How SMS Marketing Can Boost Sales: 21 Examples

With 91% of people keeping their phones within reach 24/7, SMS marketing has become a powerhouse for engagement.

Despite its effectiveness, many SMS marketers struggle, with the most significant challenge being maintaining text message relevancy.

Our blog aims to present the most compelling SMS marketing examples across different industries that helped businesses:

📈 Enhance customer engagement
💰 Boost sales
🤝 Build stronger relationship

Whether you plan to introduce text marketing or refine your SMS marketing strategy, these examples will help you grow.

What makes an SMS marketing campaign effective?

Effective text message marketing campaigns hinge on three critical components:

Personalization
Optimal timing and frequency
Clear call-to-action (CTA)

Let’s detail each of these key SMS marketing strategies aspects.

1. Personalization

Personalized SMS marketing messages are effective in grabbing attention and driving engagement.

For instance, sending a text message with recommendations based on a recent purchase can surely increase engagement and conversion opportunities.

Further, you increase your chances for response/action when communicating with a personal touch.

2. Timing and frequency

Whether sending cold emails or text messages, the right time ensures they are read and acted upon.

For instance, paydays provide an excellent opportunity to send promotional text messages since people have money to spend.

The click-through rate for text message promotions is 19%. So, analyze your target audience engagement behavior and SMS marketing programs to discover the right time to send text messages.

Frequency is equally essential; too many messages can overwhelm recipients, leading to opt-outs, while too few might result in missed opportunities.

Hence, the aim is to strike the right balance between sending marketing SMS messages at optimal times and maintaining a consistent frequency to ensure campaign success.

3. Clear call-to-action (CTA)

A well-crafted CTA is the engine that drives action in your SMS campaigns.

For example, ‘Claim Your Discount’ prompts immediate action, ensuring your message leads to measurable results.”

CTAs should be straightforward and compelling, leaving no doubt about what the recipient should do next.

In addition to the above, implementing SMS marketing best practices, like optimizing send times, adding multimedia, and offering exclusive deals, can help you maximize your revenue.

21 Best SMS marketing examples to draw inspirations for success

These SMS marketing examples reflect how well-crafted text copy should be regarding context, personalization, and CTAs. Let’s dive into these SMS marketing examples to get a better understanding of building successful campaigns.

SMS marketing automation examples – Triggered messages

These are all kinds of triggered SMS examples sent by various businesses. You can set up all the text marketing messages below on automation with innovative SMS marketing platforms.

Example 1: Order confirmation and shipping updates

Keeping your customers updated once they place an order helps build trust in the brand. Further, real-time updates about order confirmations, shipment progress, and delivery status enhance customer satisfaction.

Also, tracking information and delivery timelines in these messages provide transparency and improve the shopping experience.

Lessons learned:

The message carries a personal touch with Roshelle’s name.
The brand has included specific details like the product ordered and a tracking number to keep their customers informed. Also, this brings transparency and clarity.
Giving a two-way communication option and answering the concern quickly enhances customer loyalty.

Example 2: Abandoned cart reminders

Abandoned cart reminders are automated messages to notify potential customers about items they have left in their shopping cart.

Adding limited-time discounts with the cart reminders incentivizes quick action, helping businesses recover potentially lost sales.

Lessons learned:

Adding the brand name to the message is a good tactic for letting your prospect remember you.
The tone of the SMS copy should be friendly and engaging, as mentioned above.
A clear CTA with a direct link is an excellent way to win abandoned carts.

Example 3: Birthday message

Businesses set birthday messages as triggers to offer a personalized touch that enhances customer loyalty.

A birthday discount or gift can enhance customer satisfaction and drive sales during their special day.

Lessons learned:

Nicole’s name gives a personal touch to the message and is an excellent tactic to catch attention.
Birthdays are great occasions to grab sales opportunities, so ensure you have an unignorable offer to send, like this SMS example.
A CTA with a promo code specially crafted for the prospect, “BDAYTREAT,” makes it more convincing for prospects to act.
You can set a deadline for the offer to create a sense of urgency and prompt immediate action.

Example 4: Back-in-stock alerts

Back-in-stock alerts are great for re-engaging leads/customers who have shown interest in a previously unavailable product.

These automated notifications create excitement and urgency, encouraging quick purchases and boosting sales.

Lessons learned:

The win-back customer text is short, simple, and concise—that’s how it should be. Plus, the direct link makes it easier for customers to act.
The FOMO element of “Only 20” brought them instant response and purchase.
The two-way interaction and simple opt-out option enhance their shopping experience and brand credibility.

Example 5: Subscription updates

Automatic subscription updates via SMS ensure customers are always informed about their upcoming payments. This is a crucial SMS marketing tactic for subscription-based businesses.

