Not every customer is on WhatsApp, and not every message should wait for a reply. Order updates, flash-sale alerts and reminders still go out by SMS in Bangladesh. The trouble is that most SMS panels are a separate login with a separate contact list that never matches your CRM.
Bulk SMS is one text message sent to many mobile numbers at once, usually for alerts, offers and reminders. SaleMag puts it on the same campaign engine as WhatsApp and email, using the gateway you already pay for.
Which SMS gateways can I connect to SaleMag?
SaleMag connects to 15 SMS providers through your own account with them, including five Bangladeshi gateways. The table groups them by region:
| Region | Providers |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | SMSBD, REVE SMS, BulkSMS BD, SMS.BD (sms.net.bd), MimSMS |
| International | Twilio, Vonage / Nexmo, MessageBird, Plivo, Telnyx, Infobip, ClickSend, Amazon SNS |
| South Asia | Fast2SMS, MSG91 |
Enter the provider's API key or credentials and your sender ID. Credentials are stored encrypted and shown masked. You can add more than one gateway and mark one as the default.
What is the difference between masking and non-masking SMS?
A masking SMS shows your brand name as the sender, while a non-masking SMS shows a phone number. In SaleMag you set the sender ID for each gateway (REVE SMS calls it Sender Mask). Your SMS provider decides which sender names your account may use, so arrange masking with them first.
How do I send a bulk SMS campaign in SaleMag?
SaleMag sends a bulk SMS campaign in four steps:
- Create a campaign and choose SMS as the channel.
- Pick the audience: a segment from your CRM, a tag, all contacts or a CSV upload. Preview it first.
- Write the message and personalise it with tokens such as
{{contact.first_name}}. The composer shows the character count. - Send a test, then launch or schedule with date, time and timezone.
Contacts without SMS opt-in or without a phone number are skipped.
How does SaleMag send and track bulk SMS?
SaleMag sends bulk SMS in paced batches through your gateway and tracks queued, sent, delivered and failed status per recipient.
- Pacing: recipients are processed in batches of 1,000, with messages spaced out (about ten per second).
- Delivery reports: SaleMag receives delivery callbacks from 13 providers (all except MSG91 and Amazon SNS), with signature checks for Twilio, Vonage and MessageBird.
- Results: the failure reason per recipient, with CSV export.
- Controls: pause, resume, cancel, duplicate, and retry failed recipients.
- Inbox: every sent SMS is recorded on the contact's timeline in the shared inbox.
Bulk SMS vs WhatsApp broadcast: which should I use?
Bulk SMS reaches any mobile number with plain text, while a WhatsApp broadcast reaches WhatsApp users with media and buttons and lets them reply. The table compares the two:
| Bulk SMS | WhatsApp broadcast | |
|---|---|---|
| Reaches | Any mobile number | WhatsApp users |
| Content | Text | Text, images, video, documents, buttons |
| Approval | Sender ID with your provider | Each template approved by Meta |
| Replies | Not a two-way chat in SaleMag | Replies come into the inbox |
| Tracking | Delivered (provider dependent) | Delivered and read |
Can SMS be automated in SaleMag?
Yes. SaleMag's automation flow builder has a Send SMS step, so a placed order, a keyword or an abandoned cart can trigger an SMS without a campaign.
Who should use SaleMag's bulk SMS?
SaleMag's bulk SMS suits Bangladeshi shops and service businesses that have an SMS gateway account and want SMS on one contact list with WhatsApp and email. It is outbound only: incoming SMS replies do not reach the inbox. Create an account, or see pricing for plans.
Step by step
- 1
Add your SMS gateway
Pick your provider, enter the API credentials and sender ID, and mark it as default.
- 2
Send a test
Send a test message to your own phone to check the sender and text.
- 3
Create the campaign
Choose SMS as the channel, pick a segment, tag, all contacts or a CSV, and write the message.
- 4
Launch or schedule
Send now or schedule, then watch delivered and failed counts.
Frequently asked questions
Which Bangladeshi SMS gateways does SaleMag support?
SaleMag supports five Bangladeshi SMS gateways: SMSBD, REVE SMS, BulkSMS BD, SMS.BD (sms.net.bd) and MimSMS. International options are Twilio, Vonage/Nexmo, MessageBird, Plivo, Telnyx, Infobip, ClickSend, Fast2SMS, MSG91 and Amazon SNS.
How much does bulk SMS cost with SaleMag?
SaleMag does not sell SMS credit: you buy SMS from your own provider at its rates, and SaleMag plans are listed on the pricing page.
Can I send masking SMS with my brand name from SaleMag?
Yes, if your SMS provider has approved that sender name. In SaleMag you enter the sender ID (or sender mask on REVE SMS) for your gateway, and the provider decides which sender names your account may use.
Can I send Bangla SMS with SaleMag?
Yes. SaleMag passes your text to the gateway as written. How Bangla (Unicode) text is delivered and billed depends on the provider, so send a test SMS to your own number before a large campaign.
Can I see whether my bulk SMS were delivered?
Yes, for providers that send delivery reports. SaleMag receives delivery callbacks from 13 providers; MSG91 and Amazon SNS show sent status only.
Can customers reply to my SMS in SaleMag?
No. SMS in SaleMag is outbound only, so incoming SMS replies do not reach the shared inbox. Use WhatsApp, Messenger or Instagram when you need a two-way conversation.
Should I use bulk SMS or WhatsApp broadcasts?
Use bulk SMS to reach any mobile number with a short text alert, and WhatsApp broadcasts for rich messages with images and buttons that customers can reply to. A shop can use both from the same SaleMag contact list.
About the author
WhatsApp & F-commerce automation, Dhaka
The Dhaka team that builds SaleMag, the AI sales inbox for WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram used by online sellers in Bangladesh.