SMS Marketing Guide

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SMS Marketing Guide| Drive Action with Text Messages | Alert Messenger

The Channel Your Customers Actually Check

Your customers ignore your emails. They scroll past your social media posts. But they read your text messages.98% of text messages get opened.
Usually within three minutes. Compare that to email's 20% open rate, and you'll understand why smart businesses are texting their customers.

Why SMS Marketing Works When Everything Else Fails

Think about your own phone for a second. When you hear that notification sound, you check it. Maybe not immediately, but probably within the hour. Now think about your email inbox. How many unread messages are sitting there right now?

That's exactly how your customers behave too. SMS marketing works because it meets three critical criteria: It's immediate. No spam folders. No algorithmic feeds. Your message shows up right on their home screen. It's personal.

A text feels like communication between people, not another marketing blast. It demands attention. That little red notification badge practically forces people to look.

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When Your Business Should Text Customers

SMS isn't right for every message. Nobody wants a text about your company newsletter or a minor product update. But for these situations?

SMS is unbeatable:

Time-sensitive offers – Flash sales, limited inventory, expiring discounts. When urgency matters, email is too slow.
Appointment reminders – Dentists, salons, consultants, and service providers reduce no-shows by 40% with simple text reminders.
Order updates – "Your package arrives today between 2-4pm" gets read. That same message in email gets buried.
Abandoned cart recovery – Someone was seconds away from buying. A well-timed text brings them back.
Customer service – "Your table is ready" or "Your prescription is filled" solves real problems instantly.
Event updates – Last-minute changes, important announcements, anything your audience needs to know right now.

The Types of SMS Messages That Get Results

Not all texts are created equal. Here's what actually works: Transactional messages – Order confirmations, shipping updates, appointment reminders. These get the highest engagement because they provide real value.
Promotional offers – "24-hour sale: 30% off everything" works when you've earned the right to send it. Just don't overdo it.
Personalized recommendations – "Hi Sarah, those shoes you viewed are now 20% off" converts because it's relevant.
Two-way conversations – "Text YES to confirm your appointment" or "Reply with your table size" creates engagement.

Exclusive content – Give your SMS subscribers something email subscribers don't get. Make them feel special.

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The Rules You Can't Afford to Break

SMS marketing has stricter rules than email, and for good reason. Break these rules, and you'll face serious fines:

Always get explicit consent. "By providing your number, you agree to receive marketing texts" isn't enough. People need to actively opt in. Make it easy to opt out. Every message needs to include "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" or something similar. Send at reasonable hours. Nobody wants a marketing text at 2am. Stick to business hours in your customer's timezone. Honor opt-outs immediately.

When someone texts STOP, they're done. Don't send "We're sorry to see you go" or any other message. Keep it relevant. Send too many messages, and people will opt out faster than they signed up.

What Great SMS Marketing Looks Like

Here's a real example from one of our customers, a local restaurant: "Hey Marcus! 🎉 Tonight only: Buy one burger, get one 50% off. Just show this text at checkout. Valid until 9pm. Reply STOP to opt out." Why this works: