Sending Bulk SMS to Groups

Targeted Group Messaging

Sending to pre-built groups is the most efficient way to run campaigns. This guide covers group creation, CSV workflows, and targeting strategies.

Creating Contact Groups

• Navigate to Audience in the sidebar
• Click Create Group and give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Dar es Salaam Customers")
• Add contacts manually, from existing contacts, or via CSV import

CSV Import Workflow

For large audiences, CSV is the fastest method:

• Prepare a CSV file with columns: name, phone, email (optional), company (optional)
• Phone numbers must be in international format: 255XXXXXXXXX
• Go to Audience > Import and upload your file
• Map columns to contact fields
• Assign imported contacts to a new or existing group

Sending to Groups

• Open Compose SMS
• Under Recipients, select Contact Groups
• Choose one or more groups — recipients are automatically deduplicated
• Use personalization variables ({name}, {company}) for tailored messages

Targeting Strategies

• Geographic — Group by city or region
• Behavioral — Group by purchase history or engagement
• Demographic — Group by industry, company size, or role
• Re-engagement — Create a group of inactive contacts for win-back campaigns

Group Maintenance

• Remove bounced or opted-out numbers regularly
• Use the Audience Cleaning tool to detect invalid numbers
• Merge duplicate groups when they overlap significantly