Many customers trust Textline to send their contacts text message alerts and notifications. We're the most secure text messaging service for businesses. See what our customers have to say.
<span class="platform__quote"><q>Textline allows me to reach out to hundreds of contacts in a very short time, and then manage those exchanges until a sale is closed. I use it on my desktop AND the app on my mobile phone, so it follows me everywhere. The bulk send feature (Announcements) is the key to my personal productivity each and every day. <span class="platform__quote--blue60">I could not do my job at the level I do able without Textline.</span></q></span>
<span class="platform__quote__author">John,<span class="platform__quote__author--blue60"> Capterra</span></span>
A text alert is a 160-character message sent to notify or forewarn contacts about important information. Text alerts are also called SMS notifications or SMS alerts. These alerts allow businesses to send both non-urgent and urgent messages to contacts at scale.
Often text alerts are sent in bulk to inform a target audience about emergencies like weather alerts, last-minute schedule changes, or cancellations. Setting up a text alert system allows you to instantly share information with as many people as needed.
Try sending a text alert on Textline today. Sign up for a free 14-day trial today. No credit card required.
Emergencies happen unexpectedly. That’s why it’s important to have a way to reach your contacts instantly to avert disaster. These alerts ensure a message is seen in a timely manner as the average text message is read within three minutes.
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Text alerts allow you to send a consistent message to many contacts at once. These messages, also called mass texts, are customizable and can be sent to segmented groups.
SMS messages reach everyone regardless of if they have a mobile app installed or an internet connection. Plus, text messages have a 98 percent open rate. These two things ensure your contacts will see your message.
Sending a text alert is easy when you use the right text alert system. It is as simple as signing up for a Textline account, crafting your message, uploading your subscribed contacts, and clicking send.
Many organizations use text alert systems to send critical messages to employees, customers, students, and more. While every text alert provider is different, here are a few key features that make Textline the perfect text alert system for your organization.
<div class="platform__mb40">Our mass texting service allows you to easily send messages in bulk to your contacts.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Save time when it matters by creating and storing SMS templates. For example, if you are a healthcare system you could create a text template that is ready to send to employees for each emergency code. This includes an SMS message for code brown or code silver.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">This allows you to plan and schedule text messages ahead of time. For example, if you plan to cancel the school day because of a snow storm, you can have it slated to send to parents and students at 5am.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Make sure you can easily upload contact lists, add contact information, or remove contacts. This will make it easier to manage alerts.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">If you have text alerts you want to send a group of contacts, it’s important segment the groups as needed. For example, if you have office locations in different cities, you may want to segment your employee lists based on the location.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Sometimes sending multimedia via text is necessary. As a result, look for a provider that allows you to send photos, links, or videos.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Smart SMS improves the deliverability of messages. It is a feature that sends your mass texts from numbers that match the area code of the message recipient.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">You want to track how well your text alert campaign performed. This will allow you to improve your text alerts. Look for a provider that allows you to see how many messages were delivered and if any failed.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Make it easy for your contacts to opt in and out of SMS alerts. This includes having an SMS provider automatically remove contacts from the list if they reply with words like STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Depending on your use case, you may want a provider that allows you to set an auto-reply message. That way, if a contact replies to your SMS alert, they will get an automated response letting them know if you will respond or if you won't. You could also have the automated message provide details about the next steps.</div>
<div class="platform__mb40">Look for a text messaging platform that allows you to manage inbound and outbound texts from one dashboard. This will make it easier for you and your team.</div>
Textline is an industry-leading business texting platform for text alerts. With fast throughput speeds and top-notch support, Textline enables companies to keep contacts in the know when it matters most. But what differentiates Textline?
Textline is the industry’s most secure business texting platform. Textline uses advanced safeguards and protocols to protect your company and customer data.
Our team is always ready to provide fast and efficient customer support. Contacting us is easy, and you can expect prompt replies.
Textline always considers customer feedback when choosing new features and enhancing our platform. We’re committed to making our texting solution the best for our customers.
Textline is built for collaboration. It’s a simple-to-use platform that makes it easy for multiple users to manage SMS conversations.
