Let’s face it, our inboxes are full, social media feeds are noisy, and attention spans are short. But SMS? That’s a different story.

Text messages have some of the highest open rates of any marketing channel - over 90% get read, and usually within minutes. For Australian small and medium businesses, that’s a huge opportunity to reach customers quickly and directly.

If you’ve ever sent a reminder text or a quick update, you already know how effective SMS can be. But when you start using it strategically, alongside your emails, workflows, and funnels, you unlock even more value. And that’s where Lead Monsta comes in.

Inside Lead Monsta’s marketing section, you’ll find simple, powerful SMS tools that make it easy to connect with your audience.

Crafting SMS Campaigns That Actually Work

Here’s how to get the most out of SMS marketing with Lead Monsta, without annoying your customers or running into compliance issues.

Keep It Short and Punchy

You’ve only got about 160 characters to work with (give or take), so make every word count. Say what you need to say, get to the point, and skip the fluff.

• ✅ Yes: “Hey [FirstName], our winter sale ends tonight. Grab 20% off here: [Link]”

• ❌ No: “We are excited to announce our latest promotion. Please check out our site for more information.”

Include a Clear Call to Action

Let people know exactly what you want them to do.
Whether it’s clicking a link, replying YES, or giving you a call, make it clear and easy.

• “Click here: [Link]”

• “Reply YES to book”

• “Call us: 1300 123 456”

Trackable links (like those created in Lead Monsta) are a great way to measure engagement.

Personalise Where You Can

Use merge tags like [FirstName] or [Location] to make it feel like a one-to-one message, even when you’re sending it to hundreds of people. Little touches like this make a big difference.

Emojis: Use, Don’t Overuse

Emojis can help your message stand out, but use them sparingly. A smiley face or a fire emoji can add personality, but a whole string of them might make your message look spammy.

Timing Is Everything

Avoid sending messages too early in the morning or too late at night. In Australia, the sweet spot tends to be between 10am and 6pm, depending on your audience.

With Lead Monsta, you can schedule your SMS in advance, so you don’t have to hit “send” at the perfect time manually.

Create & Reuse SMS Templates

Have a few go-to messages you send regularly? Save them as templates in Lead Monsta. Whether it’s a flash sale alert, a new stock drop, or a service reminder, templates save time and keep your messaging consistent.

Make SMS Part of the Bigger Picture

Text messages work best when they’re part of a larger strategy. Here’s how you can use SMS alongside your other Lead Monsta tools:

• Multi-channel workflows: Set up automations like: email → SMS → follow-up task.

• Drive traffic to funnels or websites: Include a link to a Lead Monsta funnel page, booking form, or promo landing page.

• Follow up after forms/surveys: Send a confirmation or next step via SMS after someone fills out a form or answers a survey.

Tracking What’s Working

Lead Monsta makes it easy to measure the impact of your SMS campaigns. Keep an eye on:

• Delivery rates (did it go through?)

• Click-through rates (did they tap the link?)

• Opt-out rates (are people unsubscribing?)

• Conversions (if you’re tracking clicks or actions through a funnel)

Use this info to adjust your message timing, wording, and frequency going forward.

SMS Campaign Ideas

Not sure where to start? Here are a few common ways small businesses are already using SMS:

• Flash sales and limited-time discounts

• Product launches or restock alerts

• Event reminders or last-minute updates

• Customer service messages (e.g., appointment changes or delivery updates)

• Loyalty rewards for returning customers

• Quick feedback requests (link to a short Lead Monsta survey)

Staying Compliant with SMS Marketing in Australia

You want your messages to land, but you also want to stay on the right side of the law. Here’s how to stay compliant under the Spam Act 2003:

Consent Is Non-Negotiable

Only send SMS to people who have opted in. Lead Monsta helps manage this with proper list tagging and opt-in forms.

Identify Yourself

Always include your business name in the message so recipients know who it’s from.

Include an Opt-Out

Every message should include a clear and easy way to unsubscribe, like “Reply STOP to opt out.” Lead Monsta tracks and processes unsubscribes for you automatically.

Don’t Risk It

There are serious penalties for breaking the rules. Stay safe by using the built-in tools inside Lead Monsta to manage consent and keep your contact lists up to date.

Where to Find the SMS Builder in Lead Monsta

In your dashboard, go to the Contacts section. From there, you can:

• Filter and select contacts using checkboxes

• Click the SMS icon (speech bubble) to start your message

• Choose your From Number

• Write your message using text, saved snippets, or merge tags like [FirstName]

Once your message is ready, you can choose to send it immediately or set up drip settings for staggered delivery.

Conclusion

Text messages don’t wait around—they get seen, get read, and get results. Whether you’re reminding someone about their appointment, running a limited-time offer, or just checking in, SMS gets your message straight to their phone—fast.

With Lead Monsta, sending effective, compliant texts is simple. You can build your message, choose your audience, track results, and even plug SMS into your wider marketing strategy—all from the same dashboard.

If you’ve been thinking about using SMS to connect with your audience, now’s the time. Jump into Lead Monsta and start sending smart, strategic campaigns today.