Cyber Monday SMS marketing guide for 2025

Most marketers treat Cyber Monday like an encore to Black Friday marketing, sending the same kinds of deals and hoping for leftover attention. But here’s the catch: by Monday, customers are already numbed by a weekend of hype.

That means you can’t see Cyber Monday as just “Black Friday: part two.” But as your chance to connect with shoppers who are overloaded by adverts, selective about what they engage with, and actively hunting for last-minute or truly great deals. Campaigns that are personalized and targeted feel smarter, giving customers a real reason to take one more look or make one more purchase.

That’s why your Cyber Monday SMS marketing needs to be smarter in order to not be spammy, not just louder.

SMS still maintains its place as the fastest way to reach customers. Instantly and everywhere. With an open rate above 98%, SMS is the “always-on” channel trusted by top eCommerce brands.

This guide shows you how leading brands rethink Cyber Monday SMS marketing. Let’s reset your strategy for 2025.

Preparing your Cyber Monday SMS marketing campaign

Cyber Monday brings a single, intense window to capture attention and drive conversions, but only if you plan ahead.

Launch early to grow and clean your SMS list

Launch a product or limited-time offer ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) to encourage new opt-ins. Promoting exclusive SMS access, “Get first dibs on Cyber Monday deals by joining our list!”, can pull in high-intent shoppers excited for what’s next.

Once the Black Friday sale is over, take a moment to clean up your subscriber list. Remove inactive or unengaged numbers to improve deliverability and reduce campaign costs.

Prepare your SMS platform for peak performance

On Cyber Monday, speed and reliability are non-negotiable. Double-check that your SMS platform can handle surges in traffic without delays or downtime. Lean on a provider with proven global scale, built-in redundancy, and compliance ready for every market you serve, such as Infobip.

Zero in on high-intent shoppers

Not all subscribers are in the same mindset on Cyber Monday. Focus your efforts on segments most likely to convert:

• Cart abandoners who browsed or filled a cart over the weekend but didn’t buy
• Clickers and browsers who engaged with Black Friday deals but hesitated to make a purchase
• Shoppers active in the last 72 hours who haven’t checked out

Use your SMS data, CRM, and integration tools to identify and prioritize these audiences. Remind them that time is running out and make it easy to jump right back into their shopping journey.

Crafting Cyber Monday SMS marketing messages that convert

If your SMS messages blend in with every other Cyber Monday offer, you’re invisible. The copy, offer, and structure of your message all need to work together.

Make your offers feel truly exclusive and engaging

Generic discounts are easy to swipe away, especially after Black Friday. Lead with something that feels created just for today:

• “Cyber Monday only” bundles that don’t exist on Black Friday
• Unique free shipping or gift-with-purchase options
• Early access for SMS subscribers before deals go public

Example:

Plan inventory specifically for Cyber Monday

Certain bestsellers may already be gone after Black Friday. Reserve special inventory just for Cyber Monday and highlight it in your messages. “Only 12 left!” lands much harder than “Sale ends soon.”

Example:

Go for clarity, urgency, and scanability

Use short, direct language and authentic urgency. Avoid false deadlines. Always tie your urgency to something real and add “Reply YES” or a single-tap link to reduce friction.

Example:

Timing your Cyber Monday SMS marketing campaigns

You could have the world’s best SMS offer and still miss the sale if your message lands at the wrong time. Here are some SMS marketing tips to perfectly time your Cyber Monday messages.

Find the best send windows

While every brand’s audience behaves a little differently, data shows a few sweet spots for Cyber Monday SMS:

• Mid-morning (9–11 a.m.): Many shoppers clear inboxes and hunt for deals after their commute or first coffee.
• Early afternoon (1–3 p.m.): A prime window to catch those circling back and comparing offers before making a decision.
• Final-hour urgency (7–9 p.m.): A last push, reminding customers when time is running out and FOMO kicks in.

Use a multi-touchpoint strategy

Respect local “quiet hours,” holiday restrictions, and customers’ own preferred contact times if you operate globally.

