Stackado Logo
StackadoBETA

Select The Product

Chapters

Getting Started

Quickstart Guide

Version

v1.0.0 Latest

Last updated: July 10, 2025

Getting Started

Getting Started with SMS Marketing Engine

Quickstart Guide

Follow these three steps to start reaching customers through text messaging.

Step 1: Set Up Your Phone Number

  1. Navigate to Settings → Phone Numbers
  2. Click "Get New Number"
  3. Search by area code or city for a local number that customers will recognize
  4. Choose between Local Numbers (best for local businesses) or Toll-Free Numbers (good for national businesses)
  5. Complete the purchase and activate your number

Step 2: Build Your Contact Database

  1. Go to Contacts → Add New Contact or Import
  2. Individual Contacts: Add first name, last name, phone number (+15551234567 format), and optional email
  3. Bulk Import: Upload a CSV file with properly formatted contact information
  4. Organize Contacts: Create targeted lists like "VIP Customers" or "Newsletter Subscribers"
  5. Verify Consent: Ensure all contacts have given permission to receive promotional messages

Step 3: Create Your First Campaign

  1. Navigate to Campaigns → Create New Campaign
  2. Choose campaign type: Promotional (sales, offers) or Informational (updates, reminders)
  3. Write your message (keep under 160 characters for best results)
  4. Select recipients from your contact lists or specific tags
  5. Schedule for immediate sending or pick a future date/time
  6. Review and send your campaign
SMS Best Practices
  • Keep it short: Aim for 160 characters or less
  • Be valuable: Always provide something useful (discount, information, reminder)
  • Include clear call-to-action: Tell recipients exactly what to do next
  • Respect timing: Send between 10 AM - 8 PM in recipient's time zone
  • Stay compliant: Include opt-out instructions and your business identification

Key Features Overview

Contact Management

  • Smart Lists: Automatically group contacts based on criteria like tags or location
  • Import Tools: Bulk upload contacts from CSV files with data validation
  • Compliance Tracking: Automatic opt-in/opt-out management and consent records

Campaign Tools

  • Message Templates: Pre-built templates for common scenarios (sales, appointments, welcome messages)
  • Personalization: Use variables like {firstName} and {lastName} for personal touches
  • Scheduling: Send immediately or schedule for optimal timing
  • Batch Sending: Spread delivery over time to manage response volume

Automation & Workflows

  • Welcome Series: Automatically onboard new customers with a sequence of messages
  • Follow-up Sequences: Nurture leads and customers with timed message series
  • Triggered Campaigns: Send messages based on customer actions or dates
  • Auto-Responses: Set up keyword-based automatic replies

Analytics & Performance

  • Delivery Tracking: Monitor message delivery rates and identify issues
  • Response Analytics: Track engagement and conversion rates
  • ROI Reporting: Calculate return on investment from your SMS campaigns
  • A/B Testing: Test different messages to optimize performance
Legal Compliance
Before sending promotional SMS messages, ensure you have explicit consent from recipients. The SMS Marketing Engine automatically includes opt-out instructions and respects quiet hours, but you are responsible for maintaining proper consent records and following TCPA regulations.

Quick Tips for Success

  • Start Small: Begin with a test campaign to a small group before scaling up
  • Segment Your Audience: Send targeted messages to specific customer groups for better results
  • Monitor Performance: Check delivery rates and engagement metrics regularly
  • Respect Frequency: Limit promotional messages to 1-4 per month to avoid opt-outs
  • Use Urgency Wisely: Create urgency with limited-time offers, but don't overuse it
  • Clean Your Lists: Regularly remove inactive contacts to improve delivery rates