Texting for Business: How to Do It & Platforms to Use [2024]

Texting for business has now become commonplace.

By some reports, 68% of businesses use texting for marketing purposes (and that doesn’t seem to be counting businesses that use it for other purposes).

With read rates as high as 98%, it makes sense.

It’s no longer unusual to receive texts from companies about deals, appointments, upcoming events, and other pertinent info.

And maybe you’re looking into texting for your own business—or are looking into switching texting providers.

How does texting for business actually work? How do you get started? What services are out there and which one should you use?

This article will give you a walkthrough of the basics you need to know to arm you with info that will help you make a good decision.

Let’s get into it!

Don’t Need All the Info? Try Out Texting for Business

If you don’t need a lot of explanations, you can try out texting for business with a free Mobile Text Alerts trial here.

There’s no credit card needed for the trial, and no obligation.

You’ll get 14 days to try it out with 50 free messages.

How Does Texting for Business Work?

Texting for business works similarly to using email software:

• You’ll collect your audience’s contact information (you should get their permission first before texting them)
• You’ll get their information loaded into an online software (you can do this manually or automatically—more on that below)
• You’ll send out text blasts or set up automated messages and campaigns from the online software
• You’ll analyze the results of your campaigns via the online software’s reporting tools

Let’s dig into each of these a bit more…

Collect Contact Information and Load into Online Software

Using an online texting software, you’ll have a few different means at your disposal to collect contact information.

You can…

• Upload or sync current lists via spreadsheets, API, or integrations
• Create a “keyword” users can text in, which will automatically add them to your database
• Customize a web sign-up form your audience can fill out online to be automatically added to your database
• Automatically generate a QR code people can scan to be automatically added to your database

Uploading or syncing current lists and creating a “keyword” are 2 of the most common methods.

Send Out Text Blasts or Set Up Automated Messages

You’ll be able to use the online software to send text blasts as needed, or to schedule blasts for specific times.

You can also create different kinds of automations…

• Automated drip campaigns
• Individual automatic replies when people send you a text message
• Automatically recurring messages

You just select your recipients and type out your message(s) in the appropriate section within the online dashboard.

(You can also have 1-on-1 conversations with recipients via an online texting inbox.)

Analyze the Results of Your Campaigns

Your online platform allows you to view reporting regarding how your messages perform, so that you can evaluate how your campaigns are going.

You’ll be able to see data such as…

• Delivery rate
• Click rate
• Response rate
• Opt-out rate

How Do Businesses Use Texting?

Businesses use texting for an almost unlimited number of reasons.

The numerous reasons tend to narrow down to a couple of categories…

Sales & Marketing

• Text message campaigns: Targeted promotions, flash sales, and exclusive offers
• Lead nurturing: Personalized messages, educational content, and appointment reminders for lead engagement
• Customer acquisition: Contests, giveaways, and business referrals that attract new customers
• Event invitations & reminders: Boosting engagement for events

Customer Service

• Real-time support: Assistance through text-based chatbots or live agents
• Appointment reminders & confirmations: For reduced no-shows and improved scheduling efficiency
• Feedback surveys: Quick and convenient customer insights
• Order updates & tracking: Keeping customers informed about their orders
• Loyalty programs: Exclusive deals and rewards for loyal customers
• Two-factor authentication: Extra security for online transactions

Internal Communication

• Team updates & alerts: Sharing import information, deadlines, and reminders
• Employee polls & surveys: Feedback that helps boost employee engagement
• Scheduling & coordination: Simple scheduling of meetings, tasks, and shift changes
• Safety notices: Weather updates and other safety concerns

What Kinds of Businesses Use Texting?

All kinds of businesses and organizations use texting. These types of businesses could be divided into those who use it primarily for sales and marketing and those that use it primarily for other “alerts”—including, but not limited to…

Sales & Marketing

• Boutiques
• Coaching
• Direct Sales Consultants
• Dispensaries
• Ecommerce
• Insurance
• Real Estate
• Restaurants
• Retail

“Alerts”

• Banks
• Churches
• Construction
• Dentist’s and Doctor’s Offices
• Entertainment Services
• Event Services
• Financial Services
• Government-Funded Organizations
• Gyms and Fitness Centers
• Healthcare
• Legal Services
• Manufacturing
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Salons and Spas
• Schools and Universities
• Stock Trading Services
• Transportation Services
• Utilities Services
• Vehicle Services

How to Get Started with Texting for Business

There are a few easy “first steps" to getting started with texting for your business…

Step 1: Find a Platform(s) to Try

You probably already have an idea for what you want to use texting for, and most major texting platforms offer the basic features you’ll need in order to accomplish your goals.

