How to Do a Text Blast (Quickly) in 2024: A Simple Guide
Communication is key for any business or organization and with modern technology, text messaging is the most effective way to reach as many people as possible. In this how to do a text blast guide, we will break down everything needed to know to get started sending out mass text messages.
What Is A Text Blast?
A “text blast”, also known as “mass texting”, refers to the process of sending a single text message to a large number of recipients simultaneously. This can be done using various software or platforms specifically designed for bulk messaging. Here’s why it might be considered important:
Efficient Communication: For businesses or organizations that need to relay a message to a large audience quickly, text blasts are one of the most efficient ways to do so. The immediacy of text messages ensures that most recipients will see the message shortly after it’s sent.
High Open Rates: Text messages have a high open rate compared to emails. Many studies show that over 90% of text messages are opened within the first three minutes of receipt.
Engagement: Given the personal nature of text messages, recipients are more likely to engage with a text than with other forms of digital communication.
Emergencies and Alerts: For situations where urgent communication is necessary, such as natural disasters, security threats, or critical system outages, text blasts are invaluable.
Marketing and Promotions: Many businesses use mass texting as a part of their marketing strategy to send promotions, discounts, or special offers to their customers.
Reminders: Healthcare providers, salons, and other appointment-based businesses often use text blasts, also referred to as text reminders, to notify clients of upcoming appointments and thereby reduce no-shows.
Feedback and Surveys: Businesses can send short surveys or solicit feedback using mass texting, making it easy for customers to respond.
Cost-Effective: In many cases, sending a text blast can be more cost-effective than other forms of communication, especially when considering the response and engagement rates.
Overall, mass texting or text blasts, when used judiciously, can be an effective tool for various communication needs.
What Are Common Issues When Sending A Text Blast?
The top most common problems faced by companies and organizations when sending a text blast include:
Spam and Unwanted Messages: One of the most common complaints about text blasts is that they can come across as spam. Recipients who receive messages they did not opt into can find them intrusive and irritating.
Lack of Personalization: Text blasts that are generic can lack relevance to the recipient. Without personalization, recipients might feel that the message isn’t tailored to them, which can lead to decreased engagement or opt-outs.
Frequency Issues: If sent too frequently, text blasts can annoy recipients and lead to higher opt-out rates. On the other hand, if sent too infrequently, recipients might forget they signed up and be surprised or annoyed when they do receive a message.
Permission Issues: Sending messages without the recipient’s explicit consent can lead to legal issues. It’s crucial to ensure that recipients have given permission (often termed as “opted-in”) before sending text blasts.
Content Irrelevance: If the content is not relevant to the audience, it can lead to disengagement. For example, sending promotions for products or services that the recipient hasn’t expressed interest in can be counterproductive.
Technical Challenges: There can be issues related to the delivery of messages, such as messages not being delivered, being delayed, or not displaying correctly on certain devices.
Potential Costs: Depending on the platform and country, sending mass text messages might be costly, especially if the return on investment (engagement, conversions, etc.) is low.
Violation of Regulations: Various countries have regulations governing mass texting. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to legal ramifications and fines.
Overloading Systems: In some cases, especially in emergency situations, sending out a massive number of texts simultaneously can overload systems, leading to delays or non-delivery of crucial information.
Negative Brand Perception: If not done correctly, text blasts can harm a brand’s image. Recipients might view companies that send spammy or irrelevant text messages as unprofessional or inconsiderate.
Limited Message Length: Text messages have a character limit, which can restrict the amount of information that can be conveyed. This might lead to oversimplification of messages or critical details being left out.
Given these challenges, it’s essential to approach text blasts strategically and responsibly to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing potential pitfalls.
How To Do A Text Blast
- Collect Subscribers (Opt-Ins) For Your Text Blast
- Create Personalized Text Message Templates
- Choose A Service
- Select A Texting Number
- Send Your Text Blast
Sending a text blast is meant to be an easy method to contact all of your opted in contacts at once with the click of a button. Once set up, a mass texting service can streamline communication for any business or organization. Check out the steps below to see how easy it is to set up text reminders for appointments and various other types of messages:
Step 1: Collect Subscribers (Opt-Ins) For Your Text Blast
Contacts must opt into receiving text blasts from companies and organizations in order to abide by texting laws in the United States. Use an opt-in form or ask for permission when a customer visits the office in-person.
