SMS Marketing Examples: 20 Texts From Local Businesses Customers Actually Welcome
Text messages get read. That is the whole superpower: no algorithm, no spam folder, just a message sitting on the most personal screen your customer owns. It is also exactly why texting badly burns trust faster than any other channel. We covered the strategy in SMS marketing that doesn’t annoy; this is the companion piece: twenty actual texts you can adapt, grouped by job.
The Ground Rules First
Three non-negotiables before a single message goes out. Get real consent: people must knowingly opt in to texts, and keeping records of that consent is a legal requirement in the US, not a nicety. Honor opt-outs instantly, and include “Reply STOP to opt out” in your first message and periodically after. And respect the medium: a couple of texts a month feels like service; a couple a week feels like a car alarm. When in doubt, send less.
Reminders and Logistics (1 to 4)
The most welcome texts a business can send. Nobody has ever opted out over a helpful reminder.
- “Hi Maria, it’s Rosa’s Salon. See you tomorrow at 2:00! Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule.”
- “Your order is ready for pickup! We’re open until 6 today. See you soon.”
- “Heads up: we’re closing early Friday at 3 PM for a family event. Need anything before then? Just reply here.”
- “It’s been about 6 months since your last cleaning, the interval Dr. Shah recommends. Want us to find you a time this week?”
Offers That Feel Like Perks (5 to 9)
The test for any offer text: would a good regular be glad they got it?
- “Text club perk: show this message for a free drink upgrade this week. That’s it, no catch.”
- “We overbaked. First 20 people to reply YES get a free cookie with any order today.”
- “Spring slots are filling fast. Text-list folks get first pick this week before we open the calendar to everyone.”
- “Happy birthday from all of us at Casa Bella! Dessert is on us this month, just mention this text.”
- “You left the blue jacket behind… in your size, still on the rack. Want us to hold it until Saturday?”
Relationship Texts That Sell Nothing (10 to 14)
These are the deposits that make the occasional offer feel fine.
- “Storm’s coming through tonight. If you lose power and the sump pump stops, here’s the checklist we send everyone: [link]. Stay safe.”
- “Thanks for coming in today. If anything’s not right with the repair, text me directly and I’ll make it right. – Tony”
- “Quick tip for the heat wave: water the beds before 8 AM, skip the leaves. Your plants will thank you.”
- “We hit 10 years this week. No sale, no pitch. Just: thank you for keeping a small shop alive. It means everything.”
- “Saw the game last night, what a finish! The usual table’s open if you’re celebrating this weekend.”
Win-Backs (15 to 17)
For the customers who drifted, the gentle door-back-open text. The full playbook is in how to win back customers who ghosted you.
- “Hi Jen, it’s been a while! No pressure at all, but we’d love to see you again. Here’s 15% off whenever you’re ready. No expiration.”
- “We’ve changed a few things since your last visit (new menu, faster checkout). If we dropped the ball last time, I’d genuinely like to know. – Paul”
- “Your membership paused a few months back. Want me to hold your old rate through the end of the month, just in case?”
Reviews and Referrals (18 to 20)
- “So glad the install went well! If you have 60 seconds, a Google review helps our small crew more than you’d believe: [link]”
- “Thanks for the kind words today! If you know a neighbor who needs the same fix, we give $25 off to both of you.”
- “You’ve been with us a year now. Anything we should do better? Reply honestly, the owner reads every one of these.”
Notice the pattern across all twenty: they read like a person, they are specific to the recipient, and most of them are not selling anything. That is why the ones that do sell, work. If you want help setting up the list, the consent flow, and a cadence that fits your business, we build these systems all the time.
Great examples of how businesses can use texts in a friendly way. I like that the focus is on helping customers, building trust, and keeping messages personal and useful. Thank you for sharing!
very interesting! I had never thought of sending text messages for my business – definitely worth looking into! thank you 🙂
Once again it’s all about relationship and giving of yourself without expecting anything in return.
Thanks for your very insightful posts. I’ve really enjoyed them – not to mention how much I’ve learned from them.
“A couple of texts a month feels like service; a couple a week feels like a car alarm” is a rule every business should remember! 😅 The examples that sold nothing were actually the ones I found most memorable because they sounded like genuine messages from people who cared about their customers. I run an online writing community rather than a local business, but this has made me wonder whether occasional, genuinely useful text reminders could still have a place. Great article, Paul! And thank you for hosting this challenge! It’s been amazing (exhausting, but amazing! 😀)