15 best SMS marketing use cases in 2025

With more consumers expecting texts from brands, the need for fast, direct communication has never been greater. This is what SMS excels in.

If you’re interested in how to improve your marketing efforts with SMS, today we’re going to cover:

• Why SMS marketing (still) works
• 15 SMS marketing use cases
• How to build a high-converting SMS strategy
• Comparison of SMS vs. other channels

Why SMS marketing works: Data-driven insights & trends

Even though it may have been surpassed by other channels in terms of rich features, SMS marketing stands out as one of the most effective ways to reach your audience — thanks to its unmatched open rates, real-time delivery, and high response rates.

Unlike traditional marketing channels, SMS is direct, personal, and highly engaging. And while it works incredibly well on its own, it also plays a powerful role as part of a broader omnichannel strategy.

Here’s why SMS is still one of the best engaging channels:

SMS marketing use cases: Tips and examples

Here are 15 common SMS marketing campaigns showing how brands use text messaging to enhance their promotional strategies and customer interactions.

1. Welcome texts

If you don’t make a strong first impression, you might ruin your chances of building a lasting connection with your new customers. As most customers expect a welcome message when they sign up, SMS messages make sure they receive it instantly — helping you set the stage for long-term engagement.

When sending a welcome message, you should:

• Personalize the message with the customer’s name.
• Include an exclusive discount or incentive to encourage first-time purchases.
• Set expectations by explaining what’s next (updates, deals, etc.).

Example:

2. Polls and surveys

SMS surveys are one of the most effective ways you can engage a customer if you’re interested in customer feedback.

When sending polls or surveys, you should:

• Keep the messages short and simple (1-2 questions).
• Use an incentive (discount, giveaway entry) to boost responses.
• Send follow-up SMS based on responses to deepen engagement.

Example of a brand asking for customer feedback using two-way SMS:

3. Contests and giveaways

You can run SMS contests where customers can enter giveaways, participate in promotions, or unlock exclusive rewards by responding via text.

To use these campaigns effectively, you should:

• Keep the entry method simple (e.g., “Reply WIN”).
• Use clear deadlines to create urgency.
• Follow up with a winner announcement to build excitement.

Example:

4. Limited-time offers and flash sales

If you’re offering limited-time discounts or offers, use SMS marketing messages to promote time-sensitive discounts, holiday sales, and flash promotions to drive urgency and boost conversions. 

To create an engaging limited-time offer, you should:

• Highlight the time limit (e.g., “Only 24 hours left!”).
• Use short, action-driven CTAs (“Shop Now”).
• Combine with exclusive VIP offers to drive loyalty.

Example:

5. Event reminders and ticket promotions

Use SMS for sending event reminders, early bird ticket sales, and last-minute promotional messages to boost attendance and engagement. In some cases, sending SMS reminders resulted in a 38% less chance of no-shows.

When crafting these types of messages, you should:

• Send multiple reminders (one week, one day, and one hour before).
• Include event details & links for easy access.
• Add a calendar invite for extra convenience.

6. Loyalty program updates and exclusive rewards

If your business goal is to drive repeat purchases and engagement, use SMS to notify members about earned points, VIP rewards, and exclusive perks.

Best practices for these messages include:

• Send monthly updates on point balances.
• Offer double points days to drive urgency.
• Personalize messages based on past purchases.

Example:

7. New product and service announcements

Your product just launched but you’re not sure how to advertise it? Use SMS to generate buzz and drive early purchases from loyal customers.

Tips:

• Send messages within an hour of abandonment for best results.
• Offer an exclusive discount to encourage checkout.
• Include a direct checkout link for convenience.

Example

8. Drip campaigns for lead nurturing

SMS drip campaigns help you automatically follow up with leads or new customers over time. You can use a sequence of timed messages to educate, build trust, and drive action—perfect for onboarding or guiding people through a sales funnel.

When sending drip campaigns, you should:

• Space out messages over days or weeks to avoid overwhelming users.
• Include helpful, value-driven content in each message.
• Guide customers toward one clear goal or next step.

Example:

9. Abandoned cart reminders

Recover lost revenue by following up with customers who didn’t complete their purchase. SMS lets you reach them quickly with a gentle nudge or exclusive offer to finish checking out.

You can:

• Remind users they left items in their cart.
• Add urgency with limited-time discounts.
• Include a direct checkout link for convenience.

