Businesses in every industry can benefit from a promotional SMS strategy. That’s because texting can help your business get marketing messages read with its impressive 98 percent open rate.
Brands use promotional text messages to sell their services, products, or events to their audience. Promotional SMS is a form of digital text message marketing.
Whether you want to promote a new product, share a sale, or boost event attendance, we have you covered. This article covers 92 promotional SMS examples and templates for your next SMS marketing campaign.
Annual sale
Brands can use SMS to get the word out about an annual or seasonal sale. Let’s look at a few SMS templates and examples for this promo SMS type.
1. Beat the Heat with our Annual Summer Sale. Get 25% off all swimsuits, hats, and sunglasses through September 15. Shop now: [link]
2. It’s time for our back-to-school sale. Get 25% off all back-to-school haircuts when you book today. Book now: [link]
3. 2024 is almost a wrap! Before we wave goodbye, take advantage of our annual year-end sale to get 50% off the season’s best. Shop now: [link]
Early access
To create a sense of exclusivity, offer your text subscribers early access to a sale or new collection. Here are a few examples of brands using this promotional SMS campaign.
1. The early bird gets the worm (or, well, our new fall favorites). Shop our fall collection before anyone else: [link]
2. We’ve got something special for you! Early access to our new sun dress collection. Shop using this exclusive link: [link]
3. Hey, text subscribers! We want to offer you early access to our new AI feature. Sign up to gain access to it first: [link]
Loyalty rewards
Use a text message to promote your loyalty program or a particular discount for loyal reward members. Let’s look at a few examples and templates of a loyalty SMS promotion.
1. Sunday Special for Birdie Golf Members. Treat yourself to new golf equipment and earn double the points. Shop now: [link]
2. Join our Airline Loyalty Program to start earning miles. Miles pay for your trip. Now all you need is PTO approval… Join now: [link]
3. You heard it here first! Double points day starts NOW. Loyalty Members earn 2x the points for every $1 spent. Shop now: [link]
New product
When you launch a new product, you’ll want to get the word out about it. Use a product launch text to promote your new product to your SMS list. Here are a few examples to copy.
1. Introducing the iWatch Series 10. Our thinnest yet biggest display model. Shop now: [link]
2. It’s finally here: Aviator Reverse Gold Frames. Limited edition gold metal frames for a classy, summer day on the town. Shop now: [link]
3. Say hello to Zoom Docs, an AI-first collaborative docs solution from Zoom. Learn more: [link]
New menu item
For many restaurants, you don’t launch products, but you offer customers new recipes or food items. Let’s look at a few examples of new menu launch promotional messages.
1. Fall is here, y’all. We have new bakery items for the chilly season. Check out our new fall favorites: [link]
2. New Menu Alert: The Mediterranean Feast is here at Callie! Get a 5-course chef-curated menu of our favorites. Dine-in ONLY.
3. Seasons change, as does our menu. Check out the new seasonal menu for Half Door Brewing Co. here: [link]
New service
In addition, sometimes you launch new services instead of a new physical product. Let’s dive into a few examples of promoting a new service to clients.
1. Urban Dental: NEW: Advanced in-office whitening treatments. Get a 5x brighter smile in 30 minutes. Book today: [link]
2. Need *a little* help planning your dream wedding? Day+ Planners now offers part-time planning for those who need help the month of. Schedule your consultation today: [link]
3. It’s finally here: We now offer a 3D rendering of your actual space before you choose us for interior design. Learn more about the service: [link]
New collection
Technically a subset of a product launch, your business may want to promote an entirely new collection. Look at a few examples of promoting a new collection.
1. Our Happy Days Spring Collection is dropping on 3/17. Explore the lookbook now: [link]
2. Just launched: The Cool Club Sneakers Collection. Get your favorites today. Shop now: [link]
3. Our Fall Sweater Collection is HERE. Shop the coziest sweaters to keep you warm this fall: [link]
Back in stock
Another popular promotional text strategy is running a back-in-stock message. This alerts customers that an item they had their eyes on is back for a limited time. Here are a few examples to use.
