SMS Marketing Examples For Every Business

SMS marketing, also known as text message marketing or short message service marketing is a powerful and effective form of mobile marketing that uses text messages to reach customers and promote businesses.

With an open rate of almost 98%, SMS marketing allows businesses to send targeted, personalized messages to their customers, which can increase engagement, drive sales and improve customer retention.

It's a cost-effective way to reach out to a large audience, SMS marketing can be used for a variety of purposes such as promoting a new product, alerting customers of sales or discounts, sending appointment reminders, and more.

With SMS marketing, businesses can reach their customers directly on their mobile devices, making it a highly effective way to grab their attention.

There are several types of SMS marketing messages that businesses can use to reach their customers and achieve their marketing goals.

Some of the most common types include:

Promotional messages are a type of SMS marketing message that businesses use to promote a product or service, with the goal of driving sales.

These messages typically include a call-to-action (CTA) such as "buy now" or "learn more," and are designed to encourage customers to take a specific action.

Promotional messages can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

1. New product launches

Businesses can use promotional messages to introduce new products to their customers and offer a special promotion or discount to encourage sales.

Promotional SMS example : "Introducing our new line of organic skincare products! Enjoy 20% off your first purchase with code ORGANIC20."

2. Sales and discounts

Businesses can use promotional messages to alert customers of sales or discounts on specific products or services.

Example: "Don't miss out on our end-of-season sale! Take an extra 25% off already discounted items with discount code EXTRA25."

3. Limited-time offers

Businesses can use promotional messages to create a sense of urgency by offering a promotion or discount for a limited time only.

Example: "24 hours only! Get free shipping on all orders over $50 with discount code FREESHIP."

4. Loyalty programs

Businesses can use promotional messages to reward loyal customers with special promotions or discounts.

Example: "Thanks for being a loyal customer! Enjoy a free gift with your next purchase over $100."

Promotional messages can be effective in driving sales and engaging customers, but it's important to use them strategically and not overuse them, as it can lead to unsubscribing from your list.

It's also important to tailor the message to the audience and use segmentation to target the right people at the right time.

Transactional messages are a type of SMS marketing message that businesses use to confirm a transaction or provide information about an order. These messages are typically triggered by an action taken by the customer, such as making a purchase or booking an appointment.

Transactional messages can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

1. Order confirmations

Businesses can use transactional messages to confirm an order has been placed and provide details such as order number and expected delivery date.

Example: "Thank you for your order! Your order number is #12345 and it will be delivered on the 30th of January"

2. Shipping confirmations

Businesses can use transactional messages to confirm that an order has been shipped and provide tracking information.

Example: "Your order has been shipped! Track your package with tracking number XYZ"

3. Payment confirmations

Businesses can use transactional messages to confirm that a payment has been processed and provide payment details such as the amount and transaction ID.

Example: "Your payment of $100 has been processed. Transaction ID: ABCD"

4. Appointment confirmations

Businesses can use transactional messages to confirm an appointment has been scheduled and provide details such as date and time.

Example: "Your appointment has been confirmed for the 30th of January at 2 pm. Please reply with any changes or cancellations."

Transactional messages are essential for providing information and keeping customers informed, but it's also important to keep them short and to the point. It's also important to include a call-to-action (CTA) that allows customers to take the next step, such as scheduling another appointment or leaving a review.

Appointment reminders are a type of SMS marketing message that businesses use to remind customers of upcoming appointments. These messages are typically sent a day or two before the appointment to ensure that the customer doesn't forget and to confirm that the appointment is still on schedule.

Appointment reminders can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

1. Medical appointments

Medical practices can use appointment reminders to remind patients of upcoming doctor's appointments, check-ups, or procedures.

Example: "Reminder: Your appointment with Dr. John Smith is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 am. Please arrive on time and bring your ID and insurance card."

2. Service appointments

Service-based businesses such as salons or car repair shops can use appointment reminders to remind customers of upcoming service appointments.

Example: "Reminder: Your car service appointment is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 pm. Please arrive on time and bring your car registration."

3. Event or class appointments

Event-based businesses such as fitness classes or cooking classes can use appointment reminders to remind customers of upcoming events or classes.

Example: "Reminder: Your yoga class is scheduled for tomorrow at 6 pm. Please arrive on time and bring your mat and water bottle."

Appointment reminders are an effective way to ensure customer attendance and reduce no-shows. It's important to include the date, time, and location of the appointment, as well as any necessary instructions, such as what to bring or wear.

It's also a good idea to include a call-to-action (CTA) that allows customers to confirm, reschedule, or cancel their appointment.

Abandoned cart messages are a type of SMS marketing message that businesses use to encourage customers who have left items in their online shopping cart without completing the purchase. These messages are typically sent to the customer a few hours or days after they abandoned the cart, with the goal of reminding them of the items they left behind and encouraging them to complete the purchase.

