Klaviyo SMS: Comprehensive Guide [Updated 2024]

Introduction

As the world becomes increasingly digital, SMS marketing has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for eCommerce brands to engage with customers directly. Combining the immediacy of text messaging with the data-driven power of Klaviyo makes SMS marketing more effective and personalized than ever. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to leverage Klaviyo SMS marketing for your eCommerce business, from setting it up to automating and optimizing your campaigns for maximum impact.

Understanding Klaviyo SMS: Features and Benefits

Klaviyo SMS goes beyond simple text messaging—it’s a complete solution that integrates with your email marketing and eCommerce platforms to create seamless, multichannel marketing strategies.

With Klaviyo, SMS becomes smarter, allowing you to:

• Use real-time customer data to send personalized messages.
• Seamlessly integrate with eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.
• Create advanced segmentation and flows that target customers based on their behavior.

By combining both SMS and email in one platform, Klaviyo helps businesses streamline their marketing efforts, saving time and driving more conversions.

Getting Started with Klaviyo SMS

Before you can start sending SMS campaigns, you’ll need to set up the SMS feature in Klaviyo. The process is simple, but here are the key steps:

• Turn on SMS: Head to the Settings page in Klaviyo and activate SMS for your desired countries.
• Acquire a Sending Number: Choose a toll-free number, short code, or branded sender ID based on your location and needs.
• Ensure Compliance: Make sure to collect proper consent from your subscribers before sending any messages. SMS marketing is highly regulated, so you’ll need explicit opt-in consent to be compliant.

Once SMS is activated, you can begin importing your existing SMS contacts or collecting new ones through targeted sign-up forms.

Building Your SMS Subscriber List

Building a strong SMS subscriber list is the first step toward successful campaigns. Here are some proven strategies:

• Targeted Sign-Up Forms: Use Klaviyo’s sign-up forms to capture phone numbers. You can display these forms to existing email subscribers or incentivize sign-ups with exclusive offers.
• Opt-In at Checkout: Add an option for customers to opt-in to SMS when they’re checking out. This captures high-intent shoppers who are already engaged with your brand.
• Multi-Step Forms: You can also use multi-step forms that first ask for an email and then a phone number, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Remember, always make it easy for people to opt-out by providing an unsubscribe option, such as the STOP keyword.

Types of SMS Campaigns for eCommerce

Klaviyo SMS offers several types of campaigns that can help boost customer engagement and drive sales:

1. Promotional Campaigns: Announce product launches, discounts, and flash sales via SMS. With higher open rates than email, SMS is perfect for time-sensitive offers.
2. Transactional Campaigns: Keep customers updated with order confirmations, shipping notifications, and delivery updates. These messages not only enhance the customer experience but also build trust.
3. Abandoned Cart Flows: Recover lost sales by sending gentle reminders to customers who have left items in their cart. Combining SMS with email can further improve your recovery rates.
4. Back-in-Stock Alerts: Send automatic notifications to customers when an out-of-stock item becomes available again, ensuring you don’t miss out on potential sales.

Crafting Effective SMS Campaigns in Klaviyo

Creating SMS campaigns in Klaviyo is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Go to the Campaigns tab in Klaviyo and click “Create Campaign.”
2. Select SMS and name your campaign.
3. Choose your recipient list or segment.
4. Draft your message within the character limit (160 characters for SMS, 1600 characters for MMS).
5. Add a link and ensure opt-out language is included.
6. Schedule your campaign for optimal send times, ensuring it’s between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. in your recipients’ local time.

Automating SMS with Klaviyo Flows

Automation is where Klaviyo SMS really shines. By setting up flows, you can automatically trigger personalized SMS messages based on customer behaviors, such as:

• Welcome Flows: Send new subscribers a welcome message with a special discount or introduction to your brand.
• Abandoned Cart Flows: Encourage customers to complete their purchase by reminding them of the items they left behind.
• Post-Purchase Flows: Strengthen relationships by following up with customers after they’ve made a purchase, offering personalized recommendations or asking for feedback.

You can even use Klaviyo’s predictive text and AI features to craft more personalized messages at scale.

SMS Segmentation for Better Targeting

One of the keys to SMS marketing success is segmentation. Klaviyo makes it easy to create highly targeted segments based on behavior, location, and engagement:

• 30-Day Engaged SMS Segment: Target people who have interacted with your SMS campaigns within the last 30 days.
• VIP Segment: Create special offers for your best customers based on purchase history or customer lifetime value.
• Location-Based Segmentation: Send targeted offers based on where your customers are located, such as in-store event invitations or local promotions.

Segmentation ensures that your messages are relevant to each audience, reducing unsubscribe rates and increasing engagement.

Analyzing and Optimizing SMS Campaign Performance

To make the most of your SMS marketing, it’s essential to track key metrics:

• Open Rates: How many people opened your message? Aim for a high percentage here, as SMS open rates are generally around 90-98%.
• Click-Through Rates: How many recipients clicked on your links? Test different call-to-actions (CTAs) to improve this number.
• Conversion Rates: How many people completed a purchase after receiving your SMS? This is the ultimate measure of your campaign’s success.

Klaviyo offers customizable reporting, allowing you to compare the performance of SMS vs. email and see where your ROI is highest. You can also run A/B tests to find out which message variations perform best.

Klaviyo SMS Pricing and Billing

Klaviyo SMS operates on a credit-based system, where each SMS and MMS message consumes a certain number of credits. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing structure:

• 5000 credits: $45
• 15000 credits: $135
• 30000 credits: $270

Larger plans are available as your list grows. The more credits you purchase, the lower the cost per message, making it a scalable solution for businesses of all sizes.

Features	Free Plan	Email Plan	Email and SMS Plan	Klaviyo Enterprise
Email Sends	Up to 500/month	Up to 250,000/month	Up to 250,000/month	From 250,001/month
SMS/MMS Credits	150	150	1250	Custom
Segmentation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
Automation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
CRM	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
Forms	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
Templates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
Integrations	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
A/B testing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
Product Recommendations	Yes	Yes	Yes	Advanced
Price per month
250 Active Profiles/mo	$0	$20	$35	–
1000 Active Profiles/mo	–	$30	$65	–
3000 Active Profiles/mo	–	$70	$85	–
5000 Active Profiles/mo	–	$100	$115	–
10,000 Active Profiles/mo	–	$150	$165	–
20,000 Active Profiles/mo	–	$375	$390	–

Is Klaviyo SMS Right for Your Business?

If you’re an eCommerce business looking to grow, Klaviyo SMS is a powerful tool that can help you engage customers, drive sales, and streamline your marketing. Its seamless integration with email marketing and ability to leverage customer data makes it a strong contender for any brand looking to adopt an omnichannel approach.

Need help setting up Klaviyo SMS or fine-tuning your strategy? Our team at Whole Design Studios are Klaviyo and Shopify experts, and we can help you get the most out of your SMS marketing efforts. Reach out to us for a consultation on optimizing your eCommerce business today!

Conclusion

Klaviyo SMS is a game-changing solution for eCommerce brands looking to increase customer engagement and drive sales through personalized text messages. By integrating SMS with your overall marketing strategy, you can create more impactful, data-driven campaigns that truly resonate with your audience. Start building your SMS list today and watch as your engagement, loyalty, and revenue grow.