How do I send an SMS to all customers?

BizDiary provides a Bulk SMS feature that allows you to send an SMS to all your customers.

Know your obligations

Before you send any SMS messages, and especially for bulk SMS, you should make sure you understand your obligations under the Spam Act 2003.

Sending an SMS to ALL customers

Note: Only Admin and Manager levels users can send Bulks SMS.

To send an SMS message to all your customers, follow these steps...

1. Make sure you have sufficient SMS credits.
   You must buy your credits before you try to send the message.  If you are not sure how many you will need do a quick test using the steps below.  If you don't have sufficient credits you will need to top up before continuing.
2. Browse Customers.
   Select Customers > Browse Customers from the menu.
3. Select the [Bulk SMS] option from the menu at the top-left of the customer list.
   The system will find all mobile numbers for customers who allow Bulk SMS, and list the numbers in the Send To field.  This may take a few seconds.
4. Enter your Message.
   As soon as you start typing your message the form will update showing how many messages will be sent and how many credits will be used.
5. CHECK IT.
   It's your responsibility to make sure that your message is entered as intended. You should also check the number of SMS credits being used. Once you press send, the message WILL BE SENT and the SMS credits WILL BE DEDUCTED.
6. Press [send] - and WAIT for it to complete.
   As soon as you press send the system will start sending out the messages.  For a large number of recipients it may take a minute or two. DO NOT INTERRUPT IT!
   Trying to stop the message from the Browser will not work.  The messages will still be sent and credits deducted.  Stopping the browser will just stop it from returning any information.

After sending

If you have Allow SMS Replies turned on in your settings, then customers will be able to reply to your message.  Like other replies these will go to your assigned reception email address.

If you receive a reply saying the customer does not want to receive these messages you should update their Bulk SMS preference.

After the messages have been sent, you can review them and any replies with the SMS Detail Report.  Make sure you choose either (any) or Bulk SMS in the Send Type.

see also...

• What do I need to know about the SPAM Act?
• How do I unsubscribe a customer from bulk SMS?