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Text Messaging (SMS)

10 Best Text Message Marketing Services for Small Business in 2024

Published by
Sriranjani Aravindan
on
October 8, 2023

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According to "Emerging Technology Analysis: Text Messaging for Business, Worldwide, 2024" by Gartner, text messaging services have witnessed a significant surge in business adoption, with a 78% increase in usage from 2021 to 2024. In this blog, we have curated a comprehensive list of the top 10 sms marketing services for small businesses specifically designed to meet the needs of modern businesses like yours. From enhancing customer engagement to streamlining internal communication, these services offer a range of features and benefits that will propel your business to new heights.

Imagine having a powerful messaging platform at your fingertips, allowing you to effortlessly connect with your customers, partners, and team members. With the right text messaging service, you can send targeted promotions, provide real-time customer support, and even automate crucial business processes. Stay ahead of the competition and leverage the potential of this versatile communication channel to drive growth and efficiency.

From intuitive user interfaces to advanced analytics and integration capabilities, these services offer a wide range of functionalities to suit your unique requirements. Get ready to explore the 10 best text message marketing services for small businesses that will revolutionize the way you communicate and do business in 2024.

What Is Text Message Marketing for Small Businesses?

Text message marketing for small businesses is a strategy that involves using SMS to communicate with customers and promote products or services. It is a highly effective and cost-efficient method of reaching a targeted audience directly on their mobile devices. Small businesses can leverage text message marketing to enhance customer engagement, drive sales, and build brand loyalty.

Text message marketing offers a convenient and immediate way to connect with customers. By obtaining consent from customers to receive text messages, businesses can send promotions, special offers, event notifications, appointment reminders, and other relevant information directly to their mobile phones. This direct communication channel ensures that messages are delivered promptly and have a higher likelihood of being read compared to other forms of marketing.

Text message marketing is particularly beneficial for small businesses due to its affordability and high ROI potential. Compared to traditional advertising methods like print or TV ads, text message marketing is more cost-effective, making it accessible to businesses with limited marketing budgets. Additionally, since SMS has a high open rate and engagement rate, small businesses can see immediate results in terms of increased customer response, website traffic, or foot traffic to physical stores.

By leveraging text message marketing, small businesses can effectively target their audience, increase customer engagement, and drive sales, ultimately helping them grow and succeed in a competitive marketplace.

Characteristics of a Text Message Marketing for a Small Business

Below listed are the characteristics of a SMS marketing platform for a small business.

1. User-Friendly Interface

The app should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for small business owners and their teams to navigate, set up, and operate without requiring extensive technical knowledge. A streamlined user experience enhances efficiency and reduces the learning curve

2. Two-Way Communication

A high-quality SMS app enables true two-way communication, allowing businesses to have meaningful conversations with their customers. It should support bidirectional messaging, allowing customers to respond to messages and facilitating interactive dialogue.

3. Integration Capabilities

The app should offer seamless integration with other apps and services that businesses commonly use. Integration allows for automating processes, such as syncing with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, order management platforms, or appointment scheduling tools, enabling businesses to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

4. Automation and Personalization

 An excellent SMS app should provide automation features, allowing businesses to automate responses, send targeted messages based on customer behavior or triggers, and schedule messages in advance. Personalization options, such as merging customer names or customizing message content, can enhance customer engagement and foster stronger connections.

5. Scalability and Flexibility

The app should be able to scale as the business grows, accommodating increased messaging volume without imposing excessive fees or requiring upgrades to more expensive plans. This flexibility allows small businesses to adapt their SMS campaigns according to their evolving needs and goals.

6. Affordable Pricing

A top-notch SMS app for small businesses offers pricing plans that are affordable and tailored to their requirements. It should provide options such as pay-as-you-go or low-volume, cost-effective monthly plans, enabling businesses to manage their budget effectively.

7. Analytics and Reporting

 The app should provide robust analytics and reporting capabilities, offering insights into message delivery, engagement rates, click-through rates, and other key metrics. These analytics empower small businesses to measure the effectiveness of their SMS campaigns and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.

Benefits of Text Message Marketing in Small Businesses

Below listed are the benefits of text message marketing in small businesses.

