📱SMS Marketing Campaigns

Send Targeted Text Messages to Boost Ticket Sales

SMS marketing is one of Clubly's most powerful features. Send text messages directly to your audience with open rates up to 98% - far higher than email.

🎯 Why SMS Marketing?

The Numbers Don't Lie

SMS vs Email:

Metric

SMS

Open Rate

98%

20%

Response Time

90 sec

90 min

Click Rate

36%

3-5%

Conversion

3-4x higher

Baseline

Perfect For:

🎫 Last-minute ticket sales
⚡ Flash sales & promotions
🎉 Event reminders
📢 Important updates
🚀 VIP announcements

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before Sending SMS:

✅ Verified Clubly account
✅ Have past attendees (with phone numbers)
✅ SMS credits purchased
✅ Comply with SMS regulations

Legal Requirement: You can only send SMS to people who have attended your past events or explicitly opted in. Clubly enforces this to protect you and comply with TCPA regulations.

SMS Credits

Pricing:

$0.02 per SMS sent
$0.04 for messages over 160 characters
No monthly fees
Buy credits as needed

Purchase Credits:

1. Dashboard → Marketing → SMS
2. Click "Buy Credits"
3. Choose amount:
   - $20 = 1,000 messages
   - $50 = 2,500 messages
   - $100 = 5,000 messages
   - Custom amount
4. Pay with card on file
5. Credits added instantly

Check Balance:

Dashboard → Marketing → SMS
Shows remaining credits
View usage history

📝 Creating an SMS Campaign

Step 1: Navigate to SMS

Go to Dashboard → Marketing
Click "SMS Campaigns"
Click "Create Campaign"

Step 2: Select Audience

Audience Options:

Past Attendees:

✅ Who attended your events
✅ Have phone numbers on file
✅ Automatically opted in
✅ Most effective audience

Custom List:

Upload CSV with:
- First name
- Last name
- Phone number
- Opt-in confirmation

Filters:

Attended specific event
Attended in date range
VIP ticket holders
Spent over $X
Location-based

Example:

Audience: All attendees from last 6 months
Filter: VIP tickets only
Size: 450 people
Cost: $9.00 (450 × $0.02)

Step 3: Compose Message

Message Guidelines:

Character Limits:

160 characters = 1 credit
161-320 characters = 2 credits
Each 160 chars = 1 credit

Best Practices:

✅ DO:
- Keep it short and clear
- Include event name
- Add direct link
- Create urgency
- Personalize with {firstName}
- Include opt-out info

❌ DON'T:
- Use all caps
- Spam multiple times
- Send after 9 PM
- Use misleading info
- Forget the link

Required Elements:

Your business name
Purpose of message
Link to event (auto-shortened)
Opt-out instructions (auto-added)

Example Messages:

Last Minute Sales:

Hey {firstName}! 🎉 Only 15 tickets left for tonight's event at Velvet Lounge! Grab yours now: [link]

Reply STOP to opt out

Flash Sale:

⚡ FLASH SALE {firstName}! 50% off VIP tickets for Saturday's party. Next 2 hours only! [link]

Text STOP to unsubscribe

Event Reminder:

Hi {firstName}! Reminder: Your event "Summer Rooftop Party" starts tomorrow at 9 PM. See you there! [link]

Reply STOP to opt out

Step 4: Personalization

Available Variables:

{firstName} - First name
{lastName} - Last name
{eventName} - Event name
{eventDate} - Event date
{venue} - Venue name
{ticketType} - Ticket tier

Example:

Input:
"Hey {firstName}! See you at {eventName} on {eventDate}!"

Output (for John):
"Hey John! See you at Summer Bash on July 15!"

