How to Set Up Text Alerts for Your Business

Alessia Scott

Text alerts are a fast, effective way to communicate with customers, staff, or stakeholders. Whether you're sending promotions, updates, or reminders, setting up a reliable SMS alert system can streamline communication and boost engagement. 

Here's a simple guide to help you get started.

Why Use Text Alerts?

Text alerts are ideal for:

  • Instant notifications and emergency updates

  • Appointment confirmations and reminders

  • Flash sales and promotional messages

  • Order status updates and delivery alerts

  • Internal staff communications

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Text Alerts

Here are the key steps to sending your first text alert as a business.

1. Pick an SMS provider

  • SMS platforms like Textedly let you send text messages alerts at scale in a compliant manner.
  • Look for ease of use, pricing structure, and features like mass texting to help you choose.

2. Get a dedicated texting number

  • Choose a toll-free number, 10DLC, or short code. Each one is built for messaging at scale, but offers its own benefits and drawbacks.  
  • Ensure the phone number is registered and approved.

3. Collect subscriber information

Build a list of contacts who want to receive text message alerts from your business. You must always get this consent to text. You can do this by:

  • Adding opt-in forms to your website
  • Using point-of-sale prompts
  • Requesting consent in-person

4. Segment your audience

Next, you’ll want to group your contacts to ensure that your text alert only goes to the relevant list. This helps with targeting and personalization. You can group contacts by:

  • Interests
  • Behavior
  • Demographics
  • Location
  • Subscription method

5. Craft your messages

Next, you’ll write your text message. You should:

  • Be brief and clear 
  • Include a call-to-action (CTA)

Example: "Flash Sale Alert! 20% off all services today only. Show this text to redeem."

6. Schedule and automate

Next, you will schedule your text message to send. On Textedly you can send it right away or schedule it for a future date and time. Some tips:

  • Set up recurring reminders, drip campaigns, or triggers based on user actions.
  • Use your platform’s automation features for efficiency.

7. Monitor and optimize
Now it’s time to look at performance. You should:

  • Track delivery rates, open rates, click-throughs, and responses.
  • A/B test message formats, timing, and wording to improve results.

Tips for Success With Text Alerts

Here are four core tips to finding success with SMS alerts.

  • Stay compliant: Follow regulations like the TCPA and GDPR.

  • Add value: Avoid spamming; send only relevant and timely messages.

  • Include opt-out options: Always allow users to unsubscribe easily.

  • Respond quickly: If you're using two-way messaging, timely replies build trust.

How Textedly Simplifies Business Text Alerts

Textedly is a top-rated platform for sending business text alerts with reliable and affordable mass messaging capabilities. Textedly helps businesses grow with promotional alerts or inform during emergencies with quick text blasts. Here are just a few of the ways Textedly simplifies mass texting alerts for businesses.

  • Reliable sending: Textedly reliably delivers your text messages. Our platform is built for text messaging at scale, ensuring you can reach many customers at once with a single alert.

  • Easy-to-use platform: Textedly is simple to use. Our platform is intuitive, requiring little to no learning curve. If you know how to text, you know how to use Textedly.

  • Accessible from anywhere: You can access Textedly and send text alerts from any web browser. This means you can text from a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.

  • Scheduling features: Textedly lets you send a text message alert immediately or schedule it for a specific date and time. This helps businesses ensure messages are sent at the right time.

  • Flexible pricing: Textedly lets you customize your plan, adding only the features you need. Plus, you can pay by month and pause your account so you can have the flexibility you need.

  • Seamless contact segmentation: Textedly offers top-notch segmentation tools, including Tags, Keywords, and custom lists. This enables you to create many different contact lists for better messaging.

The Bottom Line: Textedly’s Text Alert Platform Excels

Setting up text alerts is a powerful way to enhance communication and customer experience. By choosing the right platform, respecting compliance, and crafting value-driven messages, your business can stay connected and responsive in real time.

Textedly is a great platform for businesses wanting to send text alerts to employees, customers, leads, and more. But don’t just take our word for it, you can try Textedly free today. Simply create your account, and start sending alerts.