Creating SMS Campaigns

What Are SMS Campaigns?

SMS campaigns allow you to send text messages directly to your audience. Whether you want to send a last-minute promotion or a timely reminder, SMS is a fast, direct channel for reaching your customers on their mobile phones.

SMS campaigns in Encore Pro follow a streamlined two-step creation process: define your audience, then write your message. There is no design step since SMS messages are plain text.

Accessing SMS Campaigns

In the left sidebar, expand Campaigns and click SMS. This opens the SMS campaign listing page.

The SMS Listing Page

The listing page displays a table with the following columns:

Use the toolbar to search by name, filter by status or creator, filter by sent date, or toggle Show Archived to view archived campaigns. Click New Campaign in the top-right corner to start a new SMS campaign.

Creating an SMS Campaign

When you create a new SMS campaign or open an existing draft, you will see two tabs: Audience and Message.

Step 1: Audience

The Audience tab works the same way as email campaign audience selection. Use the segment builder to define who should receive your message:

• Click + Add filter to add audience conditions (e.g., Event date, Booked for production, Segment membership).
• Click + Add group to create nested condition groups with AND/OR logic.
• The Total Selected Recipients count updates in real time as you add or adjust filters.
• Use drag handles to reorder conditions, and the edit/delete icons to modify or remove them.

Step 2: Message

The Message tab is where you compose your text message. It contains two fields:

• Campaign Name: An internal name for your campaign (this is not shown to recipients).
• Message Content: The text that will be sent to recipients. Write your message in the text area. Keep messages concise and include a clear call to action.

Click Save as draft to save your progress, or click Next to proceed to scheduling and sending.

SMS Best Practices

• Keep messages short and direct. SMS messages should be under 160 characters when possible to avoid splitting into multiple messages.
• Include a clear call to action (e.g., a booking link, discount code, or reply instruction).
• Consider timing carefully. Avoid sending messages too early in the morning or late at night.
• Use SMS for time-sensitive communications where immediacy matters, such as day-of-show reminders or flash sales.
• Coordinate with your email campaigns rather than duplicating the same content across both channels.

SMS vs. Email Campaigns

Encore Pro supports both email and SMS campaigns under the Campaigns section. Here is a quick comparison to help you choose the right channel:

Legacy Note

SMS campaigns in Encore Pro replace the Automated Text and Instant Text messaging features from crowdEngage. If you previously sent text messages through crowdEngage, this is where that functionality now lives.