Here’s how to send international bulk messages for your ecommerce brand

Email open rates for ecommerce brands vary from country to country, meaning you can't always have good outcomes with email campaigns in every country.

So, as an ecommerce brand, what do you do when cart abandonment rates rise and flash sales revenue starts to decline in international markets?

I'll answer for you: International bulk messaging.

SMS has a high view rate in almost every region, with a 100% view rate and 55% read rate according to Mobilesquared’s 2022 study reports. Mobile Text Alerts helps businesses tap into that high visibility by making it easy to reach customers instantly.

To help you understand how effective international bulk messaging is, I chatted with a few ecommerce shop owners who’ve seen real wins using it.

In this article, we'll cover:

• How international bulk messaging works
• How other businesses are leveraging it
• Why you should consider using it for your ecommerce business based on other ecommerce vendors' testimonies
• Some solutions available for you
• And how you can use Mobile Text Alerts to send international bulk messages step by step

Let's get started! So, how does international bulk messaging work?

To start reaping the benefits of international bulk messaging, you need two core pieces: an SMS gateway and a Sender ID.

SMS gateway

SMS gateways are services or platforms that act as a bridge between business software applications and mobile phone networks. It’s like a messenger that transports the information you want to deliver in the form of SMS from your CRM tool or ecommerce platform to the mobile carriers who deliver the message to your customer’s phone.

For an ecommerce brand, the software application could be your CRM that contains your list or your ecommerce platform like Shopify. The SMS gateway would be Mobile Text Alerts' SMS API feature.

The SMS gateway lets you connect your existing tools, like your CRM, ecommerce platform, or scheduling system, with Mobile Text Alerts so that text messages can be triggered automatically based on specific actions like:

• A customer placing an order
• A cart being abandoned
• A payment failing
• A subscription needing renewal

Alternatively, an SMS gateway can sometimes also serve as a software itself so that you can send messages

without any developer effort needed, as is also the case with Mobile Text Alerts.

Sender ID

A sender ID is an identifier that appears on your recipient's end, either as a number (numerical sender ID)

It's just a fancy way of saying the name or number that shows up on the recipient’s phone to identify who sent the message.

For the best results, it's always advisable to use your brand's name rather than random numbers. (Note that in some countries, such as the US, the only sender IDs available are numerical.)

In domestic campaigns (in-country), this is usually straightforward as it requires just registering or using a local sender ID that complies with the country’s specific rules.

But internationally, sender ID rules vary. Some countries require you to register a sender ID specific to that country. Some require you to register your already existing sender ID, while some have no requirement at all, or an entirely different regulation.

How are different businesses benefiting from bulk messaging internationally?

Bulk messaging isn’t just for ecommerce brands. It’s a communication powerhouse and revenue machine across multiple industries.

Hospitals and clinics use bulk SMS to send appointment reminders, wellness tips, vaccine updates, drug reminders, mental health appointments, etc. A study at a GP practice in Wrexham reported a 42.2% reduction in missed appointments after implementing SMS reminders.

Small businesses are also joining in on the fun. Anna, a boutique owner, has a lot to say about the repercussions she faced when she stopped sending out messages via SMS to her lists before any sales event. See what she has to say here.

Frank Ventresca is a real estate agent who needed a way to easily and quickly communicate with his clients, both sellers and buyers. He did so with Mobile Text Alerts, and his ROI increased exponentially. You might want to check it out.

You’ve seen the results from other businesses firsthand. Let's look into why it should be your next big marketing move for your ecom business.

Why should I consider using it for my ecommerce business?

Great question. Based on industry statistics and what other ecommerce vendors are saying, you’re missing out on a ton. Let’s hear it from them.

International reach due to SMS use globally

The majority of mobile phone devices used globally come with an in-built active SMS app. This combined with SMS’s 100% view rate and 55% read rate are a match made in heaven for your ecommerce business.

Imagine sending a message that not only guarantees 100% visibility for your brand, but also has a 55% chance of being read, compared to emails 37.93%

This kind of visibility and high open rate can boost conversions during flash sales and promotions because your message won’t get lost in the noise. It will appear directly on your prospect’s screen just in time for your sale.

Todd Stephenson, co-founder of Roof Quotes, saw a boost in ROI after leveraging SMS’s high visibility and open rates in international markets, where email had previously fallen flat.

“

We noticed email open rates overseas were dropping under 10%, especially in countries like Brazil and Thailand. We spent thousands on ads, getting first-time buyers, and couldn’t reach them again. SMS changed that fast. In Australia, we ran a 24-hour promo via text and pulled in $19K in revenue off a list that only had 3,800 subscribers. That kind of response would've taken four emails and a retargeting campaign to match!

Reduce customs-related cart abandonment

Some international customers are confused about customs-related issues, and they may abandon their cart because of that. If you have an existing international customer base, bulk messaging can help you recover abandoned carts and ultimately increase your sales by providing:

• duty breakdowns,
• shipping updates,
• live agent links, etc

Ask James Wilkinson, CEO and co-founder of Balance One Supplements. He found himself in a bit of a customs chaos.

