Automotive Text Message Marketing Ideas

The automotive industry – from auto repair shops to car dealerships to manufacturers – can benefit immensely from adding texting into its wheelhouse. 

Automotive text message marketing is a simple and cost-effective way to connect with your existing customers, generate new customers, and improve your advertising.

This blog will dive into everything the automotive industry must know about text message marketing. You’ll come away with many SMS marketing campaign ideas and why marketing via text works. 

Jump right to: 

• Why Automotive Text Marketing Works 

• Automotive Text Marketing Ideas

• Examples of Effective Automotive SMS Campaigns 

Why Automotive Text Marketing Works 

The auto industry often relies on traditional marketing methods like print ads, billboards, and TV commercials. Unfortunately, these methods are often costly and ineffective in reaching the target audience. 

SMS marketing is a more modern marketing method that has made things easier and more effective for auto shops in a few ways:

• High open rates: SMS messages can be sent directly to customers' mobile devices, providing a personal and immediate way to reach them. Plus, since 90% of text messages get read within three minutes, you can quickly reach existing and potential customers.
• More targeted messaging: SMS marketing lets you send messages tailored to specific groups of customers, like people who've shown an interest in a certain service or car type.  This means your messages are more likely to persuade people to take action.

• Customers want to get text messages: People appreciate the convenience and immediacy of text messages, especially regarding appointment reminders, service updates, or special promotions. Research shows customers want to get these helpful alerts via text, and prefer messaging to phone calls.

• Cut no-shows: Texting is a powerful tool for reducing no-shows at automotive repair businesses. By sending appointment reminders via text, customers are less likely to forget their scheduled time or miss their appointment. Text messages give customers a gentle nudge to confirm or reschedule, which ultimately helps improve your shop's scheduling and efficiency.

Automotive Text Marketing Ideas 

Here are six marketing ideas to help you connect with customers, save time, and make more money.

Promotional Campaigns 

Promotional campaigns can bring in more customers. By using targeted text messaging, automotive businesses can quickly reach a wide audience with special offers, discounts, or seasonal promotions. These campaigns attract new customers and encourage repeat business, helping build lasting relationships and boost revenue in the long run. Here are a few promotional messaging ideas to consider:

• Run seasonal deals: Seasonal deals encourage customers to make an appointment or purchase in a set timeframe.

• Promote new car inventory: Get more customers by sending out messages on new car inventory. Sharing a link to your new inventory can create customer excitement and increase your business. 

• Promote a trade-in offer: Sending texts to your customers about a trade-in offer can get customers excited to make a purchase or get the deal. 

• Offer exclusive discounts: Share exclusive discounts to your text subscribers to bring in more customers and revenue. 

Appointment Reminders 

Missed appointments cost your business time and money. The automotive industry can benefit from text messaging to cut down on missed appointments. Auto repair shops can text appointment reminders, while car dealerships can send test drives or financing reminders. Here are a few reminders you can send customers:

• Service reminder: A service reminder text will help remind your customers of their appointments. Ask them to confirm or cancel their appointments. This gives your shop confirmation of the appointment or enough time to give another customer that timeslot if they need to cancel.
• Test drive reminder: Text customers to confirm their test drive appointments. This will ensure that there are not any no-shows. 

• Lease expiring alert: Sending out a lease expiring alert can help prevent your customers from having an expired lease and push them to renew. 

Car Sales Texts

Here are some specific ways businesses in the automotive sector can use texting to communicate and nurture potential car buyers. 

• Contact online leads: The first company to respond to an inquiry often gets the customer. Use SMS to help you contact online leads faster. Once they fill in a contact form, contact them quickly to see if they want to take a test drive.

• Follow-up with lead: SMS allows you to follow up with your leads gently. You can easily send a check-in text if you don't hear back from a lead. Leads are more likely to look at a text message instantly vs. an email. 

• Nurture leads: SMS allows you to nurture your leads, sending them helpful information, pricing updates, and reminders. 

Feedback Requests 

Many automotive industry businesses use SMS to encourage customers to leave feedback via an online review, survey, or referral. 

• Request an online review: Use a text message to encourage your clients to leave an online review after their purchase or repair service.

• Ask customers to take a survey: You could try to collect more information from customers by asking them to take a survey via SMS. You could ask them how likely they are to recommend your business to others or ask them what car features they are most interested in. 

• Request a referral: Use a text to ask for a client referral. This typically offers a discount in exchange for a referral. 

Customer Engagement

Using SMS for customer engagement in the automotive industry creates direct, personal communication, which can enhance customer relationships, increase brand loyalty, and drive sales. 

• Thank you message: Sending a thoughtful thank you text after a purchase, service, or interaction can significantly enhance customer engagement and build long-lasting relationships.

