Ask ten business owners what they use bulk SMS for and you will get ten different answers. A clinic sends appointment reminders, a school shares fee notices and an online store confirms deliveries. The tool is the same, but the messages, timing and rules change from one industry to the next.
This guide looks at bulk SMS through that lens, drawing on the bulk SMS service in India page from MetaReach Marketing. Here is what to send, when to send it and what to keep in mind.
First, the Three Message Types
Before choosing what to send, know which type it is. Each has its own rules:
- Promotional: offers and campaigns for opted-in customers. DND numbers are filtered out, and promotional messages can go only to non-DND numbers between 9 AM and 9 PM IST.
- Transactional: confirmations, delivery updates, reminders and alerts, which can be sent around the clock.
- OTP: one-time passwords for logins and payments, with priority routing.
Transactional and OTP messages are generally not subject to promotional DND preferences when registered under the applicable non-promotional category, so registering the right category matters.
Real Estate
Property buyers want quick answers. Site-visit reminders, new launch announcements and follow-ups after an enquiry all work well by SMS. Keep each message short and include one clear next step, such as a callback number.
Healthcare
Clinics and diagnostic centres use SMS for appointment reminders, report-ready alerts and follow-up notes. These are usually transactional, which means they can reach patients at any hour. Avoid including sensitive medical details in the text itself.
Education
Schools, coaching institutes and colleges send fee reminders, timetable changes, exam dates and admission updates. Parents without smartphones still see an SMS, which is why it remains so reliable in this sector.
E-commerce
Online stores rely on order confirmations, dispatch updates and delivery alerts, all transactional. A well-timed promotional message about a sale or a cart reminder can follow, but only to opted-in, non-DND customers within the allowed hours.
Banking and Fintech
Transaction alerts, payment reminders and verification codes are the daily bread of this sector. OTP delivery needs priority routing and tidy template registration, so check both before launch.