SMS marketing campaigns with groups (beta) in SMSFlow

TL;DR: SMSFlow’s Campaigns feature (currently in beta) helps you organise marketing SMS sends to contact groups in one place. Use it when you want campaign-style structure; use standard Send SMS when you need full control over numbers, templates, scheduling, and previews.

How to run a group marketing send with Campaigns (beta)

1. Confirm your account can send. SMSFlow is for Australian businesses. Finish signup with 2FA, verify your email, and verify your ABN from Account settings before any outbound SMS. New accounts get 50 free credits.
2. Build or tidy your groups first. Under Maintenance, create or edit groups and add the contacts you want in each list. Groups are collections of contacts used for bulk SMS; you cannot send from the groups screen itself.
3. Open Campaigns. Start a marketing campaign aimed at one or more groups so related promotional sends stay organised together rather than as one-off bulk jobs.
4. Write a clear, compliant message. Keep copy short, include required opt-out language where appropriate, and remember billing is per credit (some messages use more than one credit). Check remaining credits before you send.
5. Send, then review results. After the campaign goes out, use the Dashboard and Sent reports for date-range stats (sent, delivered, failed, opt-outs, and more). Track unsubscribes in the unsubscribes report so lists stay clean.

More detail below if you need context on beta limits and when to prefer standard Send SMS.

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What Campaigns is (and is not) while it is in beta

Campaigns exists to organise marketing sends to groups and keep those campaigns in one place. It is marked beta, so treat it as a structured way to run group promotions, not as a full marketing automation suite.

It does not add custom workflows, custom integrations, white-label/reseller plans, or full CRM behaviour. Contacts and groups support useful fields (names, phone, email, postcode, categories, dimensions, notes, and so on), but SMSFlow is not designed as a CRM.

If you need maximum flexibility on a single send—paste numbers, import recipients from CSV on the send screen, mix contacts and groups, pick a template with placeholders such as {first_name}, {last_name}, and {stop_message}, preview credits, add emojis, or schedule with a timezone—use Send SMS instead. That path is the everyday bulk tool for Australian numbers.

For a broader overview of bulk messaging on the platform, see Bulk SMS Australia. For list setup, see create contact groups. For a full send walkthrough, see send bulk SMS for small business.

Campaigns vs standard Send SMS

Sender IDs (requested from Account settings) show a brand name on outbound SMS. Recipients cannot reply when you use a Sender ID. If you need two-way chat, send from a number that allows replies and handle inbound in Inbox—then reply via Send SMS, not from Inbox itself.

Practical tips for small-business promotions

• Segment with groups and categories before you promote (VIP customers, local postcodes, recent buyers). Import or update contacts via Maintenance Import Data; matches on phone number. There is no export from import tools and no delete-via-import.
• Prefer permission-based lists. Use unsubscribe keywords and the opt-out message in Account General, and review the unsubscribes report regularly for ACMA-minded list hygiene. More on that in manage SMS opt-outs.
• Watch credits. Longer or multi-part messages can cost more than one credit. See pricing and SMS credits explained rather than guessing costs.
• After sends, use Dashboard date ranges and Sent reports (filter by status; optional message content). Sent reports do not export and layouts are not customisable. Details: bulk SMS reports and dashboard.
• Scheduling lives primarily on Send SMS; review upcoming items under scheduled messages and cancel if plans change. You cannot edit a scheduled message in place.

Campaigns is also available via the API for developers who already manage keys and webhooks under Account Developers. Platform use is web only—there is no desktop or mobile app.

FAQ

Is the Campaigns feature finished?

No. Campaigns is in beta. It organises marketing sends to groups and keeps campaigns together, but you should expect ongoing change and rely on Send SMS when you need the full set of send options.

Can I send a campaign without groups?

Campaigns is built around sending to groups for marketing. For ad-hoc numbers, mixed lists, or CSV on the send screen, use Send SMS.

Do recipients get free replies on campaign SMS?

Only if you send in a way that allows replies. If you use a Sender ID, recipients cannot reply. View inbound messages in Inbox and reply through Send SMS.

How do credits work for campaign messages?

Billing is per credit, not strictly one credit per message. Some messages use more than one credit. New signups receive 50 free credits; buy more from Billing when needed. Check pricing.

Can non-Australian businesses use Campaigns?

SMSFlow is for Australian businesses only. A valid ABN, Australian mobile, email verification, and related checks apply before sending.

Where do I see who unsubscribed after a campaign?

Use the unsubscribes report, and keep Account-level unsubscribe keywords and opt-out messaging configured.

SMSFlow for group marketing SMS

SMSFlow is an Australian SMS platform for verified businesses that need straightforward bulk sending, contacts and groups, reporting, optional Sender IDs, Inbox visibility for replies, and API access. Campaigns (beta) adds a simple home for marketing sends to groups beside the standard Send SMS flow—without turning the product into a full CRM or automation builder.

Conclusion

Use Campaigns when you want marketing sends to groups organised as campaigns; use Send SMS when you need templates, scheduling, mixed recipients, and credit previews. Verify your Australian business details, keep groups clean, and review reports and opt-outs after every promotion.

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