5 Best SMS Marketing Software for Targeted Campaigns

What if you could communicate with your customers in a way that feels personal and gets their attention every time?

With text messaging, you can have a direct line to their audience. That’s why it’s one of the most reliable ways to share updates, promotions, and reminders.

As people check their phones more than ever, SMS marketing has become a powerful tool for businesses to stay connected and build stronger relationships.

Unlike other methods that require waiting for customers to check emails or social media, text messages are seen almost as soon as they arrive. This makes SMS a great choice for businesses that want to make an impact and deliver their messages right on time.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of SMS marketing and how the right SMS marketing software can help your business make the most of this powerful communication tool.

What Is SMS Marketing Software?

Instead of manually sending messages from a mobile phone, SMS marketing software automates the entire process. You can upload a list of phone numbers, write a single message, and send it to hundreds or thousands of people with one click.

Also, text message marketing software provides features like personalization, analytics, and automation that make it more powerful than regular text messaging.

Unlike emails or social media posts, recipients usually read text messages within minutes of receiving them. This makes SMS perfect for time-sensitive promotions and updates.

Benefits of Using Text Message Marketing

Text message marketing offers several advantages, making it a powerful tool for businesses.

Here are some key benefits:

High Open Rates and Engagement

Text messages boast incredibly high open rates of 98%. Most people read their text messages within minutes of receiving them. This immediacy ensures that your message gets seen quickly, which leads to higher engagement than other marketing channels, such as email.

Cost-Effectiveness

The cost of sending a text message is low, especially when purchased in bulk. Most SMS marketing platforms offer pricing plans based on the number of messages sent.

Traditional advertising often targets broad audiences, and businesses pay to reach people who may not be interested. SMS marketing, on the other hand, targets specific audiences who have opted in to receive messages. Therefore, the budget is spent on reaching engaged customers.

Beyond the immediate cost benefits, SMS marketing saves money in the long run by maintaining customer relationships. Sending regular, affordable updates or offers to existing customers is often cheaper than constantly spending on campaigns to attract new ones.

Immediate Delivery and Response

When a business sends a text message through an SMS marketing platform, it is routed through mobile networks and delivered to recipients’ phones in seconds.

Text messages are delivered almost instantly, which makes them perfect for time-sensitive information such as announcing a flash sale or sending appointment reminders.

Not only are text messages delivered quickly, but they also generate faster responses compared to other marketing channels. Many people respond to texts immediately, whether replying to a question, clicking a link, or taking advantage of a promotion.

Easy Tracking and Analytics

When you send an SMS campaign, tracking tools collect data on how recipients interact with your messages. The information is presented in simple reports or dashboards to show what worked well and where improvements are needed.

Unlike traditional advertising, where results can be hard to quantify, SMS marketing provides clear and actionable data.

Tracking results helps businesses improve over time. If analytics show that personalized messages perform better, you can focus on adding more personalization to your campaigns.

Personalization and Targeting

Text message marketing allows for high levels of personalization. You can customize messages with the recipient’s name, past purchase details, or other personal information. 

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, personalized and targeted SMS campaigns can resonate with your customer’s interests, needs, and behaviors.

Also, you can segment your audience into segments based on demographics, preferences, or purchase history. Messages are crafted to address the specific interests or needs of each group.

5 Best Text Marketing Platforms in 2024

Choosing the right SMS marketing platform can improve your marketing efforts.

Here are the five best SMS marketing tools and platforms to consider in 2024:

1. Textellent

Textellent is the best SMS marketing platform that combines powerful tools and user-friendly features to transform how businesses communicate with their customers.

Designed to support businesses of all sizes, it makes campaign management straightforward while making sure messages are impactful and personalized.

These are some of the key features Textellent offers:

Familiar and Easy to Use

This software is ready to use immediately and uses your existing business phone numbers so your customers recognize who is contacting them. 

