What Is SMS Marketing Software?

A highly popular communication channel used by businesses all around the globe is marketing through text messaging, or SMS marketing. SMS marketing software enable small, medium, and large businesses to easily and efficiently send SMS messages to target audience’s mobile phones from online channels through an SMS gateway.

SMS marketing is related to sending important messages, such as appointment reminders, booking confirmations, promotional campaigns, and more to a smartphone, tablet or any other related telecommunication equipment through the avenues of websites, email, SMS or MMS, social media or any other mobile applications.

The great advantage about using email and SMS marketing software platforms is that most people have a mobile phone and they can be provided with immediate personalized information that helps promote or sell a good, service and an idea. 

Learn more about how to conduct SMS marketing successfully with our guide, or view the latest SMS marketing statistics in 2024. the rise of SMS marketing or mass text messaging for businesses in today’s society read our 2024 statistics blog.

Bulk SMS industries

Best SMS Marketing Software Providers

There are a range of mass SMS marketing software providers available to USA businesses, all offering unique SMS capabilities at different price points. The top 5 SMS marketing software providers were reviewed and compared in our SMS marketing comparison, and found the following software for SMS marketing were offered by the providers below.

  • ClickSend – User-friendly, Web-Based SMS Software Application
  • EZ Texting – Fast, Reliable Cloud-Based SMS Software
  • BulkSMS – Best Affordable SMS Prices
  • MessageBird – Best Global Omni-Channel SMS Marketing Software
  • MessageMedia – Quick & Easy Setup For Beginners

Whilst each provider offer great advantages suited to different sized businesses in multiple industries, overall ClickSend offered the best SMS marketing software. Overall rankings are shown below.

ClickSend

Best web-based software application and user-friendly API for integrations and automation

ClickSend is well known for offering an online cloud-based platform, enabling businesses to easily send thousands of bulk text messages to cell phones and mobile devices around the world without having to download any additional software. 

With a customizable API, ClickSend is suited to experienced marketers and developers, enabling third-party integrations with channels such as WhatsApp, email, and Facebook. ClickSend’s SMS marketing software provides a mobile app with a dashboard that businesses can access from any web-enabled device, whether that be a computer, mobile phone, or tablet. Within this dashboard, businesses are able to set up customer segmentation in conjunction with SMS automation in order to conduct successful text campaigns.

The text message service also offers a free trial, with an 100% SLA guarantee, meaning that businesses can ensure that their SMS messages are delivered reliably.

To learn more about ClickSend’s offerings, view our ClickSend review, or visit their website.

View ClickSend Review >>Visit Website >>

 

EZ Texting

Known for fast and reliable cloud-based SMS and MMS software

EZ Texting is a successful SMS marketing software provider, founded in 2004, offering a highly reliable online marketing channel software to streamline communications with customers and stakeholders alike.

With over 165,000 customers worldwide, the EZ Texting is well known for their flexible pricing plans, offering a range of different SMS features for businesses of any size. EZ Texting offers both SMS and MMS software, enabling mass text messaging, multimedia messaging (with advanced picture messaging through Shuttershock), automated workflows (including autoreponders), drip campaigns, email to SMS messaging, text-to-landline and much more.

EZ Texting’s cloud-based software is easy to manage and made for small businesses to integrate the features required to conduct their SMS marketing campaigns. The provider also offers a free trial, online tutorials, and efficient customer support services.

EZ Texting Review >>Visit Website >>

BulkSMS

Best affordable SMS marketing software pricing solutions

BulkSMS is a successful SMS marketing software provider, being a global company that offers text message solutions with over 800 networks at various price ranges. BulkSMS is popular for servicing businesses of any size, from SMEs to large business enterprises.

The pricing packages offered by the SMS software provider ranges from 200 SMS credits to over 50,000 credits, and businesses can also get a quote for large volumes. The larger the number of text messages purchased, the cheaper the cost per SMS. Unlike many other SMS marketing providers, BulkSMS credits never expire, meaning you can use these credits as quickly or as slowly as you wish. Additionally, if you’re unhappy with the software or services offered by BulkSMS, you can request a refund for unused credits.

The cost-effective pay-as-you-go pricing structure means that businesses will not be locked into any contracts and you are able to easily add SMS credits when necessary. The provider also offers additional features such as short codes and dedicated numbers (incoming long numbers) and inbound messages are always free.

