How to Send Bulk SMS

Introduction #

The Bulk SMS feature allows you to send the same message to multiple recipients at once. This is perfect for marketing campaigns, announcements, notifications, or any situation where you need to reach many people with the same message. This guide covers how to send bulk SMS on both iOS and Android.

Prerequisites #

Before sending bulk SMS, ensure you have:

• ✅ SMSGatewayCenter app installed and logged in
• ✅ Sufficient account balance (each recipient = 1 SMS)
• ✅ List of recipient phone numbers
• ✅ Message content ready
• ✅ Internet connection

Understanding Bulk SMS #

How Bulk SMS Works #

• Single Message: One message sent to multiple recipients
• Individual Delivery: Each recipient receives their own copy
• Per-Recipient Cost: Each recipient counts as one SMS
• Example: Sending to 100 recipients = 100 SMS messages = 100 × SMS cost

When to Use Bulk SMS #

✅ Perfect for:

• Marketing campaigns
• Announcements to groups
• Event notifications
• Reminders to multiple people
• Promotional messages

❌ Not ideal for:

• Personal conversations
• Urgent individual messages
• Messages requiring different content per recipient

Step-by-Step: Sending Bulk SMS #

Step 1: Navigate to Bulk SMS #

1. Open SMSGatewayCenter app
2. From main menu, tap “Bulk SMS” or “Group SMS”
3. The Bulk SMS screen will open

Step 2: Add Recipients #

You can add recipients in several ways:

Method A: Manual Entry #

1. Tap the “Recipients” or “To” field
2. Enter phone numbers, one per line or separated by commas
3. Important: Use international format for each number
   • ✅ Correct: +1234567890, +919876543210
   • ❌ Wrong: 1234567890, (123) 456-7890

Method B: Import from Contacts #

1. Tap the contact icon or “Select Contacts” button
2. Select contacts from your device contacts
3. Selected contacts will be added automatically
4. Numbers will be formatted correctly

Method C: Import from Groups (if available) #

1. If you have saved groups in the app:
   • Tap “Select Group” or “Import Group”
   • Choose a pre-saved group
   • All group members will be added

Method D: Paste from Clipboard #

1. Copy numbers from another app (spreadsheet, notes, etc.)
2. Tap the recipients field
3. Long-press and select “Paste”
4. Numbers will be added (ensure they’re in correct format)

Step 3: Compose Your Message #

1. Tap the message text area
2. Type your bulk message
3. Character Counter:
   • Shows characters used
   • Standard SMS: 160 characters
   • Long messages split automatically
   • Each part counts as one SMS per recipient

Tips for Bulk Messages:

• Keep message clear and concise
• Include important information upfront
• Use proper formatting (line breaks where needed)
• Avoid special characters that might cause issues

Step 4: Review Recipients #

Before sending, review your recipient list:

1. Check Count: Verify number of recipients
2. Verify Numbers: Ensure all numbers are in international format
3. Remove Invalid: Tap to remove any incorrect numbers
4. Check Balance: Ensure sufficient balance
   • Required balance = Number of recipients × SMS cost

Step 5: Send Bulk SMS #

1. Final Check:
   • ✅ Recipient count is correct
   • ✅ Message content is accurate
   • ✅ Sufficient account balance
   • ✅ All numbers in correct format
2. Tap “Send” or “Send Bulk SMS” button
3. Confirmation:
   • App may ask for confirmation (especially for large lists)
   • Review the summary:
     • Number of recipients
     • Total SMS count
     • Estimated cost
   • Tap “Confirm” to proceed
4. Sending Process:
   • Progress indicator shows sending status
   • Messages are queued and sent
   • You can continue using the app while sending

Step 6: Monitor Delivery #

1. Check Status:
   • Navigate to Reports or History
   • View delivery status for each recipient
   • Status updates automatically
2. Delivery Reports:
   • Each recipient gets individual delivery status
   • Check: Understanding Delivery Reports (DLR)
   • Failed deliveries will show “Failed” status

Platform-Specific Features #

iOS Features #

Contact Groups:

• Import entire contact groups from iOS Contacts
• Supports iOS contact groups you’ve created
• Automatically formats numbers

Siri Shortcuts:

• Create shortcut for quick bulk SMS
• Say “Hey Siri, send bulk SMS” to launch

Android Features #

Contact Groups:

• Import Android contact groups
• Supports Google Contacts groups
• Syncs with your Google account

Share Integration:

• Share contact lists from other apps
• Import from CSV files (if supported)
• Copy-paste from spreadsheets

Best Practices for Bulk SMS #

1. Verify Recipient List #

Before Sending:

• ✅ Double-check all phone numbers
• ✅ Remove duplicate numbers
• ✅ Verify international format
• ✅ Test with small group first (5-10 recipients)

2. Message Content #

Tips:

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-action
• Personalize when possible (use variables if available)
• Avoid spam trigger words
• Include opt-out instructions if required

3. Timing #

Best Practices:

• Send during business hours (9 AM – 9 PM)
• Avoid late night/early morning
• Consider recipient time zones
• Test timing with small group first

4. Compliance #

Important:

• ✅ Only send to recipients who opted in
• ✅ Include opt-out instructions
• ✅ Respect “Do Not Disturb” preferences
• ✅ Follow local SMS marketing regulations
• ✅ Don’t send to purchased lists without consent

5. Cost Management #

Budget Tips:

• Calculate cost before sending: Recipients × SMS cost
• Start with small test groups
• Monitor account balance
• Set daily/monthly limits if available

Troubleshooting #

Bulk SMS Not Sending #

Problem: Tap Send but nothing happens or error appears.

Solutions:

1. Check Balance:
   • Ensure sufficient balance for all recipients
   • Required: Number of recipients × SMS cost
   • Recharge if balance is low
2. Verify Numbers:
   • All numbers must be in international format
   • Remove invalid or incorrectly formatted numbers
   • Check for special characters or spaces
3. Check Internet:
   • Ensure stable internet connection
   • Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
   • Wait and retry if connection is slow
4. Reduce Batch Size:
   • If sending to very large list (1000+), try smaller batches
   • Send in groups of 100-500 recipients
   • Wait for first batch to complete before next

Some Recipients Not Receiving #

Problem: Some messages show “Failed” status.

Solutions:

• Check individual delivery reports
• Invalid numbers will show as “Failed”
• Remove failed numbers and resend if needed
• Some carriers may have delivery delays

App Crashes During Sending #

Problem: App closes while sending bulk SMS.

Solutions:

• Don’t worry: Messages already sent are processed
• Check Reports to see which messages were sent
• Resend to recipients with “Failed” status
• Update app to latest version
• Restart device and try again

Character Limit Issues #

Problem: Message is too long or character count confusing.

Solutions:

• Standard SMS: 160 characters
• Messages longer than 160 characters split automatically
• Each part = 1 SMS per recipient
• Example: 320 characters = 2 SMS × number of recipients
• Keep messages concise to reduce cost

Cost Calculation Example #

Scenario: Sending to 100 recipients with 160-character message

• Recipients: 100
• Message Length: 160 characters (1 SMS)
• Total SMS: 100 × 1 = 100 SMS
• Cost: 100 × [your SMS rate] = Total cost

Scenario: Sending to 50 recipients with 320-character message

• Recipients: 50
• Message Length: 320 characters (2 SMS parts)
• Total SMS: 50 × 2 = 100 SMS
• Cost: 100 × [your SMS rate] = Total cost