SMS Marketing | Textedly Blog

25 Compelling Call-to-Action Examples for SMS Campaigns

Written by Eliza Block | February 20, 2025

The main goals of SMS marketing messages are to boost customer engagement and drive sales. But how can you make sure your texts are effective at driving business growth? The answer is to include a call-to-action (CTA). 

In this article, you’ll learn what CTAs are, what makes them compelling and effective, and how to craft your own. You’ll also get 25 compelling SMS call to action examples for inspiration. Read on to become a CTA expert and boost your SMS marketing strategy

Jump right to:

What is an SMS Call-to-Action?

An SMS call-to-action (CTA) is the text within a message that encourages customers to take a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for your program, or replying to your text. 

CTAs essentially tell your audience the specific action you want them to take and exactly how they can take that action. For example, to get customers to buy something, use a “shop now” call to action and include a direct link to your website.

Customers can easily act quickly when all the steps are in a single, straightforward text message. Including a CTA and link within your text message eliminates the need for customers to navigate multiple platforms to interact with your business. CTAs make it easier for customers to take desired actions, which leads to increased sales and drives business growth.

Why Compelling CTAs Matter in SMS Marketing

Effective SMS CTAs drive business growth because they convince customers to take action. Without them, your message would fall flat. The best CTAs are clear, concise, and direct. However, the effectiveness of CTAs also depends on how intriguing and valuable the message content is. 

Strong CTAs are key in SMS marketing because customers need a reason to take action. Call-to-action SMS messages should grab your customers’ attention and create a sense of urgency to encourage customers to act quickly. 

25 SMS Call-to-Action Examples that Work

Here are 25 call-to-action SMS examples to grow customer engagement and boost conversions. 

Shop Now

This SMS call to action example is effective because it is simple and direct. It tells the customer exactly what to do and encourages them to shop. It also can be used in a wide variety of messages, encouraging contacts to shop a new collection, specific product, or holiday sale.

Ready to transform your closet? Shop now and get 15% off: [Link].

Add to Cart

This CTA is great for ecommerce stores using SMS marketing. The CTA encourages customers to shop by adding items to their cart, guiding them a step closer to completing their purchase.

Our best-seller is going fast! Add to cart before it’s too late: [Link].

View the Collection

This SMS call to action example sparks customer curiosity and compels customers to engage with your brand.

Ready to refresh your wardrobe for spring? Our spring dress collection is here. View the collection now: [Link].

View Your Sneak Peek

This CTA catches customers’ attention by sharing exclusive information that’s just for them. This is a great CTA to use when you’re about to launch a new product line and want to build excitement.

Just for you, [Name]! View your sneak peek now: [Link].

Return to Cart

This CTA reminds customers about items saved in their carts and uses urgency to encourage customers to complete their purchases. You can use this CTA to cut cart abandonment.

Keep Shopping

This CTA persuades customers to continue shopping. It’s a great option to use when someone abandons their shopping cart or visits your website without making a purchase. 

We’ve got brand-new items waiting for you! Keep shopping here: [Link].

Enter [Code] at Checkout

This clear and concise CTA encourages customers to make a purchase by offering a special deal. These code CTAs are commonly used to help marketers track how well a particular SMS campaign performed.

Enter code SHOP15 at checkout to get 15% off your purchase!

Hurry - Buy Today for X% Off

This CTA provides a sense of urgency and compels customers to make a purchase immediately by offering a limited-time discount.

Hurry, our limited-time deal is almost gone! Buy today and get 20% off: [Link].

Buy Now & Save

This call-to-action SMS example encourages customers to take action through urgency and incentives. This is a great CTA to use when you’re running a holiday sale, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Our Black Friday deal on used cars ends in just a few hours. Buy now and save: [Link].

Reserve Your Table

This CTA urges customers to book their table at your restaurant or club.  It also gives them a simple way to make their reservation.

Claim Your Discount

This call-to-action SMS example offers an immediate incentive, which increases customer engagement. It lets customers claim a specific discount quickly.

Get ready for the holidays with 25% off! Claim your discount today: [Link].

Reply ‘C’ to Confirm

This CTA clearly explains what the customer should do and includes an easy and low-effort way for customers to respond. This is a great CTA to use when you’re hoping to confirm appointments, demos, or bookings.

Your test drive at Jen’s Auto is scheduled for Jan. 16 at 3 p.m.? Reply ‘C’ to confirm. 

