Short Message Service or SMS communication is one of the best avenues that businesses can use to keep in contact with their customers and suppliers. SMS text messages routinely outperform email for purposes like order confirmations, booking reminders, special offers, and updates – because people actually read them.
Using SMS apps, businesses can message contacts directly, or automate the entire process. What’s more, those same contacts can communicate straight back. However, not all business text apps were created equal. So how can you make the right choice?
Criteria for Selecting a Business SMS Application
There are a number of factors to consider, when choosing a business SMS application for your particular enterprise. They include the following:
Ease of Use
You shouldn’t need to hire a specialist, to set up your business text messaging application. So the business SMS app you choose should at least have an intuitive and user-friendly interface, with clear Help resources and up to date documentation.
The Kind of Messaging Your Actually Want
If your business needs to engage customers in a dialogue, you’ll need a business SMS app with two-way messaging capability. You may also need a platform that enables you to automate responses, collect survey data, and schedule texts.
Contact Management
A contact management feature is a must, for keeping your contact list organized and up to date, and for managing your subscriber lists.
Analytics and Reporting
Analytics and reporting tools are essential in providing information as to which campaigns were successful and which were not – and giving insight into why they performed in this manner.
Customization Options
Business SMS solutions that capture customer data (names, birthdays, zip codes, etc.) can empower your marketing teams to personalize your text communications and increase customer engagement.
Cost-Effective Pricing
Consider the volume and type of messaging you need to send, and the implications of the pricing structure of the business text application. Note that the best business SMS services will offer complimentary incoming text messages – so you don’t have to pay when your customers reply to you.
SMS Integration
Look at the business systems you habitually use, and how the business SMS solution integrates with other platforms, such as email marketing programs and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
Multimedia Messaging (MMS)
Some business text services allow you to send pictures, videos and audio clips, to make your messages more engaging.
Ability to Scale
The business SMS solution you choose should be able to grow alongside your business, and cater for changes in seasonal activity – without having to bump you up to a much more expensive pricing tier.
Top Choices for Business Text Messaging
Here are seven of the top business text messaging applications currently on the market. This selection includes solutions for a range of business types and use cases.
1. EZ Texting
General Description: EZ Texting is a bulk SMS service built specially for business users with limited technical knowledge. Once you sign up, its user-friendly interface asks whether you want to use EZ Texting to “Delight Customers,” “Market & Engage,” or “Simplify Operations,” so that it can walk you through the relevant features. Each time you select a new tab or feature, there are clear instructions on how to use it, with working examples for templates.
For businesses looking to use multimedia messages (MMS) in their marketing,.EZ Texting has a native integration with Shutterstock, granting access to more than 20 million high-resolution, royalty-free images. EZ Texting also provides SMS integration with Hubspot, Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and Zapier.
Who It’s For: Business users with limited technical expertise, and organizations looking to use Multimedia Message Service (MMS) elements in their marketing.
Pros:
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Very user-friendly.
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Ability to send out mass texts to subscribers based on specific keyword groups.
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Customer service is responsive and helpful.
Cons:
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Difficult to send videos in text messages.
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No analytics in the lowest-cost version.
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You have to buy a membership plan in order to use it.
Pricing: As of June 2023, pricing plans start at $24 a month, with a 16% Discount on Yearly Payment. The basic package of $24/month gives you 200 text messages, one textable number, and one signup keyword. There’s a 14 day Free Trial (no credit card required), and a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) option is also available.