Step 5: Add Link

Link Options:

Event Page:

Auto-shortened
Tracked clicks
Direct to checkout

Custom URL:

Your website
Special landing page
Promo page

Link Tracking:

See who clicked
Track conversions
Measure ROI

Step 6: Schedule or Send

Send Now:

Immediately sends to all recipients
Use for urgent messages
Real-time campaigns

Schedule for Later:

Best Times:
- Tuesday-Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM
- Friday: 12 PM - 6 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM - 4 PM
- Avoid: Before 9 AM, after 9 PM

Timezone Handling:

Sends in recipient's timezone
Ensures appropriate timing
Better response rates

Step 7: Review & Confirm

Pre-Send Checklist:

Send Test:

Send to your own phone first
Verify formatting
Check link works
Confirm personalization

📊 Campaign Analytics

Track Performance

Metrics Available:

Delivery:

Messages sent
Successfully delivered
Failed deliveries
Bounce rate

Engagement:

Link clicks
Click-through rate
Tickets sold from SMS
Revenue generated

Opt-Outs:

Unsubscribe rate
Complaints
Blocked numbers

Example Report:

Campaign: "VIP Flash Sale"
Sent: 500 messages
Delivered: 495 (99%)
Clicked: 178 (36%)
Tickets Sold: 45
Revenue: $2,250
Cost: $10
ROI: 225x

View Campaign History

Dashboard → Marketing → SMS → History

See all past campaigns:

Date sent
Audience size
Delivery rate
Click rate
Revenue generated
ROI

🎯 SMS Best Practices

Timing

Best Days:

Tuesday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Thursday: 12 PM - 8 PM
Friday: 12 PM - 6 PM

Avoid:

Monday mornings
Sunday evenings
Late nights (after 9 PM)
Early mornings (before 9 AM)
Major holidays

Frequency

Recommended:

1-2 messages per month per recipient
More for active fans (opt-in to VIP list)
Less is more

Too Frequent:

Daily messages = high opt-out
Weekly might be too much
Respect your audience

Content Strategy

Types of Campaigns:

1. Event Announcements (30%)

New events
Lineup announcements
Venue reveals
Special guests

2. Sales & Promotions (40%)

Early bird specials
Flash sales
VIP upgrades
Group discounts

3. Reminders (20%)

Event day reminders
Last-minute tickets
Door opening times

4. Engagement (10%)

Thank you messages
Photo sharing
Feedback requests
Preview next event

Writing Tips

Hook Them Fast:

❌ "Hello! We wanted to reach out to let you know..."
✅ "⚡ 24 HOURS ONLY: 50% off VIP tickets!"

Create Urgency:

✅ "Only 10 tickets left!"
✅ "Sale ends in 2 hours"
✅ "Tonight only"
✅ "Before they're gone"

Clear Call-to-Action:

✅ "Grab your ticket: [link]"
✅ "Get yours now: [link]"
✅ "Reserve your spot: [link]"

Use Emojis (Sparingly):

✅ 🎉 🎊 🎈 ⚡ 🔥 💜 🎵 🎤 🎧
❌ Don't overdo it 🎉🎊🎈🎁🎀🎂🎃

⚖️ Legal Compliance

TCPA Regulations

What is TCPA?

Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Regulates commercial messages
Requires explicit consent
Serious penalties for violations

Clubly's Compliance:

Automatic Opt-In:

✅ Anyone who buys ticket opts in
✅ Checkbox on checkout
✅ Clear disclosure
✅ Record of consent

Opt-Out:

✅ "Reply STOP" auto-added
✅ Immediately processed
✅ No more messages sent
✅ Confirmation sent

Restrictions:

❌ Can't send to random numbers
❌ Can't send after opt-out
❌ Can't send outside 8 AM - 9 PM
❌ Can't send without consent

Important: Violating TCPA can result in fines up to $1,500 per message. Clubly helps you stay compliant, but you're ultimately responsible for following the law.

Your Responsibilities

You Must:

Only message people who opted in
Honor opt-out requests immediately
Don't share/sell phone numbers
Identify yourself clearly
Don't send deceptive messages

Records:

Clubly keeps opt-in records
Tracks opt-outs automatically
Available for compliance audits

💡 Advanced Strategies

Segmentation

Target Specific Groups:

By Behavior:

VIP ticket buyers
Frequent attendees
Big spenders ($100+)
Recent attendees (last 30 days)

By Demographics:

Age range (21-25, 26-30, etc.)
Location (city, ZIP)
Gender

By Engagement:

Clicked past SMS
Opened emails
Social media followers

Example:

Segment: VIP buyers from last 3 events
Message: "Exclusive VIP early access"
Result: 2x higher conversion

