Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts

laird · 27th Apr 2012, 07:47 PM

I've been chatting with a customer support person and an engineer both with Twilio since my SMS business has been scaling up.

At first, from a cost/performance perspective (and with the added weight of a few WSO's), Twilio looked like a great option. However, now I'm learning about bulk SMS deliverability issues tied to using long codes and it's given me some serious reservations about long term stability in my rapidly growing business.

For those using Twilio and a frontend app (of your creation or purchased):

What's the largest list size you've made an SMS broadcast to and are you sure they were all delivered?

SamGunggo · 27th Apr 2012, 09:36 PM

Hi Laird,
I ran into a similar issue actually.
I decided to go with Trumpia as they seemed to be more scalable and cost was pretty good for bulk SMS's.
What are the main revenue streams associated with your business?
I assume the bigger revenue will come with the opt-in mobile numbers you're gathering?

xlfutur1 · 27th Apr 2012, 10:05 PM

750 without any delivery problems that I know. I'm on the list and I get them. Probably better delivery than email using Aweber. I understand your concerns though, I'm just going on my own experience with Twilio and long codes.

laird · 27th Apr 2012, 10:58 PM

Samuel:

The main revenue stream is a fixed price account. Customers get a specific amount of texts per month and can use more with a per-text overage. I also offer additional keywords.

xlfutur1:

Thanks for letting me know about the 750 list size. I'm just fearful about an account I got and we're looking at potentially 2,100 subscribers for their main keyword within the next 30 days.

Site Steering · 14th Jun 2012, 06:23 AM

A short code is capable of sending 30 SMS text messages per second, while a long code is limited (govt regs) to sending 1 SMS text message per second. Big difference. In the same amount of time that it takes a long code to send those 30 messages, the short code has sent 900 messages.

If your Twilio app is written correctly, and is sending 1 message per second, it will only take about 35 minutes to send to your list of 2100.

Mo Goulet · 16th Jun 2012, 01:03 PM

I only use twilio as a tool for customers to opt in by phone. I then add their information to my YadaText software and I have no per text charges. My cost per customer is only $0.02.

AlaskaBorg · 17th Jun 2012, 02:45 PM

Mo Goulet:
I have been researching SMS vendors, have used Avid, Anchor and Lime.
I went to the YadaText site but could not find the features list. Does it do Text To Win, Reminders, etc. The site wants you to sign up blind, it would be nice to know what I would get for $29/mo.

Mo Goulet · 17th Jun 2012, 03:01 PM

The following notice on the website...

How YadaText Works Video Coming Tuesday June 19th

All I can tell you now is it has all the features you'll need. I customized this software program for my personal use for the last 3 plus years. Once you see the video, it only costs $1 to try it for a week and you can cancel from your own paypal account if it does not work for you.

andrekhrisna · 17th Jun 2012, 06:10 PM

Hi,
I'm a total newbie here from Indonesia.
I need SMS service to promote my iOS and Android game.
Do you provide such service?
Anyway, i don't have any number of potential customers in US, is it still possible?

Thanks!

TrumpiaTim · 2nd Jul 2012, 03:29 PM

What type of volume are you looking at doing?

rodtyler · 14th Feb 2013, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mo Goulet

I only use twilio as a tool for customers to opt in by phone. I then add their information to my YadaText software and I have no per text charges. My cost per customer is only $0.02.

I know this thread is rather old, but I am hoping someone sees this and can answer it.

How can you add the info into Yadatext when Yadatext requires the senders service provider and from what I can tell, Twilio doesn't give you that. It only gives you the phone number. The WP Smart SMS plugin has the same issues.

Chad Wyatt's SMS Wordpress seems like a great plugin to use with Twilio, but it has some serious limitations on the client side.

Mo Goulet · 14th Feb 2013, 12:36 PM

Twilio prompts the caller to confirm their subscription by texting their cell provider in reply. When someone dials the Twilio number, they are greeted with a voice message reminding them to immediately reply to the text message they just received with the name of their cell provider. The rest is simple.

Try this phone number 208-450-3586

In my local market, only the 7 digit number needs to be dialed.

rodtyler · 14th Feb 2013, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mo Goulet

Twilio prompts the caller to confirm their subscription by texting their cell provider in reply. When someone dials the Twilio number, they are greeted with a voice message reminding them to immediately reply to the text message they just received with the name of their cell provider. The rest is simple.

Try this phone number 208-450-3586

In my local market, only the 7 digit number needs to be dialed.

Thanks. This is a great idea.

