For when you need to send a little something extra, learn how and when to attach a PDF to a text.
Texts are an efficient way to communicate all your thoughts, information, and ideas. Sometimes, though, you need more than a few words to get your message across. That’s where PDFs come in.
Portable document format, or PDF, is the digital equivalent of handing someone a physical piece of paper. PDFs almost always include text, but they can also feature images and hyperlinks.
People who switch from email marketing to texting often worry that they’ll lose the ability to send PDFs. But did you know that you can text a PDF directly to a cell phone?
Whether you’re using our mass texting service or one-on-one business texting, you can transfer your files in seconds.
In this article, we’ll walk you through all the methods of texting a PDF, as well as some instances where sending a PDF via text might come in handy.
As a business, you have the choice of how you’d like to connect with your audience— individually, or all at once.
We’ll get into why this matters in a moment, but first, the important thing to remember is, similar to texting videos, your attachment must not exceed 1 MB.
For most PDFs without too many pictures and pages, this limit shouldn’t be an issue. However, if your desired PDF file does exceed that limit, free tools like Compress PDF can help.
The advantage of sending a PDF over a photo is that you can send your document as-is, with no compression or distortion on the client end. So, we suggest that you use an online PDF compression tool instead of sending your PDF as a jpeg.
Mass texting is a service that lets you send one message to all your subscribers at the same time. It’s an easy way to put your texts in front of hundreds or thousands of people with one click.
If you’re using mass texting, you can opt to send PDFs as either SMS or MMS.
3. Select upload, and proceed to select and upload your desired PDF. You can also upload it by pasting in a URL. Once your PDF is uploaded, select it and press the blue include button.
4. Your PDF will show up in your message as a link that, when clicked on, will redirect recipients to the document online.
The process of sending a PDF via text with MMS includes all the same steps as SMS, however, the end result isn’t a hyperlink but a physical attachment within the message. When it’s clicked on, the PDF opens within the message and can be saved just like a photo can.
2. In your message box, select the paperclip icon.
3. Select upload, and proceed to select and upload your desired PDF. You can also upload it by pasting in a URL. Once your PDF is uploaded, select it and press the blue include button.
4. Your PDF will show up directly in your message and will open, without a need for internet connectivity, when clicked.
Unlike mass texting, with one-on-one business texting, you’re only texting one person. As a result, all your interactions live in your inbox.
3. Select upload, and proceed to select and upload your desired PDF. You can also upload it by pasting in a URL. Once your PDF is uploaded, select it and press the blue include button.
4. Your PDF will show up in your message as a link that, when clicked on, will redirect recipients to the document online.
Why would someone want to send PDFs via text? Beyond the convenience, it’s about changing the way you do business. Texts get impressive open and response rates. It’s why thousands of organizations across the country have transitioned their communications to the platform.
Attaching a PDF to a text is just another way to transition your business services to a mobile-based market.
Here are some great examples of the kinds of PDFs that customers would find helpful in a text message:
The list barely scratches the surface一the possibilities are vast.
You know now that PDFs are a tool for getting a lot of information across in a neat package. Here are a few examples to get you started using them in your own business.
Monthly Reports
Invoice After a Service
Travel Itinerary
Menus
PDFs can help you avoid sending out overly wordy texts or including important information in an email that may not get opened. They’re versatile, convenient, and a business owner’s dream come true.
Now that you’re an expert on texting PDFs, your only limits are MBs and your imagination!
Meghan Tocci is a content strategist at SimpleTexting. When she’s not writing about SaaS, she’s trying to teach her puppy Lou how to code. So far, not so good.
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