1. Promotions and Offers

Small businesses can use text messaging to send exclusive promotions, discounts, and offers directly to their customers. This helps drive sales, increase customer loyalty, and encourage repeat business.

2. Appointment Reminders

Text messages can be used to send appointment reminders to customers, reducing no-shows and improving overall scheduling efficiency. This is particularly valuable for businesses in industries such as healthcare, salons, or service providers that rely on scheduled appointments.

3. Customer Communication

 Text messaging provides a direct and instant communication channel with customers. Small businesses can use it to send important updates, notifications, or alerts, such as order confirmations, delivery updates, or product/service updates, ensuring effective and timely communication.

4. Customer Surveys and Feedback

 Text messaging services can facilitate quick and convenient customer surveys or feedback collection. Small businesses can send short surveys or request feedback via text messages to gather insights, gauge customer satisfaction, and identify areas for improvement.

5. Two-Way Communication

Text messaging allows for two-way communication, enabling small businesses to engage in real-time conversations with customers. This can be utilized for customer support, answering inquiries, resolving issues, or providing personalized assistance, enhancing the overall customer experience.

6. Customer Segmentation

Text messaging services often provide segmentation capabilities, allowing small businesses to target specific customer segments with tailored messages. By segmenting their customer base based on demographics, purchase history, or preferences, businesses can deliver more relevant and personalized SMS campaigns.

7. Integration with Marketing Campaigns

Small businesses can integrate text messaging services with their broader marketing strategies. By incorporating SMS into their multi-channel campaigns, such as email marketing or social media promotions, they can amplify their reach, engagement, and conversion rates.

Top 10 Text Message Marketing Services for Small Businesses in 2024

Here is the list of the top 10 text marketing service for small businesses in 2024.

1. App0

Text message marketing_app0

App0 is an innovative no-code solution revolutionising customer communication and engagement with the help of artificial intelligence. This revolutionary platform, designed for banks, financial institutions, eCommerce, healthcare, and more, seamlessly blends AI with text-based messaging and conversational AI. In 2024, it's emerging as one of the top text message marketing companies for businesses in the US.

App0 leverages the power of conversational AI, facilitating targeted user interaction and intelligent decision-making through thorough behavioral analysis. Trusted by prominent financial institutions and eCommerce entities for its AI capabilities, App0 distinguishes itself as a top-tier competitor in the text messaging companies landscape. 

Features

Here's a brief overview of the features of App0: 

  • Smart text messaging with AI insights: App0 offers AI-powered shopping concierge for Ecommerce businesses which understands and responds to customers' preferences and requests seamlessly via text messaging.
  • Effortless customer interaction journeys with no-Code: With App0, businesses can design intricate, multi-party interaction workflows effortlessly using App0's intuitive no-code/low-code flow builder for a seamless customer experience.
  • Strategic data and AI integration: App0 also allows businesses to use first-party customer interaction and behavioral data for elevating engagement and establishing a robust foundation for meaningful connections.
  • Streamlined client experiences: With App0, businesses can opt for pre-built user-facing applications for appointments, payments, marketing, and more. Furthermore, they can also craft personalised interactions using App0's EasyApp studio.
  • Integrations: App0 offers hassle free integrations with prebuilt industry-specific integrations, ensuring swift implementation of its use cases.
  • Enterprise-grade security: App0 offers adaptive authentication, providing a passwordless user experience while maintaining robust, enterprise-level security.

Request a demo today to learn more about full-service messaging that can help in revenue generation and delightful customer experience.

Text message marketing_app0
Best Text Message Marketing Platform For Small Businesses

Choose App0 to launch conversational AI agents to put all your customer interactions on autopilot. Sign up with App0 for AI-powered text marketing automation for the E-commerce industry.

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2. Simple Texting

SimpleTexting_text marketing for small business
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Simple Texting is a leading text messaging service provider that specializes in catering to the needs of small businesses. With its user-friendly platform and robust features, Simple Texting empowers small businesses to enhance their communication and engagement with customers. From sending promotional messages and appointment reminders to providing real-time customer support, Simple Texting offers a streamlined and cost-effective solution for small businesses to connect with their audience.

