How to send bulk SMS that gets replies
Bulk SMS software vs. a texting CRM
Sending a large batch of texts is only step one. The money is in managing the replies, following up, identifying hot prospects, and keeping opt-outs clean. Basic bulk SMS software is built around sending. Text2Sale is built around selling, so your team can send campaigns, manage conversations, use AI assistance, track opt-outs, and move leads into appointments without losing context.
That difference matters most after a campaign goes out. A send to 2,000 contacts can produce dozens of replies within an hour, and each one is a lead deciding whether to talk to you. If those replies land in a tool nobody is watching, the campaign's cost is wasted.
Prepare the list before you press send
List quality decides deliverability. Carriers watch opt-out and complaint rates, and a campaign sent to a stale or unconsented list can get your numbers filtered for everyone on your account. A few minutes of cleanup protects every future campaign.
- Send only to contacts who agreed to receive texts from your business
- Remove duplicates and numbers that are not valid mobile numbers
- Import your existing opt-out list before your first campaign
- Segment by source or interest so the message matches the person
Write messages people answer
The texts that get replies are short, personal, and specific. Use the contact's first name, say who you are, reference why you are texting, and end with one question that is easy to answer. Every first message to a contact should include opt-out language.
Keep an eye on length and characters. A standard SMS segment holds 160 GSM-7 characters, but a single emoji or some special characters switch the whole message to Unicode, which cuts a segment to 70 characters. Text2Sale charges $0.015 per outbound segment, or $0.0135 after a qualifying $500+ wallet purchase, so a message that splits into three segments costs three times as much. Incoming SMS is free.