Text Marketing For Small Businesses 101

Text message marketing is the process of using SMS to send transactional or promotional information to your clients and potential customers. This marketing strategy is cost-effective and can reach a large audience in a matter of seconds. This makes it a marketing tool that has high functionality across a range of platforms.

There are many things you can do with the best SMS app and an Internet connection, but there is a fine line between sending marketing texts and harassing your client. You don’t want your clients cringing every time their notifications go off. For this reason, you need to follow some simple rules. These include:

• Don’t send messages late at night or in the early morning.
• Don’t send multiple messages in a day.
• Don’t send anything that could be considered offensive or mean-spirited.
• Do include emojis and stickers. These can make your messages more engaging and more personal.
• Do send friendly notifications, filling them in on the latest sales and important information.
• Do use a quality app that allows integrations with WhatsApp, iPhone, Android users, and other platforms.

You don’t want your customers to consider you as bad as a pop-up and want to blacklist your business. Instead, keep them looking forward to your messages. Keep reading for more details on finding the best SMS app for using text message marketing.

What is text message marketing?

Thanks to technological advancements, businesses today have various marketing methods at their disposal. These include email marketing, social media marketing, and text marketing. All these methods allow you to reach a larger audience for a fraction of the time and monetary costs required by older marketing methods. Therefore, many small businesses are starting to invest in text message marketing to keep their current customers engaged and reach out to new leads.

Text message marketing is the use of managed strategies over short messaging services to promote your business and services. If you have ever received a text message from a business trying to sell you a product or service, you have experienced text message marketing. This can be for anything from extending your car’s warranty to trying out a new grooming service for your pet. It is a fantastic tool for reaching a large group of people with minimal effort.

SMS marketing campaigns also tend to be more effective because consumers are usually more receptive to marketing messages sent through SMS rather than through email. Text messages also have an exceptionally high open rate of 95%, so the customers are more likely to read the marketing messages you send via SMS.

Text message marketing can be overwhelming initially, especially since you have to first obtain consent from customers before you can send them marketing messages. Luckily, there are many apps to help you along the way. Keep reading for a short list of the best SMS app solutions available today and what they offer.

12 SMS Text Messaging Apps

There are many text marketing platforms available on the market. Considering what you need from your services will make a difference in your choice of the best SMS text messaging app for your small business.

Keep reading to get a closer look at what is available, what offers advanced features like end-to-end encryption and rich communication services or RCS messaging, and what works and doesn’t work with each app. It may be tempting to turn to an open-source candidate, but working with a quality platform should be of primary concern.

1. Podium

Podium offers tools to help you with your small business marketing from start to finish. They offer a range of AI tools that can help you build your communication with your customer base. If you need detailed, easy-to-understand analytics and reports, Podium has a host of tools already built for your small business to utilize. From building sales scripts to working out your Facebook Messenger responses, Podium has all your bases covered.

There is a two-week free trial period offered for Podium. In addition, it works across multiple platforms, so it works perfectly with iOS and Android, and you can also use Podium API to build your tools. You can work with their program for group messaging and their AI-powered features allow for quick replies to customer questions. Get a free demo here.

2. TextMagic

TextMagic is an excellent app for getting marketing text messages out quickly and with superior service. This service allows you to easily manage your workflow through automated processes. You can utilize their AI to create automated answers, facilitating smooth communication. You can also make use of their pre-built, in-app analytics and reporting to see what marketing messages are working best.

In addition, there are options for business text messaging add-ons as well as full integration.  With this app, you get the first 30 days free, and then it will cost you $.04 per outbound text after that initial month. There are some limitations with the pricing platform, but, overall, it is a well-received app.

3. SimpleTexting

Hailed as one of the best Android SMS app solutions today, you can get SimpleTexting at the Google Play Store. This SMS marketing tool has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to run text messaging marketing campaigns. With this app, you get omnichannel support, which covers voice, email, web, social, and mobile. You can utilize their automated AI-powered answers that are automated. Your workflow can be managed through automation as well.

With SimpleTexting, you can also take advantage of pre-built analytics and reporting. You will have customization options when working with this app and it’s perfect for iPhones and Android phones like the Google Pixel, so you can reach larger sections of your target audience.

4. SlickText

SlickText is another app that is perfect for advanced marketing as well as collecting phone numbers. You will have the option of using their AI-powered answers as well as automated workflows and additional advanced features. In addition, you have access to pre-built analytics and out-of-the-box reports. With this app, you have optional add-ons as well as business text messaging integration.

Some of the many advantages of working with this app are that there are free incoming messages as well as a high rate of integration. You can also use the autoresponder and build campaigns through SMS marketing options.