With a focus on simplicity and efficiency, Simple Texting helps small businesses leverage the power of text messaging to drive growth, improve customer satisfaction, and streamline internal communication processes. 

Features

  • Text Messaging
  • Bulk SMS
  • Two-Way Text Messaging
  • Text Scheduler
  • Automatic Replies
  • Automatic URL Shortening
  • MMS Marketing
  • Personalization
  • Transactional SMS
  • Reporting
  • Automation
  • Short Codes
  • Two way messaging
  • Scheduling

Pricing

simple texting pricing_text marketing for small business

SimpleTexting has pricing plans on the basis of the number of text messages being sent, starting at $29 per month for 500 credits. Each credit is worth one text message and MMS costs 3 credits each. For example, the $29 plan allows you to send 500 text messages. The plans are as follows:

  • Level 1: $29 per month, 500 credits
  • Level 2: $49 per month, 1,000 credits
  • Level 3: $79 per month, 2,000 credits

There are multiple levels like this and More than 50,000 credits qualify for a Custom Plan where clients can talk to a member of the enterprise sales team about their specific needs.

All plans include unlimited incoming messages, two-way conversations, and a dedicated phone number. You can also add on features like autoresponders, polls, and keyword triggers for an additional fee

Notable Customers

Starbucks, CISCO, LEGOLAND, Samsung, Marriott, Kaplan, Century 21

Pros

  • User-Friendly Interface: SimpleTexting provides a user-friendly platform that allows small businesses to easily navigate and utilize its features. With a straightforward interface, businesses can quickly set up and manage text messaging campaigns without extensive technical knowledge or training, saving time and effort.
  • Robust Features: SimpleTexting offers a range of powerful features tailored to the needs of small businesses. From mass texting and drip campaigns to keyword automation and contact management, businesses can leverage these features to create effective text messaging campaigns.
  • Excellent Customer Support: SimpleTexting prioritizes customer satisfaction with exceptional support. Their dedicated team is available via live chat, email, or phone to assist small businesses with questions, technical issues, or guidance.

Cons

  • Limited Automation Capabilities: SimpleTexting may have basic automation capabilities, which could restrict the scalability and efficiency of complex automated campaigns.
  • Pricing Structure: SimpleTexting's pricing may not be cost-effective for small businesses with tight budgets. Depending on message volume and desired features, costs can accumulate quickly, making it less affordable for businesses operating on limited financial margins.

3. HeyMarket

Heymarket_text marketing for small business
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HeyMarket SMS is an indispensable tool for small businesses, offering a comprehensive platform that streamlines and enhances their SMS communication efforts. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, HeyMarket SMS empowers small businesses to engage with their customers effectively, build strong relationships, and drive growth.

From automated messaging and personalized campaigns to team collaboration and analytics, HeyMarket SMS equips small businesses with the necessary tools to connect, convert, and retain customers, ultimately helping them thrive in today's competitive market.

Features

  • Automated messaging
  • Personalized campaigns
  • Team collaboration
  • Contact management
  • Template library
  • Multi-channel messaging
  • Customer segmentation
  • Message scheduling
  • Message templates
  • Conversation history tracking
  • Keyword-based campaigns
  • Two-way messaging
  • Bulk messaging capabilities
  • Integration with CRM systems
  • API for custom integrations

Pricing

heymarketpricing_sms marketing for small business

 

Heymarket offers three pricing editions for its SMS service. Here is an overview of the pricing tiers in dollars:

  • Free Trial: Duration: 14 days; Cost: Free. Features: Access to all features
  • Standard: Starting at $38.00 per month; Users: 2 users. Features: Shared inbox, conversation management, unlimited contacts, templates and tags, basic reporting
  • Plus: Starting at $78.00 per month: Users: 2 users. Features: Shared inbox, conversation management, unlimited contacts, templates and tags, lists and campaigns

Notable Customers

Papa John's Pizza, Domino's Pizza, Goodwill, Lyft, Stanley Steemer

Pros 

  • Enhanced Customer Engagement: Heymarket SMS empowers small businesses to engage with customers effectively through features like automated messaging, personalized campaigns, and two-way messaging.
  • Streamlined Communication: Heymarket SMS simplifies communication for small businesses with a shared inbox and conversation management. Teams can collaborate efficiently, ensuring prompt and cohesive responses to customer inquiries.
  • Valuable Insights and Analytics: Heymarket SMS provides small businesses with valuable insights through reporting and analytics. Basic reporting allows tracking of key metrics like message open and response rates.

