With its incredible open rates and personable nature, lots of businesses rush to use SMS. But what makes a text message marketing campaign successful isn’t just how quickly it reaches people – it’s the thought you put into the content. Creating a message that’s specific to your customers will help your campaigns resonate with them, making them more likely to invest in your brand. Check out our top-tier tips and examples!
Create a customer experience beyond the generic
With SMS, you’ve got just a few seconds to grab your customer’s attention. This means every word has to work overtime to be a little more specific to them and their needs. A well-thought-out message that’s clear and human can make a strong first impression, encouraging your customers to take action.
For example, compare these two messages:
Generic: ‘Get 10% off your next order. Use code SAVE10.’
Thoughtful: ‘Hi Alex, it’s Jacky from Cords! Treat yourself to 10% off your favourite items—use code SAVE10 at checkout.‘
The first message is fine, but the second feels much more personal. It not only tells Alex about the discount, but also invites them to treat themselves.
Make sure your customers feel seen & heard
Thoughtful content is also about how you make your customers feel. As messages are delivered directly to a person’s phone, this makes it all the more important that your content recognises them, their time and their needs.
See this examples for some inspiration:
Exclusive offers: ‘Hi Mia, don’t you just wish your favourite dress had 15% off? Wish no more. Here’s 15% off our new collection just for you. Use code MIA15.‘
Timely reminders: ‘Don’t forget, Mark! Your tent is still in your basket and there’s only 5 left – grab it now & be the coolest person on the campsite.‘
Helpful tips: ‘Hi Sam! The winter dry skin struggle is real, and we at SkinGlow all feel it. Check out our top 3 skincare tips to keep your glow.‘
Each of these messages offers something useful to the customer, whether it’s a special deal, a timely reminder, or helpful advice. When customers feel seen and heard, they’re more likely to stay engaged and loyal to your brand, because you’ve made the effort to connect to them.
Understand your customers & the content will write itself
Ok, it won’t actually write itself – but personalisation is a powerful tool in text message marketing. By using customer data to create your messages – from as simple as addressing someone by name to referencing their recent purchase – you create a more personal connection. Using simple to sophisticated data segmentation tips, your text can feel less like a marketing message and more like a friendly nudge from a friend.
Check out these examples:
Purchase follow-up: ‘Thanks for your order, Lisa! Your new shoes are on their way. Need style tips to hype up their arrival? We’ve got you covered – check out our blog!’
Cart reminder: ‘Hey Jack, it looks like you left something behind! Complete your order now and enjoy free shipping with code FREESHIP.‘
Birthday wishes: ‘Happy Birthday, Emma! 🎉 Celebrate with 20% off your next order – use code BDAYGIFT at checkout.‘
These messages not only show that you know your customer but also make them feel special, which is key to building long-term loyalty.
Add humour & creativity when it feels right
In a world where people are constantly bombarded with marketing messages, it’s important to make yours stand out. Thoughtful content helps your SMS campaigns rise above the rest. Maybe you add a bit of humour, a well-placed emoji, or simply a creative way of phrasing things, these touches can make your messages more engaging and memorable.
Here are a few examples:
Humour: ‘Mo, it’s time for tee! Go ahead & dig into our tasty new t-shirt range, dedicated to the best kinds of food – *Chef’s kiss*‘
Creativity: ‘Sam, you mean the world to us 🌍 Here’s early access to our new travel gear collection.”
Seasonal themes: ‘We be-leaf you’ll fall in love with our autumn styles! 🍁 Use code LEAF20 for 20% off new arrivals.‘
These thoughtful details grab attention but can also help reinforce your brand’s personality – no BIG SALE caps necessary.
Tip: To add emojis to your messages, we can enable ‘Unicode’ characters on your FireText. This changes the way credits work, but we can explain how this works – just give us a holla here.
Compel customers to act with a clear call to action
A great SMS shares information and encourages action. Whether you want customers to visit your website, use a discount code, or check out a new product, your call to action needs to be clear and compelling.
For example:
‘Claim your 15% discount now by clicking this link:‘
‘Explore our new collection today—shop now:‘
‘Don’t miss out! Reserve your spot by replying YES.‘
Tip: Your customers can respond when you send your messages from a FireText Reply Number!
We help you create thoughtful text marketing messages
As more businesses turn to text messaging, we help you to focus on creating quality content that stands out, supporting you to build stronger relationships with your customers. So, when you’re writing out your message, take a moment to make sure your message is thoughtful, relevant, and maybe even a little bit witty! We’re here to hep you with that – just give us a shout.