Don’t bet everything on a single SMS. Brands often see better results by sending:

• One early message announcing the exclusive offer
• A reminder or “almost gone” nudge later in the day, especially for those who clicked but didn’t buy
• A last-chance alert in the final hour
• Adapt to regional and individual timing

Trigger real-time SMS for high-intent actions

When a customer abandons their cart, browses a product and leaves, or hesitates at checkout, don’t let those moments slip by. Automated, real-time SMS triggers let you reach out instantly when intent is highest.

Example:

Cyber Monday SMS marketing examples

See how brands across the globe drive impact with Infobip’s SMS platform.

Compliance and deliverability in Cyber Monday SMS marketing

Messaging someone outside permitted hours or skipping proper consent can mean lost sales, brand damage, or even fines. That’s why compliance and deliverability should be non-negotiable parts of your SMS game plan.

Always respect consent and manage opt-outs

Before Cyber Monday, double-check that everyone on your list has opted in and understands what they’re signing up for.

Make it easy for customers to opt out with every message

Use automation to remove unsubscribed numbers instantly.

Navigate regional rules and quiet hours

From the GDPR in Europe to TCPA in the US, rules around SMS marketing are strict and can change by region or even by state. Many countries set specific “quiet hours” when marketing messages can’t be sent.

Schedule campaigns based on time zone and local holidays

Ensure your sends won’t land at 3 a.m. By scheduling messages around each recipient’s time zone and local holiday rules, you increase the chance they’re opened and clicked while staying compliant with regulations.

Optimize deliverability with the right tech and sender IDs

• Use branded sender IDs or short codes for recognition and trust
• Monitor delivery reports in real time
• Test messages across devices and regions beforehand

Measuring and optimizing Cyber Monday SMS marketing campaign performance

Your Cyber Monday SMS campaign shouldn’t be “set and forget.” The best teams track what’s working in real time, optimize as they go, and use every learning to make next year’s results even stronger.

Key metrics: Go beyond open rates

While SMS open rates are famously high, real impact comes from deeper engagement and sales stats. Track:

• Click-through rate (CTR): Who’s following your SMS link?
• Conversions: Actual purchases or actions driven by SMS
• Revenue per SMS sent: True SMS marketing ROI, down to the cent
• Opt-out rates: A sign of message fatigue or great targeting
• Upsell/add-on rates: Are people spending more when they click?

Infobip’s analytics dashboard gives you all these stats in real time, so you always know which messages and segments are performing or underperforming.

A/B test urgency versus exclusivity in your copy

Not sure whether “Only 10 left!” or “Exclusive for you!” will have more impact with your audience? Test both. Use Infobip’s built-in A/B testing to split your audience and see which angle gets more clicks, conversions, or revenue per message. Sometimes, creating a sense of urgency works for last-chance shoppers, while exclusivity wins over VIPs or loyalty segments.

Use Cyber Monday insights to fuel future campaigns

Don’t just collect data, put it to use. Review your Cyber Monday stats to answer:

• Which audiences converted fastest?
• What send times worked best in each region?
• Which products or offers got the wildest responses?

Feed these answers into your Christmas, New Year, and other shopping season campaigns. The holiday season doesn’t end on Monday, and neither should your optimization.

How to extend Cyber Monday engagement

Run “echo” campaigns for non-purchasers

Not every shopper will convert on Cyber Monday, and that’s okay. Segment customers who clicked but didn’t check out or opened but didn’t engage. Send gentle follow-ups in December:

Example:

Activate post-purchase flows

Don’t just say “thanks” and move on. Set up automated SMS flows for new buyers:

• Order and delivery updates for instant reassurance
• Reminders to review their purchase (“Love your new item? Share a quick review for a bonus!”)
• Early bird access to Christmas or end-of-year specials

Build momentum into your next campaign

Segment Cyber Monday data to seed your next holiday push:

• Tag big spenders for exclusive New Year offers
• Invite first-time buyers to join a loyalty program
• Send countdown reminders for post-Christmas sales

Every touchpoint builds on the last, so your customers see you as more than a one-day discount vendor.

Key takeaways and next steps

FAQs about Cyber Monday SMS marketing