Texting Guide for Growth Managers

Growth managers need fast experiments, crisp messaging, and clean data to scale outcomes. Short, timely texts help you validate offers, drive activations, and recover drop-offs. TextUs gives you a controlled way to test and learn without adding friction for users.

How TextUs Fits Growth Workflows

TextUs Campaigns can target lifecycle stages for trials, activations, upgrades, and win-backs. You can attach PDFs or images, such as quick-start cards, pricing snapshots, or promo visuals, so users can act inside the thread.

Keywords like START, UPGRADE, or HELP can enroll contacts in Sequences that deliver links and timed nudges automatically.

Replies appear in the Shared Inbox where growth, product, and success teams coordinate. Integrations can sync conversations and events to your CRM or analytics stack for attribution. You can review deliveries, replies, and clicks, then export CSVs to analyze impact by cohort.

What to Set Up First

Connect your CRM or CDP so segments like trials, activations, and churned users stay current. Register 10DLC numbers and keep opt-out handling active so STOP and UNSUBSCRIBE process automatically.

Define core segments such as New Trials 0 to 7 Days, Activated No First Value, Power Users, and Churned 30 to 90 Days.

Create templates for onboarding tips, activation prompts, upgrade offers, and win-backs. Assign Shared Inbox ownership by lifecycle program to keep context tight. Align copy, incentives, and guardrails with legal and finance.

How to Create an SMS Campaign With TextUs

1. Choose your audience: Open Campaigns in TextUs and select a segment such as “Trials 3 to 7 Days With No Activation.” This can make sure your message reaches users who need a first win.
2. Write your message: Keep it specific and value-led. Example: “Hi {{first_name}}, want a 2-step guide to hit your first result in [Product] today? Reply START and I’ll text it over.”
3. Attach media: Add a quick-start PDF, feature card, or pricing snapshot when helpful. Attachments can reduce confusion and clicks.
4. Set up an A/B test: Test one variable at a time, such as opener, incentive, or timing. Keep the variant with the higher reply rate.
5. Schedule your campaign: Send during local business hours, then add a follow-up 24 to 48 hours later for non-responders.
6. Create a keyword: Add a keyword such as START, UPGRADE, or HELP and reference it in your message. TextUs can recognize and route replies automatically.
7. Link to a sequence: Connect the keyword to a two-step sequence. For example, “Step 1: Send the guide or link. Step 2: Follow up after 24 hours if there is no action.”
8. Send and monitor: Launch your campaign, track replies and clicks, and flag high-intent users for outreach in the Shared Inbox.

Example sequence messages:

• Step 1 (auto-reply): “Great news. Here is your quick-start guide: [short URL]. Want me to stay on standby while you try it?”
• Step 2 (reminder): “Checking in on setup. Need a 10-minute walkthrough or a one-page tip card?”

Segmentation and Personalization Strategy

Segment by lifecycle, usage, and plan so each text drives one action. Useful lists include First Value Not Achieved, High-Usage Free, Add-On Eligible, and Churned With Historical Usage. Exclude users who have already completed the action or opted out.

Personalize with first name and one safe field such as product, feature, or plan. Example: “Hi {{first_name}}, since you enabled [Feature], want a card on the next step to unlock value?” Add fallbacks to keep messages clean.

Refresh activation and churn segments daily. Refresh upgrades and add-on segments weekly so offers stay relevant.

Template Library for Growth Scenarios

Maintain a small library that maps to your lifecycle motions. Keep each message to one promise and one action.

• “Hi {{first_name}}, ready for your first result in [Product]? Reply START for a 2-step guide.”
• “Usage is trending up. Want a quick tip to unlock [Feature] this week? Reply TIP.”
• “You are close to the limit on [Plan]. Want pricing and options to scale? Reply UPGRADE.”
• “We launched a new capability that matches your workflow. Want a one-pager? Reply INFO.”
• “We miss you. Want a shortcut to pick up where you left off? Reply RETURN.”

Review the template performance monthly with compliance. Keep files under 1 MB and retire low performers.

Reporting and Attribution Workflow

Export deliveries, replies, clicks, and keyword activity from TextUs weekly. Join that data with product events such as activation, time to first value, upgrades, and reactivations. Keep campaign names, segments, and keywords consistent for clean analysis.

Track reply-to-action, click-to-activation, and upgrade conversion by cohort. Compare A and B variants on opener and send time. Share a one-page dashboard with delivery rate, reply rate, actions completed, and revenue impact.

Experimentation and Lifecycle Strategy

Anchor tests to a clear hypothesis and a single metric. Example: “A friendly opener can raise trial activation by 15% within 7 days.” Limit changes to one variable and run for a full cycle per segment.

Map messages to lifecycle moments. Trials get first-value tips, activated users get depth features, power users get add-ons, and churned users get low-friction returns. Keep cadence light so texts feel helpful, not noisy.

Use incentives sparingly and tie them to product value. A small credit or limited-time upgrade works best when the next step is one click away.

Managing Replies in the Shared Inbox

All replies can appear in the Shared Inbox, so growth, support, and success share context. The first responder assigns the thread to themselves so ownership is clear. Templates keep language consistent, while a short personal line keeps the tone human.

Use tags like Trial, Activation, Upgrade, Reactivation, and Support to organize threads. Add notes when handing a conversation to support or sales, so context travels. Keep notifications on during business hours to act while intent is high.

Compliance and Deliverability for Growth Managers

Use registered 10DLC numbers for all lifecycle programs. Keep opt-out handling on so STOP and UNSUBSCRIBE process automatically. Include “Reply STOP to opt out” in the first message.

Avoid multiple links, heavy punctuation, or all caps. Send during local business hours and cap program touches to sensible weekly limits. Keep attachments relevant and lightweight.

FAQs About Texting Guide for Growth Managers

Can I trigger texts from product events?

Yes. You can sync segments from your CRM or CDP and schedule Campaigns that align to events like trial start or feature enablement. Sequences can follow up automatically.

Can I attach quick-start guides or pricing snapshots?

Yes. TextUs allows PDFs, images, or GIFs in both campaigns and one-to-one conversations. Many growth teams use one-page guides and simple pricing visuals to reduce friction.

Can I measure impact on activation and upgrades?

Yes. Export deliveries, replies, and clicks from TextUs and join them to product events and revenue reports. Track reply-to-activation and upgrade conversion by cohort.

How does the Shared Inbox help cross-functional teams?

It centralizes replies so growth, success, and support can assign owners, tag threads, and add notes. This prevents duplicate outreach and speeds help.

What cadence works best for lifecycle texts?

Start with one message and one reminder per stage. Increase or reduce based on reply and conversion data for that segment.