A/B Testing

Test Different Messages:

Version A: "🎉 Last chance! Tickets selling fast: [link]"

Version B: "Only 5 tickets left for tonight! [link]"

Split 50/50:

Send A to half
Send B to half
Compare results
Use winner next time

What to Test:

Message length
Emoji usage
Call-to-action
Timing
Urgency level

SMS + Email Combo

Multi-Channel Strategy:

Day 1 - Email:

Announce event
Full details
Early bird pricing

Day 3 - SMS:

"Early bird ends soon!"
Quick reminder
Direct link

Day 7 - Email:

Event details reminder
Lineup update

Day Before - SMS:

"See you tomorrow!"
Last-minute tickets
Important info

Result: Higher engagement + sales

🚫 Common Mistakes

What Not to Do

1. Too Many Messages

❌ Sending daily
❌ Multiple messages per week
❌ Back-to-back campaigns
✅ 1-2 per month max

2. Wrong Timing

❌ 7 AM wake-up messages
❌ 11 PM late night texts
❌ Sunday morning
✅ Weekday afternoons

3. No Personalization

❌ "Hey customer"
❌ Generic blasts
❌ No context
✅ Use {firstName}
✅ Reference past events

4. No Clear CTA

❌ "Check out our event sometime"
❌ Long URLs
❌ No link
✅ "Get tickets: [short link]"

5. Ignoring Opt-Outs

❌ Continue after STOP
❌ Re-add to list
❌ Argue with them
✅ Respect immediately

💰 ROI Calculation

Measure Success

Example Campaign:

SMS Credits: $10.00 (500 messages)
Clicks: 180 (36% CTR)
Tickets Sold: 48
Avg Ticket: $45
Revenue: $2,160
Profit: $2,150 (minus $10 cost)

ROI: 21,500% or 215x return

Track These Metrics:

Cost per message: $0.02
Cost per click: Cost / clicks
Cost per ticket: Cost / tickets sold
Revenue per message: Revenue / sent
Overall ROI: (Revenue - Cost) / Cost

Good Benchmarks:

CTR: 20-40%
Conversion: 5-10%
ROI: 50x-200x+

🆘 Troubleshooting

Messages Not Delivering

Common Issues:

1. Invalid Phone Numbers

Landlines (SMS only works on mobile)
Disconnected numbers
Wrong format

2. Carrier Blocking

T-Mobile/Verizon/AT&T filters
Content flagged as spam
Too many sent at once

3. Insufficient Credits

Campaign paused mid-send
Need to add more credits

Solutions:

Clean your list regularly
Follow content guidelines
Pace your sends
Monitor delivery rates

Low Engagement

If CTR < 20%:

Check:

Message relevance
Audience targeting
Link prominence
Timing
Frequency (too often?)

Improve:

Better copy
Stronger CTA
More urgency
A/B test
Segment audience

🆘 Need Help?

SMS Support:

📧 [email protected]
💬 Live chat
📱 1-800-CLUBLY1

Pro Tip: Your first SMS campaign is the hardest. After that, you'll have templates and proven messages to reuse. Start simple and improve over time!

PreviousTax & Reporting NextAffiliate Program

Last updated 14 days ago

Good night

Send Targeted Text Messages to Boost Ticket Sales

🎯 Why SMS Marketing?

The Numbers Don't Lie

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

SMS Credits

📝 Creating an SMS Campaign

Step 1: Navigate to SMS

Step 2: Select Audience

Step 3: Compose Message

Step 4: Personalization

Step 5: Add Link

Step 6: Schedule or Send

Step 7: Review & Confirm

📊 Campaign Analytics

Track Performance

View Campaign History

🎯 SMS Best Practices

Timing

Frequency

Content Strategy

Writing Tips

⚖️ Legal Compliance

TCPA Regulations

Your Responsibilities

💡 Advanced Strategies

Segmentation

A/B Testing

SMS + Email Combo

🚫 Common Mistakes

What Not to Do

💰 ROI Calculation

Measure Success

🆘 Troubleshooting

Messages Not Delivering

Low Engagement

🔄 Related Articles

🆘 Need Help?