Factors Influencing SMS Marketing Expenses
Thought for a couple of seconds
Below is a rewritten version of the “Factors that Affect the Cost of SMS Marketing” section, preserving its structure and examples:
Factors Influencing SMS Marketing Expenses
In the sections that follow, we’ll explore the key variables you need to account for when estimating your SMS marketing budget.
1. Cost per Message
This is simply the fee for sending one SMS (or MMS). Rates depend on your carrier and geographic region. For instance, with Textmagic in the U.S.:
- Outbound SMS: $0.049 per message
- Outbound MMS: $0.080 per message
- Inbound SMS: Free
- Inbound MMS: $0.080 per message
Thus, sending 1,000 SMS texts costs about $49 (1,000 × $0.049). MMS runs slightly higher because it can carry up to 1,600 characters (plus media), which uses more network capacity.
2. Campaign vs. Single-Message Costs
An SMS campaign—personalized messages sent in bulk—uses the same per-message rates as one-off texts but scales with audience size. To estimate:
Campaign Cost = Cost per Message × Number of Recipients
For example, a 1,000-recipient campaign in the U.S. costs:
0.049 USD × 1,000 = 49 USD
(Pro tip: Textmagic’s pricing page includes a real-time SMS cost calculator.)
3. Keyword Fees
Keywords are short words or phrases (e.g., “JOIN” or “NEWS”) that subscribers text to a shortcode (like 12345) to opt in or trigger actions. Setting up a unique keyword can enhance engagement—most platforms charge a nominal setup fee per keyword.
4. International Messaging Rates
When you text recipients abroad, per-message fees vary by destination country and number type. Some markets require toll-free or long-code business lines, which typically carry a monthly charge (e.g., $10/month for a toll-free number). Always verify each country’s carrier rates before expanding