Did you know that 95% of texts are opened within three minutes? And with nearly 4 billion smartphone users worldwide, it’s no surprise that text messaging has taken over—both in our personal lives and in the business world.
Yes, the business world. Local businesses have picked up on the fact that text is king, and if your business doesn’t hop on board, you’re going to fall behind.
Text marketing has completely revolutionized the way local businesses do business. But how do you craft compelling, relevant text marketing messages and send them to the right people at exactly the right time?
Here are 8 of our favorite text marketing examples and a few resources to get you started.
Every Small Business Should Use Text Marketing. Here’s Why.
Why should every small business use a text marketing strategy? Easy.
- Text messages have an open rate of up to 98%.
- 75% of consumers are OK with receiving SMS messages from brands after they’ve opted in.
- Consumers redeem SMS-delivered coupons 10x more than other types.
- Text helps businesses get their messages seen and responded to more than almost any other medium.
Small businesses also have a unique advantage when it comes to SMS marketing. According to recent research, local businesses are situated to reach their consumers’ text message inboxes more often than major chains and eCommerce players.
Text marketing is also one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies you can employ, giving you more bang for your buck, and local businesses are uniquely situated to win with this marketing tactic.
But we get it—getting started can feel daunting.
That’s why we’re sharing templates that you can make your own and explaining the why behind them.
8 Examples of Great Text Marketing
Without further ado, here are eight text marketing examples and use cases for you to steal and make your own.
1 – New Service Alert
“Hey Cameron! We wanted to let you know that we are now offering 6-month fitness programs over at Fitness Heroes! Respond to this thread and let us know if you’re interested. We’ll give you 10% off if you get started this week! http://www.fh.pdm.com/1234.”
Spread the news about a new product or service by sending out a text announcement. If you really want to sweeten the deal, offer a discount. And of course, make the offer time-sensitive so that your customers are encouraged to take advantage of the new service ASAP.
2 – New Product Alert
“Hi Jerry, it’s Steve at Auto Smart. Great news! Our brand new 2022 models are now on the lot. Take a look or just reply if you want to take one for a test drive: http://www.as.pdm.com/1234″
Sometimes, customers aren’t buying because they don’t know what you have in stock. This type of campaign:
- Gets your customers thinking about you.
- Informs your customers about new products you have in stock.
Pro tip: if you have a link to a page full of new products, be sure to add it in the text to increase convenience for your customers.
3 – Routine Service Reminder
“Hi Jono! 👋 It’s Belon Heating and Air, and we noticed it’s about time for your next routine water heater flush. Enjoy 20% off when you sign up today: http://www.bha.pdm.com/1234.”
No matter how hard we try, some of us just won’t remember to call our HVAC technician for routine maintenance. This reminder text ensures that your customers never miss a routine service again. When it’s time for a customer to get their seasonal maintenance services, send them a quick reminder text and let them know you’re ready to help.
4 – Limited-Time Offer
“Hi Teague! It’s Taf & Sons and we wanted to let you know we’ve got a few specials running this month, like 30% off snow tires and more! 💸 See how you can save on your next service appointment here: http://www.tc.pdm.com/1234.”
Holiday or not, there is never a bad time to run a deal or a discount—and your customers will love you for it. By sending out this limited-time offer, Taf & Sons increases the likelihood that as many customers as possible will take advantage of the deal. It’s a win for Taf & Sons because they make more money, and it’s a win for their customers because they save 30%.
5 – Last-Minute Promotion
“Hi Michelle, it’s Julie at Farmon Cleaning Co. 🧹 I have a few more appointments open for cleanings this week. Here’s an offer for 15% off, through Saturday, if you’re interested! 😘”
Stop losing money when you have open slots on your calendar and start running last-minute promotions like this one. By sending out a text like this to their customers, Farmon Cleaning Co. ensures that no time or money is wasted. And as a bonus, a lucky customer will get to enjoy 15% off of a service they might have otherwise paid full price for.
6 – Special Occasion
“Hey Kenna! Robert from Carpet World here 👋 We noticed it’s your birthday, so we’re offering you 25% off all products this week only. Click here to see what we have in stock ✨ http://www.cw.pdm.com/1234.”
People love to be celebrated—especially when the celebration comes in the form of a personalized discount. Birthdays and anniversaries present perfect opportunities to remind your customers that you care. They’ll be delighted that you remembered their special day, and thrilled to get a special discount just for them.
7 – Event Invitation
“Hi Mitch, Davis Dewey Credit Union is hosting a first-time home buyer buying happy hour this Tuesday, July 5th, at 5pm. We’d love to see you there! 🏠👪 Sign up here, space is limited: http://www.ddcu.pdm.com/1234.”
Next time you host an event, make sure your customer know about it by shooting them a text invite. Pro tip: these kinds of SMS messages are often most effective when sent only a few days before the event, webinar, or virtual gathering is set to take place. If you send the invite too early, people might forget about it by the time it rolls around.
8 – Free Consultation
“Molinns United Health: Hi Beth, did you know we offer FREE X-rays and consultations for first-time patients? 🧑⚕️No pressure, just options. Schedule your 15-minute appointment here: http://www.tc.pdm.com/1234.”
If you offer free services for first-time patients, make sure your subscriber list knows about that. Send this text to help fill up your appointment slots.
How Podium Can Help
We get it—text message marketing means balancing a lot of moving parts, and it can seem daunting if it’s something you’ve never tried before.
The good news?
With the right tools, setting up perfectly crafted text campaigns can be a breeze no matter how big or small your team may be.
This is where Podium comes in. Podium’s messaging platform allows you to optimize your opt-in collection, integrate with your existing tech stack, easily segment your campaigns, set up automations, track multiple two-way SMS messaging conversations, measure ROI, and allow customers to answer automated messages with more than letters or numbers–all from one easy-to-use dashboard.
