How to Save Time With Bulk SMS Sending and Receiving Platform

Manually texting each customer can be time-consuming and limits how you can stay in touch with a growing audience. Tasks like sending reminders, updates, or promotions also become difficult to manage at scale, which leads to delays, errors, or inconsistent communication.

Maintaining customer engagement can feel overwhelming without an efficient solution, especially as your business expands.

Bulk SMS software can simplify communication and help you send bulk text messages to large groups. Instead of spending hours crafting and sending individual texts, you can automate the process while still personalizing each message.

In this article, we will explore the challenges of managing bulk SMS manually and show you how a business texting platform can impact your communication strategy.

How Bulk SMS Differs From Regular SMS

The most apparent difference between bulk SMS and regular SMS lies in the volume of messages being sent.

Regular SMS is designed for personal, one-on-one communication, while bulk SMS allows you to broadcast a single message to thousands of recipients. For example:

• Regular SMS use case: A single message from a customer to a business to inquire about store hours.
• Bulk SMS use case: A retail chain sends a promotional message to its entire subscriber base across multiple cities, offering a discount for a weekend sale.

With bulk SMS, you don’t need repeated manual entry to provide consistent messaging to your customers. You can also personalize messages for thousands of recipients with details like names, purchase histories, or location-specific offers.

Also, with regular SMS, there’s no way to know if your message was received, let alone opened. Bulk SMS platforms come with powerful analytics tools that provide real-time insights into campaign performance.

Finally, bulk SMS platforms offer tiered pricing, which helps reduce the cost per message as the volume increases. Bulk SMS is a budget-friendly option for communicating with a large audience compared to regular SMS, which is charged per message at standard carrier rates.

Common Use Cases for Bulk SMS

Below are some of the most common use cases for bulk SMS, along with examples of how businesses and organizations use this technology.

Marketing and Promotions

Bulk SMS is used for marketing campaigns because of its high open rates (98%) and immediate delivery.

It’s used to promote products, services, and special offers to customers. It also helps drive foot traffic to physical stores and increases website visits and online sales.

Examples

• A clothing store sends a message about an upcoming sale:
  “Flash Sale! 30% off all items this weekend only. Visit [link] to shop now.”
• A restaurant promotes a lunch deal:
  “Get 20% off your meal today between 12 PM and 3 PM! Reply to book your table.”

Alerts and Notifications

Businesses and organizations use bulk SMS to send important alerts and notifications to customers, employees, or stakeholders. These messages are time-sensitive and keep recipients informed.

Examples

• Banks notify customers of suspicious account activity:
  “Alert: A withdrawal of $500 was made from your account at 2:45 PM. Contact us if this was not authorized.”
• Schools inform parents about closures or emergencies:
  “Reminder: School will remain closed tomorrow due to weather conditions.”

Appointment Reminders

Appointment-based businesses use bulk SMS to reduce no-shows by reminding clients of their upcoming bookings. SMS reminders are a simple and effective way to confirm attendance.

Examples

• A clinic reminds patients of scheduled visits:
  “Reminder: Your appointment with Dr. Smith is tomorrow at 10:00 AM. Reply YES to confirm or NO to reschedule.”
• A beauty salon confirms a hair treatment appointment:
  “Hi Emma, your hair appointment is scheduled for Monday at 3 PM. Reply YES to confirm or call to reschedule.”

Customer Feedback and Surveys

You can use bulk SMS to collect feedback from customers through quick and simple surveys. SMS surveys have higher response rates than email because they’re short and easy to complete.

Examples

• A store gathers feedback on a recent shopping experience:
  “Rate your shopping experience with us on a scale of 1-5. Reply with your rating.”
• A hotel asks guests to review their stay:
  “How was your stay at Sunshine Resort? Reply GREAT, OK, or POOR.”

With bulk SMS, you can collect real-time insights, identify areas for improvement, and engage customers in a non-intrusive way.

Event Invitations and Updates

You can use bulk SMS to promote events and share important updates with attendees. It also boosts attendance rates and encourages quick RSVPs or ticket purchases.

Examples

• An event organizer sends an RSVP request:
  “Join us for the Annual Tech Summit on Oct 12. RSVP here: [link].”
• A ticketing service provides event reminders:
  “Reminder: Your concert starts at 7 PM tomorrow at Arena Hall. Don’t forget your tickets!”

Emergency Alerts

Governments, schools, and organizations rely on SMS for rapid communication during crises.

Bulk SMS is essential for sending emergency alerts during situations where immediate action or awareness is required. Also, SMS can still reach recipients regardless of internet access.

