SMS communication is a powerful tool for connecting with your audience instantly. In addition to sending one-to-one SMS messages (which you can read about in this article), you can also send bulk SMS Broadcasts and set up SMS Drip sequences to engage with your audience over time.

This guide will show you how to use both SMS Broadcasts and SMS Drip sequences to communicate effectively with your contacts. Whether you want to send a single message to a large group or send a series of messages at scheduled intervals, this article covers everything you need to know.

Before getting started, make sure you’ve enrolled for Nutshell SMS and configured your Nutshell SMS number. If you haven’t done that yet, you can follow the steps in our SMS setup guide to get everything set up.

Bulk SMS is a great way to send the same message to a large group of contacts all at once. It’s perfect for announcements, promotions, or other communications where everyone needs to receive the same information.​
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​Go to Marketing > SMS > Broadcasts
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​Create a Broadcast

Click on the "Create new broadcast" button at the top right of the page.
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Prepare your text and add a title​
In the Details tab, you'll write your text message. It should contain a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 255 characters. You can also insert merge fields like: recipient first name, recipient last name, recipient full name.

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Your SMS must include opt-out text, which allows recipients to unsubscribe from future messages. In the Details tab, you can select the opt-out text from the dropdown menu provided. Currently, custom opt-out text is not supported. Note: For Drip sequences, only the first message in the sequence will require opt-out text.

When including links in your SMS, avoid using public short URL providers like Bit.ly or TinyURL, as these are not supported and may lead to failed text delivery.
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Instead, use:

Carriers discourage the use of public shorteners due to their frequent misuse in spam or fraudulent messages. Branded links help build trust with recipients, ensure better deliverability, and comply with carrier guidelines.

By following these standards, you can send messages that are both effective and compliant.

Once you're ready, hit the Prepare to send button in the top right. You'll see a preview of your text and a check on the left side of your screen ensuring that your text has the correct character count and opt-out text.​

Choose which audience to send your SMS broadcast to from your saved lists.

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Once your message looks good, you can preview it one last time, and then schedule or send it immediately.

Drip sequences allow you to automate a series of text messages to be sent over a period of time. This is perfect for nurturing leads, onboarding new customers, or following up after key interactions.

Drip sequences are automated by three key components:

Here’s how to set up an SMS drip sequence:

Click the Create new drip sequence button, update the title, and start building your sequence.​

A start trigger is an action that kicks off the sequence.

You can choose from a few options, such as:

You can set up a goal for your drip sequence which can optionally trigger an automated next step.
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You can choose from a few options, such as:

Now it’s time to add the individual messages that will be sent as part of your drip sequence. Each message should flow naturally from one to the next.

You can also set up a next step that will automatically take place if the goal of your drip sequence is met.
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You can choose from a few options, such as:

Once you’ve added your messages and set your delays, click Activate sequence in the upper right of your screen to start sending the sequence when your start trigger is met.

If you need to stop a drip sequence, you can easily pause or cancel it at any time.

After sending an SMS broadcast or starting a Drip sequence, you can track the performance and engagement in the Engagement tab. For both broadcasts and drip sequences, you'll see key metrics like the total number of messages sent, the response rate, the undeliverable rate, and the total opt-outs in the respective broadcast or drip sequence.

In the Recipients tab, you can view a detailed list of all recipients. You can also filter this list by various categories, including All recipients, Opted out, Undelivered, and Replied.

You can manage and track your sent SMS broadcasts or drip sequences in the Engagement menu under SMS. Messages are organized by their current status, including categories like Open, Closed, Needs reply, Snoozed, and Failed.

Note: You'll need to have an Engagement pro plan to be able to access the Engagement suite.

How long does the enrollment process take?

It typically takes 1 to 14 days for our data infrastructure to approve the enrollment. If there’s an issue, a support ticket will be created for assistance.

Is Nutshell SMS available outside the USA?

Right now, this feature is only available within the USA.

Can anyone in my team set up SMS marketing?

Users will need to have a Marketing and Engagement Pro license to be able to use SMS marketing.

Can I include links in my text messages?
Yes, you can include links in your text messages. However, avoid using short links from public providers like Bit.ly or TinyURL, as these are not supported. Instead, use full URLs or branded short links that are approved. Additionally, when signing up for Nutshell SMS, make sure to select 'Yes' for the question "Will you include any links in your messages?".

What happens if a recipient opts out of receiving SMS?
If a recipient opts out, they will be automatically removed from future SMS marketing. You'll be able to view all opted-out contacts in the Opted-out filter in the Engagement section. Additionally, the text box in the sidebar will be disabled, and a note will appear to inform you that the person has opted out.