set, your customer list built, and your platform chosen, it’s time to craft an impactful text message campaign.

You want to capture attention immediately while keeping the message personal and actionable. Focus on the essential information. If possible, you can start with a warm greeting (using the customer’s name is a great way to personalize the message).

Then, clearly state your offer or announcement, and end with a strong call to action. The CTA should tell the recipient what you want them to do, such as clicking a link or replying to the message.

Remember, timing is essential for any text message campaign. The right time depends on your audience and the nature of your business, but there are general guidelines that can help.

For retail or promotional campaigns, sending messages in the late morning or early afternoon (around 10 AM to 2 PM) on weekdays typically works best.

If you’re running a weekend promotion, sending texts on a Saturday morning is ideal because customers are likely planning their shopping for the weekend.

Step 5: Monitor and Optimize Your Campaigns

Once your campaign is live, don’t forget to monitor its performance.

Many text message marketing platforms like Textellent offer analytics tools that allow you to track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. You can use this data to make informed decisions about future campaigns.

If you notice that certain messages perform better than others, consider A/B testing different versions of your message to see which resonates most with your audience.

You can test different offers, CTAs, or even the time you send messages to optimize your results.

How to Choose the Best Text Messaging Service for Your Small Business

Text messaging has become one of the most direct and effective ways to connect with customers, but not all services are created equal. Choosing the right platform can feel overwhelming, with so many options that promise to do it all.

Instead of just listing features, let’s explore what matters and why certain capabilities can make or break your small business’s communication strategy.

Start With Your Business Goals

Start by understanding what you need from a text messaging service. Consider the following questions:

• What is the primary purpose of using text messaging? (e.g., marketing, customer support, appointment reminders)
• How many messages do you plan to send each month?
• Do you need features like automation, personalization, or two-way communication?

Look for Features That Add Real Value

Not all platforms are created equal. Beyond basic messaging capabilities, a great SMS service offers tools that boost customer communication and improve efficiency. Key features to look for include:

• MMS support for sending images or videos to create more engaging messages
• AI-powered tools like sentiment analysis to gauge customer feedback, system-generated responses for faster communication, and automated opt-out processes for SMS compliance
• Personalization and segmentation to send targeted messages based on customer preferences, purchase history, or behavior

Platforms like Textellent combine these capabilities with automation, allowing you to set up drip campaigns, lead follow-ups, and other time-saving workflows that keep your customers engaged without constant manual effort.

Flexibility in Integration

While integrations with CRMs, booking software, or other tools can speed up workflows, they shouldn’t be mandatory for success.

Textellent stands out by offering integration options while also working well as a standalone platform. In return, you can adapt the system to your business without unnecessary complexity.

Scalability and Affordability

For small businesses, affordability is as important as functionality. You must look for a platform with pricing plans that match your current needs and offer room to grow.

Some SMS marketing services offer free trials or demo accounts. You can use these opportunities to test the platforms and see how they fit your business operations.

Textellent provides scalable solutions that support businesses at every stage, which combines cost-effectiveness with advanced features.

Best Practices for Implementing Business Texting Services

Business texting is a dynamic part of your customer engagement strategy. Once you implement these unique practices and use advanced features from SMS platforms, you can create a well-rounded, impactful texting strategy:

Make Texting a Core Part of Your Business Strategy

Texting should be integrated into your overall communication plan rather than just an add-on.

You must identify areas where texting can complement other channels, such as email or social media. You can use text messages for immediate communication (appointment reminders, urgent updates) while reserving email for detailed newsletters or long-term campaigns.

Create a Customer-Centric Messaging Strategy

Instead of focusing solely on promotions, think about how texting can solve problems for your customers. Can it provide real-time updates, save time, or make transactions smoother?

Using Textellent helps you use automated follow-ups to schedule appointments or gather reviews, which boosts efficiency and creates an exceptional customer experience.

Align Texting With Your Brand Voice

Texting offers a direct line to your customers, so the tone and content of your messages should reflect your brand personality. If your brand is professional, keep the tone concise and formal.

If you’re running a lifestyle brand, you should consider a friendly and conversational approach. Consistency builds trust and strengthens brand recognition.

Build a High-Quality Subscriber List

Growing a strong SMS subscriber list is the foundation of any successful text messaging campaign.

You must focus on quality over quantity by making sure everyone on your list has opted in and is genuinely interested in hearing from your business.

Start by offering incentives to encourage sign-ups, such as discounts, exclusive offers, or free resources. Promote your texting program through multiple channels, such as your website, social media, in-store signage, and receipts.

When customers opt in, be clear about what they can expect, such as promotional offers, appointment reminders, or updates, and how often they’ll receive messages. 

You can use Textellent’s automated opt-in tools to simplify the process and comply with regulations like the TCPA.

Prioritize Two-Way Communication

Other than broadcasting information, a business texting service should also build meaningful conversations. Make sure your platform allows customers to reply and engage with your messages.

Features like Textellent’s AI-powered responses can handle inquiries for quick resolution without overloading your team.

Make MMS Work for You

Give customers a closer look at what you offer by including high-quality images or demo videos. If you’re launching a new product, an MMS message with a vibrant photo can make a strong first impression.

