Reply rates from live campaigns
| Live client campaign | Reply rate |
|---|---|
| BBA-A · church architecture | 20.8% |
| PlaceMKR · commercial real estate (after opener testing) | 15.8% |
| Pure Realty · residential sellers | 10.8% |
| PlaceMKR · same list, original opener | 4.2% |
Reply rates on live Client Gravity campaigns, as shown on our homepage. Results vary by market, offer and list.
The biggest takeaway is the PlaceMKR line: same list, same market, and the reply rate almost quadrupled after opener testing. The opener is usually the cheapest number to move.
So what counts as good?
On our live campaigns, single digits means something is fixable, around 10% is solid, and 15% to 20% is excellent. Hard-to-reach audiences can still do well: BBA-A hit 20.8% texting pastors, who rarely answer vendor calls.
Reply rate also isn’t the finish line. A “wrong number” or “stop” counts as a reply. Track three numbers:
- Reply rate: did the text land and start a conversation?
- Interested rate: how many replies are real prospects?
- Booked rate: how many became calls or appointments on your calendar?
The six things that move your reply rate
1. Delivery
A text that gets filtered can’t get a reply. Many business texts go out from software numbers that carriers filter heavily. We send from real phones on real carrier lines and see 99% delivered. More in real phones vs 10DLC.
2. The list
Text people who have a reason to care: owners of the property you buy, homeowners with old roofs, leaders planning to build. A list pulled only for you beats a shared, overused one.
3. The opener
One short question, first names, no link, no pitch, no company name. Around ten words. See openers from real campaigns.
4. Reply speed
When someone answers, answer back in seconds. A reply that waits an hour often goes cold. Our AI agent replies at any hour.
5. Follow-up
Many people reply to the second or third text, not the first. Space a few follow-ups out over the next week, and stop the moment anyone says no.
6. Testing
Test one change at a time and give each version enough sends to compare. We A/B test openers every week and retire the losers.
A quick checklist when replies are low
- Are texts being delivered? Check for filtering before you touch the copy.
- Is the opener longer than a sentence or two, or does it have a link? Cut it.
- Does it lead with your company or your offer? Lead with a question about them.
- Is the list fresh and targeted, or recycled?
- Are replies answered in seconds, at night and on weekends too?
- Is anything being tested this week?
A note on compliance. Marketing texts are covered by federal rules such as the TCPA and the National Do Not Call Registry, plus state laws. We follow applicable telemarketing rules and honor every opt-out right away. This guide is not legal advice; check your own campaign with counsel.
Plans
Text up to 25,000 people a month on real phones. AI caller calls your leads back in seconds, and the Appointment Setter books them. 24/7 account manager.
Priced on what we save you. Built to cut your payroll in half; one client saves $30K a month. Everything in Lead Gen, plus AI employees that take over repetitive roles to cut your payroll, your voice clone, AI Receptionist, AI Salesperson and a monthly call with Max.
A custom solution: Lead Gen plus a full AI workforce across your teams and locations, priced as a share of the payroll we save you.
3-month minimum, then month to month. 6-month terms save 10%. You sign the agreement before any payment.
Questions
What is a good reply rate for cold texting?
On our live client campaigns, reply rates run from 4.2% to 20.8%. Around 10% is solid and 15% to 20% is excellent. Results vary by market, offer and list.
How can I raise my cold text reply rate fast?
Fix delivery first, then the opener. On one campaign, changing only the opener moved the same list from 4.2% to 15.8%. Keep it to one short question with first names, no link and no pitch.
Does a higher reply rate mean more leads?
Not always. Wrong numbers and opt-outs count as replies. Track interested replies and booked appointments too, since those are what pay.
How many follow-up texts should I send?
A few, spaced over about a week. Stop the moment someone says no or asks to opt out.
Want this running for you?
Get on a live video call with Max right now and see a custom demo built for your business.
Not ready for video? Tell us about your business and we’ll text you →