• Loyalty program: SMS is a powerful tool for engaging customers with loyalty programs, creating lasting relationships, and encouraging repeat business.

• Share car advice: SMS can be a great tool for engaging customers by sharing helpful car advice, fostering trust, and providing value beyond just sales. 

Examples of Effective Automotive SMS Marketing Campaigns

Here are some examples of text messages that Textedly’s automotive industry customers send. Use these text message campaigns as inspiration.

1. Send Coupons and Special Offers

Many consumers avoid preventative auto services that they deem “nonessential.” An effective way to target this audience with auto repair marketing is to send coupons and special offers to your SMS subscriber list. You can even use exclusive discounts to entice customers to sign up to receive text messages from your business. 

Here are a few templates you can use:

Get a free tire rotation with your next tune-up! Schedule an appointment at [Auto Repair Shop Name] here: [Appointment Link]

The weather’s getting warmer, so prepare to crank up the A/C! Get $15 off your next A/C check until the end of June at [Auto Repair Shop Name]: [Appointment Link]

Not sure if you need an oil change? Bring your car to [Auto Repair Shop Name], and we’ll give you 20% off with the code OIL20. Schedule an appointment here: [Appointment Link]

March Mania is going on NOW at [Dealership Name]. Through the end of the month, get up to $8,000 off MSRP. View inventory [link]

Pro tip: Use unique links or discount codes to help you measure your automotive marketing strategy bring you the most customers.

2. Send Service Reminders

As mentioned above, text reminders help auto repair shops cut no shows. Here are a few templates you can use for helpful service reminders. 

Hi [First Name], your car is due for a maintenance check in 2 weeks. Schedule an appointment at [Auto Repair Shop Name] here: [Appointment Link]

Hi [First Name], it looks like you’re due for an oil change! Schedule an appointment at [Auto Repair Shop Name] here: [Appointment Link]

Pro tip: You can easily schedule service reminder texts right after completing a client’s appointment, so you don’t have to do it later!

3. Send Appointment Confirmations

Missed appointments not only cost your business time and money but can also be frustrating for a client whose car needs repair.  Here are a few templates related to appointment reminders.

Hi [First Name], this is a reminder for your upcoming appointment on [Day], [Date]  at [Time]. Don’t forget to bring proof of insurance!

Hi [First Name], you have an appointment at [Auto Repair Shop Name] on [Day], [Date] at [Time]. Please reply with C to confirm your appointment.

Hi [First Name]. You have a test drive scheduled at [Dealership] on [Date] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm!

4. Ask for Feedback

Online customer reviews significantly encourage potential clients to choose your dealership or auto repair shop. Here are a few review request templates: 

Hi [First Name], on a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate your recent tune-up by [Employee] at [Auto Repair Shop Name]? 1 - Highly Dissatisfied, 2 - Dissatisfied, 3 - Neutral, 4 - Satisfied, 5 - Highly Satisfied

Hi [First Name], thanks for your recent visit to [Auto Dealership]]! Please take a moment to fill out a quick survey about your experience: [Survey Link]

Hi [First Name], how was your recent experience at our [Location] showroom? Would you be willing to leave us a review? [Link]

Pro tip: Schedule SMS surveys to go out within a few days of their visit so you can get feedback from customers while their experience is still top of mind.

5. Ask for Referrals

Here are a few sample text messages for referral requests:

Hi [First Name], we hope you’re happy with your new tires from [Auto Repair Shop Name]! Send this referral link to your friends and family, and you’ll get 10% off your next service when someone books an appointment: [Referral Link]

Hi [First Name], did you enjoy your experience at [Dealership]? If you know of anyone else looking, I’d love to help them out!

6. Event or Seasonal Sale Invites

Car dealerships can benefit significantly from promoting their dealership’s sales or events. Here are a few templates to help your car shop.

Our [Seasonal Sale Name] is on NOW. Today through [date], get the new [car model] for just [amount] per month for [X] months. Schedule your test drive: [link]

[Dealership Name]’s Anniversary Sale is HERE. Stop in this weekend from [time] to [time] to test drive our new vehicles and see our wide-reaching deals. See event details: [link]

Meet Textedly: Your Go-To Automotive SMS Marketing Tool 

Text message marketing is a powerful tool to help grow your automotive business. With these SMS marketing templates and ideas, you can help build lasting relationships with your existing clients and improve customer acquisition.

At Textedly, we provide turnkey solutions for your automotive text marketing needs. Our user-friendly platform offers powerful features like mass texting, scheduled messaging, AI texting, and more. But don’t just take our word for it; take a free test drive of Textedly today!