Cell phones have become ubiquitous in the modern world. Even people who don’t have smartphones still have some kind of cell phone that lets them stay in touch while on the move. That’s why short message service (SMS) messaging has become such an integral part of modern communication.
SMS messaging is also known as texting. It doesn’t require an internet connection, so it can reach people anywhere they have cell service. That makes SMS a perfect tool for marketers looking to improve their outreach.
Nearly half of all consumers prefer to receive brand updates through SMS over other channels like email, app notifications, or direct mail. Adding automatic SMS messaging to your arsenal is a great way to improve your marketing campaigns. Keep reading to learn what automated SMS is and the six best SMS automation tools you can use in your business.
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What Is Automated SMS & How Does It Work?
Automated SMS allows you to create text message campaigns that you can send to customers automatically. Systems like this can send and receive text messages from your customers without human intervention. You can set up drip campaigns to welcome new customers, build excitement for new releases, or build brand loyalty.
Automated SMS systems are valuable for several reasons:
- They are more likely to be opened than any other form of communication, with 90% of text messages being read
- They make your brand easier to contact since customers can text at any time of day or night
- They save you time and effort by letting you schedule campaigns in advance instead of trying to run them in real-time
In short, automated SMS tools help your brand communicate with customers more effectively.
The 6 Best SMS Automation Tools To Know
Good automated SMS campaigns rely on high-quality tools. Here are six top SMS automation tools you can use to stay in constant communication with your customers without wasting time or effort.
1. Aloware
Features:
- Two-way SMS/MMS messaging
- Local phone numbers
- Cloud-based system integrates with any customer relationship management (CRM) system or device
- Dynamic templates and tags to create campaigns
Aloware is an all-in-one phone system designed to make customer contact easy. Aloware’s robust SMS messaging tools allow you to naturally integrate texting into your customer outreach through any CRM or device you choose.
What sets Aloware apart is the ability to use local phone numbers to reach your customers. Unlike other SMS messaging services, Aloware allows you to text from local area codes, improving your open and response rates. Furthermore, Aloware offers several monthly plans that offer unlimited SMS free messages. In combination with simple CRM integrations and dynamic campaign templates, you can use Aloware to power text-based marketing campaigns that get results.
2. SimpleTexting
Features:
- Two-way SMS and multimedia messaging service (MMS) messaging
- Quick campaign creation
- Built-in support for polls and sweepstakes
- Integrations powered through Zapier
If you’re looking for the most straightforward SMS automation tools available, SimpleTexting is a solid option. The SimpleTexting platform is designed to make it as easy as possible to send SMS campaigns to a large number of people. You can quickly set up general campaigns, polls, and sweepstakes as long as you don’t need much customization. However, you’ll need to sign up for a complicated pricing system that relies on credits to send texts.
3. TextMagic
Features:
- Two-way SMS/MMS messaging
- Supports messaging through mobile and web apps
- Simple templates for campaign creation
- Integrations powered through Zapier
Another super-simple SMS marketing platform, TextMagic is easy to set up and use. It offers more customization than SimpleTexting as long as you’re comfortable digging into the system a little bit. For example, you can choose to receive responses to your texts through an application programming interface (API), a specific device, or your CRM.
One last important feature of TextMagic: it doesn’t charge you for texts you receive from customers. It’s a pay-as-you-go system where you’re only charged for the texts you send. Free texting responses mean that this is an excellent option if you want interactive messaging with your customers.
4. Sakari
Features:
- Two-way SMS/MMS messaging
- Streamlined interface
- Integrations powered through Zapier
If you’re not expecting to receive many in-bound texts, Sakari is a solid alternative to TextMagic and SimpleTexting. Like these other apps, it’s a streamlined, easy-to-use system entirely focused on SMS messaging but at a lower cost per text. However, unlike the alternatives, it charges for texts you receive. If you’re only sending texts, its slightly lower price will be a more cost-effective solution.
5. Twilio
Features:
- Two-way SMS/MMS messaging
- Developer-focused
- Many free tutorials
- Integrations supported through APIs, Zapier, and HubSpot
Technically savvy businesses can turn to Twilio for highly customizable SMS automation tools. This developer-focused platform allows you to personalize your text marketing campaigns by programming APIs to connect the service with your applications. There are hundreds of tutorials explaining how to customize Twilio, or you can rely on the platform’s pre-built APIs to connect the service to your CRM. In return for taking charge of your experience, Twilio’s pricing is less than a penny a text.
6. Klaviyo
Features:
- Two-way SMS/MMS messaging
- Supports email and SMS
- Powerful analytical tools
Companies focused on text-based communication can consider Klaviyo for their marketing needs. Klaviyo lets you build text and email marketing campaigns in the same workflow. It offers free SMS messaging for up to 150 SMS messages per month and up to 50 contacts. After that, you can sign up for a monthly subscription that fits your business’s needs.
Add SMS Automation Tools to Your Marketing Toolbox
If you’re looking for ways to make contacting your customers easier, SMS messaging might be a perfect choice. There are plenty of options available to help you add automated SMS campaigns to your marketing toolbox. Any of the top SMS automation tools on this list can help you reach out to your customers more effectively.
You don’t have to make the choice blind, though. If you want to explore your options in more depth, Aloware can help. You can book your demo of Aloware’s free SMS texting tools today to see how they can help your business.
