Text blasts let you send a single SMS or MMS message to many contacts at once, making them one of the fastest ways to promote a limited-time offer, announce an event, or re-engage your patient list in Aesthetix CRM. Aesthetix CRM sends text messages through native Twilio, so following a few best practices around timing, message content, media formatting, compliance, and deliverability will help your blasts land well and perform their best.
This article covers how to choose between SMS and MMS, how to format media for MMS, how to estimate the cost of a blast, and the best practices that keep your messages compliant and deliverable. To actually send a blast, you'll use a bulk action in Contacts — see the cross-link at the end of this article.
When sending a text blast, you can choose between SMS and MMS messaging. Understanding the difference helps you pick the right format for your campaign.
While SMS (Short Message Service) supports only plain text and emojis, MMS (Multimedia Message Service) allows you to include images or GIFs, making your text blasts more engaging.
SMS (1 segment):
Character limit: 160 characters
Media: Plain text only, no images or GIFs
Deliverability: Reaches any mobile device
MMS:
Character limit: 1600 characters plus a media attachment
Media: Supports one image or GIF per message (up to 700KB)
Deliverability: Requires a smartphone that can receive media content
Regardless of whether you're using SMS or MMS, marketing consent rules are the same. If your contact has consented to receive SMS marketing, that consent also applies to MMS. Be sure to review consent guidelines when setting up campaigns.
Aesthetix CRM supports the following formats for MMS:
JPG, JPEG
PNG
GIF
All files must be under 700KB to ensure delivery without distortion. Larger files may not reach recipients. If necessary, you can use tools like Photoshop or third-party websites (e.g., ezgif.com) to compress media.
PNGs: Retain image quality without becoming blurry and support transparency (though transparency is not recommended for MMS).
JPEGs: Can be resized easily but lose quality with each edit, potentially appearing blurry.
To avoid issues with distortion or cropping, follow these recommended image sizes and aspect ratios:
Square (1:1): 480x480, 600x600 px
Portrait (9:16): 480x640, 1080x1920 px
Landscape (16:9): 500x375, 1920x1080 px
Portrait-sized media typically looks best on mobile devices, but square formats are also reliable.
To ensure your media content is clear and looks professional, follow these guidelines:
Do:
Use high contrast in both colors and gradients to keep the image clear.
Keep messages concise. While MMS offers more characters, simpler messages usually perform better.
Don't:
Avoid transparent backgrounds, as they may not display well.
Steer clear of borders on images, which can appear misaligned on some devices.
Refrain from using opacity transitions in GIFs, as they may result in odd color appearances and larger file sizes.
By adhering to these practices, you'll enhance the quality of your text blasts and ensure better engagement with your audience.
Beyond formatting your media, a few campaign-level habits will improve results and keep you compliant.
Segment your audience. Rather than blasting your entire database, send to a targeted segment — for example, contacts interested in a specific service or those due for a follow-up. Relevant messages get better engagement and fewer opt-outs.
Time your sends thoughtfully. Send during reasonable local business hours and avoid early mornings, late nights, and weekends unless the offer calls for it. Well-timed messages are read more often and generate fewer complaints.
Keep the message clear and concise. Lead with the offer or announcement, include a clear call to action, and keep it short. For SMS, staying under 160 characters keeps the message to a single segment.
Include opt-out language. Give recipients a simple way to opt out, such as "Reply STOP to unsubscribe." This is both a compliance requirement and a trust builder.
Identify your sender. Include your business name so recipients know who is texting them. A recognizable sender improves response rates and reduces the chance your messages are flagged as spam.
Protect deliverability. Only message contacts who have consented, keep your list clean, and avoid sending duplicate blasts in a short window. High opt-out or spam-report rates can harm the deliverability of your number over time.
Because text blasts can reach many contacts at once, it helps to estimate credit usage before you send. The Aesthetix CRM SMS calculator is a helpful tool to estimate potential credit usage of sending bulk SMS — also known as text blasts — through Aesthetix CRM.
Access the SMS Calculator: https://aesthetixcrm.com/sms-calculator/
Remember, every month you receive complimentary messaging credits to your account based on your subscription plan. For example, you receive complimentary messaging credits with your plan, applied toward actions such as text message blasts.
Keep in mind that MMS messages cost more than SMS, and longer SMS messages that exceed 160 characters are split into multiple segments — each segment is billed separately. Estimating with the calculator before a large send helps you avoid surprises.
The actual bulk send is performed from Contacts using a bulk action. Filter or select the contacts you want to reach, then choose Send Bulk SMS to compose and send your blast to the entire selection at once. For full step-by-step instructions on selecting contacts and sending, see the Contacts article on sending a bulk SMS.
What's the difference between SMS and MMS? SMS supports plain text and emojis only, with a 160-character limit per segment, and reaches any mobile device. MMS supports one image or GIF (up to 700KB) plus up to 1600 characters of text, but requires a smartphone that can receive media content.
Do consent rules differ for SMS and MMS? No. Marketing consent rules are the same for both. If a contact has consented to receive SMS marketing, that consent also applies to MMS.
What media formats and file sizes does MMS support? Aesthetix CRM supports JPG/JPEG, PNG, and GIF for MMS. All files must be under 700KB to ensure delivery without distortion.
How can I estimate the cost of a text blast? Use the Aesthetix CRM SMS calculator at https://aesthetixcrm.com/sms-calculator/ to estimate potential credit usage before sending.
Do I get free messaging credits? Yes. Every month you receive complimentary messaging credits based on your subscription plan. For example, your monthly allowance depends on your plan — check your plan details or contact the Aesthetix team.
How do I actually send the blast? The bulk send is done from Contacts using the Send Bulk SMS bulk action. Select your target contacts, then send the blast to the whole selection at once.
