If you’re trying to actually reach people—customers, leads, or even your own staff—email’s hit-or-miss. SMS still gets seen. This guide is for anyone who wants to use text campaigns in Dialpad to get real results, without wasting time or running into avoidable headaches. Whether you’re in sales, support, or just need to blast a reminder, you’ll learn how to set things up, what to watch out for, and how to avoid the common traps.
Before You Start: What Dialpad SMS Campaigns Can (and Can’t) Do
Let’s cut through the marketing fluff. Dialpad is a solid business phone system, and yes, it lets you send SMS from your business number. But it’s not a full-blown SMS marketing platform like Twilio or EZ Texting. It’s best for sending personalized, one-on-one or small group texts, and basic campaign-style messages to a list. If you want fancy drip campaigns, A/B testing, or analytics that rival email tools, look elsewhere.
What works: - Basic bulk messaging to your contacts. - Replies go right to your Dialpad inbox—good for follow-ups. - No extra fees for each SMS you send (beyond your plan).
What doesn’t: - No built-in automation or advanced segmentation. - Limited templating and scheduling. - Not ideal for campaigns to thousands at once (there are carrier limits).
Step 1: Get Your Dialpad SMS Setup Right
You need the right account level. SMS is included on most paid Dialpad plans, but double-check: - Standard/Pro/Enterprise plans: SMS is included in the US and Canada. - Trial/free plans: SMS might be limited or totally blocked. - Numbers: Only US/Canada local numbers can send SMS. Toll-free, international, or VoIP numbers won’t work for texting.
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, send a test SMS from your Dialpad app to your own phone.
Register Your Number for A2P 10DLC (Yes, You Have To)
Carriers cracked down on business SMS spam. If you want your messages to actually go through (and not get blocked), you must register your business number for A2P 10DLC compliance. Dialpad will guide you through this, but it’s a bit annoying.
- You’ll need your business’s EIN, address, and other details.
- Registration can take a few days.
- If you skip this, your messages might never reach anyone.
Step 2: Build and Clean Your Contact List
Don’t just dump every number you’ve ever collected. This is the part everyone skips, and it’s why so much SMS marketing goes nowhere.
- Permission is non-negotiable. Only text people who’ve agreed to get messages from you.
- Format your list: Dialpad can import CSVs, Google Contacts, or sync with your CRM.
- Scrub for landlines and duplicates: Landlines can’t get texts, and duplicates just annoy people.
What to ignore: Fancy list-building hacks. Quality beats quantity every time.
Step 3: Draft a Message That Won’t Get Ignored (or Flagged as Spam)
SMS is personal. If you sound like a robot or a spammer, you’ll get blocked fast.
- Keep it short. 160 characters isn’t just tradition—it’s practical.
- Be clear about who you are. Start with your business name if they might not have your number saved.
- Include a way out. “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” isn’t just polite; it keeps you compliant.
- No shady links. If you need to include a link, use your real domain. Avoid link shorteners—they’re often blocked by carriers.
Example:
“Hi, it’s Acme Dental. Your cleaning is this Thursday at 3pm. Reply C to confirm, or STOP to opt out.”
Pro tip: Don’t try to cram everything into one message. If you need to say more, send a follow-up or point them to a landing page.
Step 4: Send a Test Message (Seriously, Always Test)
Before blasting your list: - Send the message to yourself and a coworker. - Check how it looks on iPhone and Android. - Make sure links work. - Test the STOP reply—you need to see what happens.
What people ignore (but shouldn’t): - Emojis can break messages or get them filtered. Use them sparingly, if at all. - “Personalization” tags (like {first_name}) can backfire if your list isn’t perfect. Use with caution.
Step 5: Send Your SMS Campaign in Dialpad
Now, the actual sending. Here’s how, step by step:
- Log in to Dialpad on the web or desktop app.
- Go to Messages and click “New Message.”
- Add recipients: Paste in numbers, pick from your contacts, or use a CSV import (if enabled).
- Paste your message: Double-check for typos and compliance language.
- Schedule or send now: Dialpad lets you send immediately or schedule for later (this feature can be a bit buried, so look for the clock/calendar icon).
- Hit send. That’s it—the messages go out, replies come back to your inbox.
Limitations to watch for: - There’s a daily cap on messages per number (usually 200-500). If you go over, later messages might get blocked or throttled. - No “drip” or automated follow-ups. You’ll need to do those manually.
Step 6: Monitor Replies and Handle Opt-Outs
The real action happens after you send. If you’re lucky, people reply—so don’t leave them hanging.
- Check your Dialpad inbox: Replies show up like regular texts.
- Respond quickly: SMS is fast; if you wait hours, you’ll miss your chance.
- Handle STOP/UNSUBSCRIBE: Dialpad will try to auto-block people who text “STOP,” but you should keep your own list of opt-outs to be safe.
Don’t ignore: If someone tells you to stop texting them—even if it’s not “STOP” exactly—remove them from your list. Carriers take spam complaints seriously.
Step 7: Review Results and Adjust
Dialpad isn’t built for deep analytics, but you can still learn a lot by paying attention:
- Track replies: Who responded? Did they take the action you wanted?
- Watch for delivery issues: If lots of messages bounce, your list might be stale or you might have carrier issues.
- Ask for feedback: Occasionally, ask contacts if your texts are helpful or annoying. People will tell you.
What not to obsess over: Open rates. Unlike email, SMS open rate stats are mostly made up. Focus on replies and actual outcomes.
Common Pitfalls and How to Dodge Them
- Blasting cold leads: Don’t. It’s illegal and it annoys everyone.
- Forgetting time zones: Don’t send messages at 6am or midnight.
- Overusing SMS: If you text people every day, they’ll block you or opt out.
- Ignoring compliance: Carriers can (and will) block your number if you break the rules.
Real-World Tips to Make SMS Work in Dialpad
- Segment your list manually: Even without automation, you can break your contacts into smaller, more targeted groups.
- Use templates for recurring messages: Save time by keeping a doc or note with your best-performing texts.
- Keep your compliance docs handy: If you ever get flagged, you’ll need to show you had consent.
Summary: Keep It Simple, Then Iterate
Setting up SMS campaigns in Dialpad isn’t rocket science, but you have to respect the rules and your audience. Start with a clean list, send clear and honest messages, and focus on conversations—not just blasting info. If you want fancier automation later, you can always add another tool. For now, keep it simple: test, learn, and tweak as you go. That’s how you actually reach more customers.