Almost every customer in Bangladesh has a phone, and an SMS works without data or an app. For a small cost, it is one of the simplest ways to reach them. Used well, it builds trust. Used badly, it makes you look like spam.
Know the types of SMS
Non-masking SMS arrives from a phone number. It is the cheapest option, and it suits reminders and notifications. Because the number alone does not say who you are, start every message with your organisation's name.
Fixed number SMS also comes from a number, but always the same one, so customers can come to recognise it.
Masking SMS shows your brand name as the sender. It looks more professional and generally costs more. Sender names are subject to approval rules, so ask your provider what applies before you plan around one.
Messages people are glad to get
- Payment confirmations: “We received Tk 5,000. Your balance is now Tk 2,000.”
- Due reminders: polite, with the exact amount
- School updates: attendance, holidays, fees, exam dates and results
- Hospital and clinic messages: appointments and “your report is ready”
- Delivery updates: “Your order is on the way”
What these have in common is that each one is useful to the person who receives it. Those messages get read, and the occasional offer gets read along with them.
Write it so it fits
- Put your name first, then the point of the message
- Stick to one message per SMS, with one clear action
- Include a phone number or a link if you want a response
- Remember that Bangla text uses a different encoding, so each SMS holds far fewer characters than in English. Long messages split into several parts and cost more, so check the length before sending.
Compare these two:
Dear valued customer we are very happy to announce our grand Eid collection with amazing discounts come and visit us today!!!
Rahman Fashion: 20% off all Eid panjabi until Friday. Mirpur 10. 01XXXXXXXXX
The second one is shorter, cheaper and tells you exactly what to do.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sending to numbers you bought. People who never heard of you will just be annoyed, and it can damage your name. Stick to your own customers.
- Sending too often. If every message is an offer, people stop reading. For most businesses, a few offers a month is plenty.
- Sending at the wrong time. Avoid early mornings and late nights, and be thoughtful around prayer times and during exams.
- Using an old list. Remove numbers that fail, and respect anyone who asks you to stop.
- Not testing. Send it to your own phone first. A wrong amount sent to 2,000 people is a long day of apologies.
Check how you are measuring it
For an offer, use a code or ask “how did you hear about us?” for a week. Otherwise you will never know which messages brought people in.
Getting started
We provide bulk SMS with simple per-message pricing, and our business software can send SMS from inside the system.