Mass texting involves transferring a large number of text messages to numerous cell phone devices simultaneously. Mass texting is usually leveraged by companies to communicate with clients and workers. Common applications of mass texting include transferring reminder messages and alerts besides running business marketing campaigns.
Mass texting is arguably one of the most effective marketing and communication tools because of its ability to send text messages to hundreds or thousands of users. Nevertheless, do you know how mass texting works?
Here’s a detailed explanation of how mass texting works and how your organization can leverage its capabilities to foster the connection with clients:
How Does Mass Texting Work?
For starters, you require SMS provider software, which you can get from a reputable online texting service provider to send mass text messages. Often, these SMS providers provide an online-based dashboard or mobile app that allows you to control the sending and receiving of text messages.
The platform acts as an SMS gateway that enables you to send and sometimes obtain text messages from thousands of contacts within seconds. The SMS provider software often consumes your data, processes it, then sends the mass text messages to the carriers before returning the results to the customer.
How Do You Prepare Your Data and Mass Text Message for Delivery?
Before you can start sending your mass text messages, you’ll have to prepare the phone numbers and messages you’ll send. Most mass texting providers allow you to add data via CSV or text file import. Others enable you to link your existing system via an Application Programming Interface (API).
Once you’ve successfully uploaded your data (or connected your existing system using an API), the SMS provider software will process the mass text messages. Once processed, the SMS provider will send the text messages to the carriers for delivery to your targeted group of customers.
What is the Procedure for Sending Mass Text Messages?
Often, mass text messages are sent in clusters referred to as campaigns. Simply put, a campaign entails a series of text messages you send over a certain period to your contacts.
While creating a campaign, you’ll have to specify the intended recipient of the message and what message you’ll send. In addition, you’ll need to define the time when the message is to be delivered. Many sophisticated systems will authenticate cell phone numbers when setting up your text message for delivery to guarantee you’re sending it to mobile phones. During the validation process, the system will double-check phone numbers and remove duplicate numbers from the list.
After successfully sending your text messages, you’ll be able to manage all sent and received mass text messages via a web-based dashboard or mobile app.
How Do You Manage the Responses?
Once you have sent your mass text messages, your SMS provider software will provide a delivery report for you to review. Often, the report offers a detailed breakdown of the messages that were successfully sent and delivered and those that errored.
Based on the phone number you’re using, you may be able to send text message responses to your targeted contacts.
What Type of Phone Numbers Can You Use for Mass Texting?
You can use three main phone numbers when sending mass text messages via an SMS service provider. They are; short code numbers, long code numbers, and toll-free long code numbers.
Short Code
A short code (e,g 454545) involves a five or six-digit number, usually allocated to a certain organization or SMS provider. Generally, shortcodes can only be utilized in one country and are usually allocated to many organizations. These numbers are often leveraged for mass texting marketing campaigns and possess the greatest message delivery rate per second.
Long Code
Long codes (such as 425-555-1235) are also commonly referred to as virtual mobile numbers. With long code numbers, your organization can own its unique phone number, and you can use them internationally. However, long codes are the slowest regarding message delivery rate.
Toll-Free Long Code
An example of a toll-free code is 800-555-1234. These also allow your organization to have international coverage and a better message delivery rate than long codes.
Conclusion
Even though mass texting is one of the oldest marketing strategies, it remains one of the most effective approaches today. Using this elaborative guide, you can learn how mass texting works and leverage its capabilities to boost your marketing campaigns.