Lessons learned:

The subscription-triggered messages should be clear and brief.
Ensure you inform customers about the upcoming payment date a day before and a week before.
Adding an easy opt-out option using a keyword reply like SKIP in this message reflects brands as responsible ones.

Example 6: Booking confirmations

Confirmation messages strengthen the customer experience by offering precise and concise information. These SMS examples are commonly used in the hospitality and travel industries to confirm hotel stays, flights, and other reservations.

Lessons learned:

Adding the customer’s name makes it personal and formal at the same time.
The SMS should state booking details, including dates and confirmation codes.

SMS marketing campaign examples

All the SMS marketing examples below are the most prominent text campaigns the brand has built to drive massive engagement and sales.

Example 7: Holiday greetings

Holiday promotion messages are great SMS marketing examples that create excitement and urgency around special sales and offers, encouraging immediate action. Retail commonly uses these messages to boost sales during key shopping seasons.

Lessons learned:

The festive and engaging language tends to capture attention, as in gifting season and Cyber Monday sales.
Highlight the urgency of the offer with a time-sensitive promotion.
Your CTA must be clear enough to guide targeted prospects to act.

Example 8: Flash sales

Flash sale messages are effective SMS marketing examples to create a sense of urgency and excitement, persuading immediate purchases. These time-sensitive promotional messages effectively drive quick sales and engage customers/subscribers.

Flash sales are one of the most used SMS marketing strategies retail or eCommerce businesses use to boost sales during special events or holidays.

Lessons learned:

Use engaging and thematic language to attract attention; the “Trick… or Treat?” approach is practical in this message.
A good discount percentage, especially given the limited-time nature of the sale, is always a significant element in boosting prompt action.
Include unique discount codes; this allows you to track your campaign success by monitoring code usage.
Provide a clear call-to-action and a direct link to the sale page, driving more conversions.

Example 9: Exclusive discounts

Text campaigns with exclusive discounts reward subscribers with special offers, enhancing their shopping experience and encouraging repeat business.

These are the most common marketing SMS examples of the food and beverage industry, retail, and hospitality to boost customer retention and loyalty.

Personalizing the discount codes and including easy redemption instructions can further improve engagement.

Lessons learned:

An attention-grabbing headline like “Beat the heat with Subway!” allows the brand to draw interest and is helpful for brand awareness.
Making the text copy catchy with great visuals and formatting is always helpful for more engagement/clicks.
Drive your SMS subscribers to buy with a simple CTA and link.

Example 10: Giveaways

Running giveaways via SMS increases customer engagement and excitement. Retail and eCommerce sectors widely use such text marketing SMS messages to boost sales and improve customer interaction during promotional events.

Lessons learned:

Try to build excitement through festive language and tone.
State the giveaway details and how to participate briefly to avoid any confusion.
Highlighting the exclusivity and limited-time nature of the offer always works in the brand’s favor.
Include a unique discount code to incentivize purchases and links for easy access to the promotion.

Example 11: Special time-sensitive offers

Text marketing messages with time-sensitive offers create urgency and encourage subscribers to act quickly. These offers can be tied to holidays, seasons, or special events, driving timely sales and increasing customer engagement.

Lessons learned:

Capture attention with an engaging headline: “10 extra-large slices for your Friday.”
Make sure your offer details are clear and scannable for readers.
Tactful, time-sensitive elements are consistently effective in bringing FOMO.
Promo codes and a dedicated link to the sales page are critical elements of your SMS marketing message.

Example 12: Loyalty programs

Loyalty program messages acknowledge and reward customers for continued patronage, enhancing their connection to the brand.

Many big brands, such as Starbucks (Starbucks Rewards), Nike (Nike Plus), and Sephora (Beauty Insider), run loyalty programs to boost engagement and loyalty.

These programs offer rewards and exclusive benefits, making customers feel valued and encouraging repeat purchases.

Lessons learned:

Highlighting rewards and benefits in a catchy way, such as “200 entry points” and “FREE SHIPPING on every order,” persuades customers to act.
You can add excitement and drive engagement with celebratory language and emojis.
Provide clear information on how the rewards can be used.

Example 13: VIP promotions

VIP promotion messages offer exclusive opportunities to loyal customers, enhancing their sense of value and encouraging ongoing engagement.

These messages are typically used in the fitness, retail, and hospitality industries to reward top-tier clients.

Lessons learned:

Beginning the text with a brand name is a good approach in VIP promotional text campaigns, as the subscribers are somewhere fond of your brand.
For clarity, you must provide specific details on dates, times, and locations.
Guide your prospects/customers about the following action.

SMS marketing text examples – Sign-up flow messages

You can’t miss any opportunity to connect, engage, and convert your prospects. This is why we try to communicate at various touchpoints of the buyer’s journey.

