Sending bulk, SMS to various audiences can be a bit of a wild guess. Different countries have their own rules regarding the type of SMS allowed. Some allow only specific carriers to send out the texts, which complicates sending direct and secure SMS to particular locations.
If your business is carrying out an SMS campaign, you have probably noticed that some messages are not delivered.
Well, there is nothing as disappointing as sending your bulk SMSand getting the “not delivered” or “blacklisted” status in your delivery reports.
From network issues to using a shoddy bulk SMS provider, there are plenty of reasons why your marketing messages may not get delivered.
Sadly, even if you comprehend the intricacies of the worldwide communication networks, it can often get difficult to fathom why your text messages are not sending and troubleshoot accordingly.
One of the common reasons why your texts are not getting delivered is because you’ve been flagged as spam.
If you are using shoddy bulk SMS providers who do not follow the best practices of text messaging, it is easy to get flagged as the texts will seem suspicious or raise a red flag. This is somewhat a bummer, considering bulk SMS is the most effective way of communicating with the customer.
This post looks at the most common reasons why your recipient’s carrier may flag your messages as spam and refuse to deliver them. It will help you troubleshoot the issue and adjust your approach accordingly.
- Sending suspicious links
While sending out marketing text messages, you will often want to include a call to action. This could be a link to a product page or a landing page for a service. The link, however, could be marked as suspicious by the carrier, mainly if it is long.
To avoid this, use a link shortener – an action that could minimize the chances of raising a red flag. Luckily, some bulk SMS providers automatically shorten the link for you.
- Sending several texts with similar content
If the content of your bulk SMS is repetitive and happening almost simultaneously, chances are, the SMS carrier will flag you as spam.
It is, therefore, recommended that you use different content formats, share different links, and space out the messages appropriately – that is, if you want your messages to be delivered to the customer.
It is also recommended to send out your texts at intervals, and it would greatly be recommended to enlist the help of a reputable bulk SMS provider. Mass messaging will simply not work if you use your business’s number to send out texts.
- Sending exceedingly long messages
Unsurprisingly, exceedingly long messages could be why your bulk messages are not sent or delivered. SMS best practices dictate that your message be short and concise and provide the intended message.
Try to shorten your messages to help them get through to your customer without a hassle.
- Using all caps in all messages
Capital letters are for angry people – unless you are mad, don’t use all caps in your bulk messages. Most likely, all caps in your texts read to carriers that you are screaming to catch your recipient’s attention.
Tone your messages down. Use standard grammar and punctuation.
Avoid Undelivered Text Messages with the Right Bulk SMS Provider
How you write your message, the content, and its length, can determine whether it will be delivered or not. You should register with a certified bulk SMS provider if you have been using your company phone to send messages to a broad audience.
Celcom Africa offers a free demo so you can test the waters and send out a few texts risk-free. Join thousands of businesses using this text messaging service for a successful marketing campaign.
