Learn how to send one-time text messages to your contacts—fast and easy.

Key details

  • Use your SMS gateway: Kartra works with third-party SMS gateways to send messages (Twilio, Plivo, Vonage). You’ll need to sign up with one of these services and connect it to your Kartra account. Learn more about integrations.
  • Send now or later: Choose to send your SMS right away or schedule it to go out at a specific time.

Check your plan

Integration access, including SMS gateway integrations, is part of the Kartra Growth, Professional, and Enterprise plans. Review or change your subscription in your account Billing.

Create a new SMS broadcast

  1. Go to Marketing > Emails & SMS.
  2. Click the + Email/SMS button in the upper right corner.
  3. Select SMS, and give your broadcast a name so you can find it later.
  4. Click Create to get started.

Initial broadcast configuration screen showing options to name the broadcast, select Email or SMS, and create the broadcast.

Write your message

In the Message tab, click Edit message to enter the content of your SMS. 

Edit Message screen showing the button to edit SMS content and the option to add more versions for A/B testing.

Pro-tip:

Want to test out different versions? Click + New version to create an A/B test and see what message performs best. Learn more about split testing broadcasts.

Choose a sender and audience

In the From-To tab, configure:

  • Communication gateway: Kartra automatically selects your default SMS gateway. If you’ve connected more than one, choose the one you want to use.
  • Recipients: Use filters to target your message. Combine AND/OR conditions to get as specific as you like—for example, contacts who are in a certain list and have a particular tag.

"From-To" tab showing a selected SMS gateway and recipient conditions applied to target "Everybody in my database."

Important:

The "Ignore GDPR & CCPA" option allows you to message contacts who opted out of marketing. Use this feature responsibly, and only when legally appropriate.

Add automations (optional)

You can set up automations based on how recipients engage with your broadcast. For example:

  • IF the contact clicks a link THEN assign a tag.
  • IF the contact doesn’t click a link THEN unsubscribe them from the recipients list.

Automations tab displaying a rule that assigns a tag when a link in the SMS is clicked.

Pro-tip:

Promoting a sales page? Tag contacts who click your link so you can follow up with potential buyers later.

Send or schedule your broadcast

When you're ready, click Send / Schedule in the top right corner. You can:

  • Send immediately: If everything is set, send the broadcast right away.
  • Schedule for later: Choose a specific time and date for your broadcast to go out.
  • Save as draft: Save your work and finish the broadcast later.
Keep in mind:

Scheduled broadcasts are sent in your account time zone.