MMS is especially effective for industries like retail, food services, and real estate, where visuals can inspire action.

You can also make appointment-related messages more informative and engaging with MMS. Include maps, images of your office, or a photo of the professional your customer will meet. 

Small touch personalizes the experience and provide customers with all the information they need.

Test Message Frequency and Timing

Even the most well-crafted message can fail if sent at the wrong time or too often. You should use analytics tools to experiment with different sending schedules.

For example, a restaurant might find that sending promotional messages on Friday afternoons increases response rates as customers plan their weekend activities.

Different customers may also have different tolerances for message frequency. Loyal customers who engage frequently might appreciate weekly updates, while new or occasional customers may prefer fewer messages.

However, not all campaigns require the same frequency. Promotional campaigns may need multiple reminders leading up to a sale, while informational updates might only need occasional messages.

Use Texting to Build Long-Term Relationships

Don’t think of texting as a short-term tactic. You should use it to nurture ongoing relationships with your customers.

You can send personalized birthday messages, loyalty rewards, or exclusive offers to long-time customers. Features like Textellent’s segmentation tools make it easy to deliver these personalized touches.

Consistency is key to building relationships, but balance is important. Avoid overloading your customers with texts—focus on sending messages that are timely and relevant. Regular updates without spamming keep your business top-of-mind without causing frustration.

Track ROI, Not Just Metrics

It’s not enough to know how many people opened or responded to your messages. You should focus on how texting impacts your bottom line. Are you generating more bookings, sales, or repeat customers?

Platforms like Textellent allow you to track response rates and conversions tied to specific campaigns, which helps you see the bigger picture.

How to Integrate Textellent Into Your Business

Integrating Textellent into your business is a simple process that can improve customer communication and marketing efficiency. Here’s how:

Step 1: Sign up for Textellent

First, create your account on Textellent. You’ll need to provide your business details and select a subscription plan that aligns with your business needs.

After registering, you can explore a 2-week free trial to test out the key features before committing to a plan.

During this period, you can set up your business profile, import your contact list, and familiarize yourself with the platform’s capabilities.

Step 2: Consider Integration Options

Decide if you want to integrate Textellent directly with your website or CRM system. You can find API documentation on Textellent’s website or contact their support team for assistance if you choose to integrate. 

This integration can seamlessly sync customer data and automate actions, such as sending free incoming SMS messages when a customer performs a specific task on your site.

Step 3: Compose Your Text Message

Access your Textellent dashboard and navigate to the message creation tool. Create your message carefully, considering character limits and your marketing objectives.

Use personalization features and add images to tailor messages directly to your audience.

Step 4: Select Your Audience

Choose who will receive your message. You can segment your audience based on previous interactions and tags or manually select contacts.

Tags can represent various things, such as events attended, products purchased, preferences, and more. 

To comply with legal regulations, always ask for consent from recipients to receive SMS messages.

Step 5: Schedule Messages

Decide when to send SMS messages. Textellent’s scheduling feature allows you to send messages immediately or set them for a future time. Consider your audience’s time zone and the relevance of your message’s timing.

Step 6: Track and Optimize

Once your message is sent, monitor its performance closely. Look at delivery rates, open rates, and any responses or actions that result from the message.

You can use this feedback to tweak your approach, refine your messages, and improve the effectiveness of future marketing campaigns.

Drive Results With Textellent’s Easy-To-Use SMS Marketing Tools

Small businesses thrive on strong customer relationships, and text message marketing gives you the perfect tool to strengthen those connections. With nearly every text being read within minutes, SMS puts your business right where your customers are.

With Textellent, you can send messages using your existing phone number, so your customers instantly recognize who’s reaching out. Automation tools make it easy to handle routine tasks like appointment confirmations, follow-ups, and even thank-you messages.

Add images or videos to your texts for engaging promotions that grab attention. Plus, with powerful audience segmentation, you can organize customers into groups to keep messages personalized.

Simplify your SMS campaigns and drive meaningful engagement. Sign up for a free trial or schedule a demo today!

FAQs About Text Messaging Services for Small Business

How to do text message marketing?

You need to build a contact list of people who have opted in to receive your texts. Use a trusted platform like Textellent to create and schedule messages that are short, clear, and include a strong call to action.

Unlike phone calls, text messaging is quicker and less intrusive, making it ideal for small business communication. You can also track results and fine-tune your strategy using built-in analytics.

What is the best SMS service for a small business?

The best SMS service for small businesses is one that offers automation, message scheduling, analytics, and mobile access.

Look for platforms like Textellent that support iOS and Android apps to make it easy to manage your campaigns on the go. A good provider should also integrate well with your digital marketing campaigns, offering tools to engage customers and grow your reach.

Is it legal to send marketing text messages?

Yes, it is legal, but you must comply with regulations like the TCPA. These laws require businesses to obtain explicit consent from recipients, provide opt-out options, and avoid sending unsolicited messages.

How much does text message marketing cost?

SMS marketing cost depends on the provider and the volume of messages sent. Most platforms charge a few cents per message, typically between $0.01 and $0.05 per SMS. Some platforms also include monthly subscription fees, starting at around $10 to $50 for small businesses.