Abandoned cart messages can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

1. Product reminders

Businesses can use abandoned cart messages to remind customers of the specific items they left behind in their cart and encourage them to complete the purchase.

Example: "Don't forget about the items in your cart! Your red dress and black heels are still waiting for you. Use code FINISHNOW for 10% off"

2. Limited-time offers

Businesses can use abandoned cart messages to create a sense of urgency by offering a promotion or discount for a limited time only to customers who left items in their cart.

Example: "Don't miss out on our special offer! Complete your purchase within the next 24 hours and get free shipping on your order"

3. Personalized recommendations

Businesses can use abandoned cart messages to provide personalized recommendations to customers based on the items they left behind in their cart.

Example: "Based on the items in your cart, we recommend checking out our new collection of summer dresses. Use code SUMMER20 for 20% off"

Abandoned cart messages can be an effective way to drive sales, but it's important to use them strategically and not overuse them, as it can lead to unsubscribing from your list. It's also important to tailor the text message to the audience and use segmentation to target the right people at the right time.

Surveys and feedback messages are a type of SMS marketing message that businesses use to gather valuable insights and improve the customer experience. These messages typically ask customers to participate in a survey or provide feedback on a specific product or service.

Surveys and feedback messages can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

1. Customer satisfaction

Businesses can use surveys and feedback messages to gather information on customer satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.

Example: "We value your feedback. Please take a moment to complete our survey and let us know how we're doing. Your input will help us serve you better"

2. Product feedback

Businesses can use surveys and feedback messages to gather information on customer opinions and preferences for specific products or services.

Example: "We want to hear from you! How did you like our new chocolate flavor? Please reply with a score from 1-5"

3. Event feedback

Businesses can use surveys and feedback messages to gather information on customer opinions and experiences about events such as concerts, conferences, etc.

Example: "Thanks for coming to our event! How was your experience? Please take a moment to complete our survey and let us know"

Surveys and feedback messages can provide valuable insights that can be used to improve the customer experience and make informed business decisions. It's important to keep the survey questions short, simple, and to the point. It's also important to offer an incentive for completing the survey, such as a discount or a prize.

SMS marketing can be an effective tool for e-commerce businesses to reach their customers, drive sales and improve customer engagement.

Here are some examples of how e-commerce businesses can use SMS marketing:

1. Abandoned cart messages

E-commerce businesses can use SMS messages to remind customers of the items left in their shopping carts, and encourage them to complete their purchases.

Abandoned Cart SMS Marketing Example: "Don't forget about the items in your cart! Your new pair of sneakers and workout clothes are still waiting for you. Use code FINISHNOW for 10% off"

2. Order confirmations and shipping updates

E-commerce businesses can use SMS messages to confirm orders and provide shipping updates to customers.

Order confirmations and shipping update SMS marketing Example: "Your order has been confirmed! Order number #12345. We will send you a text message with the tracking number as soon as it ships."

3. Exclusive promotions and discounts

E-commerce businesses can use SMS messages to offer exclusive promotions and discounts to customers, which can drive sales and increase customer loyalty.

promotions and discounts SMS marketing example: "Exclusive offer for our SMS subscribers! Use code SMS20 for 20% off your next purchase"

4. Customer service and support

E-commerce businesses can use SMS messages to provide customer service and support, such as answering questions or helping with returns or exchanges.

Here's an SMS marketing sample message that illustrates this :

"Thanks for reaching out! We're here to help. Please reply with your order number and we'll assist you with your return or exchange."

SMS marketing can be an effective tool for restaurants to reach their customers, drive sales and improve customer engagement.

Here are some examples of how restaurants can use SMS marketing:

1. Special promotions and discounts

Restaurants can use SMS messages to offer special promotions and discounts to customers, which can drive sales and increase customer loyalty.

Example: "Exclusive offer for our SMS subscribers! Show this text message to receive 20% off your next meal"

2. Reservation reminders

Restaurants can use SMS messages to remind customers of upcoming reservations and confirm or cancel reservations.

Example: "Reminder: Your reservation for 2 is confirmed for tomorrow at 7 pm. Please reply with any changes or cancellations."

3. Daily specials

Restaurants can use SMS messages to promote their daily specials and drive more customers to the restaurant.

Example: "Today's special: Grilled fish with a side of roasted vegetables. Come and try it out!"

SMS marketing can be an effective tool for retail stores to reach their customers, drive sales and improve customer engagement.

Here are some examples of how retail stores can use SMS marketing:

1. Promotions and discounts

Retail stores can use SMS messages to offer promotions and discounts to customers, which can drive sales and increase customer loyalty.

Example: "Exclusive offer for our SMS subscribers! Show this text message to receive 20% off your next purchase."