1. RESTOCKED! Our best-selling Pale Yellow Workout Sets are back in stock. Shop before your size runs out again. Shop now: [link]
2. Limited restock: Our Purple Special Edition Razor to support testicular cancer awareness is back in stock. Shop before it’s gone: [link]
3. Sold-out styles are back. Get access to our top-selling white gold accessories. Shop now: [link]
Low inventory (get it before it’s gone)
Low inventory text alerts encourage customers to buy a product before it runs out. These create a sense of urgency.
1. Going… Going… Almost gone. Get our spooky collection of Halloween cards before they run out. Shop now: [link]
2. It’s now or never. These sale items are running out of stock, and we don’t plan on bringing them back. Shop now: [link]
3. Limited stock alert ⚠️ Our Barbie Dream House playset is almost gone. Get one for your kid before it’s too late: [link]
BOGO
Some brands encourage run buy-one-get-one discounts to boost sales. Let’s look at a few text examples for this discounting strategy.
1. Celebrate National Gyro Month with BOGO pitas at Nick the Greek. Find your location: [link]
2. Today ONLY. BOGO drinks at Seahorse Cafe. Bring your bestie.
3. Jeans so good, you’ll want a second pair. BOGO 50% off jeans now through Thursday. Shop now: [link]
Black Friday
For B2C marketers, Black Friday is considered their Super Bowl. Black Friday accounts for a large chunk of revenue for many B2C businesses. As a result, many marketers deploy text message marketing for Black Friday. Let’s look at a few Black Friday promotional SMS examples.
1. These Black Friday offers are too good to miss. Shop 50% off now: [link]
2. It’s Black Friday, y’all. 40% off everything. Get shopping: [link]
3. The Black Friday Sale is LIVE. Shop Deals Like Never Before. 70% off select styles. Go. Go. Go → [link]
Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is also one of the top purchasing days for customers. Many marketers use SMS for Cyber Monday. Here are some Cyber Monday SMS examples.
1. Cyber Monday has arrived. Take 20% off sitewide with code [code]. Shop now: [link]
2. Cyber Monday deals start NOW. Get 50% off all sweaters, bralettes, and accessories. Shop the deals: [link]
3. Discounts galore! Get 35% off everything this Cyber Monday. Shop now: [link]
Holiday
There are many different holidays out there where businesses can share promotional texts. Here are a few holiday SMS examples to inspire your business.
1. New holiday-scented wallflowers guaranteed to warm your soul this holiday season. Shop now for 25% off: [link]
2. Your holiday grocery savings await. Get $35 off your online order from Sprouts through Dec. 25. That’s something worth celebrating. Shop now: [link]
3. Get the outdoor items you need this summer during our Memorial Day Sale! Starts Friday and runs until Monday at midnight. Shop now: [link]
Flash sale
Flash sale texts help businesses boost sales quickly by creating urgency. Check out a few flash sale text examples to inspire your next campaign.
1. Run, don’t walk 🏃 Get 15% off your On Cloud order TODAY only. Shop now: [link]
2. Get $700 off the new iPhone with an eligible trade-in for the next 48 hours. Find a store: [link]
3. Boba Tea Collection: ⏰ Only a few more hours left to save 25% on our Milk Tea Kits. Offer ends at midnight. Shop kits: [link]
Event
Brands can easily promote their events via text. Using a text message invite, you can encourage your SMS subscribers to register for an event or boost awareness about it. Let’s look at a few SMS event promotions.
1. Hey Jenna! This is a reminder to RSVP to Content Marketing World by 8/10 for the lowest rate. Save your spot: [link]
2. Hi there, gorgeous! I’ll be hosting an Everyday Make Up Class on 10/10 at 6pm. Interested in joining? RSVP by replying YES.
3. Calling all trivia lovers! Wild & West Brewery will host trivia every Wednesday at 7pm. See you there 🫡
Welcome message
When a customer first subscribes to your SMS program, they are the most engaged. Use this to your advantage to send a promotional welcome text message. A welcome text is promotional when you add in a discount and encourage a sale. Here are a few examples.