Businesses across all industries and in all states use text alerts to communicate with contacts. Here are a few examples:
Send a text message alert to customers if your business has to close early or unexpectedly.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi all. Our store will be closing at 2pm today because of staffing limitations.</span></span>
If you need to cancel an event, like a practice, meeting, class, or game, send an SMS alert.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi all. Due to inclement weather, the JV football practice is cancelled this afternoon.</span></span>
Send recipients weather alerts in your area.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi team. There was a tornado sighting in Oklahoma City. Find a safe space to shelter. Do NOT come to the office.</span></span>
Alert your contacts to an emergency, security, or safety concern via SMS.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">A large fire ignited at Marquette University campus building A. Please stay clear of the area until further notice.</span></span>
Send a public health update to contacts at scale with SMS.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">The mayor just issued a new public health order for Bayfield. It may impact your local business. Please call the office at {{number}} or visit this government link for more details: {{link}}.</span></span>
If you have a schedule change, let your contacts know by text.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi team. Due to a family emergency, the faculty meeting scheduled for today will be pushed to Thursday at 11am.</span></span>
If an employee calls in sick, consider sending an SMS alert to fill a last-minute shift.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi team. We're in need of more workers for construction site B today. Is anyone available?</span></span>
Send a reminder to key stakeholders about an important upcoming meeting.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi board members. Our annual budget meeting will take place tomorrow at 4pm in building C.</span></span>
Use text alerts to send subscribed contacts limited-time offers. Many businesses have found SMS marketing to be a great way to supplement email marketing strategies.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Pete’s Pizza: Hi {{contact.name}}. TODAY ONLY. Order a large one-topping pizza and get a second free 🍕 Reply STOP.</span></span>
Use SMS to send travel updates and reminders. This can include sharing delays or when a flight is boarding.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">American Airlines: Your flight to Mexico City is now boarding. See you at Gate C14.</span></span>
Send alerts to customers about their orders. This can include order confirmations, shipping updates, and more.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi {{contact.name}}. Your order is on its way! To track your package, click this link: {{link}}.</span></span>
Send customers alerts about withdrawals, deposits, or upcoming bills. You can also remind them to enroll in their cash-back categories and more.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">US Bank Cash Back: You can still choose your 5% cash-back categories before the new quarter ends. Activate at: {{link}}. Text STOP to opt-out.</span></span>
Set a text notification to send to customers who fill out a lead form. Sending this automatic message quickly will help you close more deals.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi {{contact.name}}. Thanks for filling out a request for additional information. Are you free for a 15-minute call this afternoon?</span></span>
Send a text alert or survey to request customer feedback.
<span class="chat-bubble"><span class="chat-bubble__text">Hi {{contact.name}}. Thanks for choosing Green Estates for your landscaping needs. How was your most recent service? Is there anything we can do to improve?</span></span>
Try Textline for free for 14 days. No credit card required.
At Textline, it is easy to set up a text alert system. You simply need to sign up for a Textline account. You can even test it out for 14 days to ensure it works for your business needs. Once you have a Textline account, you can upload your subscribed contacts, craft your message, and start sending messages.
A text alert is sent from a business to a group of contacts at once. Recipients will receive the text alert as a standard SMS message. It will alert them the same way they receive SMS messages. These alerts are designed to inform quickly and at scale.
Sending a text alert is easy on Textline. You would use our Announcements feature. Below we outline the steps:
There are several ways to get an opt-in from your contacts. This includes having customers text you first, having them fill out a web form, or converting your existing email subscribers.
Yes! Any replies will initiate one-on-one conversations. For Textline users, conversations will be routed to a centralized dashboard. This is where your team can view them and respond. Having a singular inbox ensures you never miss a message.
No. With Textline, you can send an unlimited number of text alerts.
Yes! On Textline you can attach photos, links, or other multimedia to your text alerts. Keep in mind this would classify the message as an MMS.
The cost varies based on your SMS provider. For Textline, the cost will depend on how many text alerts you send and the responses you receive.
View Textline’s pricing plans here. All pricing plans start with a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required for the free trial.
You should not use a native texting application on an iPhone or Android to send a text alert as a business. That's because it poses compliance risks, like not allowing customers to opt out with words like STOP.
But, you can download the Textline mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Downloading our mobile application would allow you to send text alerts from your cellphone.
Keep these best practices top of mind when sending a text alert:
Yes! With Textline, you can segment your contacts by using our tag feature. Tags are internal labels you can assign to contacts. This will allow you to group them internally. Once contacts are tagged, you can send text alerts to everyone with a specific tag.
There are three types of phone numbers you can use to send text alerts. These include 10-digit long codes, short codes, or toll-free numbers. 10DLC are local long-code numbers. Dedicated short codes are four, five, or six-digit codes for texting campaigns. Toll-free numbers allow businesses to text from an 800 number. Each type has its pros and cons.
Yes! Business texting is legal. But, you need to comply with regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. Under the TCPA, make sure you get consent to text and always include a way to opt out. One best practice is to include opt-out instructions like “text STOP” at anytime.
Read more about how to legally text your customers.
Easily add text message alerts into your existing workflow with Textline’s powerful integrations and API. In just a few clicks, you can sync key data between Textline and industry-leading platforms to improve efficiencies and remove silos.
Sign up for a free 14-day trial today. No credit card required.
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