The following SMS marketing examples show what type of campaigns brought success for various businesses.

Example 14: Welcome offers

A welcome message with a special offer to new subscribers sets a positive tone and encourages immediate engagement. This initial incentive can lead to quick conversions and establish a strong relationship from the start.

Lessons learned:

Make it personal and impressive with the right kind of words to address, like this example, the brand saying -“Welcome beautiful woman”
Make a special offer, “Save 29% on your next order,” and highlight it smartly right after the opening line.
A unique discount code, a direct link for easy access, and an easy opt-out option make your message relevant for you and the reader.

Example 15: Thank you offers

Expressing gratitude to customers with a thank-you message and a follow-up offer enhances customer satisfaction and encourages repeat purchases. It also shows appreciation and incentivizes further engagement with the brand.

Lessons learned:

To build a good brand image, gratitude your customer’s purchase.
Use clear and compelling language to drive action and foster a sense of appreciation.
Encourage further engagement by offering additional incentives, such as joining a rewards program.
Thank you. Messages can invite customers to join loyalty programs, follow social media, or provide feedback.

Example 16: Personalized offers

Brands use CRM software to analyze customer data and send personalized offers. This makes the messages more relevant and effective.

A targeted approach can significantly improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

Lessons learned:

Referencing your customer’s previous interactions makes the offer relevant, e.g., “You liked our Uber Deals so much.”
Make the offer lucrative, and craft the copy most compellingly.
You can use emojis to capture attention and enhance engagement.

Example 17: Referral programs

Text messaging for referrals is an affordable strategy to expand the customer base and reward loyal customers.

Referrals are the best SMS marketing examples because they incentivize the referrer and the prospect to create a win-win situation, driving new business and strengthening customer loyalty.

Lessons learned:

Offer a clear incentive for both the referrer and the referred, as stated in the example; “Refer a friend, and you’ll both get $10 to spend.”
Keep your message in a friendly tone to encourage participation.
Highlighting mutual benefits creates a positive and rewarding experience.
A two-way communication option is optional if you believe subscribers might get confused with the offer or have queries.

SMS marketing message examples – Community and engagement messages

Marketing through text messages can help you drive opportunities to grow, and that’s all the following SMS marketing examples are about.

Example 18: Event updates

SMS informs your audience about upcoming events, changes, and essential details, ensuring they are always in the loop. This can increase event attendance and engagement, strengthening the community around your brand.

These messages are commonly used in the software, technology, and professional services industries to boost attendance and engagement.

If your business conducts webinars, informing your subscribers via text is a great tactic to implement.

Lessons learned:

Make sure your text message addresses the subscriber with a name that sounds personal.
Event updates must state the purpose of the message, such as “Registration just opened for the Tigers Software USA conference.”
Provide a direct link to check out event details and sign up, ensuring convenience for the recipient.
Include an opt-out option to respect the subscriber’s preferences.

Example 19: Product launches

According to a study, over 30,000 new consumer products are introduced into the market every year.

Generating excitement for new product launches is crucial to reaching new revenue goals. A great tactic is to give exclusive previews and early access offers through text or email campaigns, which can drive sales and create buzz around new products.

Lessons learned:

Create excitement with the right words for the upcoming product name or details.
Be clear and concise to simplify the message.
Include compliance measures like easy opt-out to respect your subscribers’ preferences.

Example 20: Polls and surveys

Engaging your audience with polls or surveys via SMS gathers valuable feedback and makes customers feel involved. This participatory approach can improve customer loyalty and provide insights for improving products or services.

Lessons learned:

Use clear and concise language to ask for feedback, like the example: “On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied were you with your recent purchase?”
Express appreciation for the customer’s input, like “Thanks for your feedback.”

Tip: Use the feedback gathered to make data-driven improvements and show customers their opinions matter.

Example 21: Donation drives

Promoting charitable events and donation drives through SMS makes it easy for recipients to contribute and support causes.

This not only aids in fundraising efforts but also enhances your brand’s image as socially responsible and community-focused.

Lessons learned:

Use powerful imagery and heartfelt messages to engage recipients.
Highlight the tangible results of contributions to motivate further donations.
Provide a clear and easy way for subscribers to act immediately.

Wrap up

All text message marketing examples discussed above are well crafted and thus drive sales for their businesses.

Companies can drive significant engagement and conversion rates by following the top SMS marketing tactics:

Sending personalized messages
Crafting engaging marketing text message copy
Sending on time
Automating text messages based on triggers

Also, adhering to SMS marketing legal guidelines ensures your SMS campaign remains compliant and effective.

Businesses are investing in the right software technology, like CRM, that offers omnichannel communication, automation, and analytics to grow their business faster.

Source: Salesmate