2. New product launches

Retail stores can use SMS messages to inform customers about new products and offer special promotions or discounts to encourage sales.

Example: "Introducing our new line of sustainable fashion products! Enjoy 15% off your first purchase with code SUSTAINABLE15"

3. Sales and clearance events

Retail stores can use SMS messages to inform customers about upcoming sales and clearance events and drive more customers to the store.

Example: "Don't miss out on our end-of-season sale! Take an extra 25% off already discounted items with code EXTRA25"

Here are some examples of how events and promotions can use SMS marketing:

1. Event reminders and updates

Events and promotions can use SMS messages to remind attendees of upcoming events, and provide updates on schedule, location, and other important details.

Example: "Reminder: The concert starts at 8 pm tonight. Doors open at 7 pm. Don't forget to bring your ID and ticket"

2. Ticketing and registration

Events and promotions can use SMS messages to confirm ticket purchases or registrations and provide information on how to access the event.

Example: "Thank you for registering! Your confirmation number is ABCD. Please present this at the registration desk to collect your badge."

3. Exclusive offers and discounts

Events and promotions can use SMS messages to offer exclusive promotions and discounts to attendees, which can drive attendance and increase engagement.

Example: "Exclusive offer for our SMS subscribers! Show this text message at the door to receive a complimentary drink."

4. Surveys and feedback

Events and promotions can use SMS messages to gather feedback from attendees, and use the information to improve future events.

Example: "Thanks for coming to our event! We value your feedback. Please take a moment to complete our survey and let us know how we did."

SMS marketing can be an effective tool for businesses to provide customer service and support. SMS messages allow businesses to quickly and easily communicate with customers, answer questions, and resolve issues.

Here are some examples of how businesses can use SMS marketing for customer service and support:

1. Order status and tracking

Businesses can use SMS messages to update customers on their orders' status and tracking information.

Example: "Your order has been shipped! Track your package with tracking number XYZ"

2. Return and exchange information

Businesses can use SMS messages to provide customers with information on how to return or exchange items and assist them with the process.

Example: "Thanks for reaching out! We're here to help. Please reply with your order number and we'll assist you with your return or exchange."

3. Technical support

Businesses can use SMS messages to provide customers with technical support, such as troubleshooting and resolving issues with products or services.

Example: "We're sorry to hear that you're experiencing an issue. Can you please provide us with the serial number of your product and a description of the problem? Our technical team will assist you."

4. Feedback and surveys

Businesses can use SMS messages to gather feedback and survey information from customers, and use the information to improve the customer experience.

Example: "Thanks for your purchase! We value your feedback. Please take a moment to complete our survey and let us know how we did. Your input will help us serve you better."

5. Customer service hours and availability

Businesses can use SMS messages to inform customers of their customer service hours and availability and provide contact information for assistance.

Example: "Our customer service team is available from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Please reply with your question and we will get back to you within 24 hours."

SMS marketing can be an effective tool for businesses to generate leads and nurture relationships with potential customers. SMS messages allow businesses to quickly and easily reach and engage with potential customers, and guide them through the sales process.

Here are some examples of how businesses can use SMS marketing for lead generation and nurturing:

1. Lead magnets

Businesses can use SMS messages to offer lead magnets such as ebooks, whitepapers, or webinars to potential customers in exchange for contact information.

Example: "Download our free guide on how to improve your SEO and get more website traffic. Text SEOGUIDE to 12345 to get instant access to"

2. Lead nurturing

Businesses can use SMS messages to provide valuable information and resources to potential customers and guide them through the sales process.

Example: "Thanks for your interest in our product. We'll send you a message with a link to our product video and a special offer for the first 50 buyers."

3. Appointment setting

Businesses can use SMS messages to set appointments with potential customers and schedule follow-up calls or meetings.

Example: "Thanks for requesting a demo of our product. We'll send you a text message with a link to schedule a call with one of our representatives at a time that works for you."

SMS marketing can be an effective tool for financial services companies to reach and communicate with their customers, and provide valuable information and services.

Here are some examples of how financial services companies can use SMS marketing:

1. Account updates and alerts

Financial services companies can use SMS messages to provide customers with updates on their account balances, transactions, and alerts on suspicious activity.

Example: "Your account balance is now below $500. Please deposit funds to avoid overdraft fees"

2. Payment reminders and confirmations

Financial services companies can use SMS messages to remind customers of upcoming payments and confirm payment receipts.

Example: "Reminder: Your mortgage payment of $1000 is due on the 1st of next month. Please make your payment on time to avoid late fees."

3. Fraud alerts

Financial services companies can use SMS messages to alert customers of suspicious activity on their accounts and provide instructions on how to report and prevent fraud.