1. Welcome to Outdoor Voices! As a thank you, here’s a 10% discount code for your first purchase: OV2156
2. Thanks for joining Lovepop’s SMS program. We’re so glad you’re here. Get 15% off for your first order with code LP251. Start shopping: [link]
3. Welcome to Poke Vida Rewards. Here’s your loyalty account where you can start tracking points: [link]
Abandoned cart
Abandoned cart text messages help ecommerce businesses recover lost revenue. Here are a few examples of promotional abandoned cart messages.
1. This gear looks good in your cart. But it would look even better on you. Order today for 10% off: [link]
2. It looks like you left something behind 👀 Return to your cart now and snag free shipping: [link]
3. We wanted to let you know you left something in your cart. Ready to buy? Head back to checkout now: [link]
Free shipping
Sometimes ecommerce brands use incentives like free shipping to boost sales. Here are some examples of brands using this in real life.
1. Unlock FREE shipping on orders over $50 for 24 hours. Shop now: [Link]
2. Don’t miss out on FREE shipping on orders over $50 - ends at midnight. Shop now: [link]
3. Enjoy FREE two-day shipping on thousands of items now through 9/15. Shop now: [link]
Exclusive discount
You can send your text subscribers access to a coupon or discount. This can encourage them to stay subscribed to your text marketing program and boost sales.
1. This deal is just for you 👀 Get 15% off with code P158y1. Shop now: [link]
2. You’ve unlocked an exclusive discount! Take 10% off sitewide with code ALPH15017. Shop now: [link]
3. Member-exclusive sale. For members ONLY. Take 25% off our new Gamer Girl Collection. Shop now: [link]
Giveaway
Encourage customers to enter a giveaway via text message. Let’s look at how some brands can do this via SMS.
1. Our Summer on Film Giveaway. Enter for a chance to win the Minolta 35mm Film Camera. Enter here: [link]
2. Green Bay Packers: Win jerseys, hats, or tickets with our 12-days of summer giveaway. Enter daily for a chance to win: [link]
3. Hey, there! Follow Levi’s on Instagram and mark your calendars for a special Members Event giveaway on 3/14: [link]
Upsell or cross-sell
Use an upsell or cross-sell text message to boost the amount of revenue made from a subscriber. Here are a few examples of this type of promotional text.
1. Hey Sierra! It looks like you added a new person to your account! Any interest in trialing the enterprise plan? You’ll gain access to more features.
2. Use the discount code BUNDLE for 15% off 2 or more items. Shop now: [link]
3. A match made in heaven. See how our drip coffee set pairs perfectly with our cozy mugs. Shop now: [link]
Birthday or anniversary text
You can send your SMS subscribers a happy birthday or anniversary text. These can help you create a personalized marketing experience for your clients.
1. Happy birthday, Julie! To wish you a happy birthday, here’s a code for $20 off your next online order: [Code]. Shop now: [link]
2. Ava, happy birthday from all of us at Urban Dental! If you want a whiter smile, we can offer you a birthday discount of $100 off. Call to schedule.
3. Alana, you’ve been a customer for 1 year! Happy anniversary! Here’s a code for 20% off your next purchase to thank you for your loyalty. [Code].
Referral promotion text
Use a text message to encourage referrals to your business. This can help your business boost sales.
1. Do you like Water Grill’s VIP oyster club? Invite friends to join and get $20 off your next sampler plate. See details: [link]
2. If you have a friend who wants to sign up for Starbucks Rewards, here’s 150 bonus stars for you and them: [link]
3. Hi Leah. Do you know anyone who’s in need of painting services? Refer them to us for a fun reward.
Promote effectively via SMS with Textline
Now your business is equipped with SMS promotion examples to inspire your next campaign. If your marketing team is ready to boost sales with a promotional text messaging strategy, the first step is to pick an SMS marketing provider that fits your business needs.
Textline is packed with features to help you ensure your promotional texts are engaging, personalized, and compliant. Textline makes it easy for you to execute and track text marketing campaigns with features like MMS messaging, automated workflows, and built-in metrics.
But, don’t just take our word for it. You can try Textline free for 14 days. Claim your free trial now.