MMS Support

Unlike many other SMS marketing services, Textellent offers multimedia capabilities to make your messages more engaging. With support for MMS, you can include images in your messages, creating a stronger visual appeal that grabs attention.

It even provides a library of customizable templates for both text and images, saving you time while ensuring your campaigns look professional and polished.

Appointment Management

Textellent’s appointment management tool is more advanced than other options. The platforms’ appointment management tools are designed to do more than just send reminders. It automates the entire process and sends messages before and after appointments.

Textellent also integrates easily with scheduling software, so you don’t have to switch systems to enjoy these benefits.

Advanced Segmentation 

With advanced segmentation and tagging features, you can target messages based on customer preferences, past activities, and actions, ensuring your communication is highly relevant and personalized.

Textellent allows businesses to tailor their messages with advanced segmentation features. It groups customers based on preferences, past interactions, or actions. It increases engagement because customers are more likely to respond to messages that align with their needs and interests.

Lead Generation and Campaigns

For businesses focused on growing their customer base, Textellent offers powerful lead generation tools. You can run keyword campaigns to capture leads, nurture them through follow-up messages, and even create drip campaigns for ongoing engagement.

If your business operates across multiple locations, Textellent simplifies management with centralized tools for running campaigns across all branches. It provides consistency while allowing each location to connect with its unique audience.

Automated Engagement

With Textellent, you can automatically send personalized messages to individuals who show interest and continue to engage them with targeted campaigns. 

You can track how well these campaigns perform with built-in analytics, helping you refine your strategy and maximize results.

SMS Compliance

Beginning December 1, 2024, U.S. carriers will block business text messages from numbers that aren’t 10DLC-compliant. These issues can disrupt SMS services and lead to extra costs through fines or surcharges for non-compliance. 

Missed opportunities and SMS service downtime can become costly.

Some businesses are having difficulties as they’re receiving rejections during the registration process. 

Unlike other platforms, Textellent won’t let you figure out the problem alone. It works directly with phone carriers to understand the issues causing registration rejections and help you.

Pricing Plans

Textellent offers flexible pricing options to cater to businesses of all sizes:

• Free trial: Explore the platform with a 14-day trial that includes one user and 50 SMS credits
• Essentials plan: For $49/month, this plan provides 750 SMS credits and supports one user, perfect for smaller campaigns
• Standard plan: Priced at $99/month, it includes 2,000 SMS credits and access for two users, ideal for medium-sized campaigns
• Premium custom plan: Tailored for unique business needs, this plan lets you customize the number of users and SMS credits

Try Textellent with a free trial, or schedule a demo to learn how it can support your business goals!

2. Twilio

Twilio is a powerful platform that offers a wide range of tools that help businesses improve communication and manage customer interactions across different platforms. 

Image Source: twilio.com

With Twilio, you can build the features you need to create a better experience for your customers. Here are some of its advantages and drawbacks:

Pros

• Pay-as-you-go pricing
• Supports mass texting with scheduling and personalization
• Integrates easily with existing systems
• Compatible with voice platforms and VoIP tools

Cons

• Difficulties with 10DLC compliance and limited support
• Upfront licensing fees may apply
• Requires IT expertise for setup and development
• Long-term maintenance can be challenging for smaller businesses

Pricing

Image Source: Twilio.com

Twilio charges $0.0079 per message for incoming and outgoing texts. It uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model and offers volume discounts.

3. EZ Texting

EZ Texting provides a variety of features designed to improve SMS marketing through better engagement and compliance. 

Image Source: eztexting.com 

A key feature is its two-way SMS texting capability, which allows businesses to send automated and personalized text message sequences to their customers.

