When it comes to customer engagement, SMS marketing is un-matchable because of its easy-going process. The customers don’t have to waste time going to a website or any other platform; they can receive promotional SMS messages directly from your business.
90% of SMS messages are read within three minutes of receipt. This shows the significance text messaging holds. But the question arises as to what type of campaigns are more effective?
Do segment the data first! Understand who your customers are. Make them realize that your brand is available for them. Solve their queries and learn about their pain points, then offer them solutions in the SMS campaigns.
We have sorted out the best SMS marketing examples that can level up your business, mark an impact, create brand awareness and make you stand out from competition.
Top 11 SMS Marketing Examples are:
1. Welcome Messages
Greet with high energy! That’s what as a brand representative one should do. Avoid generic messages; they are full of BOREDOM now!
No customer wants to be treated as just ordinary! Welcome messages are your brand’s first impression, and they set the tone for your relationship with the customer. It’s really important to greet your customers with high energy and enthusiasm to make them feel valued and appreciated.
Look at some SMS marketing examples. It will show how brands send friendly for getting attention and make customers feel special.
For example:
“Hi, Alex! Welcome to [Brand Name]. We’re so excited to have you join our community!”
Show appreciation right from the start by offering personalized discounts or promo codes. This not only makes them feel special but also encourages immediate engagement with your brand.
“Welcome aboard, Alex! Here’s a special gift just for you: Use code ‘ALEX0500’ to get 10% off your first purchase!”
Your customers should feel privileged and valued as part of your community. So you can try something like this:
“Thanks for joining [Brand Name], Alex! As a member, you’ll enjoy early access to sales, insider tips, and exclusive rewards!”
Use language that reflects your brand’s identity. This will help customers connect with brand on an emotional level.
SMS messages have limited space, so keep them concise, to the point and do not overwhelm the customers.
SkinTe welcomes its customers with a message from the CEO. This makes them feel valued and have a direct connection with the brand.
2. Product and Service Alerts
Product and service alerts are one of the best SMS marketing examples of campaigns that keep customers informed about new offerings, updates, and important information regarding products or services.
Make sure that the alerts are sent at the right time to maximize engagement. Notify customers when a new product is launched or when a service is back in stock.
Use clear language for communication of essential information. Avoid unnecessary details and keep it straightforward.
Tailor messages based on customer preferences or past purchases. Include a clear CTA that encourages customers to take action, such as visiting your website, making a purchase, or checking out a new feature.
Example:
“Hi [Name], great news! Your favorite [Product Name] is back in stock! Don’t miss out—grab yours now: [link].”
The message above includes the word favourite, which can have a direct impact on customer’s mind. This level of personalization can be achieved by using AI for SMS marketing to send automated SMS.
Nominal, a jewelry brand for Gen Z and Millennials, personalizes its campaigns and informs its customers about new products like this:
3. Special Offers and Deals
Customers love special offers and deals! I personally wait for offers before I start shopping.
With texting CRM you get many SMS templates that can be of use to you. You don’t need a designer team, just add certain elements and your message is ready to ‘Send’.
Special offers and deals via SMS marketing are powerful tools for driving customer engagement, increasing sales, and fostering brand loyalty as part of a comprehensive SMS marketing strategy.
Example:
“Hi [Name]! As a valued subscriber, enjoy an exclusive 15% off your next purchase with code VIP15. Hurry, offer ends soon!”
Create a sense of urgency by including time-sensitive offers. Phrases like ”limited time only” or “while supplies last” encourage immediate action.
Tailor promotional messages based on customer preferences or past purchases. Personalization increases the relevance of the offer.
Include a clear CTA that directs customers on what to do next, such as visiting a website or using a discount code.
Wag is a company that offers pet sitting and walking services to customers. It gives frequent discounts to its customers. It has high level of integration and they know about their customers activity really well.
4. Birthday Messages
A birthday message is very special one. Customers love it. They like to get wished. And when its from their favourite brand, they definitely want to shop.
