How to schedule text messages: automate your communication for better engagement

Scheduling SMS for marketing campaigns is a powerful feature so you can plan out and automate your communication. Whether it’s personal reminders or business purposes, SMS scheduling tools deliver messages at the right time, exactly when they’re needed. 

This is essential for businesses looking to maintain consistent communication with their customers. Send promotional updates, reminders, and follow-up messages with no manual effort or excessive training required. So, streamline your communication strategy and make sure your important messages reach the right people by scheduling your business SMS.  

The benefits of SMS scheduling tools for businesses and individuals

Timely communication, every single time

Whether it's a birthday wish, an appointment reminder, or a time-sensitive promotion, scheduling SMS for marketing campaigns allows you to reach your audience at the ideal moment. For businesses, this means being able to deliver messages at the point they’re most likely to be seen—even outside of normal working hours. 

Keep customer engagement consistent

For businesses, staying connected to your customers is key to building trust and loyalty. Maintain a steady stream of engagement through promotions, follow-up messages, or seasonal greetings, using SMS scheduling tools to plan out communication long in advance.

Automate routine tasks

By automating text messaging, businesses can save time and resources by leaving manual message sending in the past. This is especially useful for recurring messages like monthly billing reminders, appointment confirmations, or weekly promotional offers.

Flexibility and convenience

Plan communication at your convenience by setting date and time in advance using automation. This extra flexibility means that important messages are sent, even when the sender might be busy or offline.

How to schedule SMS messages

Knowing how to schedule a text message has the potential to transform the way your business communicates. Here’s your step-by-step guide for different platforms:

• Scheduling texts on iOS: While the native iOS Messages app doesn’t support text scheduling directly, users can set up scheduled messages using Apple’s Shortcuts app. Simply create an automation that sends a pre-written message at a designated time. Alternatively, businesses can opt for third-party apps that integrate directly with iOS to provide a smoother experience when they need to schedule a text message in advance.

• Scheduling texts on Android: Many Android devices come with built-in support for scheduling texts. To schedule SMS messages, open the Messages app, compose your message, and select the “schedule” option. Choose the date and time, and your message will be sent automatically. For more advanced needs, businesses can use SMS scheduling tools that integrate with Android to automate their messaging campaigns.

• Using Third-Party SMS Marketing tools: For businesses looking to scale their messaging efforts, SMS marketing platforms like Kudosity offer advanced scheduling capabilities. With Kudosity’s SMS messaging services, you can upload contact lists, create personalised messages, and set up automated campaigns that send texts at predefined times. This makes it easy to schedule SMS for marketing campaigns and reach customers at the optimal moment, without any manual input.

• Scheduling texts through Email-to-SMS: Another option for businesses is to use email-to-SMS services, where emails are converted into text messages that are sent to recipients. Using this method, you can schedule a text message in advance by scheduling the email, and the service will ensure the SMS is delivered accordingly. It’s an efficient way to manage communication directly from your email platform.

Best practices and considerations for scheduling text messages

To maximise the effectiveness of your scheduled text messages, it’s always best to follow adhere to a handful of best practices:

• Timing matters: Avoid sending messages during non-business hours as some customers can find this intrusive. Aim for business hours when customers are more likely to check their phones, and account for time zones so messages arrive at the right time.

• Tailor messages to specific audiences: The key to successful communication these days is personalisation. Tailor messages to fit different customer segments such as new customers or loyal buyers, and keep your messaging relevant and engaging.

• Plan for follow-ups: Scheduling a follow-up message can boost engagement, especially for promotions or reminders, helping to maintain the conversation and increase desired outcomes.

• Monitor and adjust campaigns: Use SMS analytics to track delivery and engagement, adjusting future schedules based on performance insights to improve results.

• Understand potential limitations: Be aware of time zone differences and network delays that can affect timing, and always check time settings when scheduling to ensure accuracy.

Find the best SMS scheduling software for your needs

Choosing the best SMS scheduling software can completely transform your communication strategy, making it easier to manage and automate your messaging. 

With Kudosity, you get a seamless experience for scheduling SMS for marketing campaigns, allowing you to automate messaging and stay connected with customers without hassle. Start automating your messaging today with Kudosity’s SMS scheduling tools and discover how easy it is to keep your communication on track.