Send SMS

Yes, bulk text messaging is completely legal in the UK when done compliantly. You must obtain express written consent from recipients before sending marketing messages, clearly identify your business in each text, and provide an easy opt-out method like replying 'STOP'. Businesses must also comply with UK-GDPR, DPA 2018, and PECR regulations to protect customer privacy and avoid hefty fines of up to £500,000.

Absolutely! Clerk Chat allows you to use your current business phone number for sending bulk text messages, so customers recognise your brand immediately. You can also integrate with popular VoIP services like Microsoft Teams, Webex, and Zoom. Since September 2024, UK carriers require KYC registration for business numbers, but this actually improves your message deliverability and builds greater customer trust.

UK regulations prohibit sending marketing SMS messages before 9:00 AM or after 8:00 PM during weekdays. The sweet spot for engagement is typically during lunch breaks (12:00-2:00 PM) or early evening (5:00-7:00 PM) when people check their phones regularly. With Clerk Chat's message scheduling feature, you can plan campaigns for optimal times whilst ensuring compliance with quiet hours.

Bulk SMS messages typically deliver within minutes, even to thousands of recipients simultaneously. SMS boasts an impressive 98% open rate within 3 minutes of delivery - far superior to email's 20% average. This makes bulk texting perfect for time-sensitive communications like flash sales, urgent updates, or appointment reminders where immediate customer response is crucial.

Virtually every industry sees success with bulk SMS. From insurance companies and banks to hotels, supermarkets, churches, and microfinance institutions, businesses across sectors use bulk messaging for customer engagement. Healthcare uses it for appointment reminders, retail for promotional codes and order updates, financial services for payment confirmations, and education for parent communications. The versatility makes it suitable for any business wanting direct customer contact.

UK SMS delivery rates typically reach 95-98% with proper setup, but several factors can improve these rates. Use a reputable provider like Clerk Chat with direct carrier connections and avoid spam-triggering words in your content. Send messages during optimal hours (9 AM-8 PM), keep your contact list clean by removing invalid numbers, and space out large campaigns rather than sending everything at once. Proper sender ID registration and compliance with UK regulations also significantly boost deliverability across all major networks.