Let’s be honest, grabbing your customers’ attention these days is tough. Between endless emails, constant notifications, and ever-shortening attention spans, retail marketers are up against a lot. That’s why having a solid broadcast SMS strategy isn’t just smart, it’s essential.

Whether you're promoting a flash sale, launching a new product, or rolling out a seasonal campaign, SMS gives you the speed and flexibility to reach your audience right when it matters. But it’s not just about sending out deals. It’s about creating a thoughtful, consistent message flow that feels personal and drives real results.

In this post, we’ll walk you through how to make broadcast messaging work for your brand. You’ll learn how to build campaigns in Listrak, what performance benchmarks to watch, and see real examples that can help spark your next big idea.

What is a Broadcast SMS Campaign?

A broadcast SMS campaign is one of the most powerful tools in a retailer’s messaging toolkit. These are the texts you send to a large group of subscribers all at once—think flash sales, product launches, holiday promos, or brand announcements. If it’s timely, exciting, and meant to drive action, it’s probably a broadcast.

Unlike triggered messages that respond to specific customer behaviors (like cart abandonment or a recent purchase), broadcast campaigns are scheduled and sent proactively. You decide the message, the timing, and the audience. And while they go out in bulk, that doesn’t mean they have to feel impersonal. With smart segmentation and personalization, broadcast SMS can still feel relevant and tailored, helping you boost engagement, drive conversions, and keep your brand top of mind.

Global Broadcast Benchmarks for SMS

Are your broadcast campaigns performing as well as your competitors’? Use Listrak’s industry benchmarks to find out! These benchmarks were determined based on 125 billion email and SMS messages sent by Listrak clients in 2024. For more on our benchmark methodology and a deeper dive into the numbers, download Listrak’s 2025 Cross-Channel Benchmark Report.

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Broadcast SMS campaigns typically go out to the largest number of subscribers, which means they often have high send volumes—but lower click-through rates and revenue per message compared to triggered campaigns.

Still, they’re a vital part of your strategy. Broadcasts help keep your brand top-of-mind and relevant. And if driving more revenue is the goal, adding personalization and segmentation can significantly improve results.

Broadcast SMS Performance Results by Vertical

Like all campaign types, broadcast campaign performance can vary across different verticals. Find your vertical below for a more accurate understanding of whether your campaign performance measures up. For an extended list of benchmarks by vertical, including Fashion, Health & Wellness, Pets & Animals, and more, download the report.

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Broadcast SMS Best Practices

For SMS, many best practices center on compliance to ensure deliverability. Your broadcast subscribers are likely engaged with your brand and eager to hear from you, so stay connected with these guidelines.

• Build a Consistent Frequency. Compliance regulations require you to send each subscriber at least one message a month. Stay top of mind with a cadence of around twice weekly, but be sure to never send more than three marketing-based messages in one day.
• Include Important Info. All your messages should contain your program name, and at least one monthly broadcast send needs to include HELP and STOP instructions.
• Abide By Quiet Hours. Know the laws around send times in all states you’re sending to and from. Narrowing your window to the middle of the day — 10 AM to 6 PM local time — can improve engagement.
• Use Segmentation Thoughtfully. Segmentation is still key in this channel. If messaging multiple times per week, segment your users on recency of engagement to keep customers from getting fatigued, tuning out, or even unsubscribing.

Download the complete 2025 Guide to U.S. Mobile Marketing Compliance.

Broadcast SMS Tests That Win

While your customization options may seem more limited with SMS than email, you still have plenty of opportunities to test, analyze, and optimize.

• Multiple Links. Personalize marketing messages and create relevance by offering different link options separated by gender or vertical. (E.g., “Shop Men’s >>” and “Shop Women’s >>”)
• Urgency Keywords. Use terms like “Flash Sale” or “Limited Time Only” to drive engagement.
• Mystery and Intrigue. Encourage clicks by teasing information: “Tap to reveal” or “Tap to see the new low price.”

Broadcast SMS Examples

Broadcast SMS is a powerful way to reach customers where they are and keep your brand top of mind. Use these broadcast SMS examples to inform your strategy.

How to Build Broadcast SMS Campaigns in Listrak

The Listrak Help Center has everything you need to start building smart, optimized broadcast SMS campaigns.

• SMS Broadcast Messages – Review the basics of setting up a broadcast campaign.
• SMS Split Testing – Refine your campaigns with A/B tests.‍
• SMS Tone Generator – Get your voice and wording just right with a little help from AI.‍
• Visit the Help Center for more!
  

Elevate Your Broadcast Marketing with Listrak

A strong broadcast SMS strategy isn’t just a marketing tactic. It’s a way to spark urgency, drive action, and build lasting customer relationships. When you combine smart planning with precise execution, that’s when the real impact happens.

Whether you're refining your audience segments, automating key sends, or just looking for fresh ways to boost ROI, your Listrak account manager is here to help. They’ve got the tools, insights, and best practices to turn your SMS campaigns into real momentum.

Ready to take your broadcast strategy to the next level? Reach out to your Listrak account manager and start unlocking the full potential of your messaging.