Join the VIP Club

This CTA encourages customer action by providing an exclusive offering that promises special deals and discounts. This is a great CTA to use to encourage customer loyalty and find your most engaged customers.

Ready to start receiving exclusive deals? Join the VIP club now and get 15% off your next order: [Link].

Join FREE for a Month

This simple call-to-action SMS example uses the incentive of a free offering to increase customer engagement. It can be used by companies that offer subscriptions like SaaS products or memberships, like gyms. 

Join today and get access to premium features FREE for a month: [Link].

Take Our Quiz

This CTA asks customers to take a quiz related to your brand. This drives customers to act because it will give them a more personalized experience that they can benefit from.

Try it Free 

This compelling CTA is effective because low-risk trials increase the likelihood of leads becoming paid customers. 

Ready to boost your productivity? Try our organization tools FREE for 14 days: [Link].

Book Your Stay

This is an effective CTA because it encourages immediate action and gets customers excited about their future trips. It’s a great CTA for hospitality and travel businesses.

Your island getaway awaits you! Book your stay today: [Link].

RSVP Today & Save

This CTA combines the aspects of urgency and incentives to encourage customers to RSVP quickly. It can help you boost event attendance, from conferences to online webinars.

We’re excited to have you join our course! RSVP today and save $5 off your registration: [Link].

Save Your Spot

This CTA is great for events. Plus it implies that customers could risk losing their spot, which persuades customers to act quickly. 

Our holiday baking class is filling up fast! Save your spot before it’s too late: [Link].

Support Our Cause

This emotionally charged CTA fosters a deeper connection among customers and motivates them to take action.

Write Us a Review

This clear and direct call to action encourages customers to leave feedback. This CTA also shows customers that your brand values their opinions. Customers who feel appreciated are more likely to contribute reviews.

Your feedback means everything to us. Help improve our customer experience. Write us a review here: [Link].

Take the X-Minute Survey

This CTA is effective because it clearly lays out the commitment for the task. A survey is a quick, low-effort action that customers can easily take. Surveys also benefit customers because they contribute to an improved customer experience.

We want to give our customers the best experience possible. Take our 2-minute survey to let us know how we can serve you better: [Link].

Reply YES to Get Your Free Quote

This CTA is effective for gaining immediate responses from customers because it provides clear instructions and provides an incentive.

Interested in our landscaping services? Reply YES to get your free quote today.

Learn More

This CTA warmly invites customers to explore your business and take further action without being too pushy.

Need more information about our cleaning services? Learn more: [Link]. 

Show this Text at Checkout

This CTA encourages sales by offering a special deal. Customers can only use this deal when they make a purchase, so it naturally increases sales. This is a great CTA to encourage customers to shop in stores.

Tips for Crafting Effective SMS Marketing CTAs on Your Own

Now that you know what effective CTAs look like, here are some tips to help you craft your own. 

  • Use an active voice. The active voice provides clarity and evokes a more engaging tone. Use an active voice in CTAs to ensure customers understand your message.

  • Encourage urgency. Customers are more likely to act immediately when they feel that there is a time limit. Incorporate a sense of urgency in your CTAs to prompt customers to take immediate action.

  • Keep it short. Standard SMS messages have a 160-character limit. Ensure your SMS call to action is concise and to the point to stay within this character limit.

  • Include a direct link. Adding a direct link to your website after your CTA is crucial for increasing customer engagement. Customers are more likely to act when they have a simple and direct link.

  • Be creative. Keep your customers engaged with your CTA by making it unique. For example, you could say, “Show me the money” instead of “Refer a friend and make money.” Check out our 2025 SMS marketing calendar to plan creative campaigns and compelling CTAs.

  • Keep it relevant. To ensure your CTAs are easy to follow, confirm that your CTA is relevant to the rest of your marketing text message. For example, don’t say “Shop Now” if you want customers to confirm an appointment.

  • Offer value. Incentives drive people to take action. Make sure your CTAs offer value to customers that motivates them to engage with your brand. 

Drive SMS Marketing Growth with Textedly

Compelling SMS call to action messages are key for driving customer engagement and sales growth. Drive better SMS marketing results with effective CTAs and a platform that makes SMS marketing easy and affordable.

Textedly is packed with  incredible features like automations, mass texting, photo messaging, and 300-character messages to help you ace your SMS marketing campaigns. Ready to drive action and results from SMS marketing? Sign up for your 14-day free trial of Textedly today.