Cons

  • Limited integrations: Heymarket SMS has limited integration options, which can pose challenges for small businesses that rely on specific platforms or applications.
  • Pricing structure: The pricing structure can be a burden for small businesses with limited resources or those seeking more affordable options, especially if they require additional user licenses or advanced features beyond the basic package.

4. Slick Text

SlickText_SMS marketing
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Slick Text is a leading text messaging service provider catering to the needs of small businesses. With its user-friendly platform and robust features, Slick Texting empowers small businesses to enhance their customer engagement, streamline internal communication, and drive operational efficiency. From personalized promotional campaigns to automated appointment reminders, Slick Texting offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help small businesses effectively connect with their customers.

With its affordable pricing plans and intuitive interface, Slick Texting is the go-to solution for small businesses seeking a reliable and scalable text messaging service.

Features

  • Bulk SMS
  • Two-Way Text Messaging
  • Text Scheduler
  • Automatic Replies
  • Automatic URL Shortening
  • MMS Marketing
  • Personalization
  • Transactional SMS
  • Reporting
  • Automation
  • White Label
  • Text-to-Landline
  • Short Codes
  • API Integration

Pricing

SlickText Pricing_sms marketing for small business

SlickText provides customizable pricing options to meet the demands of organizations of all kinds and sizes. Businesses may select the plan that best meets their needs thanks to the platform's straightforward pricing, which is offered without startup costs or commitments. A company's contact list's number of subscribers and monthly message volume determine the cost structure.

  • 14-Day Trial for Free
  • The Basic Plan = $29 per month
  • The Step Up Plan = $49 per month 
  • The Lil Bro Plan = $79 per month 
  • The Big Bro Plan = $139 per month 
  • The Boss Plan = $189 per month 
  • The Albatross Plan = $350 per month
  • The Whale Plan = $750 per month 
  • The Monstro Plan = $1250 per month 
  • Custom Plan = For this plan, businesses have to contact the sales team of SlickText (Enterprise pricing is available upon request)

It is simpler for companies to customize their plans and pay for the features they want thanks to the straightforward pricing structure and the availability of add-ons.

Notable Customers

Cintas, FedEx, Lyft, Hyatt

Pros

  • Robust Features and Automation: SlickText offers a comprehensive set of features for small businesses to automate their text messaging campaigns, maximizing efficiency.
  • Opt-In List Building and Segmentation: SlickText simplifies the process of building an opt-in list for effective text message marketing. The platform's segmentation capabilities enable businesses to target specific groups within their audience, delivering personalized and relevant messages.
  • Seamless Integration and Analytics: SlickText integrates with popular CRM systems, email marketing platforms, and other business tools, streamlining workflows and leveraging existing customer data.

Cons

  • Limited international reach: Slick Text's main drawback for small businesses is its limited international reach. The service focuses primarily on SMS marketing within the US and Canada.
  • Cost scalability: Small businesses using Slick Text should consider the potential for cost scalability.

5. Twilio

twilio_SMS marketing
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Twilio SMS is a leading text message marketing service provider that offers a comprehensive communication platform for small businesses. With its powerful and reliable SMS capabilities, Twilio enables small businesses to effortlessly engage with customers, streamline internal communication, and drive business growth. Small businesses can leverage Twilio's user-friendly interface, automation features, and extensive API integrations to send personalized promotional messages, appointment reminders, and customer support notifications, directly to their customers' mobile devices.

With Twilio SMS, small businesses can efficiently manage customer interactions, enhance customer satisfaction, and foster strong relationships, all while improving internal collaboration and communication among team members.

Features

  • Sending SMS messages to multiple recipients
  • Receiving inbound SMS messages
  • Managing message logs and history
  • Handling delivery status and notifications
  • Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security
  • Supporting media attachments like images, videos, and documents in SMS messages
  • Enabling message queuing for high-volume messaging
  • Implementing shortcodes for easy-to-remember sender numbers
  • Tracking message delivery and status updates
  • Enabling link tracking and analytics for tracking engagement and response rates

Pricing

 

twilio pricing_sms marketing

Twilio provides a customizable price structure created to meet the various demands of its clients. The business uses a pay-as-you-go business model, allowing customers to pay only for the services they really use without being locked into any long-term agreements. 