Pros

• Detailed data insights for marketing
• MMS templates for multimedia messages
• Tools for growing your subscriber base
• Built-in link shortener for cleaner messages
• Access to Shutterstock images for campaigns

Cons

• Limited CRM integration options
• Few pre-designed templates available
• No support for multi-site texting

Pricing

Image Source: eztexting.com

EZ Texting provides pricing plans designed to fit different contact list sizes:

• Launch plan: $25/month for up to 500 contacts, ideal for smaller campaigns
• Boost Plan: Starting at $75/month, suitable for managing 500–2,000 contacts
• Scale Plan: Starting at $125/month, perfect for businesses with 2,000–50,000 contacts
• Enterprise Plan: Starting at $3,000/month, tailored for businesses with over 50,000 contacts

If you want to learn more about EZ Texting, its features, pricing, and how it compares to other competitors, check out this guide on EZ Texting alternatives.

4. SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is an SMS marketing tool designed to help businesses and organizations connect with their audience through a user-friendly user interface and powerful features.

Image Source: simpletexting.com

Pros

• Easy setup for keyword-specific messaging
• Supports one-on-one customer conversations
• Allows unlimited keywords and follow-up sequences

Cons

• Issues with receiving picture messages (MMS)
• No robust integration with scheduling apps

Pricing

Image Source: simpletexting.com

SimpleTexting’s plans start at $39/month for 500 credits, with costs adjusting based on your messaging volume. You’re charged only for outgoing messages, and carrier registration is available for an extra fee.

5. ClickSend

ClickSend is a flexible communication tool that helps manage user access and ensures security and compliance. 

Image Source: clicksend.com

It supports multiple communication methods, including SMS, MMS, voice calls, letters, postcards, and chat, all of which can be integrated into your existing software. This makes it easy to reach your audience through their preferred communication channels.

Pros

• Easy to manage team contacts and track messages
• Quick and hassle-free setup process
• Cost-effective pricing with no onboarding fees
• Simple billing tracking for better cost management

Cons

• Lower user ratings (3.8/5 on Capterra)
• Lacks scheduling features or calendar integrations
• No robust support for scheduling applications

Pricing

Image Source: clicksend.com

ClickSend uses a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing structure, starting at $0.0242 per text message. For businesses sending large volumes, discounted rates are available. With no monthly subscription fees, you only pay for the messages you send.

Features to Look for in SMS Marketing Software

When selecting SMS marketing software, it’s important to focus on features that will maximize the effectiveness of your SMS marketing campaign. Here are the top features to consider:

Bulk Messaging

Bulk messaging allows businesses to send a single message to hundreds or even thousands of people at the same time. This saves an amount of time and effort compared to sending individual messages manually.

Bulk text messages are perfect for situations where you need to inform or update a large group of people at once. Some examples include:

• Sending reminders for an upcoming event
• Announcing flash sales or promotions
• Sharing holiday greetings or special offers
• Notifying customers about changes in operating hours

Most SMS software platforms charge based on the number of messages sent. Bulk messaging often costs less per recipient compared to other communication methods like direct mail.

Personalized Messages

Instead of sending a generic message to everyone, this feature lets you include details like the recipient’s name, past purchases, or even their location.

The software uses the information stored in your customer database to insert specific details into the message automatically. While the message feels personal, it’s sent to thousands of people, each with their unique details inserted.

People are more likely to read and respond to messages that feel personal. Adding their name or referencing their recent activity makes the message stand out.

Automated Campaigns

SMS marketing automation saves time and ensures consistent communication. It can send scheduled messages in advance and automate responses based on specific triggers. 

Businesses can plan and set up messages for a specific time or date. Messages are sent automatically when a specific action occurs. For example:

• A new customer signs up for your services and immediately receives a welcome text
• A customer abandons their shopping cart, triggering a reminder to complete the purchase

Certain campaigns can repeat regularly, such as monthly payment reminders or yearly birthday offers.

Two-Way Communication

Two-way communication allows customers to respond to messages, and businesses can address those responses through the SMS platform. This feature is useful for handling inquiries, confirming appointments, gathering feedback, and providing customer support.