Examples

• A city government warns residents about severe weather:
  “Alert: Heavy rain and flooding expected in your area. Avoid unnecessary travel.”
• An emergency service alerts residents of evacuation orders:
  “Evacuation alert for Zone B. Please leave the area immediately and head to safety.”

Loyalty Programs and Rewards

You can use bulk SMS to keep customers engaged in loyalty programs, reminding them of points, rewards, or special perks. It boosts customer retention and strengthens customer loyalty.

Examples

• A store updates a customer on loyalty points:
  “Hi Alex, you have 500 points in your rewards account. Redeem them for discounts on your next purchase!”
• A coffee shop promotes a free drink reward:
  “You’ve earned a free latte! Visit us this week to claim your reward.”

Internal Communication

Organizations also use bulk SMS for internal communication for company news, policy updates, or urgent announcements. This improves team coordination and reduces reliance on emails for urgent communication.

Examples

• A company informs employees of schedule changes:
  “Reminder: Your shift tomorrow starts at 9 AM instead of 10 AM.”
• A manager shares an update:
  “Team meeting scheduled for 4 PM today in the conference room.”

How to Send and Receive Bulk SMS

Sending and receiving bulk SMS is simpler, thanks to dedicated platforms and tools that speed up the process. If you’re running a small business or managing a large-scale operation, this guide will help you set up and manage your bulk SMS campaigns better.

Step 1: Select a Bulk SMS Platform

Your platform should not only handle mass messaging but also support features that align with your business goals and improve customer engagement.

Textellent is a solution built to simplify customer interactions, automate processes, and deliver measurable results. It provides unique capabilities that go beyond basic messaging.

Intelligent Keywords and Personalized Replies

Unlike traditional SMS platforms, Textellent focuses on creating an exceptional experience for your business and your customers. It lets you use existing phone numbers to guarantee bulk messages come from a recognizable source rather than an unfamiliar shortcode.

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Support

Most SMS platforms only allow plain text, but Textellent helps your business stand out with visuals. MMS adds depth to messages when showcasing visuals like product images or promotional banners.

A combination of text and visuals captures attention and improves engagement compared to plain-text messages.

Make Appointments Easy to Manage

Textellent helps you manage appointments better other than serving as a texting platform. You can send reminders, intake forms, and follow-ups through text. It’s easier to keep customers on schedule and even encourage them to book again.

Textellent automatically sends personalized replies when someone reaches out. 

You can also set up drip campaigns that send follow-up messages over time. These features are great for keeping leads interested or staying in touch with customers.

Textellent’s standout feature is its speed-to-lead texting campaigns, specifically equipped for rapid engagement. When a potential customer interacts with your business through an ad, a lead form, or an inquiry, it immediately sends a personalized text response. 

Target the Right People With Segmentation

Textellent lets you organize your customers using tags. You can group people based on what they’ve bought, events they’ve attended, or services they’ve used. This bulk SMS service helps you send mass text messages that are more relevant and useful to each group.

Tracking Performance for Better Results

With Textellent, you don’t have to guess if your bulk messages are working. The platform shows you how many people opened your texts, clicked links, or responded, which can improve future campaigns.

Simplified Integrations and Flexible Use

While Textellent offers robust integration options with CRMs, e-commerce platforms, and scheduling tools, it doesn’t require integration to get started. It’s ideal if you’re running standalone campaigns or automating workflows with existing tools.

Focus on the Complete Customer Journey

Finally, Textellent manages the entire customer experience, from the first point of contact to post-sale follow-ups. It supports every stage of the customer journey to help you create meaningful, results-driven interactions.

Explore Textellent today and see how it fits your business. Sign up for a free trial or request a demo consultation now!

Step 2: Upload Contact Lists

A well-organized and accurate contact list helps you reach the right people and achieve the desired results. Textellent makes this process flexible so you can get started easily with your campaigns.

Before uploading your contact list, it’s important to make sure your data is clean and properly formatted. 

You must collect necessary information, such as recipient names, phone numbers, and additional data, such as location, preferences, or purchase history (for SMS segmentation purposes).

Once you’re done, save your contact list as a CSV or Excel file, which is supported by bulk SMS platforms like Textellent.

Go to your dashboard, find the “Import Contacts” section, and select your CSV or Excel file. Follow the prompts to upload it.

As you upload your list, you can apply tags to categorize your audience. For example:

• “Loyal Customers” for repeat buyers
• “Event Attendees” for customers who joined a recent webinar
• “New Leads” for inquiries from your website

Once the upload is complete, review your data for errors or duplicates, then save your list. Textellent’s advanced tagging and segmentation features help you target specific groups within your audience.

