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Best 9 Shopify Apps for SMS Marketing in 2023

5 minutes

SMS marketing plays a crucial role in boosting the performance of e-commerce sites, and automating this marketing channel can significantly impact your Shopify store’s success. By automating SMS campaigns, you can deliver timely and personalized messages to your customers, improving engagement, increasing conversions, and driving revenue.

Automated SMS marketing allows you to send essential notifications like order updates, shipping confirmations, and abandoned cart reminders, ensuring your customers stay informed and motivated to complete their purchases. With automation, you can also set up personalized triggers and workflows based on customer behavior, such as sending targeted offers or re-engagement messages. This level of automation empowers you to streamline your marketing efforts, save time, and ultimately enhance the overall performance of your Shopify store.

So, if you’re ready to take your SMS marketing to the next level, read on!

What Is SMS Marketing?

SMS marketing, or text message marketing, is a digital marketing strategy that involves sending promotional messages and information to individuals’ mobile phones via SMS (Short Message Service). It is a direct and cost-effective method of reaching a wide audience quickly and efficiently.

SMS marketing can be a powerful tool for businesses and organizations to engage with their target audience, promote products or services, drive traffic, generate leads, and increase sales. However, it’s important to ensure compliance, respect subscribers’ preferences, and deliver value to maintain a positive relationship with recipients.

What Are SMS Marketing Features?

The following points highlight SMS Marketing’s key features:

#1: Permission-based

Like any other form of marketing, SMS marketing should be permission-based. This means that individuals must explicitly opt-in to receive messages from the marketer or organization. Consent is typically obtained through a web form, mobile app, or by sending a keyword to a specific short code (a short numerical phone number).

#2: Subscriber database

The marketer builds a subscriber database comprising the phone numbers and, sometimes, additional demographic information of the opted-in individuals. The database is usually managed through a marketing automation platform or SMS service provider, which facilitates the sending and tracking messages.

#3: Compliance with regulations

SMS marketing must adhere to various legal and regulatory requirements, including obtaining proper consent from subscribers, providing opt-out options, and complying with specific country or regional regulations such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.

#4: Message content

SMS messages are limited to 160 characters per message or 70 characters containing non-Latin characters. Therefore, the content should be concise, clear, and compelling. Marketers often use shortened URLs to direct recipients to a website, landing page, or online offer.

#5: Timing and frequency

Timing and frequency of SMS messages are crucial. Marketers must consider the target audience’s time zones and preferences and avoid sending messages at inappropriate hours. Additionally, excessive messaging can lead to user dissatisfaction or opt-outs. A balanced approach that offers value to the recipients is recommended.

#6: Personalization and segmentation

Personalizing SMS messages based on subscriber preferences, demographics, or past interactions can significantly enhance engagement. Segmentation allows marketers to categorize subscribers into groups and send tailored messages to specific segments, increasing relevancy and effectiveness.

#7: Call-to-action (CTA)

SMS marketing campaigns typically include a clear call to action. This can be a request to visit a website, redeem a coupon, participate in a survey, or take advantage of a limited-time offer. The CTA should be concise and persuasive, encouraging recipients to take the desired action.

#8: Tracking and analytics

SMS marketing platforms provide tracking and analytics capabilities to measure the performance of campaigns. Marketers can monitor metrics such as delivery rates, open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and opt-out rates. These insights help refine future campaigns and optimize their effectiveness.

#9: Integrations and automation

SMS marketing platforms often integrate with other marketing tools, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems and email marketing software, allowing seamless data transfer and automation. This enables marketers to create multi-channel campaigns that combine SMS with email, social media, and other channels.

#10: Compliance with best practices

To maximize the effectiveness of SMS marketing, it’s essential to follow best practices. These include providing valuable and relevant content, avoiding excessive use of capital letters or exclamation marks (which may appear spammy), and regularly testing and optimizing campaigns based on insights and feedback.

As you can see, SMS marketing can become a useful tool for boosting your Shopify store’s marketing efforts. The good news is that there is a great way for you to automate your SMS marketing efforts. You can utilize Shopify SMS apps to make your SMS marketing efforts quick and effective without breaking the bank.

What Are Shopify SMS Apps?

Shopify SMS apps are third-party applications that integrate with the Shopify e-commerce platform to enable businesses to implement SMS marketing and communication strategies. These apps provide a range of features and functionalities that allow merchants to send automated SMS messages, engage with customers via text messaging, and enhance their overall marketing efforts.

Shopify SMS apps offer your e-commerce site the opportunity to leverage the power of text messaging to engage with customers, increase conversions, and drive revenue. By integrating SMS marketing into your overall marketing strategies, you can establish direct and personalized communication channels with your audience, improving customer satisfaction and business growth.

Why Are Shopify SMS Apps Important?

Shopify SMS apps are highly useful for the following reasons:

#1: SMS Campaigns

Shopify SMS apps enable businesses to create and run SMS marketing campaigns. Merchants can design and send promotional messages, product updates, special offers, and other marketing content directly to their customers’ mobile devices. These campaigns can be scheduled in advance and segmented based on customer attributes and behaviors.

#2: Automation and Triggers

SMS apps integrate with Shopify’s data and automation capabilities, allowing merchants to set up triggers and workflows for automated SMS messages. For example, sending an SMS confirmation when an order is placed, sending shipping updates, or sending abandoned cart reminders via text to re-engage customers.

#3: Subscriber Management

SMS apps provide tools for managing and growing the subscriber list. Merchants can collect phone numbers through pop-ups, signup forms, or during the checkout process. The apps typically offer options for importing existing subscriber lists and provide tools for managing opt-outs and compliance with regulations.