Unlike one-way communication, it opens a direct line between the business and its audience. It turns your SMS marketing into a conversational SMS tool, fostering stronger customer relationships.

Analytics and Reporting

Analytics and reporting provide businesses with detailed insights into how their text messaging campaigns are performing. It measures the effectiveness of their communication and ensures their efforts lead to real results, such as higher engagement, more sales, or improved customer retention.

The analytics dashboard might show the following:

• Delivery rate: 98% (messages successfully sent to customers)
• Click-through rate: 35% (recipients who clicked the sale link)
• Conversion rate: 10% (customers who purchased items after clicking the link)

From this data, the store can conclude that the campaign was effective but might consider experimenting with different wording or timing to improve the conversion rate further.

Integration With Other Tools

Integration capabilities are important for creating a seamless marketing ecosystem. Choose software that can integrate with your existing tools, such as CRM systems, scheduling systems, email marketing platforms, and e-commerce solutions. 

If your CRM system collects customer data like phone numbers, purchase history, and preferences, an integrated SMS platform can use that data to send personalized messages. 

Similarly, integration with an e-commerce platform can trigger automated SMS updates about orders or abandoned carts.

How to Set Up and Use SMS Marketing Software

Setting up and using an SMS marketing service can initially seem daunting, but it can be straightforward with the right steps.

Here’s a detailed guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Choose Your SMS Marketing Software

Start by selecting the software that best meets your business needs. Consider factors like features, pricing, and customer support. 

You must identify what you want to achieve with SMS marketing. Are you looking to send appointment reminders, run promotional campaigns, or grow your customer base?

Textellent’s features, like appointment management, rich media support, and advanced segmentation, make it a great fit for most business needs.

You can also take advantage of Textellent’s 14-day free trial to explore its interface and functionality. Use this time to send test messages, set up a campaign, and get familiar with its dashboard.

Step 2: Register Your Phone Number

You have to establish credibility and prioritize compliance with messaging regulations, such as 10DLC compliance (for U.S. carriers). Without proper registration, your messages may be blocked by carriers or fail to meet legal standards, which could result in fines or communication disruptions.

This step ensures your messages are sent from a recognized and legitimate source. Your texting provider will handle this part of the process, which can usually be completed within a day.

SMS marketing solutions like Textellent allow you to use your existing business phone number or set up a new one. Using a recognizable number ensures customers know who is contacting them.

Step 3: Organize Your Contact List

Always ensure that customers consent to receive messages. Textellent provides tools like SMS keywords and web sign-up forms to make it easy for customers to opt in. For example:

• Use a keyword like “JOIN” for customers to text and subscribe to your updates
• Embed a sign-up link on your website or social media profiles for quick access

If you already have a database of customer phone numbers, you can upload them directly to Textellent. The platform supports seamless imports from spreadsheets or CRM systems.

You should also organize your list by grouping customers based on factors like purchase history, location, or preferences. Textellent’s advanced segmentation tools help you target specific groups with personalized messages for improved customer engagement.

Step 4: Create a New Campaign

Decide what you want to achieve with your campaign. You can determine ahead of time what type of campaign you want – informational, transactional, or promotional SMS. 

Having a clear goal will help you craft a more focused and effective message.

Also, choose the best time to send your messages. Retail promotions may perform better in the late morning, while appointment reminders work best the day before. Textellent’s scheduling tool makes it easy to set the perfect timing.

Step 5: Craft Your Message

Your message should deliver the essential information without making it long or overly detailed messages. Focus on the main purpose of your message and avoid unnecessary words to avoid losing the reader’s attention.

Personalization makes your message feel more relevant and engaging. Every SMS should encourage the recipient to take action, such as clicking a link, replying, or visiting your store.

Step 6: Personalize Your Message

When messages are personalized, they feel more genuine and less like generic advertisements. It helps build trust and encourages customers to act.

For example, instead of sending a generic message like:

“Enjoy 20% off at our store this weekend!”