Twilio bases its price on a number of variables, such as the kind of communication channels utilized, the amount of usage, and the particular services needed. Numerous communication channels are supported by Twilio, including phone calls, SMS messages, video calls, and chat programmes. The price information for each channel may be obtained on Twilio's official website or in their documentation.

  • Pricing to make calls starts at 2 Cents/minute.
  • Pricing to receive calls starts at $1 monthly / phone number and 1 Cent per minute.

On their website, Twilio also offers a pricing estimator so consumers may determine their possible expenses depending on projected use. Customers may use this tool to understand the prospective costs related to their communication demands, which aids in the decision-making process.

Notable Customers

Duolingo, Toyota, Panera, Birdeye, Vacasa

Pros

  • Scalability: Twilio SMS enables small businesses to effortlessly scale their messaging capabilities, accommodating both small and large customer bases.
  • Integration Capabilities: With APIs, SDKs, and pre-built connectors, small businesses can integrate with CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, and customer support tools, enhancing communication, customer experiences, and operational efficiency.
  • Developer-Friendly: Twilio SMS offers a developer-friendly environment for small businesses with technical teams or developers.
  • Cons
  • Cost: Twilio SMS services can be expensive for small businesses with high volumes or complex messaging needs.
  • Complexity of Setup: Small businesses without IT resources or technical knowledge may find the setup and configuration process challenging and time-consuming. 
#1 Twilio Alternative for Text Message Marketing Using AI

Are you looking for the best alternative to Twilio for Text Message Marketing? Choose App0 today to elevate engagement, streamline interactions and connect seamlessly with your audience.

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6. Sakari

Sakari_text message marketing for small business
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Sakari is a leading text messaging service provider that specializes in empowering small businesses with effective and scalable communication solutions. With its user-friendly platform and robust features, Sakari enables small businesses to enhance customer engagement, streamline internal communication, and boost operational efficiency.

By leveraging the power of SMS, Sakari allows small businesses to send personalized messages, automate campaigns, and provide timely customer support, all while maintaining affordability and ease of use. Trusted by numerous small businesses across industries, Sakari is the go-to text messaging service that helps small businesses effectively connect with their customers and team members, driving growth and success.

Features

  • Two-way SMS
  • Text Campaigns
  • SMS API
  • MMS Messaging
  • Autoresponders
  • Contact Management
  • Mass Texting Services
  • Reporting/Analytics
  • Scheduled Messaging

Pricing

sms marketing for small business_sakari

Sakari offers transparent and scalable pricing plans to accommodate businesses of all sizes. The platform operates on a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term contracts or setup fees. he pricing is based on the number of messages sent and received, with different rates depending on the destination country. Businesses can purchase message credits in bulk, and the cost per message decreases as the volume increases.

  • Pay & Go: $0.04 per message.
  • Starter - up to 500 messages: $16/month 
  • Growth - up to 1000 messages: $30/month 
  • Business - up to 3125 messages: $90/month 
  • Team - up to 6250 messages: $170/month 
  • Gold - up to 12500 messages: $330/month

Notable Customers

Nexford University, Rise Physical Therapy

Pros 

  • Efficient and Scalable Communication: Sakari offers small businesses a highly efficient and scalable communication platform. Bulk messaging, personalized templates, and automated workflows enable businesses to reach a large audience while maintaining a personalized touch, saving time and resources.
  • Integration Capabilities: Sakari seamlessly integrates with popular business tools, such as CRM systems and helpdesk software, streamlining communication workflows.
  • Robust Analytics and Reporting: Refine messaging strategies, optimize engagement, and make data-driven decisions for better results in small business communication campaigns.

Cons

  • Limited Integration Options: One drawback of Sakari for small businesses is its limited integration options with other software and platforms.
  • Higher Pricing for Lower Message Volumes: For small businesses with lower message volumes, the pricing may not be as budget-friendly compared to alternative options that offer more flexible pricing plans or cater specifically to the needs of small businesses.

