Create and send an SMS campaign

Video guide

Learn how to create an effective SMS campaign to engage your customers through text messaging. Follow these steps to:

• Create new SMS campaigns
• Add audiences
• Setup communication attributes
• Build SMS content
• Review and launch

Step-by-step guide

SMS campaigns are a powerful way to drive quick engagement. Here's how to set one up from start to finish.

What you'll need

• An installed SMS channel instance.
• An SMS message template.
• A list or segment of customers that have opted-in to receive marketing messages on SMS.

Step 1: Create Your Campaign

1. Go to the Marketing Dashboard
2. Navigate to Campaigns > Create
3. Select SMS as your channel

Step 2: Set Up Campaign Details

• Campaign Name:

  • For this example, we’ll name it "Abandoned cart recovery".

• Tags:

  • Add tags to organize your campaigns—for instance, "Promotions".

• Audience:

  • Select your pre-built audience list. We’ll use the "Cart abandoners" list.

• Additional Options:

  • Skip recently messaged profiles to avoid over-messaging.
  • Customize tracking parameters to help measure performance.

Click Continue to Content once you're done.

Step 3: Build Your SMS Content

Use the inline SMS builder to craft your message.

• Message Body Example:
  "Don't miss out! The items in your cart are waiting for you. Quick checkout here: [link]"
• Add a URL:
  Paste in your checkout link—Bird will automatically shorten it to save characters.
• Optional:
  Add an image with the "Click to upload" button.
• Template Variables:
  For legal compliance, include your organization name.
  Example:
  "– Bird"

Click Continue to Review when ready.

Step 4: Review and Test

Review campaign details:

• Recipients
• Sending rules
• Tracking parameters
• Send a test message to your mobile device to verify how the message looks and behaves.

Step 5: Schedule or Send

• Send Now:

  • Sends the campaign immediately.

• Schedule Message:

  • Choose a future date and time, select a time zone, and click Schedule.
  • Ideal for planning or avoiding quiet hours in certain regions.