Opted-in text subscriber lists can then be added to a mass texting service to send out personalized messages to all of them.
Step 2: Create Personalized Text Message Templates
The more personalized the better success a text blast will be. Create custom text message templates for text subscriber lists to ensure they have the highest success rate as possible.
Step 3: Choose A Text Blasting Service
Take a look at the different text blasting services available, such as DialMyCalls, and go over all of the features included. Pricing is also a huge factor when it comes to choosing a text blasting service for companies and organizations.
Do research and read over online reviews to ensure the best text blasting service for your company is selected.
Step 4: Select A Texting Number
Mass texting services will have various ways in which a text blast can be sent. The 3 most common ways are via: SMS Short Code, Local Vanity Number (10 DLC) and Toll-Free Texting Number. Check the requirements for each when looking into a mass texting service to see which method works best.
Step 5: Send Your Text Blast
Another question that should be asked is the frequency the text blasts will be sent. Make sure the mass texting service that is chosen has the ability to send text blasts immediately, schedule them for a later date and time or if needed, set up recurring text blasts.
Is Text Blasting Legal?
Text blasting is legal in the U.S. but must follow certain regulations. The TCPA is the main law, requiring “express written consent” from recipients before sending promotional texts and allowing easy opt-outs. Non-compliance with the TCPA can result in fines from $500 to $1,500 per unsolicited message. The CAN-SPAM Act, primarily for emails, has principles relevant to SMS, like clear opt-out methods.
Wireless carriers have specific SMS guidelines, and some states possess stricter rules than federal laws. It’s crucial to only text those who’ve opted in and provide easy unsubscription options, like “text STOP to unsubscribe.” Due to these rules and possible fines, businesses should fully understand and comply with these laws and possibly seek legal advice before starting a text blast campaign.
How to Choose the Right Text Blast Service for You?
Choosing the right text blasting service requires considering several factors to ensure the platform aligns with your needs, budget, and intended usage. Here are some steps and criteria to guide your selection:
Define Your Needs
Determine the purpose of your text blasts (e.g., marketing, reminders, alerts). Estimate the volume of texts you plan to send and the frequency. Decide if you need additional features like two-way messaging, scheduling, or integrations with other software.
Ease of Use
Choose a service with an intuitive interface. You should be able to set up and send blasts without a steep learning curve.
Features and Functionality
Look for services offering features that match your needs: segmentation, personalization, analytics, MMS capabilities, and more. Check if the platform allows for automated responses or drip campaigns if these are relevant to your strategy.
Compliance and Security
Ensure the service is compliant with regulations like TCPA and CAN-SPAM Act. Prioritize services that prioritize data security and encryption, especially if handling sensitive information.
Reliability and Delivery Rates
Research the service’s track record in terms of successfully delivering messages. High delivery rates are crucial.
Pricing
Compare pricing structures. Some services may charge per message, while others offer monthly plans or packages based on volume. Check for any hidden fees or costs associated with additional features.
Integration Capabilities
If you’re using other software tools, like CRM systems or email marketing platforms, check if the text blasting service can seamlessly integrate with them.
Customer Support
Prioritize services with strong customer support, ensuring you have assistance when needed. Check if they provide support through your preferred channels (e.g., phone, chat, email).
Scalability
Consider the growth of your business or organization. Ensure the service can accommodate increased volume in the future without substantial hikes in cost.
Reviews and Testimonials
Research user reviews, testimonials, and case studies to gauge customer satisfaction. Look for feedback regarding reliability, support, and the overall effectiveness of the platform.
Trial Periods and Demos
Many services offer free trials or demos. Use these opportunities to test out the platform’s features and gauge its fit for your needs.
Flexibility and Customization
If you have specific needs or unique use cases, see if the platform allows for customization or if they’re flexible in adapting to specific requirements.
After considering the above factors, shortlist a few providers, and try their platforms. This hands-on experience, combined with the criteria listed, should help you find the right text blasting service for your needs.