#4: Personalization and Segmentation

Shopify SMS apps often offer personalization features, allowing businesses to include dynamic content in SMS messages based on customer data such as names, purchase histories, or preferences. Segmentation capabilities enable merchants to send targeted messages to specific customer segments, increasing relevance and engagement.

#5: Two-Way Communication

Some Shopify SMS apps facilitate two-way communication between businesses and customers. This means customers can reply to SMS messages, enabling businesses to provide customer support, answer questions, or engage in personalized conversations via text messaging.

#6: Analytics and Reporting

SMS apps integrate with Shopify’s analytics and reporting features, providing insights into the performance of SMS campaigns. Merchants can track metrics such as delivery rates, open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. This analytics help evaluate the effectiveness of SMS marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns.

#7: Integrations and Extensions

Many Shopify SMS apps offer integrations with other marketing tools, such as email marketing platforms, CRM systems, or customer support software. These integrations enable businesses to create cohesive multi-channel marketing strategies and provide a seamless customer experience.

#8: Compliance and Regulations

SMS apps often include compliance features to help businesses adhere to SMS marketing regulations and best practices. This includes obtaining proper consent from subscribers, managing opt-outs, and ensuring compliance with country-specific regulations related to SMS marketing.

#9: Templates and Customization

Shopify SMS apps may provide pre-designed templates and customizable message formats to help merchants create visually appealing and engaging SMS messages. These templates can be tailored to match a brand’s style and tone, ensuring consistent branding across all communication channels.

#10: Customer Retention and Loyalty

SMS apps can nurture customer relationships, enhance loyalty, and encourage repeat purchases. Merchants can send personalized offers, exclusive discounts, birthday greetings, or other incentives to keep customers engaged and satisfied.

Shopify SMS apps offer many benefits for your e-commerce site. However, not all Shopify SMS apps are created equal. That is why separating the wheat from the chaff is highly important. Spotting the best Shopify SMS apps can make the difference between getting good and great results.

What to Look for in a Shopify SMS Marketing App

When searching for a Shopify SMS marketing app, there are five key factors to consider to ensure you choose the right solution for your e-commerce site:

#1: Features and Functionality

Evaluate the features and functionalities offered by the SMS marketing app. Look for essential features such as automated SMS campaigns, personalized messaging, abandoned cart recovery, subscriber list management, and integration with Shopify. Consider whether the app provides advanced features like segmentation, A/B testing, and analytics to enhance your marketing efforts.

#2: Ease of Use

A user-friendly interface is crucial for an SMS marketing app. Consider the app’s ease of use, intuitive design, and seamless integration with your existing Shopify store. Ensure the app provides a hassle-free experience for managing SMS campaigns, creating templates, scheduling messages, and analyzing performance.

#3: Compliance and Regulations

SMS marketing is subject to specific regulations, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. Choose an app that prioritizes compliance by offering features like double opt-in for subscribers, opt-out mechanisms, and consent management. It should also provide guidelines and safeguards to help you adhere to these regulations.

#4: Customization and Personalization

Look for an SMS marketing app that allows you to customize and personalize your messages. It should enable you to tailor SMS content, include dynamic variables like customer names or order details, and provide options for segmenting your audience based on preferences or behavior. The ability to send automated and personalized messages will enhance customer engagement and drive better results.

#5: Integration and Support

Consider the integration capabilities of the SMS marketing app with your existing Shopify ecosystem. Ensure that the app seamlessly integrates with your store and other relevant apps or platforms you use. Additionally, assess the availability and quality of customer support, including resources like documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer service, to ensure you can get assistance when needed.

The Best SMS Apps for Shopify

The following list features our curated picks highlighting the best SMS for Shopify. You will find a fine selection of top-rated picks at affordable prices.

So, let’s jump right in!

App Name	PRICe	Free Trial	Number of Reviews	rating	Support
Attentive: SMS + MMS Marketing	Pay per ad	30-day	20	4.9	Email
Automizely SMS Marketing	Free	Free to use	317	4.9	Email
Avada Email Marketing & SMS	Free	$16 / mo.	1,121	4.9	Email
Emotive: SMS Marketing	Pay per ad	30-day	50	4.7	Email
Klaviyo: Email Marketing & SMS	$20 / mo.	Free to install	1,698	3.8	Email
Postscript SMS Marketing	$100 / mo.	30-day	1,910	4.9	Email
Recart: SMS (Mobile) Marketing	$299 / mo.	21-day	5,508	4.8	Email
SmartrMail Email Marketing SMS	$19 / mo.	15-day	569	4.9	Email
SMSBump: SMS Marketing & Email	$19 / mo.	Free to install	4,584	4.9	Email
Tobi. SMS Marketing Automation	$29 / mo.	Free to install	689	4.8	Email

#1: Attentive: SMS + MMS Marketing

Attentive: SMS + MMS Marketing by Attentive is one Shopify SMS app you want to check out. Experience unprecedented growth as you scale your business with these invaluable resources. Refine your SMS strategy with expert advice, industry-leading playbooks, and personalized guidance from a team of experts. Streamline your workflow and save precious time with prewritten campaign templates, ensuring efficiency at every step. Witness your subscriber lists skyrocket as revolutionary two-tap technology drives the rapid expansion of your text and email audience. Engage your customers like never before with personalized two-way messages spanning the entire customer lifecycle. From enticing limited-time offers and exciting new product launches to seamless order updates and unrivaled customer support, the platform offers a comprehensive suite of features.