Step 3: Compose the Message

Every word counts, so focus on clarity and value. A successful SMS campaign starts with crafting a concise and engaging message.

You must avoid overloading your text with unnecessary details. Stick to what’s important and include a clear call to action (CTA).

With Textellent, you can go beyond plain-text messages by including images, videos, or other multimedia content through MMS. It’s perfect for sharing product photos, event banners, or tutorials, making your messages more engaging.

Textellent provides a library of customizable templates for various use cases, such as reminders, promotions, and follow-ups. These templates help you save time while keeping your messages polished and professional.

Step 4: Schedule or Send Messages

Once it’s ready, you can either send it immediately or schedule messages for a later date and time.

If your message is time-sensitive, such as a flash sale or an urgent alert, Textellent allows you to send it instantly to your entire contact list or a specific segment.

For campaigns where timing is key, Textellent makes scheduling simple by letting you pick a specific date and time for delivery. You can also schedule recurring messages for ongoing reminders, monthly promotions, or subscription notifications.

However, you must know that timing plays an important role. Messages about weekend sales can be scheduled for Friday evenings when people are planning their weekend. Similarly, appointment reminders work best when sent 24–48 hours before the scheduled time.

Step 5: Monitor Delivery and Responses

Tracking delivery and responses helps you understand how well your campaign is working. Textellent’s dashboard provides real-time insights so you can adjust your strategy if necessary.

If a huge number of messages are undelivered, review your contact list and remove invalid numbers. Test different wording or timing in your next campaign if response rates are lower than expected.

Textellent automatically tracks opt-out requests from recipients who no longer wish to receive messages. While opt-outs are a normal part of any campaign, you need to monitor this metric to keep your content relevant and your contact list stays clean.

Step 6: Manage Replies

Sending SMS messages is the first step in engaging with your audience. However, handling their responses is where you can build stronger relationships and drive real results.

Textellent makes it easy to organize, track, and respond to replies, so you never miss an opportunity to connect.

It also supports two-way messaging, which means you can engage with your customers. It’s ideal for answering questions about your services or products or resolving customer concerns in real-time.

Step 7: Refine Future Campaigns

Customer responses provide valuable insight into how your message was received. Look for trends in replies to identify what worked and what didn’t. You can use this feedback to adjust your messaging to make future campaigns more actionable.

Build Trust With Recognizable Bulk SMS Messaging

Sending and receiving bulk SMS shouldn’t be complicated. Textellent is designed to help you manage bulk SMS campaigns with ease!

Textellent makes it easy for businesses to send clear, professional messages that customers can trust. Using your existing business phone number, this SMS service provider guarantees your messages are instantly recognized.

Textellent’s features make handling bulk SMS campaigns hassle-free. You can group your audience into segments to ensure every message is relevant to their needs. You can also include images or videos through MMS to make your messages stand out and grab attention.

See how effortless and effective bulk SMS sending and receiving can be for your business. Sign up for a free trial or request a demo consultation with Textellent now!

FAQs About Bulk SMS Sending and Receiving

How can I send 100 text messages at once?

Sending 100 text messages at once is simple with a bulk SMS platform like Textellent. These platforms are specifically built for managing large-scale campaigns.

First, you need to create an account and upload your contact list, typically in a CSV or Excel format.

Once the list is uploaded, compose a concise and engaging message, ensuring it’s tailored to your audience.

After finalizing your message, you can either send it immediately or schedule it for a specific time.

How to do bulk SMS for free?

While a mass texting service usually requires payment, some platforms provide limited free options or trial periods for new users. These trials often allow you to test the platform’s features and send a small number of messages for free.

However, keep in mind that free services might lack advanced features like personalization, delivery tracking, or automation. If you’re looking to scale, affordable plans from platforms like Textellent offer far greater flexibility and reliability compared to free tools.

Is SMS marketing legal?

SMS marketing is legal, but it’s governed by strict regulations designed to protect consumer privacy and reduce spam. These regulations vary by country.

In the United States, SMS marketing must comply with the TCPA, which requires businesses to obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending messages.

Also, every message must include an opt-out option so recipients can unsubscribe easily. Bulk SMS platforms like Textellent help you stay compliant by automating opt-out management and complying with all legal requirements.

Which is the best website to send bulk SMS?

Choosing the best bulk SMS software depends on your needs, but Textellent is a leading platform due to its intuitive features and user-friendly interface. It allows you to send messages using your existing phone number for added trust and provides tools for detailed audience segmentation.

Other platforms, such as Twilio or ClickSend, are also widely used, but Textellent’s focus on improving the entire customer journey makes it a standout choice if you want to grow through SMS marketing.