27th Apr 2012, 07:47 PM	#1
laird Offline Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: Left Coast, USA Posts: 236 Thanks: 39 Thanked 115 Times in 47 Posts	Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: I've been chatting with a customer support person and an engineer both with Twilio since my SMS business has been scaling up. At first, from a cost/performance perspective (and with the added weight of a few WSO's), Twilio looked like a great option. However, now I'm learning about bulk SMS deliverability issues tied to using long codes and it's given me some serious reservations about long term stability in my rapidly growing business. For those using Twilio and a frontend app (of your creation or purchased): What's the largest list size you've made an SMS broadcast to and are you sure they were all delivered?

27th Apr 2012, 09:36 PM	#2
SamGunggo Internet Marketing Expert Join Date: 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: Hi Laird, I ran into a similar issue actually. I decided to go with Trumpia as they seemed to be more scalable and cost was pretty good for bulk SMS's. What are the main revenue streams associated with your business? I assume the bigger revenue will come with the opt-in mobile numbers you're gathering?
	Samuel Yuen www.gunggo.com Email: samuel@gunggo.com Skype: samuel.gunggo

27th Apr 2012, 10:05 PM	#3
xlfutur1 Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,112 Thanks: 13 Thanked 249 Times in 154 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: 750 without any delivery problems that I know. I'm on the list and I get them. Probably better delivery than email using Aweber. I understand your concerns though, I'm just going on my own experience with Twilio and long codes.

27th Apr 2012, 10:58 PM	#4
laird Offline Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: Left Coast, USA Posts: 236 Thanks: 39 Thanked 115 Times in 47 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: Samuel: The main revenue stream is a fixed price account. Customers get a specific amount of texts per month and can use more with a per-text overage. I also offer additional keywords. xlfutur1: Thanks for letting me know about the 750 list size. I'm just fearful about an account I got and we're looking at potentially 2,100 subscribers for their main keyword within the next 30 days.

14th Jun 2012, 06:23 AM	#5
Site Steering Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Irving, TX, USA Posts: 15 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: A short code is capable of sending 30 SMS text messages per second, while a long code is limited (govt regs) to sending 1 SMS text message per second. Big difference. In the same amount of time that it takes a long code to send those 30 messages, the short code has sent 900 messages. If your Twilio app is written correctly, and is sending 1 message per second, it will only take about 35 minutes to send to your list of 2100.
	Integrated SMS/MMS, email, and voice broadcast autoresponders. Send all message types through the same message sequence. http://www.prospectpowerpro.com.

16th Jun 2012, 01:03 PM	#6
Mo Goulet Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 1998 Location: Sun Valley, Idaho Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 57 Thanked 251 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: I only use twilio as a tool for customers to opt in by phone. I then add their information to my YadaText software and I have no per text charges. My cost per customer is only $0.02.
	Domain Names For Sale. Make an Offer.

17th Jun 2012, 02:45 PM	#7
AlaskaBorg Alaskan Coder War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 66 Thanks: 103 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: Mo Goulet: I have been researching SMS vendors, have used Avid, Anchor and Lime. I went to the YadaText site but could not find the features list. Does it do Text To Win, Reminders, etc. The site wants you to sign up blind, it would be nice to know what I would get for $29/mo.
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17th Jun 2012, 03:01 PM	#8
Mo Goulet Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 1998 Location: Sun Valley, Idaho Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 57 Thanked 251 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: The following notice on the website... How YadaText Works Video Coming Tuesday June 19th All I can tell you now is it has all the features you'll need. I customized this software program for my personal use for the last 3 plus years. Once you see the video, it only costs $1 to try it for a week and you can cancel from your own paypal account if it does not work for you.
	Domain Names For Sale. Make an Offer.

17th Jun 2012, 06:10 PM	#9
andrekhrisna Warrior Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia Posts: 18 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: Hi, I'm a total newbie here from Indonesia. I need SMS service to promote my iOS and Android game. Do you provide such service? Anyway, i don't have any number of potential customers in US, is it still possible? Thanks!
	http://elagotech.com

2nd Jul 2012, 03:29 PM	#10
TrumpiaTim www.trumpia.com War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 824 Thanks: 2 Thanked 65 Times in 58 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: What type of volume are you looking at doing?
	[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] www.Trumpia.com Trumpia: The Most Completed SMS Text Messaging Software & API Solution.

14th Feb 2013, 12:36 PM	#12
Mo Goulet Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 1998 Location: Sun Valley, Idaho Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 57 Thanked 251 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Twilio Alert: Large SMS Broadcasts Share on: Twilio prompts the caller to confirm their subscription by texting their cell provider in reply. When someone dials the Twilio number, they are greeted with a voice message reminding them to immediately reply to the text message they just received with the name of their cell provider. The rest is simple. Try this phone number 208-450-3586 In my local market, only the 7 digit number needs to be dialed.
	Domain Names For Sale. Make an Offer.