8 Creative SMS Marketing Campaigns to Inspire You

Are you maximizing the potential of your SMS marketing efforts? Aside from using SMS to send reminders or order confirmations to customers, you can leverage creative SMS text marketing ideas to grow your reach, increase conversion rates and delight your customers. 

In this article, we’ll show you some of our favorite SMS marketing campaign ideas to jumpstart your creativity, then share tips on how to send engaging SMS marketing campaigns

1. Subscriber-Only Flash Sales or Discounts

Sending exclusive deals to your SMS database is one of the easiest, most effective ways to get subscribers to make a purchase. 

Consider running flash sale campaigns regularly, so your audience has a big incentive to stay subscribed to your list. 

2. Content or Blog Promotion 

Use SMS marketing to share helpful and valuable content from your website. For example, drive contacts to your most popular blogs, guides or resources to educate them on your business and prove you know your stuff.

Cross-promoting content through SMS messages is a great way to boost website traffic and click rates. Plus, it’s easy to repurpose evergreen content or send relevant, seasonal content during appropriate times of the year. 

Example: “Thompson Tee: Sweat marks suck! We know! But you don’t have to live with sweat stains any longer. Check out our blog for sweat tips: [link].”

Pro-tip: Make sure your blog and content are mobile-friendly! The last thing you want to do is send your customers to a page with a poor mobile user experience. 

3. Weekly or Monthly Tips

Push an SMS Blast weekly or monthly with tips to provide even more value for your subscribers.

Here are a few creative examples your business can replicate:

• An arts and crafts store promotes DIY projects to tackle over a long weekend. 
• A dry-cleaning business sends tips on caring for certain shirts or materials. 
• A home decor brand shares tips on the latest interior design or color trends. 

4. Sweepstakes or Contests

Run sweepstakes or contests to increase engagement and grow your database with new subscribers. Text-to-win campaigns are easy to set up (just don’t forget to create terms and conditions for the contest itself). 

To promote your contest, send contacts to a landing page or prompt them to reply with a keyword via text. Or, announce the campaign on your social media channels or website with a banner or popup form that asks entrants to provide their mobile phone number. 

After the giveaway ends, follow up with people who didn’t win. Send a consolation prize discount so they don’t walk away empty-handed. 

5. Event Promotion 

Do you have an event coming up, like a conference, music festival or product launch? Use SMS to build up an audience or count down the days until go-time.  

You can also leverage SMS to send essential details about your event, such as ticket sales, maps, parking information, schedules or day-of updates and alerts. 

Example: “SecretSky livestream is today @ 11am PT. Watch it here: [link]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg&Data Rates May Apply.” 

6. Thank-You Messages

After a customer makes a purchase or visits your store, follow up with a thank-you message that includes a discount or offer they can show on their next visit. 

You can also combine a quick feedback survey (more on this below) with a thank-you message to increase response rates. 

7. Review Request

Don’t underestimate the power of online reviews! Boost your company’s reputation or increase local search visibility by asking for positive reviews from your top customers. 

Current research shows that 91% of 18-34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. In addition, 93% of consumers say online reviews influence their purchase decisions.

8. Surveys or Polls

Build customer loyalty by asking for their feedback on your product or service. 

Launching an SMS survey or poll is easy to do, and given the high open and response rates of SMS marketing, you can count on receiving helpful and actionable responses fast.  

Use these SMS survey ideas to get started:

• How satisfied are you with our customer service? 
• How likely would you be to recommend us to a friend or family member?
• Vote for the next flavor/product/feature of the month!
• What would you like to see at our next event?

4 Elements of Any Creative SMS Marketing Campaign

Here are four tips you need to know before sending SMS texts to your customers.

Promote Compelling Offers or Information

Folks are often hesitant to share their cellphone number with outsiders or businesses. So why should they provide their number to receive marketing messages from you? 

Consumers need a compelling reason to sign up for your SMS campaign and stay subscribed. Continue to send exclusive deals and valuable content over time to keep your SMS list engaged.

Express Urgency

It’s easy for recipients to dismiss or delete text messages when they receive them from a business. Instead, use attention-grabbing language such as “limited time offer,” “ends tonight,” or “today only” to encourage customers to act quickly. 

Since most SMS marketing messages have a limited character count, it’s important to use particular words that capture your audience’s attention.

Provide a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

In marketing, it’s always best practice to include a clear call to action that entices customers to take the next step. 

After a customer reads your text, what do you want them to do? Click on a link? Make a purchase? Visit your in-store location? Use straightforward language that’s short, sweet and urgent.

Follow All Rules and Regulations

Last but not least, remember that failing to adhere to federal rules and regulations for telecommunications can result in severe consequences. 

For United States businesses, text message communications must comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). 

The TCPA states that businesses cannot send marketing texts without getting consent from consumers first. You also need to disclose the campaign’s terms, message frequency and opt-in and opt-out instructions. 

Learn more about text message privacy laws.

How to Send Creative SMS Marketing Campaigns

Don’t miss out on opportunities with text marketing – 97% of companies who launch SMS as part of their marketing strategy report more efficient communication with their consumers. 

SMS marketing platforms like Textedly give you the tools you need to start sending creative text campaigns. With features including mass group texting, CTIA and mobile carrier compliance, text message scheduling and unlimited subscribers, Textedly provides everything you need to build lasting relationships with your customers. 

Sign up for a free Textedly trial and jumpstart your SMS marketing ideas today!