“

One of the major problems that eventually prompted us to use international bulk SMS was abandoned. Customers in markets like Germany and Japan were canceling orders because they were confused about customs forms, something our email support team couldn’t resolve fast enough, with an average response time of nine hours.

If you can implement bulk SMS and reduce the time it takes for customers to get feedback on customs-related issues, this can significantly improve conversion rates.

Time zone personalization

One approach you’ll want to keep in mind when texting internationally is time zone personalization—sending messages tailored to each recipient’s local time. This ensures they don’t miss any important announcements, such as product drops or flash sales.

Katie Breaker, Director of Sales and Marketing at BirdieBall Golf, shared how this strategy made a major difference for their team:

“

Customers were missing product drops. Email worked in North America, but outside of that, time zones and inbox filters got in the way. By the time a customer opened the email, the campaign had ended. When we started using SMS with time zone targeting, the results were immediate. SMS went out. Orders came in. We stopped seeing the same timing complaints. Buyers who used to miss sales were converting within the hour.

Improve customer support via two-way SMS

Attentive’s 2023 Global Consumer Survey reports that 88% of global consumers would like to start a conversation with a brand when they have a specific product question. 40% of global consumers also said great customer service will influence them to spend more with a brand.

What other way to achieve that than with Mobile Text Alerts two-way SMS, where international customers can text back and get quick, personalized responses.

Todd experienced the benefits. “Our repeat purchase rate went up 18% in Canada after switching to SMS for post-purchase touchpoints.”

How you show up after the sale matters just as much as how you showed up before it. Post-purchase touchpoints like customer support check-ins, feedback requests and reviews messages, loyalty offers, can turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.

Examples of international bulk messaging solutions

Mobile Text Alerts

Mobile Text Alerts provides global services for both SMS and MMS with an easy API integration for either your ecommerce website or your existing CRM. They also have an integration with Shopify via Zapier and offer time-saving AI tools like SmartSMS Shortener, Suggest, and Image Generator.

Plans start at $20/month, but you can get a free trial for 14 days with 50 messaging credits to try it out.

Twilio

Twilio provides global SMS services with a programmable API that allows businesses to customize messaging workflows and support two-way communication. It requires a developer to implement, so it may take a while to set up.

Pricing: Costs vary by country and volume, generally starting around $0.0075 per message.

ClickSend

ClickSend offers multi-channel messaging, including SMS, email, and voice, with a user-friendly dashboard and API access.

Pricing: Starts at about $0.024 per SMS for small volumes.

MessageBird

MessageBird delivers SMS internationally along with other communication channels like WhatsApp and voice. It focuses on easy integration and global reach, but pricing depends on destination and volume.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go model, prices vary depending on country and message volume.

How to send international bulk messages with Mobile Text Alerts

I mentioned earlier that to be able to send bulk messages internationally, you need both an SMS gateway and a Sender ID. To obtain a Sender ID, contact support to register your brand through Mobile Texts Alerts.

The first thing you want to do after logging into your account is:

• Click on message scheduler,
• Click on add message,

Before doing this, you should have already grouped your subscribers. For grouping:

• On the sidebar menu, click on groups, then “Add Group.”
• Name your group and give it a description. Example: UK subscribers, Spain subscribers.

This is to affirm that all subscribers entered have opted in to receiving your messages in compliance with global regulations.

Once everything is set up, you can start sending bulk messages to all your subscribers. You have the flexibility to:

• Schedule messages for a specific date,
• Target specific groups,
• And use any time zone for scheduling.

Before you begin messaging, you should have checked all the global compliance regulations for the countries you're sending bulk messages to.

Each country has its own rules and regulations regarding bulk messaging, and they are straightforward to follow.

In some regions, marketing text messages may not be allowed beyond a specific time. In others, specific words might be flagged as spam, causing your messages to be blocked or filtered. To ensure your texts reach your target audience's inbox, it’s important to stay compliant with the messaging laws and guidelines of each country you’re sending to.

What should your next step be?

Email will always be an important channel for nurturing leads and building long-term relationships. But when visibility and timing matter especially with time-sensitive messages like cart abandonment reminders, custom updates, and campaigns for flash sales across international markets, bulk SMS takes the lead. With open rates as high as 55%, international bulk messaging helps you reach customers instantly.

Start by following the steps provided in this article. You can use Mobile Text Alerts to send international bulk messages through your existing systems by combining their time zone personalization and SMS API feature, with a registered Sender ID.

Ready to try it out? Sign up for your free trial now

FAQ

Can I test international bulk messaging before fully committing? Absolutely. Mobile Text Alerts offers a free trial so you can explore features, test deliverability, and see results for yourself before making a decision. Sign up for your free trial to test it out.

Is international bulk messaging legal?

Yes, international bulk messaging is legal as long as you follow the global compliance laws and the guidelines of the countries you’re messaging.

What is the typical price range for bulk SMS services?

It’s hard to pin an exact price range for bulk sms services as a lot of factors, including but not limited to destination and volume, influence how solutions out there structure their pricing. But generally, its a pay as you go model. However, Mobile Text Alerts pricing starts at $20/month.

Author bio:

Keri Adomokeme is a B2B content writer who partners with SaaS companies, agencies, and health tech brands. She specializes in writing about productivity tools and martech solutions.