Insight

What is a Mass Text? A Mass Text Messaging Complete Guide

Mass texting—also sometimes called bulk text messaging—gives you the power to reach all your customers at once.

That’s huge for driving sales, coordinating SMS marketing campaigns, and sharing general updates with current customers.

Our complete mass texting guide will walk you through everything—from what a mass text is, to how to create them using an SMS platform, like Text Request.

What is a mass text?

A mass text message sends one text to multiple contacts. Like BCC group messaging, no one can see who else got the message, and any replies come back to you, not the group.

What is a bulk text?

A bulk text is the same thing as a mass text. Both are used to reach a large audience with SMS offers or updates.

What is mass text messaging?

Mass text messaging is the process of creating a custom text for a custom group of contacts. A quality SMS platform will include the following tools alongside its mass texting feature.

Message Analytics: Get real-time data on delivery, responses, opt outs, and more for every mass text you send.

Contact Stats: Analyze specific contact engagement to identify your most engaged contacts and remove inactive ones.

Downloadable Reports: Export message data into spreadsheets for any additional reporting and analysis you may need.

Each of these tools makes it possible to record returns from your mass texts and, plus look for ways to improve your messages going forward. We highly recommend paying attention to which of your mass text message campaigns perform the best, so you can keep improving sales and engagement.

How does mass texting work?

Mass SMS campaigns work best when you deep dive into tools like:

Custom Lists: Add and remove contacts to and from lists as needed. Create as many contact lists as you want, with no size restrictions.

Keyword Lists: Automatically add contacts to keyword-specific lists when they opt in by texting a keyword. These lists can be used for future mass texting campaigns.

Import and Export Contacts: Upload opt-in contacts from an existing database or CRM, including “Custom Fields” data. Export these lists at any time for additional analysis and tweaking.

You want to set yourself up for success with a quality list of contacts before you send your mass text—which leads to our next point.

How do you set up mass text messaging?

Before you can send your first mass text with an SMS platform, you need to create a contact list and put them into a Group.

Text Request refers to Groups as a saved collection of contacts you can use to send targeted messages to. You can create unlimited Groups inside Text Request’s business text messaging platform, and each Group can hold as many contacts as you’d like. This is perfect for sending many different types of targeted mass texts.

To create a new Group in Text Request:

Go to the Contacts section of your menu
Select "View Groups"
Select "Add Group"
Enter a name for your group in the modal that opens
Select "Create Group" to save it
Add individual contacts to your new Group by selecting the "Add Contacts" button and searching for their name or number.

You can also import a new list of multiple contacts by clicking the "Import" button and uploading a previously made CSV file from your computer.

Once your Group is set up, it’s time to craft the perfect message. We have a full list of pre-made text templates to help you get started.

The best professional text messages will include an incentive, why it matters to the reader, and a next step for them to take.

How do you send a mass text?

Now that your contacts are organized in a Group, you're ready to send your first mass text. The process will vary between mass texting platforms, but here’s how it works in Text Request:

1. Go to Group Messages under Messages in your navigation bar.

2. Select New Group Message.

3. Select any premade Groups you want to add or enter individual contacts manually.

4. Select Upload to use your saved list of individual contacts.

5. Check the boxes confirming that a) you have permission to send messages to these contacts and b) that you understand they will receive the option to opt out of messages.

6. Compose the message you want to send, including any signatures, attachments, or templates.

7. Review any suggestions our Spam Scanner recommends to help keep your message from being marked as spam.

8. Click the Send button to send your message to the selected contacts.

You’ll notice that Text Request refers to mass texts inside our platform as “group messages.” Each platform will have its own process for sending mass texts, but as long as they include the essential tools we mention in the section below, they should get the job done.

What is the best mass texting service?

The best mass texting services will include other features, such as:

Additional SMS marketing tools, like SMS Chat and Review Management
Automated text message tools, like Autoresponder and keywords
Mobile apps, so you can send mass texts on the go
10DLC registration for your business number, so your mass texts don’t get marked as spam by carriers

In other words, the best mass texting tool for small businesses and big businesses will not solely be an app for mass texting. You want an SMS platform that can help you with business texting as a whole.

How much does mass texting cost?

While singular mass SMS texting services are available, any quality SMS platform will include mass texting as a feature. You should not have to pay extra for mass texting as a feature.

Mass texting is included as a feature across all of Text Request’s pricing plans.

How can you send a mass text on your iPhone or Android?

Text messaging platforms are great, but what if you want to send a mass text directly from your personal phone instead of a desktop?

Text Request offers mobile apps for both iPhone and Android to make sending mass texts on-the-go possible. These texting apps keep your business and personal conversations separate, so no messages end up in the wrong place.

To send a mass text on your iPhone or Android using the mobile app, you follow the same steps as provided above. The mobile app also gives you access to the same features you would have on your desktop.

Ready to find the perfect SMS platform to send your mass text messages?

Our team is always one text away, if you'd like to talk through mass texting campaign strategies. We’ll also provide ongoing training beyond your purchase to make sure your mass texts are composed as effectively as possible.