A great feature of the SMS communication provider is the offering of sponsorships for non-profit organizations such as schools, religious groups, charities and NGO’s.

 

Bulk SMS Review >>

MessageBird

Best for global omni-channel SMS marketing software integration

For a modern SMS marketing software platform, which offers omni-channel communication backed by global networks, American businesses choose MessageBird. MessageBird offer a seamless SMS platform where businesses can create a dashboard with integrated applications with other marketing tools (e.g. email marketing, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, CRM platforms) so that all their communication is in one place. This is essential for an all-encompassing marketing strategy and truly utilize the benefits of mobile marketing.

MessageBird’s software is extremely reliable, as they are powered by 240 direct carriers in 140 countries around the world. Thus, you can be sure that your SMS marketing messages are delivered successfully and in a timely manner, anywhere around the world. 

With global head offices and support centers, MessageBird is also famous for their level of customer support team, as well as being a user-friendly interface for every type of business to conduct their SMS marketing campaigns.

 

MessageBird Review >>Visit Website >>

 

MessageMedia

Quick and easy setup for beginners and businesses of all sizes

MessageMedia offers a fuss-free, quick and easy SMS marketing platform for all types of businesses. The SMS provider is particularly catered towards businesses wanting to tap into the SMS marketing industry and may be a beginner in this type of communication channel. The provider is available in the USA, UK, AU, and NZ, and offers a range of pricing options, including a free 14 day free trial, which is important for those who are unsure about mass text messaging.

Clients of MessageMedia have said that they have been able to set up and send their mass texts within minutes, and this can be easily conducted through their online web portal, or webhook to existing systems and channels.

The SMS marketing software offers the ability to send bulk SMS, two-way SMS, email to SMS, and much more, with a range of ready-made templates for many different types of industries to help businesses get started on the text message marketing journey. 

MessageMedia also offers an extensive range of resources on their website, including in-depth SMS guides, case studies, and tutorials, to help beginners conduct successful SMS marketing campaigns and communications. MessageMedia is a popular provider offering marketing solutions with messaging platforms to boost the customer experience for ecommerce websites and much more.

 

MessageMedia Review >>Visit Website >>

 

Advantages Of SMS Marketing Software

By using the reliable software provided by the leading SMS marketing companies, businesses are able to directly target their customers to send important information in real time, without any fuss. SMS marketing has shown to have the highest level of open rates, improve customer relationships, brand loyalty, and can be used in a number of ways, such as:

  • Notifying people about special deals or offers
  • Sending mass text alerts for emergency scenarios
  • Provide delivery information
  • Reminder and alert notices about attending a function or an activity or a promotion
  • Functionality to integrate with other digital marketing campaigns

Downloading SMS marketing software is highly effective over other forms of communication such as emails, social media, and other traditional channels such as print or TV, is highly advantageous as sending an SMS text message directly to the recipient is almost 100% guaranteed to be seen. The growth of SMS marketing and the related statistics are discussed in our blog post here.

Overall, SMS marketing services are highly cost effective, with many mass texting companies offering a range of tools with a pay-as-you-go pricing structure. Upon comparing the leading SMS providers available in America, the most cost-effective and reliable SMS marketing software provider is ClickSend. To learn more about ClickSend, see the prices below or visit their website.

ClickSend SMS price

What SMS Marketing Software Features To Look For

When engaging with an SMS marketing provider, the great thing is, is that there is no requirement for a business to have existing SMS software or complicated systems in order to run an text message marketing campaign. A business simply needs a device of choice, whether that be a PC/Mac, tablet, or smartphone (Android or iOS) and access to the internet. The rest is taken care of by the SMS marketing provider.

The SMS marketing system in the provider’s database marketing package will mean that they can easily create your desired message and send this to targeted customers through a contact list of phone numbers a business provides. These messages can also be automated or scheduled to be sent on certain days or times. Other features include:

  • Drip campaigns
  • MMS capabilities
  • Delivery reporting
  • Customization
  • Auto-responses using keywords
  • Contact list cleaning services

Ultimately, sending short text messages is an efficient method of communication with the people needing or wanting the information. Many of the SMS marketing providers have the information technology tools to disseminate quickly, saving businesses a significant amount of time and of course, money.