So you’ll want to find a platform that’s…

• Easy to use
• Offers good support
• Fits in your budget

You can locate a few different platforms to compare against if you’d like, or just pick 1 to try.

Step 2: Test Out the Platform

Once you’ve selected at least 1 texting platform to try, go ahead and sign up for a free trial.

Within the free trial, test whatever elements would be pertinent to meet your message goals. Here are a few ideas…

• Test loading in contacts
• Test sending messages
• Test viewing the reports
• Test 1-on-1 messaging
• Test setting up automated messages
• Test contacting customer support

Testing all of these elements will give you a good feel for how the platform is going to work for you.

Step 3: Upgrade

If you decide that you like the texting platform you’re trying, you can upgrade your free trial to a full plan.

Most texting platforms offer month-to-month options with discounted annual options, so you can always try a monthly option before saving money with an annual subscription.

Texting Programs for Businesses: Which Service to Use?

There are a variety of texting programs you can use for texting for your business. Here are a few of them…

• Mobile Text Alerts: You can try out our service Mobile Text Alerts for free here.
• SlickText
• EZ Texting
• Trumpia
• Attentive

(See “How to Get Started with Texting for Business – Find a Platform(s) to Try” above.)

Try Texting for Your Business Today

Interested in taking the first step?

Try texting for your business for free today.

See Also

• 14 Advantages of Texting & Pros of Texting
• 15 Tips for Texting in Personal & Business Settings
• Texting on a Computer: 10 Ways to Do It
• International Texting: Everything You Need to Know
• The #1 App for Texting from Computer (& How It Works)
• What Is the Best App for Group Texting? 6 Top Apps
• Group SMS: How to Send on iPhone, Android, & More
• SMS Scheduler: A Professional App Review
• Texting Free: 5 Top Apps + FAQ
• Texting Videos: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Send SMS, Email (Text via Email & Together)
• How to Send Scheduled Text Messages: Steps, Examples
• 14 Best Text Messaging Services
• 160 SMS Solutions for 30 Industries
• 25 Appointment Confirmation Text Examples
• 25 Auto Response Text Examples for Your Business's Growth
• 2 Easy SMS Contact Management Tools
• 30 Emergency Text Message Examples, Alert Message Templates
• 3 Easy Steps to Send Reminder Texts
• 3 Ways to Send a Text from a Different Number (+ 10 Services You Can Use to Do It)
• 43 Unmonitored Mailbox Message Examples & Auto Reply Texts
• 4 Ways to Generate SMS: API, QR Code + More
• 5 Specific Ways Businesses Use SMS within Their Teams
• 75 Text Message Examples by Industry
• 84 Sample Text Messages to Customers, Message Templates
• AI Text Message Writer & Generator
• Automated Text Message? Here’s What You Should Know
• Can a Nonprofit Text Without Consent? (+ More Compliance Qs)
• Church Text Alerts: Top 3 Services (& How to Choose 1)
• Collect Feedback with a Mobile Survey Platform in 2024
• Communication in Manufacturing: 1 Surprisingly Simple Tip
• Communication in the Construction Industry: 13 Tips for 2024
• Construction Team Texting: Why and How It Works
• Dentist Appointment Reminders: Goodbye to No-Shows
• Healthcare Text Messaging: Why and How (+ HIPAA Compliance)
• How Commercial Construction Companies Use SMS to Improve Safety
• How Many Characters in Text Messages? + FAQ
• How to Add Contacts to Text Message List (Add a Name)
• How to Alert Employees in an Emergency: Tips, Best Practices
• How to Send a Reminder Text in 3 Easy Steps + Examples
• How to Set Up an SMS Admin (MTA SMS Users)
• How to Set Up a Text Message Autoresponder with Smart Replies
• How to Shorten Words for Texting: AI Shorten Text Generator
• How to Text from Landline in 2024: Setup Steps & Best Practices
• Import Phone Numbers to Text Multiple Contacts
• Is Texting HIPAA Compliant?
• Life’s Easier with These 3 Automated Text Message Service Tools