Example:

10. Back-in-stock alerts

Bring eager customers back with a timely message when popular products become available again. These alerts work especially well for high-demand or limited-supply items.

When sending back-in-stock alerts, you should:

• Send the message immediately after inventory is updated
• Personalize it with the product name or category
• Include a link to purchase before it sells out again

Example:

11. Personalized customer engagement and celebrations

A personal touch goes a long way. Send birthday wishes, anniversary messages, and exclusive gifts to show customers you value them.

If you’re creating these messages:

• Use the customer’s name to add a personal touch
• Send messages on birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones
• Offer exclusive discounts for special occasions

Example:

12. Re-engagement campaigns for inactive users

Seeing inactive customers? Bring them back with an exclusive discount or reminder of what they’re missing. A quick, well-timed SMS can reignite interest and boost retention.

When doing this, you should:

• Offer a personalized discount to bring them back
• Remind them of what they’ve been missing
• Make it effortless to return by linking to relevant pages

Example:

13. Customer retention and churn prevention

Losing customers and not sure what do do about it? SMS can help reduce cancellations by offering special retention deals before they leave.

To prevent churn, you should:

• Send personalized retention offers
• Provide a quick opt-in for special perks
• Follow up with customer support outreach

Example:

14. Internal business alerts and team coordination

If you need to send urgent updates to your team, use SMS to keep employees in the loop with real-time notifications for shifts, meetings, or emergency announcements.

With internal business SMS messages, you can:

To prevent churn, you should:

• Use SMS for urgent announcements
• Send reminders for shifts, deadlines, and meetings
• Automate approval requests

Example:

15. Waitlist and product drop notifications

If you’re launching limited-edition products or timed campaigns, SMS is the perfect way to notify subscribers instantly and build excitement.

When sending product drop alerts, you should:

• Highlight urgency with countdowns or early-access windows
• Make the message feel exclusive or VIP-only
• Include a direct link to shop right away

Example:

How to build a high-converting SMS marketing strategy

A successful SMS marketing strategy is not just about sending messages — it requires the right approach to maximize engagement, conversions, and customer satisfaction.

Here’s how you can also build a high-converting SMS marketing strategy by following a few simple steps.

1. Define clear goals and objectives

Before launching an SMS campaign, you need to establish specific goals, such as:

• Increase sales and conversions
• Boost customer engagement and retention
• Drive event attendance or loyalty program participation

2. Segment your audience for personalization

Sending the same message to everyone rarely works. With SMS, personalization drives real results — but it starts with smart segmentation.

Using Infobip, you can segment your audience based on:

• Purchase history (e.g., loyal customers vs. first-time buyers)
• Demographics & location (tailor offers by region or time zone)
• Behavior & engagement (e.g., frequent buyers vs. dormant users)

3. Craft compelling and concise messages

SMS has a 160-character limit, so messages should be:

• Clear & direct (get to the point immediately)
• Action-oriented (include a strong CTA)
• Value-driven (offer a reason to engage)

4. Use automation for efficiency

Automation helps you scale communication without sacrificing personalization or timing.

With Infobip, you can automate SMS campaigns to:

• Send timely reminders (billing, appointments, order status)
• Follow up with customers (abandoned carts, re-engagement sequences)
• Deliver real-time notifications (shipping updates, flash sales)

5. Time your messages strategically

The success of SMS marketing isn’t just about what you say — it’s also about when you say it. Sending messages at the wrong time can result in lower engagement or even unsubscribes.

When planning your campaigns, always consider:

• Peak engagement times: Avoid early mornings and late nights
• Time zones: Adjust your send time for global audiences
• Behavioral triggers: Send based on user actions, like browsing or cart abandonment

6. Track performance and optimize continuously

SMS marketing should be data-driven.

Because of that, track key metrics like:

• Delivery rate: Are messages reaching customers?
• Open & response rates: Are people engaging with your texts?
• Conversion rates: Are messages driving sales or sign-ups?

SMS vs. other marketing channels: Why it’s a must-have

Businesses today have multiple marketing channels to engage their audience. To just name a few, these other channels can include email, social media, push notifications, or paid ads.

While each has its benefits, SMS marketing stands out as a highly effective, direct, and reliable communication tool. Here’s how it compares to other channels: