Learn How to Send Customized SMS Messages in Bulk with a Custom Text Messaging App
With the right business text messaging software, it’s easy to get your text messages delivered.
But just because your messages got delivered doesn’t mean they’ll get a link click, response, or any meaningful engagement.
So what’s the secret to getting engagement and better click rates without wasting money on a mass text broadcast?
The answer is custom text messages with personalized message text.
In this article I’ll show you:
- Why customized text messages get more engagement
- Personalized text message features
- How to send customized SMS text messages
- 7 campaign and custom text message examples
- 5 best practices for personalizing text messages
By the end, you’ll know how to reach more people in more personalized ways with a custom text messaging app.
Read on for more.
What is a Personalized Text Message?
A personalized text message is an SMS that automatically inserts contact, customer, or client info into a message. Personalized messages often include custom info like birthday, previous purchase, appointment date, etc. Personalized messages and features like custom fields also make it easier to send more valuable, contextual offers and updates to the right people at the right time.
Why Customized Text Messages Get More Engagement
So why do more personalized messages get more engagement? For starters, there’s nothing sweeter to someone than the sound of their first name.
But personalized messaging goes far beyond that.
Here are the top reasons why customized text messages lead to more engagement:
1. Data makes it easy to personalize messages for the right context and timing.
Nailing the context and timing of a message means your offer is more likely to stick. The best way to do this is by saving contact information and details.
Business texting services (like MessageDesk) make it easy to save contact information and then auto-insert those contact details into the body of a message.
Automatically inserting a customer’s first name, info about their last order or details about their next appointment also shows you care. Messages stick when you couple details with timing.
2. Contacts, customers, and clients crave conversational experiences.
Some 74% of people prefer conversational experiences vs. messaging an automated chatbot.
Plus, text messaging is the most widely adopted and familiar form of communication outside of email.
It's a great medium for conversational messaging because it's so familiar and informal. It allows people to start text conversations in their own time for a better brand experience.
3. Mass texting allows you to personalize messages at scale.
Trying to reach a bunch of people? One of the best ways to do this is by sending a mass text.
With the right mass text SMS app or service, you can text thousands of people and include their first names in each text. All without having to send a thousand individually personalized messages.
Advanced texting features called personalization tags make it easy to auto-insert everyone’s first name or any other contact detail into a message.
And what are personalization tags? I’m glad you asked.
Personalized Text Message Features
So what exactly does personalized text messaging look like? What are the top personalized text messaging features to look for if you need personalized bulk text messaging?
1. Pre-saved text message templates
Text message templates are a business texting app feature that makes it easy to save messages you send regularly to recipients. You can even pre-save picture text messages and add links and other media as a template.
Instead of having to type the same message over and over again, you can just save it as a template.
Not only does this feature save time, but it also makes messaging more consistent across multiple teammates.
2. Personalization tags
Personalization tags are shortcuts that make it easy to auto-insert contact info into a text message.
Personalization tags enable you to send mass messages without making them obvious to your audience. It's how you can send SMS with name instead of number.
To add a personalized touch, all you have to do is insert a {{ Tag }} with brackets when you compose a message.
3. Custom fields
Custom fields help you save info that’s unique to individual contacts. You can use custom fields to save details like someone’s birthday, preferred service day, next scheduled appointment, etc.
Once you’ve added a custom field you can use a personalization tag to auto-insert the details into a text message.
{{contacts_custom_fields="/media"}}
How to Send Custom Personalized Bulk Text Messages
Want to know how to send custom bulk SMS or text blasts to your recipients? Follow these simple steps:
1. Text-enable a business phone or select a new text number
Next, you’ll need to get a new text number or text enable your existing business number.
Some platforms automatically give you a new toll-free number for texting.
To text from your existing business phone number or landline, you’ll need to submit a number porting request.
Note: It will likely take from 1-7 days to successfully text-enable your business number once you submit your request. Sometimes, this process is referred to as number hosting (not to be confused with number porting).
{{sms_phone_number="/media"}}
2. Import contact lists and create groups
MessageDesk makes it easy to import a .csv file with a list of contacts. Once you’ve got your contacts in MessageDesk, search and select the contact(s) or group(s) you’d like to send a text to.
{{contacts_import_export="/media"}}
3. Set up custom fields
Once you have gathered the primary contact information, it is now time to create custom fields.
Custom fields are additional information fields you can add to a recipient's contact information. This often includes info beyond a name, mobile number, or email. You can create new fields such as job title and favorite color, to mention a few.
4. Personalize your text broadcast with tags, media, and links
After you've uploaded your contacts, you'll need to compose your content. For this, MessageDesk supports pre-saved text message templates, tags, media, and links.
This allows you to create more personalized texts that allow for deeper engagement with your audience. You can also pre-save different SMS texts for different group messaging and SMS marketing campaigns.
{{broadcast_reminders="/media"}}
5. Schedule or automate your personalized text broadcast
You can always schedule text message broadcasts to send at a later date. You can also take advantage of automated text message campaigns to deliver messages to your recipients.
{{broadcast_compose="/media"}}
6. Track when contacts open and click links in your SMS broadcast
One feature that separates MessageDesk from other SMS broadcast providers is the ability to send a link in texts. This allows you to track open rates and monitor the success of your SMS broadcast.
MessageDesk’s SMS broadcast service delivers a report with information on who successfully received the text.
{{automation_link_clicks="/media"}}
7 Campaign and Custom Text Message Examples
Wondering what personalized messaging looks like? The following are some custom message examples you can use in your next text campaign.
1. Happy birthday
Happy birthday, {{ FirstName }}! Use {{ DiscountCode }} to redeem 10% off your next order.
2. Promotional offer
Hi, {{ First Name }}! Don’t miss our SEASON sale on ITEM, ITEM, and more! Save up to XX% on everything you’ll need for the season. For more info visit: URL.
3. Appointment scheduling
Thank you for scheduling an appointment with our office. You are confirmed for an appointment with PERSON on {{ Date }} at {{ Time }}. If you have any questions, please respond to this text or call HIM/HER at {{ PhoneNumber}}.
4. Appointment confirmation
Hi, {{ FirstName }}. This is REP NAME from INSURANCE COMPANY. We just wanted to confirm your REASON appointment for tomorrow. Does {{ Time }} still work for you?
5. Out of office
Hey {{ FirstName }}, I’m out of the office starting {{ StartDate }} through {{ EndDate }}. I’ll be back on {{ Return Date }}. Please contact {{ FirstName }} at {{ EmailAddress }} for immediate assistance. Otherwise, I’ll respond ASAP once I’m back. {{ FirstName }}, {{ OrganizationName }}
6. Billing reminder
Hi, {{ FirstName }}. It’s PERSON with {{ CustomField }}. Just wanted to remind you that your credit card on file will be charged {{ CustomField }} on DATE. If you have any questions, please call or send a text message to TEXT-ENABLED BUSINESS NUMBER.
7. Online review
Hi {{ FirstName }}, this is INDIVIDUAL from {{ Organization }}. Thank you for being a valued customer. We would appreciate it if you could leave a review about your experience with us. We have provided a link to a third-party online review page for your convenience: ADD URL.
Suggested Article: 100+ Business Text Message Templates & Examples (Copy & Paste)
5 Best Practices for Personalizing Text Messages
Successful personalized custom text messages often share some similarities. Take the following best practices into consideration:
1. Keep your message fresh and fun
SMS is a personal way of reaching out to recipients. You can make your message more light-hearted and fun by customizing it according to the age of your recipients.
For example, using slang and text abbreviations can be an excellent way to reach younger demographics.
2. Send your texts during business hours
If your customer wakes up to a promo message at 5:00 am, they most certainly won't be pleased.
It would be best to send personalized text messages during working hours, as a form of text message etiquette. This way, your customer will appreciate you respecting their privacy and time.
3. Make relevant value additions
The secret to successful personalized messaging is adding relevant value to your recipients. Know your customers by getting to understand what they like. For example, don’t send a 70-year-old woman a promo for the most stylish leggings.
4. Always respond in real-time
Your goal is to make the interaction feel as human as possible. Having an 8-hour delay in response feels like a conversation with a bot. Offering quick responses can significantly improve the customer experience.
5. Don’t overwhelm or SPAM message recipients
Sending promotional text messages? Be sure to have the right level of consent. You’ll also want to abide by TCPA guidelines by giving people the ability to opt-out of messages.
Give them clear instructions on how to opt-out if they are no longer interested in receiving messages.
Maximize the effectiveness of your personalized text messaging efforts by utilizing an SMS answering service. This valuable tool allows you to provide immediate responses to customer inquiries and engage in real-time conversations, taking your messaging strategy to the next level.
Final thoughts and next steps
I’ve covered personalized messaging and how to customize text messages. You’ve got a grasp of the basics, so what’s next?
If you’re ready, schedule a demo and meet with one of our messaging experts.
We’re here to help your small business or organization improve messaging and find success.