Managed SMS and MMS Text Messaging Service

Venue Managed SMS is a done-for-you text messaging service for organizations that want to reach their members, customers, or congregation by text without becoming compliance experts. We register your organization with the carriers, provision your dedicated number, handle opt-outs automatically, and keep you on the right side of carrier rules. You just write the messages. Send plain texts or picture messages (MMS), one at a time or to a whole list, right away or scheduled for later.

Text messages get read. Industry studies consistently show open rates above 90 percent within minutes of delivery, compared to 20 to 30 percent for email. For time-sensitive announcements, schedule changes, event reminders, and prayer requests, nothing else comes close.

What's Included

Also Available

Every account starts with plain text messaging. These come with the service or can be added when you need them.

• MMS picture messaging - send an image with your message: an event flyer, a schedule graphic, a photo, a menu. Some announcements land better as a picture than as a paragraph. MMS costs more per message than SMS, so we price it with your plan.²
• Scheduled sends - write the message now and set the date and time it should go out. Sunday's reminder can be written on Thursday.
• Two-way replies - your number receives as well as sends. Replies come back to you, and incoming messages are always free.
• Contact lists and groups - keep separate lists (whole congregation, volunteers, parents, staff) and send to just the group that needs the message.
• Keyword sign-up - let people join a list by texting a word to your number, which also creates the consent record the carriers require.
• Automatic opt-out handling - STOP and HELP are answered and enforced for you, and opted-out numbers are removed from your lists.
• Usage dashboard - see what you have sent and how much of your monthly allowance is left, so an overage is never a surprise.
• Voice on the same number - your number can take calls as well as texts, and a Venue AI Voice Agent can answer it 24/7.

Who Uses Managed SMS

• Churches and ministries - service time changes, event reminders, prayer requests, and weather closings delivered straight to the congregation.
• Nonprofits and clubs - member announcements, volunteer coordination, and fundraising campaign updates.
• Service businesses - appointment reminders, arrival notifications, and follow-ups that customers actually read.
• Schools and teams - practice schedules, cancellations, and parent notifications.

Pricing

Standard service starts at $2,995 per year, which covers the dedicated number, carrier registration, compliance handling, and 3,000 outgoing message segments a month. Your final price depends on the number you want, your message volume, and any list or website setup work. We quote your exact price in writing before you commit to anything.³

Talk to Sales

¹What is 10DLC registration?

10DLC (10-digit long code) is the carrier framework that allows businesses and organizations to send text messages from a standard local phone number. Since 2023, U.S. carriers require every organization that texts its members or customers to register its identity (a brand) and describe its messaging (a campaign) before messages will be delivered reliably. Unregistered traffic is filtered or blocked outright.

Registration involves brand vetting, campaign review, consent documentation, and specific language in your website's privacy policy. We handle the entire process for you, including drafting the required privacy policy and consent wording, and your service activates once the carriers approve your registration.

²What counts as a message?

Billing is per message segment, the standard unit carriers use. A segment is up to 160 characters of plain text. A longer message may use two or three segments, and we will help you keep messages concise so most announcements fit in one. A message sent to 500 recipients uses 500 segments (or more if it runs long).

MMS (a message with a picture attached) is a different unit and costs more than a plain text segment, because the carriers charge more to carry it. If you plan to send pictures, tell us roughly how often and we will fold it into your quote rather than surprise you on an invoice.

³Why does the price start at $2,995?

$2,995 a year is our entry price for a fully managed, fully registered service: your own dedicated number, 10DLC brand and campaign registration, ongoing compliance and opt-out handling, and 3,000 outgoing segments a month. Organizations that need a vanity number, a higher monthly volume, a custom sign-up page, or an integration with their existing member list will pay more, and organizations sending well beyond 3,000 segments a month are usually better served by a High Volume quote than by overage. Tell us what you want to send and how often, and we will price it exactly.

How do people join my list?

Carriers require documented consent: your members must agree to receive texts before you message them. Consent can be collected on a paper sign-up sheet, a web form, or by texting a keyword to your number. We help you set up a compliant sign-up process and, where needed, a one-time confirmation text, so your list is built correctly from day one.

Can I see replies?

Yes. Your dedicated number is two-way. Replies from your members are delivered to you, and incoming messages are always free.

Managed SMS pairs well with our AI Chatbot and Concierge and Email Marketing Tools for organizations that want to reach their audience on every channel.