An effective SMS birthday campaign requires personalization, thoughtful timing, and exclusive offers to make customers feel valued.
Ask for Birthdays: Send a message asking customers for their birthdate in exchange for a reward.
Use the customer’s name and tailor the offer to their preferences or past purchases. Offer discounts, free gifts, or loyalty points as birthday rewards.
Use emojis to make the message celebratory and engaging. Add time-sensitive elements like “today only” or “expires soon” to encourage immediate action.
Combine SMS with email for a more impactful campaign. Use SMS for urgency and email for detailed visuals.
Fitbit is renowned American electronics and fitness company. They don’t do generic birthday messages, instead they choose creativity by combining text with images.
Their campaigns are always effective and are one of the best SMS marketing examples.
5. Flash Sales
A flash sale is a short-term promotional event where you can offer significant discounts or special deals on products or services through an SMS message. Such campaigns are very necessary for small businesses and Start-Ups to create a wider consumer base.
Now, these sales are for limited duration, that lasts for maximum 72 hours, creating urgency and excitement among shoppers. The focus is mostly on the ‘FOMO’ factor.
Before launching this campaign, decide what you want to achieve with flash sale such as boosting sales, clearing inventory, or more customer satisfaction and engagement.
Timing is crucial! Select a date and time when your customers are likely to be available and responsive. Clearly state the sale duration (e.g., “24 hours only” or “Ends at midnight”) to encourage quick action.
Include a shortened URL to save space and track clicks. Target specific customer groups based on their preferences or behavior for better results.
Note: Send reminders as the sale nears its end to remind customers to boost last-minute purchases.
Wayback burgers related the personal story with their marketing tactics. And so far this has worked smoothly for them by increasing their Sales. Their campaigns are also great SMS marketing examples of how storytelling together with timely offers can increase engagement and give best results.
6. Loyalty Programs
One powerful way to engage customers, retain them, and encourage repeat purchases is through SMS marketing software.
Tip: Use SMS marketing CRM to get the most relevant data and it is very beneficial for such type of campaigns.
Understand the dynamics of reaching out to customers. Check reports on the number of signups, redemption rates, or customer retention percentages.
Show how customers will earn rewards. E.g. points for purchases, referrals, or social media engagement.
What kind of rewards you will offer, such as discounts, free products, exclusive perks, or early access to sales. Create tiers (e.g., Silver, Gold, Platinum) to incentivize higher spending and foster long-term loyalty.
Get consent from customers before sending messages. Use opt-in methods (e.g., “Text JOIN to 12345”) or sign-up forms on your website.
Promote the benefits of joining your loyalty program through multiple channels like social media, email, and in-store signage.
Use SMS to educate customers about your loyalty program:
- Explain how they can earn and redeem points.
- Highlight exclusive perks like birthday rewards or VIP access.
- Share updates about new features or changes in the program.
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Use SMS to provide exclusive perks for loyalty members:
- Early access to sales or new product launches.
- Limited-time discounts or bonus points offers.
- VIP-only events or services.
Recognize customer achievements within the program:
- Send congratulatory messages when they reach a new tier.
- Celebrate anniversaries of their membership with special rewards.
- Offer birthday discounts or gifts.
Andie Swim continuously updates their rewards program. They keep their customers happy by offering them reward points for doing a small thing.
7. Event Updates
Event updates is a part of bulk SMS marketing. You want the customers to know about the upcoming event. Keep them informed, engaged and excited about it. Identify the goal of your SMS campaign.
Is it to boost ticket sales, send reminders, share event details, or give real-time updates during the event?
Group attendees by ticket type (VIP or general), location, or interests. Craft messages for each group to make them engaging and relevant. For example, send VIP updates or reminders for certain sessions.
- Send reminders for registration deadlines, ticket sales, and early-bird offers.
- Share event details, including the date, time, venue, agenda highlights, and parking info.
Provide updates such as session start times, location changes, or special announcements. Use SMS to encourage engagement (e.g., polls, surveys, or live Q&A links).