7. Textedly

Textedly_SMS marketing
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Textedly is a leading text messaging service that caters to the unique needs of small businesses. With its user-friendly platform and robust features, Textedly empowers small businesses to enhance their communication and engage with customers more effectively. From sending targeted promotions and appointment reminders to providing real-time customer support, Textedly enables small businesses to leverage the power of text messaging for improved customer engagement and increased revenue.

With its affordable pricing plans and intuitive interface, Textedly is the ideal choice for small businesses looking to streamline their communication processes and stay ahead in today's competitive market. 

Features

  • Mass SMS
  • Unlimited keywords
  • Message Scheduling
  • Built-in calendar
  • Inbox
  • One-to-one texting
  • Analytics
  • Canned replies
  • Information collection
  • Document attachment

Pricing

Textedly Pricing_text message marketing

There are 12 plans to choose from on Textedly. The amount of messages that may be sent each month and the allotment of custom keywords rise along with the plans' prices. Unlike many other SMS companies that limit messages to 160 words, Textedly allows users to send text messages of up to 300 words.

Monthly subscriptions begin at $24 per month after a free 14-day trial and scale up based on corporate requirements. The following texting options are provided by Textedly:

  • One keyword and 1,000 outbound text messages are included in the $24 monthly fee.
  • 2 keywords and 2,000 outbound text messages are included for $39 per month.
  • $350 a month gets you 3,500 outgoing texts and 3 keywords.
  • Four keywords and 5,000 outbound text messages are included in the $70 monthly fee.
  • $140 per month gets you 10,000 outgoing text messages and 6 keywords.
  • $210 a month gets you 15,000 outgoing texts and 7 keywords.
  • $350 per month: Covers 25,000 outgoing text messages and 10 keywords.

Pricing increases dependent on the quantity of keywords and texts sent, up to:

$2,800 per month covers 200,000 outbound text messages and 50 keywords.

Notable Customers

eBay, UPS, Kroger, Aflac

Pros

  • User-Friendly Platform: Textedly offers an easy-to-navigate platform, ideal for small business owners without technical expertise.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: Affordable rates and flexible subscriptions allow businesses to leverage text messaging without straining financial resources, maximizing ROI.
  • Enhanced Customer Engagement: Through targeted promotions, time-sensitive offers, and instant notifications, businesses can capture attention, foster loyalty, and increase conversion rates, establishing stronger relationships with customers.

Cons

  • Limited Integrations: While it offers some integrations with popular platforms like Zapier, the available options may not cover the full range of tools and systems that small businesses rely on. 
  • Pricing Structure: This pricing structure may pose a challenge for budget-conscious small businesses that send a high volume of text messages, potentially limiting their ability to fully leverage the service's features and benefits.

8. TextMagic

TextMagic_sms marketing for small business
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TextMagic is a leading text messaging service that caters to the needs of small businesses, providing them with a powerful and reliable communication solution. TextMagic equips small companies to improve client interaction, optimize internal communication, and boost operational efficiency with its user-friendly design and comprehensive features. TextMagic supports small companies in strengthening their client interactions by automating alerts for customer service, and providing personalized promotions, and appointment reminders.

Additionally, its effective internal communication capabilities allow for seamless team coordination and ensure that critical messages and vital changes are swiftly communicated. With TextMagic, small businesses can use text messaging to build their customer base and dominate their industry.

Features

  • Bulk SMS
  • Two-Way Text Messaging
  • Text Scheduler
  • Automatic Replies
  • MMS Marketing
  • Personalization
  • Transactional SMS
  • Reporting
  • Automation

Pricing

TextMagic Pricing_SMS Marketing

The pricing structure of TextMagic is based on a per-message cost, starting at $0.04 per message. The cost can vary depending on the number of messages sent per month. Businesses using TextMagic can expect to spend anywhere between $20 to $1,000, depending on their messaging needs.

For example, if a business sends 500 messages per month, the cost would be $20. If they send 1,000 messages, the cost would be $40. For 2,000 messages, the cost increases to $80, and for 3,000 messages, it would be $120. The pricing continues to scale as the number of messages increases, with costs of $300 for 7,500 messages, $1,000 for 25,000 messages, and $2,000 for 50,000 messages sent per month.

