Bulk SMS distribution is a cost-effective and efficient way to reach a large audience quickly and engage with them.
We reviewed a range of major bulk SMS providers in Australia to assist you in deciding which one to engage.
Latest update on 28 September 2024.
Small or large businesses throughout Australia are rapidly understanding the value of adopting mass or bulk SMS service as an effective way of getting their message across to large groups of people for marketing and communication campaigns, offering special deals and alerts to upcoming deals.
Bulk SMS is a simple yet effective way to send mass text messages to a specific set of people or groups of people at a low cost with an assurance that such people will receive the text message promptly through their mobile phone, Web or any sort of mobile communication system. Bulk SMS providers use a variety of wireless telecommunication gateways to ensure such short messages are distributed efficiently.
In Australia, several reliable bulk SMS providers can service your needs. The only requirement is that you provide the bulk SMS company with the database of either clients, customers, staff or whoever needs to receive the message.
The whole process from formulating the SMS to distributing it takes only minutes from start to finish. It does not matter if your database covers a few hundred or one hundred thousand contacts, it is a great way of communicating.
What is so good about sending SMS in large quantities is that you, as the client, do not need any special software to be installed or downloaded as the bulk SMS providers are web-based. It means that you only need a web browser and of course access to the internet. So you only have to state to the Bulk SMS provider which group or groups of people you wish to contact and they will do the rest.
What is also so good about distributing such text messages is that it is a two-way process. It means that a piece of communication can be sent in mass to a target audience and you have the opportunity, if required, to receive replies from the recipients which can be viewed on the web or forwarded to a specific email address. That means that you have immediate responses to the SMS that was just sent out a little while ago.
Imagine scheduling the transmission of a text message (SMS) for a set time or a certain date and knowing that the bulk SMS provider will do the rest. Great for reminders for appointments or notifying of important dates or events that customers, clients, or staff should know about. If you want to introduce or promote a major or minor marketing or communication campaign, use a bulk SMS provider to do the work for you.
Bulk SMS distribution offers several advantages, including:
All incoming and outgoing SMS are recorded and documented, and a delivery tracking analysis can be prepared for the marketing or communication campaigns you may be involved in managing. These recordings can easily be exported onto an Excel spreadsheet for review and comment if required.
Take the example of governments and local councils who realised the value of immediacy and cut-through of bulk text messaging as an easily understood and used information tool. One case is alerting the community of any unsettled weather conditions through SMS. The ability to reach hundreds of thousands of mobile phones on multiple gateway networks within seconds means that quickly distributing large volumes of SMS has established itself as a trusted and reliable communication tool across Australia.
When sending SMS in bulk, it is evident that one needs to know that there is an effective and efficient way to keep the overall cost of distributing SMS to a minimum. A review of the significant bulk Australian SMS providers indicates they offer low and competitive rates for each SMS sent out, whether in small or large volumes. Knowing that bulk SMS providers provide a range of prices to suit businesses’ needs, organisations like gyms and social clubs, through online services, use SMS in bulk to keep their customers and consumers happy with regular offers and updates.
In Australia, there happens to be a good range of reliable bulk SMS service providers available that offer reasonably low prices dependent on distribution volumes during a monthly period. The ranges investigated varied from low-volume numbers of less than 10,000 text messages per month to over 250,000 messages monthly. They provide reliable software and have a reliability factor of 99.95 to 100% uptime. There are often no set-up costs and a two-way SMS option at no extra cost.
The graph below shows a rating of how each Bulk SMS distributor fares in their charge structure.
By comparing the charges of individual Bulk SMS providers, it was noted that there was a significant difference in prices between such companies, dependent on the volume of text message distribution for each month. The review found that Cellcast offered the cheapest rates for low volumes, followed by Notifyre, which was approximately 12% higher than the most affordable rate. TextIt was the dearest by between 20 to 30%, depending on the volume distributed each month
With larger volumes of over 250,000 SMS each month, Cellcast shone as providing the cheapest rates of all its competitors. TextIt charges were much more expensive than many of the other bulk distributors.
Customer service, support, and compliance are all critical aspects of any bulk SMS provider’s offering.
Here’s why:
Customer service: Effective customer service is essential in any business, and the bulk SMS industry is no exception. A good bulk SMS provider should offer reliable customer service, including responsive support via multiple channels like email, phone, or live chat. Customers need to be able to reach the provider easily to get help with any issues or questions they may have.
Support: Bulk SMS providers should also provide technical support to ensure customers can send messages successfully. This includes offering documentation, guides, tutorials, and assistance in troubleshooting any issues that arise. Providers should also offer assistance in setting up and configuring their service, ensuring that customers can use the platform effectively.
Compliance: Compliance is a critical aspect of bulk SMS providers’ offerings. Providers must comply with local SMS marketing laws and regulations, including opt-in requirements, sending frequency limits, and content restrictions. A good provider should ensure their customers know these regulations and provide tools and resources to help them comply. This includes offering opt-in and opt-out tools and enabling customers to manage their contact lists effectively.
Overall, a bulk SMS provider that offers good customer service, support, and compliance is more likely to provide reliable and effective service to its customers successfully. By providing these essential services, providers can ensure that their customers are satisfied, their campaigns are effective, and their business is successful.
The major Australian bulk SMS providers reviewed run high-speed gateways that quickly distribute high-volume text messages. As such, they can provide detailed and easily interpreted reports presenting various aspects of delivery, whether bounces of text messages sent through the API or an online platform.
All of these providers have a customer centre number, whether 24/7 or during business hours. All provide an email support service. Although it was not mentioned in one case, that being TextIt, the other bulk providers are anti-SPAM compliant. They provide a cleaning service allowing them to clean SMS contact lists when imported and reformat numbers when different styles are indicated. Some possess auto-opt-out availability for their clients with no-charge access to their accumulated pool of shared virtual reply numbers.
Overall, they provide excellent service to support their promises of presenting a quality range of customer-related features for bulk SMS distribution.
Again, it is reassuring to know from the review of the major bulk SMS providers that they offer a reliable and efficient means of distributing text messages effectively. Some of these bulk distributors offer a service, but there may be a time lag, or their promptness in servicing the clients is not as good as that of other competitors.
The Bulk SMS Comparison site of major Australian bulk companies provides an independent review of these companies’ features, charges, services, and reliability. The review was prepared by a set of experts in the text messaging field who are no longer in the area but have the knowledge and skills to advise readers.
The site was created because potential clients who wanted to use SMS as a great way of communicating needed a set of selection criteria to decide which bulk SMS provider would best suit their needs. Knowing this demand, the authors established this site outlining the major features to be considered before engaging one of the bulk companies.
It must be mentioned that even though the site is free to anyone using it if the use of the site leads to an agreement with one of the bulk SMS companies to engage their services, then a commission may be requested from the bulk company, but not the client.
Bulk SMS provider sites can change their features and services without notification, if you find an anomaly or a change of features or charges, please let the authors know so that the changes can be made promptly.
This page was last updated on 28 September 2024.