You get a two-week trial, but, once that is over, you need to pay $29 each month. Customers love that there are customization options with this app.  Some drawbacks of working with this app are that there are numerous pricing tiers, and there have been reports of difficulties with using the app’s analytics and reporting features.

5. Salesmsg

Another excellent SMS app to consider from the Google Play Store is Salesmsg. This is perfect for local businesses looking to get started with SMS marketing. This message allows seamless integrations with other business software and apps through Zapier to help marketing teams become more productive. You also get the option to send text messages from toll-free numbers, local phone numbers, and dedicated short codes.

When using this app, you will get a two-week free trial. After this free trial, the app will cost you $25 a month.

6. Textedly

This SMS app is perfect for omnichannel support, which means it will work across multiple channels such as web, mobile, social, voice, and email. This SMS platform is perfect for sending SMS messages in bulk. The clean interface offers user-friendly analytics that customers love. Both Godaddy and Walmart use Textedly.

You can manage it through an app or on the web, so you can use the app on Windows and Mac computers. Initiate campaigns right from your phone and get an unlimited number of new subscribers.  You get two weeks free, and after that, it will cost you $29 a month for 500 messages. This app seamlessly integrates with Zapier, Hubspot, Slack, Salesforce, and more.

There are also a variety of pricing tiers according to your needs. Some drawbacks of working with this app are complex pricing and limited integrations. But users love the fact they have an unlimited subscriber limit as well as intelligent AI responses. Good reviews also talk about the platform’s online training and documentation.

7. EZ Texting

This app allows you to easily set up automated workflows. You will get a two-week free trial, and then after that, it costs $25 a month for up to 500 contacts. This is ideal for bulk messaging and works well with Android users. EZ texting provides automated text replies for better customer interaction as well as prompting customers to act on coupons and deal notifications.

Benefits include a large variety of SMS options in bulk, dedicated short codes, easy setup, and convenient drip campaigns. You have the option of password-protecting for your material and you will enjoy improved functionality over Google messages. A drawback of working with this app is that it doesn’t allow the segmentation of customers into categories.

8. Zendesk

This is one of the leading SMS apps, as it leads the industry with its unified agent workspace. You also have automated answers and AI-powered information that can streamline workflows. Customers enjoy pre-built analytics and reporting.

Moreover, you can also use business text messaging add-ons and integration. You get this app for a two-week free trial, and then after that, you will need to pay $55 monthly per agent.

9. Google Voice

The Google Voice app works across multiple channels. In addition, you can use its option for automated answers that are AI-powered. The app allows for business integration as well as add-ons so you can access specific features that your business needs.

Unfortunately, there is no free trial. The cost is low at just $10 per month for each user. There are some limitations, however, as you can only message customers in the US.

10. Trumpia

If you want to run campaigns and keep them on schedule, Trumpia is the best SMS app for you. It allows the use of SMS messenger, voice messages, email, and more. You have multiple avenues for communicating with your customer base so you can reach more customers and convert more leads. This accounts for the high functionality rating it receives with customer reviews.

You will get several features for tracking and managing contacts as well. There is flexible pricing based on how much you use it, and you get a trial period where messaging can be free. This is a perfect plan for a business that foresees having high-volume use. There is direct support, and you can prepay to help control your budget.

Some advantages of using this system include comprehensive analytics, drip campaigns, and comprehensive automation. You will also have integration with CRMs and robust messaging features even with entry-level programs.

11. Twilio

If you’re looking for the best SMS app that offers volume texting, Twilio is the right one to go with. It is customizable and perfect for web developers already working with CRM programs.  One feature everyone loves in addition to the bulk SMS messenger is that it is supported through other channels such as email, video, and voice as well. Software developers can use this platform to make or receive phone calls in addition to other communication tasks using their web tools.

Some benefits customers love are the pay-per-message capabilities and the ease with which developers can build campaigns. Others rave about the non-developer feature that allows you to simply drag-and-drop functions. It is supported by both iOS and Android phones.

Some drawbacks to using this app include a limited platform to integrate third parties and pricing that can be hard to compare to other apps.

12. TextLine

With Textline, you can easily send one and two-way messages as well as bulk messages. It is supported by Android and iOS. You can integrate with many services and have access to email and chat. There is no text forwarding, but you have a Quick Reply option through channels such as Facebook Messenger and the use of video calls. There is the option for group messaging as well.

They offer a two-week trial period without a credit card and plans as low as $59.97 a month. Benefits include 24/7 support and an easy payment gateway. You will also have real-time communication with your clients. Some drawbacks of this app include Google/Facebook account requirements for leaving reviews.