What Reliable Software Do SMS Marketing Providers Offer?

Based on all the reviews done into the reliability of the SMS Marketing providers, they can cater for large volumes of text messages being distributed all at the same time. The software available allows for the addition of numerous mobile numbers either sent individually or in group, dependent on the client’s request. This is done through the provider’s software application using a text file or a CSV file. Some of the applications can delete duplication or able to validate the message before distribution. This will ensure that no messages are being sent to invalid phone numbers.

Most of the SMS Marketing companies possess the application program interface know as SMS APIs and SDKs. This can automate the client’s business providing full support for languages, secure FTP, SMPP and any third party applications. This integration into the system means that businesses can automatically distribute text messages using the software that is present and used by the providers.

Overall, reliability in measured through the uptime SLA guarantee provided. After comparing many of the top SMS marketing software providers in USA, a service level agreement of 98% or more is deemed to be highly reliable.

Direct Vs Hybrid Carriers

From a review of major SMS Marketing providers in USA it was seen that they all use the interfaces platforms outlines in the content above. Of course, some SMS companies do have more developed technology with more ways to service the clients but they all do the work of ensuring promotional and marketing messages are disseminated efficiently.

The two main routes that a SMS marketing software will use is either a Direct or Hybrid telecommunication carrier. Some providers may service the client with a cheaper rate but in most cases this will mean using a cheaper less effective hybrid or overseas carrier – this is down as a Hybrid or “Grey” route. The direct telecommunication carriers utilize highly reputable mobile carriers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and many more American telco’s. These are more efficient, however generally charge more.

Security Offered By SMS Marketing Software

All the software provided by American SMS companies is compliant with CAN-SPAM and CASL. Thus, by law, all SMS providers will allow subscribers to request removal from the system by easily texting the word “stop” to their mobile number to opt-out. Additionally, unsubscribes may be included to the company’s opt-out list. By maintaining the unsubscribe list up to date will mean that the client will be legally compliant. SMS providers also must protect the privacy of the client’s contacts and must not disclose any personal information to third party stakeholders.

Other Ways SMS Marketing Software Providers Reach Customers

As discussed, SMS marketing can be a highly efficient and effective means of reaching to a wide range of customers, with almost all text messages being read and responded to within 3 minutes of being received. SMS marketing platforms allow a variety of key features, capturing clients’ contacts with personalized text messages. It uses a simple merge feature to insert a person’s name and thereby attract attention of the customer or person receiving the message. The system will allow you to select the merge feature so that the personalized merge information will be automatically added to each person text message. Additionally, photos and videos are able to be sent using MMS gateways.

Another software option is known as short codes, which allow for text opt-ins to occur using short code keywords. This is a simple and engaging way since it allows people to take action with a few keystrokes. Short codes are very helpful for marketing a contest or a promotion or a charity event.

Follow up on text responses using text marketing automation. By establishing a detailed text message campaign or promotion, one can create messages that will automatically be sent based on subscriber actions. This software system provides straight away a customer service and doesn’t matter if the provider is busy to respond to your request. Drip campaigns are also possible with this form of text messaging service.

Of course, there are other marketing software programs that business should recommended such as those sited in this Forbes article.

About This USA SMS Comparison Website

This free SMS comparison table provides American businesses with an easy-to-use means of determining what are the essential features are required for marketing a product or service. It shows the reputable American SMS Marketing service providers and what they have to offer their prospective and current clients. It shows what are the essential features, charges, reliability and customer care services to conduct successful business text messaging.

The comparison site was established by experts in the SMS field who do not work for any of the companies selected so the independent assessment that can be provide. Since the authors know what are the essential features they have formed this table and written about the features for your review and decision making process.

The comparison table and sites do get reviewed and upgraded on an ongoing time period, however should you find that some of the content needs updating please do not hesitate to contact the authors and changes will be immediately made.

Other SMS marketing software providers available in the US, Canada, and around the world, include Slicktext, Simpletexting, Textedly, Textmagic and more. All of which provide bulk SMS marketing features to suit all types of businesses.

As stated above, the Comparison Table and sites are free to you however should you decide to engage one of the SMS Marketing companies reviewed then the authors will request a commission from the company you employed to do your marketing and communication work.

 

View SMS Comparison >>

 

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