#1 Advertise a Free Product

For businesses who want to send out a “buy one, get one free” type of promotion, it can be helpful to send advertisements via text. Foodservice business customers may even receive the text when they are hungry or commuting, driving traffic to your restaurant instantly.

Example Text: “Text “BOGO” to 8881234567 for Buy One Get One” appetizers.”

#2 Get Instant Feedback

Follow up with the experience of your customers by texting them to provide feedback about their last visit. Use our onboard SMS survey feature, or add a link to an online survey. You can incentivize respondents to finish the survey with a special offer.

Example Text: “Text “REVIEW” to 8881234567 to take a survey & get 15% off!”

#3 Text Trivia or Free Contests

Alert customers to exciting prizes and clever trivia that will allow them to engage with your brand in a fun and exciting way.

Example Text: “Text PRIZES” to 8881234567 to enter our monthly prize drawing.”

#4 Provide Exclusive Text Offers

Send a text inviting customers to reply and receive a special offer. This generates more revenue and traffic to your brick-and-mortar or online stores. It also helps identify which contacts are highly engaged, so that you can target future promotions to those contacts.

Example Text: “Text “VIP” to 8881234567 to get 30% off your next purchase.”

#5 Share Upcoming Ads or Flyers

Send text messages that give customers the option of viewing new videos or advertisements directly on their phone. This strategy ensures that advertisements are seen by preexisting customers who value your brand.

Example Text: “Text VIDEO to 8881234567 to view our latest video right now!”

#6 Remind Customers to Use Rewards Programs

Let customers join your rewards programs or special membership options via a convenient text reminder. Or remind rewards members to redeem unused points or prizes.

Example Text: “Learn about our VIP Club by texting REWARDS to 8881234567”.

#7 Promote Trending or New Products

Let customers know when great new deals are available for some of your popular products.

Example Text: “Text HOTTECH to 8881234567 for our flagship PC products.”

#8 Send Shopping Reminders

Sometimes, customers who love your brand will appreciate a reminder to shop online while they are on the go. For businesses with a mobile app, this can be a great way to remind customers to buy products through the app.

Example Text: “Don’t forget to browse the latest deals in our Fourth of July Sale. Text 4THDEALS to 8881234567 to see our latest holiday specials.”

#9 Advertise Your Promotions

Let customers know you are running a contest while allowing contacts to enter the contest over text. Note: Valid only where permitted by law. Local restrictions for contests and cash prize giveaways may apply.

Example Text: “Text CONTEST to 8881234567 to enter our $50,000 cash prize.”

#10 Promote Social Media Engagement

If customers are buying a new product or attending one of your business events, text them a reminder to share the great news via social media platforms.

Example Text: “Share the love! Follow this link to review us on social media.”

#11 Text Help or Instructions

Let customers respond to your texts to receive helpful tips and advice pertaining to some aspect of your business. This strategy is particularly helpful for gyms and fitness companies.

Example Text: “Follow this link for five tips you need for fitness success.”

#12 Start a Mobile Rewards Club

Text customers to raise awareness about an exclusive text message club for your business. Use this club to provide instant alerts about exciting developments, exclusive coupon codes, and product announcements related to your business.

Example Text: “Join our mobile rewards club by texting MOBILECLUB to 8881234567.”

#13 Cross-Promote Your Email Newsletter

Text customers to provide you with their email address or opt in to receive future newsletters and product updates from your business via email.

Example Text: “Reply with YES to receive exclusive newsletters via your signup email.”

#14 Use Text Messaging for RSVP Links

If your business is planning an event, ask customers to text back whether they are attending the event with a simple yes or no format. This SMS marketing strategy provides businesses with advanced notice that aids efficient planning strategies.

Example Text: “Are you attending our event? Reply with 1 for YES and 2 for NO.”

#15 Send Payment Links via Text

Popular financial platforms allow customers to receive financial alerts and approve or decline payments or donations via text.

Example Text: “You have received a payment of $49.99 from John Doe.”

#16 Localize or Promote New Branches

For smaller businesses, advertise store-specific specials and sales via text. You can also use text to promote to specific customers that new locations or pop-up events are happening – just gather customer zip codes or neighborhoods to filter your list.

Example Text: “Visit our Edgewood store for 20% off of your next purchase.”

#17 Offer Text-Enabled Shipping Updates

Sending timely, automated texts with updates on order shipping or tracking will help your business appear professional. It also gives your customers an added layer of fantastic customer service.

Example Text: “Your package has shipped. Click here to track your package.”

#18 Create Customer Billing Alerts

With our busy modern lives, it can be difficult for customers to remember when their bill is due, and collection calls are uncomfortable for all parties involved. This is especially true for businesses that bill customers on a recurring quarterly or annual basis.

Example Text: “Your bill is now available. Click here to pay now or view your statement.”

#19 Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Businesses can enable two-factor verification codes over text to ensure customer security through their online safety features. This feature is mission critical for sensitive online business categories, such as financial services and medical providers.

Example Text: “778432 is your security code. This code will expire in 10 minutes.”

#20 Provide Exclusive Text Invitations

Reward your VIP members, season passholders, and renewed subscribers and invite those customers to special events over text.

Example Text: “Text SPECIAL to 8881234567 for an exclusive July 4th invite!”

#21 Send Stock Alerts and Wishlist Reminders

For online retailers, send texts to customers when a product on their wishlist goes on sale.

Example Text: “A product on your wishlist is in stock. Follow the link to view your wishlist.”

#22 Send Emergency Alerts

In the event that a serious weather or emergency event has occurred, it helps to send an SMS message to customers, informing them of critical events that may affect them. Weather and crime alerts can also be sent by schools or local governments to keep the public safe.

Example Text: “A severe thunderstorm warning is now in effect and all events are cancelled. Click here to see the latest news and weather updates on our website.”

#23 Send MMS to Highlight New Products

With a text, you can send pictures of new products to entice customers in a more engaging way.

Example Text: “We can’t stop staring at the new model AGBX17. Click here for specs.”

#24 Send CEO Update Videos

Many customers appreciate hearing from the visionary leader of a business. Sending a video text from the CEO will help customers appreciate the long-term vision of the companies they love.

Example Text: “A Holiday Message From Our CEO, John Doe.”

#25 Communicate Critical Alerts

This is particularly helpful for businesses such as airlines since gate changes and flight delay information needs to be relayed to customers as soon as possible.

Example Text: “Your flight status has changed. Follow the link or call the ticket center at 8881234567 to learn about your latest flight changes. 

Still Have Questions?

Follow the practices above to improve client engagement and watch satisfaction rates soar! And check out our other articles for more advice on specific industries and use cases.