BulkSMSRates

SMS Marketing Guide

SMS marketing delivers unmatched open rates and engagement. Learn how to create campaigns that convert — with real statistics, templates, and best practices.

98%

Open rate

vs 20% for email

45%

Response rate

vs 6% for email

90sec

Avg. read time

after delivery

$71

ROI per $1 spent

avg. across industries

36%

Click-through rate

for SMS links

75%

Prefer SMS offers

from brands they follow

Why SMS Marketing Works

Instant delivery

Messages reach recipients in seconds, not hours. Perfect for time-sensitive offers and urgent notifications.

Unmatched open rates

98% of SMS messages are opened and read — most within 90 seconds. No spam folder, no algorithm.

High conversion rates

SMS campaigns see conversion rates 3-5x higher than email, with click-through rates averaging 36%.

Universal reach

SMS works on every mobile phone — no smartphone or app required. Reach 100% of your audience.

Cost-effective

At £0.028/msg, a 10,000-message campaign costs £280. Average ROI is £71 for every £1 spent.

Personal channel

SMS feels personal and direct. 75% of consumers say they prefer receiving offers via text message.

Best Practices

Get proper consent

Always obtain explicit opt-in before sending marketing SMS. This is legally required under GDPR and PECR. Use double opt-in for best practice — send a confirmation SMS asking the user to reply YES.

Keep it short & actionable

SMS messages are limited to 160 characters per segment. Be concise, lead with value, and include a clear call-to-action. Every word must earn its place.

Personalise your messages

Use the recipient's name, past purchase data, and location. Personalised SMS sees 29% higher conversion rates. Segment your audience by behaviour and preferences.

Time it right

Send during business hours (9am-8pm). Tuesdays to Thursdays between 10am-2pm see the highest engagement. Never send late at night or on bank holidays.

Include opt-out

Every marketing SMS must include an opt-out mechanism like 'Reply STOP to unsubscribe'. Process opt-outs within 24 hours. BulkSMSRates handles this automatically.

Track and optimise

Use delivery reports, click tracking (short links), and conversion tracking to measure campaign performance. A/B test message copy, timing, and offers.

Segment your audience

Don't blast everyone with the same message. Segment by demographics, purchase history, engagement level, and preferences for dramatically better results.

Use urgency wisely

Time-limited offers and countdown language drive action — but don't overdo it. Genuine scarcity converts; fake urgency erodes trust.

Campaign Templates

Copy and customise these proven templates for your campaigns. Replace {fields} with your data.

Flash Sale

Retail, e-commerce

🔥 FLASH SALE! 30% off everything for the next 4 hours. Shop now: {link} Reply STOP to opt out

Appointment Reminder

Healthcare, salons, services

Hi {name}, reminder: your appointment is tomorrow at {time}. Reply YES to confirm or call {phone} to reschedule.

Order Update

E-commerce, logistics

Your order #{order_id} has been dispatched! Track: {link}. Expected delivery: {date}.

Welcome Series

Any industry

Welcome to {brand}, {name}! 🎉 Here's 10% off your first order: {code}. Valid 7 days. {link}

Re-engagement

Retail, subscriptions

We miss you, {name}! It's been a while. Here's £5 off your next order: {code}. Expires Friday. {link}

Event Reminder

Events, hospitality

{name}, {event} starts in 1 hour! 📍 {venue}. Show this SMS at the door. See you there!

Personalisation Guide

Personalised SMS messages see 29% higher conversion rates. BulkSMSRates supports dynamic merge fields in every message:

POST /v1/messages
{
  "to": "+447700900000",
  "body": "Hi {{name}}, your order #{{order_id}} ships today!",
  "merge_fields": {
    "name": "Sarah",
    "order_id": "BSR-4821"
  }
}
{{name}}

Recipient name

{{company}}

Company name

{{order_id}}

Order reference

{{link}}

Tracking link

{{code}}

Promo code

{{date}}

Dynamic date

{{amount}}

Order value

{{custom}}

Any custom field

SMS Marketing ROI

SMS marketing delivers an average ROI of $71 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing channels available.

Example ROI calculation:

  • • Campaign size: 10,000 messages
  • • Cost per message: £0.028
  • • Total cost: £280
  • • Click-through rate: 36% → 3,600 clicks
  • • Conversion rate: 2% → 72 orders
  • • Average order value: £50
  • • Revenue: £3,600
  • • ROI: 12.8x return

SMS vs Email Marketing

MetricSMSEmail
Open rate98%20%
Click-through rate36%2.5%
Response rate45%6%
Avg. read time90 seconds6+ hours
Spam folder riskNone10-20%
Delivery rate99%+85-95%
Unsubscribe rate< 1%0.2-0.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

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