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How to create and send an SMS message
To send an SMS campaign through Audience Republic, follow these steps:
Navigate to Messaging and click on the Messages tab.
Click Create and select SMS from the dropdown menu.
Enter the Message name. This is internal only and will display in your Messages tab.
Select the list of contacts you want to send the SMS to from the To dropdown.
Note: Scroll down to learn how to filter your recipient list.
Compose your message in the Message text box. You may choose to add dynamic tags to personalize the message.
Note: The character limit for a single SMS is 160 characters. If your message exceeds this limit, it will be split into multiple messages and charged as additional sends.
Review the estimated cost and check the box: I agree to charge my credit card.
Choose one of the following:
Click Send Message to send it immediately.
Or, schedule it for later delivery.
Notes:
Audience Republic doesn't have 2-way SMS available. This means that any replies fans send won't be received. Additionally, our current SMS setup doesn't allow for individual numbers for each Promoter.
You cannot change the unsubscribe wording as it's hard-coded. Our team picked this language because it takes up the least character count.
The platform will automatically shorten long links.
Filter your recipient list
To improve targeting, use either quick filters or advanced filters.
Quick filters
Click Show quick filters to apply one of the following:
Advanced filters
Click the Filter button next to the To field to access more options. A side panel will appear, allowing you to:
Select previously saved segments.
Apply advanced filter logic using AND/OR conditions.
Check out this help article for tips on making your SMS messages more targeted.
SMS best practices
How to avoid carrier filters in SMS marketing
Carrier filters are designed to block spam, so it's important to follow industry guidelines to improve deliverability.
Do's | Dont's |
Get consent (opt-in): Only message contacts who have explicitly opted in to receive SMS communications.
Include an opt-out: All SMS messages sent through Audience Republic will automatically include an opt-out link. This cannot be removed or customized.
Limit volume and message size: High-volume or fast-paced sending can trigger spam filters. To reduce the risk:
Clean your contact list: Messages sent to invalid or inactive numbers can harm deliverability. Regularly clean your list to remove incorrect numbers. You can export and review your SMS contact list.
Use trusted URLs: When including links, make sure they redirect to sites you own. Links to unfamiliar domains are often blocked or filtered. Always use URLs that lead back to your verified domain.
| Use ALL CAPS in any part of your message.
Use dollar signs ($$) — these increase your spam score.
Use overly urgent or pushy phrases like: “Apply now,” “Call today,” “What are you waiting for?”
Use spammy language or exaggerated claims like: “No cost,” “No fees,” “Risk-free,” “FREE,” “EXCLUSIVE DEAL,” “CALL NOW”
Use words like spam or junk.
Use links to unfamiliar or third-party websites you don’t control. |
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SMS Content Tips & Tricks
91% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes, making this a powerful marketing tool—when used thoughtfully. Poorly written or overly frequent messages can frustrate your audience. Use these tips to craft better campaigns:
Keep it short and sweet: SMS is not email. It’s meant to be short and to the point. Use attention-grabbing words like SALE or FREE, and stay within the 160-character limit.
Include your brand name: Let your audience know who the message is from right away.
Use personalization: Break through the noise with dynamic tags. Use the recipient's name or offer a personalized discount code or link.
Include a call to action: A strong call to action (CTA) improves performance. Examples: Buy now, Register now, Last chance
Create urgency: Add a reasonable sense of time sensitivity like “24 hours only” to encourage quick action.
Examples of SMS messages
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SMS FAQs
Question: When do I pay for SMS messages sent?
Answer: You’ll be invoiced the following month for all SMS messages sent in the previous month. Your invoice will include a breakdown of each message sent, the cost per message, and which sends are included in that billing cycle.
For more information on SMS/MMS pricing, check out this article.
Question: I didn’t receive, can’t find, or need a new SMS invoice—who should I contact?
Answer: Please reach out to your Customer Success Manager or email support@audiencerepublic.com. A team member will be able to provide a copy of your invoice within one business day.
Question: I'm seeing a lot of failed SMS sends. Why is this happening, and how can I fix it?
Answer: The most common reason for SMS failures is incorrect number formatting. We recommend exporting your contacts and making sure mobile numbers include the country code (e.g., +[area code]) with no spaces or special characters. This article will guide you through updating mobile numbers in your account. If you need further help, please contact your Customer Success Manager.
Question: What number does my SMS send from? Does it stay the same each time?
Answer: Great question! Audience Republic uses a pool of SMS numbers, which are rotated for sending. This means your message might be sent from one number today and a different one next week. Because of this, it's especially important to include your business name in the message so recipients know who it's from.
Question: How do I review the results of my SMS send?
Answer: After your message is sent, it will appear in the "Sent" section of your Messaging overview. Click on the message title to view detailed insights from that send. You’ll also have the option to export a list of all contacts who received the message. For a deeper dive into understanding your messaging insights, check out this help article.
How SMS Opt-Out Keywords Work (with Twilio)
When it comes to SMS communications and opt-outs, different rules apply depending on what kind of SMS setup you have (standard, MMS, alphanumeric, etc.). Below is how it works with our platform + Twilio.
What Twilio Provides
According to Twilio’s “Support for Opt-Out Keywords / SMS STOP Filtering” article: Twilio Help Center
Twilio supports certain opt-out keywords such as STOP, STOP ALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, etc. These are automatically filtered — meaning that when a recipient sends one of these keywords from their device, Twilio handles the opt-out at the carrier level so you don’t have to manually unsubscribe them at that moment. Twilio Help Center
The filtering applies only for messages coming from phone numbers (long codes or toll-free) that support two-way messaging. Twilio Help Center
If you are using an alphanumeric sender ID (i.e. messages that appear to come from brands or names instead of phone numbers), Twilio does not support opt-out keyword filtering for those. In that case, the recipient must use a link in the message (or another mechanism) to opt out. Twilio Help Center
How This Relates to Our Platform
Putting the pieces together with our platform, here’s the up-to-date picture:
Feature | Supported / Behaviour |
Keyword “STOP” via SMS or MMS with two-way phone number | Yes — recipient texts STOP, Twilio filters, message marked failed if you try to text again, and contact gets unsubscribed globally. |
Alphanumeric sender ID | No — STOP does not work here (twilio does not filter these). Recipient must click an opt-out link included in the message. |
Profile Activity Log | We do not log the actual “STOP” reply event — even if Twilio processes it. That keyword / reply is not visible in fan’s profile activity. |
Failed message status | If you text someone who’s unsubscribed (STOP’d), Twilio indicates “failed” on your send. At that point, we unsubscribe them from all lists globally. |
Why You Might See Unexpected Behaviour
If you are testing and you:
Reply STOP on a message from an alphanumeric sender, it won’t unsubscribe you.
Don’t see “STOP” anywhere in the fan’s profile activity, that’s expected — we do not display that raw keyword.
Send another message after someone STOP’d and get “failed” status — that lets us know it was blocked (STOP).
What You Should Do
If you’re using SMS with Twilio in your setup:
Ask our support team to check if your sender type is a number (two-way)
If using alphanumeric, make sure your messages include the opt-out link and clear instructions.
Always test with a sample number/contact to verify how your setup handles STOP.
Still need help?
Contact us at support@audiencerepublic.com