Thank attendees for participating and sharing links to event recordings or feedback forms.
Example:
8. Product Launches
Product launches are an effective way to inform your audience, build excitement, and drive immediate action.
Whether you want to generate buzz, increase sales or drive more traffic, this SMS marketing campaigns is resourceful in every way.
Start promoting the product before it is officially launched. Send updates about how many days or hours are left until the launch. Share hints or sneak peeks and offer early previews or lookbooks to SMS subscribers.
Include clear instructions on what customers should do next:
- “Shop Now”
- “Pre-Order Here”
- “Learn More”
Reward SMS subscribers with perks like:
- Early access to the product before it’s available to the public.
- Special discounts or promo codes for first-time buyers.
- Free gifts with purchase.
Send messages at times when customers are most likely to engage (e.g., mid-morning or early evening).
- Plan messages around key moments:
- Announce the launch date well in advance.
- Send reminders on the day of the launch.
- Follow up post-launch with updates (e.g., “Limited stock remaining”).
Example:
DesignLab offers Figma Course in this message. They create FOMO by writing 24 hours until registration and give them value too by giving customers early access code.
9. Polls and Surveys
SMS campaigns for polls and surveys are an effective way to collect feedback, engage your audience, and gain valuable insights.
The character limits should be taken in consideration particularly for this campaign. Make sure that the questions are brief and easy to understand. Focus on a single topic per question to avoid confusion. Use multiple-choice or yes/no questions for faster responses.
- Polls: Single-question surveys to gauge opinions quickly.
- Surveys: Multi-question formats for deeper insights.
Allow participants to respond with simple keywords (e.g., “YES,” “NO,” or a number). Set up autoresponders to acknowledge participants’ replies or provide follow-up questions.
Send surveys at times when recipients are likely to respond (e.g., mid-morning or early evening). Avoid sending messages during busy hours or late at night.
Offer rewards like discounts, loyalty points, or entry into a giveaway to motivate participation.
Example:
10. Abandoned Cart
Note: The global average shopping cart abandonment rate is approximately 70.19%.
This shows that majority of the customers don’t buy the items they like and the reason can be any. But abandoned cart does not mean that they will not buy ever. In fact it is an opportunity for brands to remind them about it and personalize the message.
Send the first SMS within an hour of cart abandonment when the product is still fresh in the customer’s mind. Follow up with additional reminders at 24-hour intervals, but limit the total number of messages to avoid overwhelming the customer.
Address the customer by name and mention the specific product(s) left in their cart. Provide discounts, free shipping, or exclusive deals to encourage customers to return.
What you can do?
- Track key metrics such as click-through rates, conversions, and opt-outs.
- Use this data to refine your messaging, timing, and incentives.
Example:
Additional SMS Marketing Examples:
11. Opt-in SMS
An opt-in SMS is a crucial step in building your SMS marketing list. This message is sent to customers to confirm their subscription to receive SMS marketing messages. It should include clear instructions on how customers can confirm their subscription, as well as any incentives or promotions they can expect to receive. This not only ensures compliance with regulations but also sets the stage for a positive customer experience.
Example:
“Thanks for signing up for our SMS marketing list! To confirm your subscription, simply reply to this message with the word ‘YES’. As a thank you, we’ll send you a 10% discount code for your next purchase.”
By using opt-in SMS messages, businesses can build a qualified and engaged SMS list, ensuring that their promotional messages reach an interested audience.
Read more related topic: Advantages of SMS Marketing & Bulk SMS Marketing
Conclusion:
The above-mentioned are some of the most beneficial examples of SMS marketing. However you don’t have to worry about creating or managing the campaigns if you have your business aligned with Best SMS marketing platforms such as CrmOne. Its AI and Automation will take care of everything.
Keeping your marketing messages short and up to mark with straight points will generate more positive results. You don’t have to fill up all the information at once. Create urgency, play with words, use relevant images and more.
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