Overall, TextMagic is considered one of the more expensive SMS marketing tools available in the market, but its pricing structure offers flexibility for businesses with varying messaging needs.

Notable Customers

Patronus, Ixica, Maxus, Whelan, QiQ

Pros

  • Enhanced Customer Engagement: TextMagic offers small businesses the ability to engage with their customers on a personal level through targeted SMS campaigns and personalized messages. 
  • Streamlined Internal Communication: With TextMagic, small businesses can ensure smooth and efficient internal communication. The platform provides features such as group messaging and instant notifications.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: The platform provides affordable pricing plans, flexible options, and transparent billing, allowing small businesses to optimize their communication budget. 

Cons

  • Limited international coverage: TextMagic's service coverage may not extend to all international destinations, which can be a limitation for small businesses operating in global markets. 
  • Lack of advanced automation features: While TextMagic provides automation capabilities for certain aspects of communication, it may not offer the same level of advanced automation features as some other text messaging services. 

9. EZ Texting

SMS Marketing_EZ Texting
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With over 210K customers served since 2004, EZ Texting has become the industry standard for business texting in the United States and Canada. Bulk texting, MMS, delivery reports, reminder campaigns, text polls, keywords, textable numbers, and text-to-landline functionality are all features of their top-rated cloud-based platform. With the aid of EZ Texting's messaging solutions, one can enhance outreach efforts, offer better customer service, streamline communications, and expand and nurture their lead pool.

Features

  • Mass text messaging
  • Two-way texting
  • Automated campaigns
  • Contact management
  • Opt-in and opt-out management
  • Scheduled messaging
  • Personalization and merge fields
  • Link tracking and analytics
  • API integration
  • Keyword-based campaigns
  • Mobile keywords and shortcodes
  • Surveys and polls
  • MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) support
  • Message templates
  • Message inbox and conversation history

Pricing

 

EZTexting Pricing_text message marketing

EZ Texting offers a straightforward pricing structure for its services. The pricing starts at $24 per month, and each plan includes 200 messaging credits per month. If a customer exceeds the allotted 200 messaging credits, they will be charged an additional $0.04 for each extra message sent.

To provide some examples of potential costs based on the number of messages sent per month, here are some approximate price points:

  • Sending 700 messages would cost around $20 per month.
  • Sending 1,200 messages would cost around $40 per month.
  • Sending 2,200 messages would cost around $80 per month.
  • Sending 3,200 messages would cost around $120 per month.
  • Sending 7,700 messages would cost around $300 per month.
  • Sending 25,200 messages would cost around $1,000 per month.
  • Sending 50,200 messages would cost around $2,000 per month.

This pricing model allows customers to select the plan that best suits their messaging needs, and they can easily scale up or down based on their usage, ensuring cost-efficiency and flexibility for various businesses or organizations.

Notable Customers

Burger King, Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz, Subway, Coca-Cola

Pros

  • Extensive Features and Customization Options: From personalized messaging campaigns to automated responses and keyword triggers, EZ Texting provides the tools necessary for small businesses to engage with customers effectively. 
  • Scalability and Affordability: EZ Texting understands the budget constraints of small businesses and provides scalable pricing plans that accommodate their growth.
  • Integration and Automation Capabilities: EZ Texting offers integration options with popular business tools, such as CRMs and marketing automation platforms, allowing small businesses to streamline their workflows and enhance efficiency. 

Cons

  • Limited Automation Options: While it offers basic automation features, such as scheduling messages, it may not have the advanced automation capabilities needed for complex campaigns or personalized customer interactions. 
  • Costly Pricing Structure: Another drawback of Ez Texting for small businesses is its pricing structure, which can be relatively expensive compared to other text messaging service providers. 

10. Attentive

attentive_sms marketing
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Attentive is a leading text messaging platform that specializes in empowering small businesses with effective customer communication solutions. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by small enterprises, Attentive provides an intuitive and feature-rich platform that enables businesses to engage and connect with their customers through personalized text messages.