Example: "Alert: Suspicious activity detected on your account. Please reply with YES or NO to confirm if you authorized a $500 transaction from your account"

4. Promotions and special offers

Financial services companies can use SMS messages to offer promotions and special offers on their products and services, such as low-interest loans or credit card balance transfers.

Example: "Exclusive offer for our SMS subscribers: Get a 0% interest rate on your next car loan for the first 6 months. Apply now"

5. Customer support and assistance

Financial services companies can use SMS messages to provide customer support and assistance, such as answering questions or helping with account issues.

Example: "Thanks for reaching out! We're here to help. Please reply with your account number and we'll assist you with your inquiry."

SMS marketing is a powerful tool for businesses to reach and engage with their customers, and drive sales and customer loyalty. However, it's important to follow best practices to ensure that SMS marketing efforts are effective and compliant.

Here are some best practices for SMS marketing:

1. Welcome message

Send a welcome message to new SMS subscribers to introduce your business, and provide information on how they can opt out of receiving SMS marketing messages.

Example: "Thanks for signing up for our SMS marketing program! We'll send you exclusive offers and discounts. Reply STOP to unsubscribe at any time."

2. Compliance with TCPA

Ensure compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by obtaining explicit consent from customers to receive SMS marketing messages, and providing an easy opt-out process.

3. Segmentation and personalization

Segment your SMS subscriber list and personalize messages to each group for better results. Send targeted promotions and discounts to specific groups, such as repeat customers or those who have abandoned their cart.

4. SMS marketing software

Use SMS marketing software to manage and automate your SMS campaign, such as creating, scheduling, and sending text messages, as well as tracking and measuring performance.

5. SMS marketing program

Use an SMS marketing program to manage your SMS campaigns, such as creating, scheduling, and sending text messages, as well as tracking and measuring the performance.

6. Text message Marketing Campaigns

Use SMS marketing campaigns to reach new customers and drive sales.

7. SMS Marketing Platform

Use an SMS marketing platform to manage and automate your SMS campaigns.

8. SMS and Email Marketing

Integrate SMS marketing with email marketing efforts for a well-rounded digital marketing strategy.

9. Valuable content

Make sure your text messages are valuable and relevant to the customer, rather than just promoting products or services. Use SMS to provide useful information, such as appointment reminders, loyalty program updates, and happy birthday messages.

10. Opt-in message

Send an opt-in text message to customers, inviting them to join your SMS marketing program and providing information on how to opt out.

11. Use of SMS tools

Use SMS tools, such as SMS marketing software and SMS marketing platforms, to manage and automate your SMS campaigns.

12. Use of promo code

Use a promo code in your SMS messages to drive sales and engagement.

13. Timing

Send sms messages at the right time, considering time zones and when your customers are most likely to be available to receive and read your messages.

14. Sense of urgency

Create a sense of urgency in your messages to encourage customers to take action, such as by offering a limited-time discount or promoting a time-sensitive event.

15. Unsubscribe link

Include an unsubscribe link in all of your SMS messages to make it easy for customers to opt out of receiving future messages.

16. SMS opt-in

Use SMS opt-in to reach new customers and build your SMS subscriber list.

17. SMS list

Keep your SMS list up to date by regularly removing inactive or unresponsive subscribers.

18. Mobile device

Optimize your messages for mobile devices to ensure they are easy to read and respond to on a small screen.

19. A/B testing

Use A/B testing to find the best SMS marketing strategies and tactics to increase conversions.

20. SMS opt-out

Allow customers to easily opt out of receiving SMS messages.

In conclusion, SMS marketing is a powerful tool for businesses to reach and engage with their customers, and drive sales and customer loyalty.

By following best practices such as segmenting your SMS subscriber list, personalizing messages, creating a sense of urgency, using promo codes, and ensuring that your messages are valuable and relevant to the customer, businesses can effectively use SMS marketing to improve customer relationships and increase sales.

For those just getting started with SMS marketing, it may be helpful, to begin with, a small-scale campaign to test the waters and see how customers respond to text marketing messages.

Once you've established a good SMS program and have built a sizable customer base, you can then consider expanding your SMS marketing efforts and experimenting with different strategies.

It's also important to remember that the SMS marketing strategy is just one aspect of a larger digital marketing strategy. To fully engage customers and drive sales, businesses should also utilize other digital marketing efforts such as email marketing, social media marketing, and targeted advertising.

In terms of the next steps, businesses should continue to monitor and analyze the performance of their SMS marketing campaigns, and make adjustments as needed.

This may include testing different text message types, such as time-sensitive messages, or experimenting with different discount codes.

Additionally, businesses should continue to build and maintain their SMS subscriber list, and regularly update their phone numbers to ensure that they are reaching their target audience.

Overall, SMS marketing can be a valuable tool for businesses to reach and engage with customers, but it's important to follow best practices and constantly evaluate and improve your SMS marketing efforts.