Introducing DialMyCalls for Text Blasts
DialMyCalls offers a robust mass texting platform that allows users to send out opted in contacts a text message with the click of a button. Have you ever wondered how to run a medical office efficiently? DialMyCalls can help with its automated text reminders for appointments in addition to various other features.
Let’s take a look at the features DialMyCalls offers to help you send a text blast:
Free Texting Number
Customers that sign up for an account with DialMyCalls will be able to register a local vanity number (10DLC) for free. This number will be utilized to send out text blasts through DialMyCalls to opted-in contacts.
Personalized Text Messages
DialMyCalls offers variable messaging that customers can utilize to send out a personalized text blast to an entire list of contacts. Using the variables that DialMyCalls provides, a text message can be personalized for each individual contact while sending it to every contact at once.
2-Way Texting
Add 2-Way Texting to your DialMyCalls account to view and respond to contact replies from your text blast campaigns. Easily hold 1-on-1 conversations with individual contacts from your opted-in list of text subscribers.
Free Opt-In Forms
Create text subscriber lists by using DialMyCalls’ free opt-in form – quickly and easily generate an embed code that will display an opt-in form on a website. Don’t have a website? DialMyCalls offers hosted opt-in forms at no cost as well.
Automated Calling
Reach even more people with your text blasting campaign by sending out an automated phone call at the same time as your text message. This is a great way to ensure recipients receive important messages.
Email Blasting
Everyone has an email address these days and DialMyCalls offers a free emailing option that can be added on to any text blast or automated call. Simply add in email addresses for your contacts to send a free email alongside any text or call.
Advanced emailing is available for a small fee – customize and personalize your email blasts by using a business’ email domain.
Flexible Pricing Options
Whether DialMyCalls is being used by a small organization or a large corporation with thousands of customers, DialMyCalls has a pricing option available for all. Below are the different pricing options available:
Pay-As-You-Go: Purchase credits as needed to send out a text blast to contact lists – 1 credit = 1 text to 1 number with 160 characters.
Standard Monthly Plan: Have a contact list that never changes? Purchase a standard monthly plan to send up to 30 text blasts to your allotted number of contacts each month – standard plans can send a text message with 160 characters.
Premium Monthly Plan: Our most popular option gives customers a certain number of credits each month to be used as needed. The premium monthly plan also includes additional features such as two-way texting and conference calling at no additional cost.
DialMyCalls offers a top-of-the-line mass texting service for businesses and organizations of all types. Send out a text blast today by signing up for a free account with one of the top text blasting platforms in the United States and Canada.
Key Takeaways for Sending an SMS Text Blast
Sending an SMS text blast can be a powerful communication tool when done right. Here are the key takeaways to consider:
Permission is Paramount: Always obtain consent from recipients before sending text blasts. Unsolicited messages can lead to legal repercussions and damage your brand’s reputation.
Clarity and Brevity: SMS has a character limit, usually 160 characters. Ensure your message is clear, concise, and to the point.
Timing Matters: Send texts at appropriate times, considering time zones and typical daily schedules to maximize engagement.
Opt-Out Option: Always provide recipients with a clear and easy way to unsubscribe from future messages. This is not only a best practice but often a legal requirement.
Personalization Boosts Engagement: Whenever possible, tailor messages to individual recipients. Personalized messages tend to get better responses.
Compliance is Crucial: Familiarize yourself with regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the U.S. or other local regulations if operating elsewhere.
Reliability and Delivery: Ensure that your chosen platform or service provider has a good track record of delivering messages successfully.
Feedback and Analytics: Utilize metrics and feedback to understand recipient engagement and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Avoid Spammy Content: Ensure your content is relevant and valuable. Overwhelming recipients with too many messages or irrelevant content can lead to increased opt-outs.
Plan and Test: Before sending out a large blast, test your message on a smaller group to check for clarity, functionality, and any potential issues.
Remember, the goal of a text blast is to communicate effectively while respecting the preferences and privacy of the recipients. Keeping these takeaways in mind can help ensure the success of your SMS campaigns.
Start sending an SMS text blast today by signing up for a free account with DialMyCalls.