By leveraging Attentive robust automation capabilities, small businesses can efficiently manage their customer communication, sending targeted promotions, order updates, and appointment reminders to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty. With Attentive, small businesses can unlock the power of text messaging to strengthen customer relationships, streamline operations, and achieve business growth.

Features

  • Personalized text messaging
  • Targeted promotions and offers
  • Automated messaging campaigns
  • Order updates and notifications
  • Appointment reminders
  • Contact management tools
  • Robust automation capabilities
  • Analytics and Reporting
  • Integration with existing systems
  • Seamless customer communication

Pricing

Attentive offers a pricing structure that includes both a monthly subscription fee and additional charges based on usage. The platform starts with a free 30-day trial, allowing potential clients to explore its functionalities without any cost. There are rumors that some clients might even be eligible for an extended free service of up to 3 months, though this offer is likely reserved for larger clients.

For regular usage beyond the trial period, clients are charged a monthly fee of $300. In addition to this base fee, clients are also billed per SMS sent through the platform. The charge is set at $0.01 per SMS, and it's important to note that there will be carrier fees associated with each message. These carrier fees usually range from approximately $0.0025 to $0.0035 per SMS.

Attentive has a default approach of offering long-term contracts, which may include undisclosed carrier fees, platform fees, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) charges, and other optional services. While there are month-to-month options available, the actual pricing is tailored to each individual customer's needs and may be subject to changes based on specific requirements. It's common for the platform to impose 6 or 12-month contracts, and clients may also incur charges for individual messages on top of the monthly subscription fee.

Additionally, Attentive enforces minimum usage commitments on a quarterly basis, known as Attentive Minimum Quarterly Commit. This means that even if a client does not send any SMS during a quarter, they will still be required to pay a minimum fee, which typically ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 per quarter.

If clients wish to use SMS short codes, there is an additional monthly cost of $500.

Overall, the pricing structure of Attentive is complex and involves a combination of fixed fees, variable charges, and potential contract commitments. Clients are advised to consult with Attentive directly to obtain precise and up-to-date pricing information based on their specific needs and usage patterns.

Notable Customers

Coach, CB2, Jack in the Box, Steve Madden, Marc Jacobs

Pros

  • Enhanced Customer Engagement: Attentive messaging enables small businesses to engage with their customers in a personalized and targeted manner.
  • Automation and Efficiency: Attentive messaging platforms offer automation features that help streamline business processes for small businesses.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Attentive messaging platforms provide valuable data and analytics to small businesses, enabling them to gain insights into customer behavior, preferences, and campaign performance.

Cons

  • Cost implications: As a feature-rich platform with advanced capabilities, it may come with a higher price tag compared to other more basic text messaging services. 
  • Learning curve and complexity: Another consideration for small businesses is the learning curve and complexity associated with using Attentive Messaging. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, text message marketing has become an indispensable tool for small businesses in 2024, offering a cost-effective and efficient way to reach customers directly. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for small businesses to adopt top-notch SMS apps that can effectively meet their marketing needs.

When considering the best text marketing services for small businesses, certain characteristics stand out. These include user-friendly interfaces, robust features, customizable campaigns, reliable delivery rates, and reasonable pricing plans. By taking these factors into account, small business owners can make informed decisions that align with their specific goals and budgets.

In our exploration of the top 10 text marketing services for small businesses in 2024, we have highlighted a range of companies that excel in various aspects. Each company brings its unique strengths to the table, whether it be advanced automation features, integrations with popular platforms, or exceptional customer support. By referring to the short notes on each company's profile, pricing, pros, and cons, small business owners can make well-informed decisions based on their company's requirements.

If you are looking for a text messaging service for business in the US, then request a demo with App0 now. App0 is an end-to-end messaging platform for next-gen customer experiences for businesses. Its platform features include customer interaction journeys using no-code/low-code flow builders, conversational client experiences, built-in AI capabilities, prebuilt industry-specific integrations, enterprise-grade security, and comprehensive compliance measures built for the financial services, healthcare, insurance, retail & eCommerce sector.

Best Text Message Marketing Platform For Small Businesses

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Text Message Marketing: FAQs

Author

Sriranjani Aravindan

Launch conversational AI-agents faster and at scale to put all your customer interactions on autopilot.

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