You could send:

“Hi [Name], enjoy 20% off your favorite items this weekend! Shop now: [link].”

Slight personalization makes the message more engaging and relevant.

Recognizing your customers’ special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or important milestones, is also a thoughtful way to build stronger relationships.

Step 7: Schedule Your Campaign

Sending messages too early or late can lead to customer frustration or missed opportunities.

Textellent allows you to set specific dates and times for your campaigns. You can draft your message, select your audience, and choose when you want the campaign to go live. Once scheduled, Textellent will automatically send the messages at the specified time.

Best Practices for SMS Marketing

Implementing best practices in SMS marketing ensures that your SMS campaigns are effective, engaging, and compliant with regulations.

Here are some essential tips to follow:

Obtaining Proper Consent (Opt-In)

Always ensure that recipients have explicitly agreed to receive messages from you. Use straightforward language when asking for consent, such as “Sign up to receive text updates from us.” Implement a double opt-in process where recipients confirm their subscriptions. 

This helps verify that they genuinely want to receive your messages. Provide an easy way for recipients to opt out of receiving messages. Use phrases like “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” at the end of your messages.

Crafting Effective Messages

SMS messages aren’t limited to 160 characters, but you should keep them short and to the point. You can include a clear and direct call to action. 

Also, personalize your messages by using the recipient’s name, store manager’s name, and/or other personal details. Customized messages have higher engagement rates.

Timing Your Messages

Schedule messages based on the recipient’s time zone to make sure they receive them at appropriate times. Avoid sending messages early in the morning or late at night. 

Research suggests that mid-morning (10 AM) and mid-afternoon (2 PM) are good times to send promotional messages. Test different times to see what works best for your audience.

Segmenting Your Audience

Group your audience based on age, gender, location, and other demographic factors. Tailor messages to each segment for more relevance. 

Implement customer segmentation based on past purchases, website activity, or engagement with previous SMS campaigns. Send targeted messages that cater to their interests and behaviors.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Mistakes

One of the most common business texting mistakes is overwhelming your audience with too many messages. Stick to a reasonable frequency, such as bi-weekly or monthly updates. Make sure your messages are relevant and valuable to the recipients. 

Special promotions or urgent updates may warrant more frequent messaging, but quality over quantity should always be prioritized.

Avoid generic or off-topic messages that may annoy your audience. Regularly review campaign performance through analytics. Use insights to refine your SMS marketing strategy and improve future campaigns.

Take Your SMS Marketing to the Next Level With Textellent

Textellent is the SMS marketing software your business needs to stay connected with customers and grow. With Textellent’s powerful text message marketing service, you can schedule appointments, launch promotions, and personalize every customer interaction.

Textellent stands out because it’s both powerful and easy to use. You can customize messages to fit your audience, send them at the best times, and even include images or other media for a more engaging experience.

Join businesses of all sizes that are already using Textellent to simplify their marketing and boost their results. Sign up for a free trial or schedule a demo consultation today.

FAQs About SMS Marketing Software

How do I grow my SMS subscriber list?

Growing your SMS subscriber list involves multiple strategies. Promote your SMS program on your website, social media, and in-store. 

You can offer incentives like discounts or exclusive content for signing up. Also, use QR codes and keyword campaigns to make it easy for customers to join your list.

What support options are available if I encounter issues with my SMS marketing software?

Most SMS marketing software providers offer multiple support options, including online help centers with tutorials, FAQs, and user guides. 

Live chat and email support allow you to contact support teams for assistance, while phone support offers direct communication with representatives for urgent issues.

Is an SMS messaging app affordable for small businesses?

Yes, SMS messaging apps often offer flexible pricing plans that suit businesses of all sizes.

Texting platforms like Textellent provide plans starting at $49/month, which makes it accessible even for small businesses. Many platforms use pay-as-you-go models, so you only pay for the messages you send.