In sales, speed and personalization are everything, and SMS delivers both.
It gives your team the advantage to connect, convert, and close deals before potential customers turn to your competitors.
Here’s what we’ll cover below:
- Main reasons why SMS cuts through digital noise and still works
- Key types and examples of text messages you can use in sales
- How to seamlessly integrate SMS into your sales funnel
- Tips, tools, and best practices for maximizing SMS results
Why SMS still works for sales in 2025
SMS might not be new, but it’s far from obsolete. As new channels like WhatsApp and RCS grow, SMS remains the foundation for fast, direct customer conversations—often serving as the trusted fallback when other options just don’t deliver.
Here are some of the main reasons why SMS is working for modern sales teams:
- Unmatched reach: 92% of mobile users still use SMS, making it the most universal way to connect with prospects at scale. Since text messages don’t require internet access or special apps, you can reliably reach prospects on any mobile device, almost anywhere in the world.
- Higher conversion rates: Sales teams who follow up with SMS after initial contact see a 112.6% increase in lead-to-engagement conversions.
- Preferred by consumers: 75% of people say they want to receive offers by SMS, because messages are easy to access and arrive at the right time.
- Personal and direct: SMS stands out in a crowded inbox, feels personal, and is less likely to be ignored.
- Fast, easy automation: SMS integrates with your CRM and sales tools so you can reach leads instantly and automate follow-ups.
- Immediate results: With open rates as high as 98%, most texts are read within minutes—helping your team start conversations and close deals faster.
Key types and examples of sales text messages
Here are some of the most popular types of sales text messages for lead generation, engagement, and pipeline acceleration:
1. Welcome & follow-up messages
Quick replies can make all the difference when converting new leads. A friendly text right after someone expresses interest keeps your brand top of mind and moves prospects closer to a sale.
Example:
Hi Jordan! Thanks for your interest in our offer. Here’s everything you need to know about our unlimited data plan: [link]
Why it works: Fast response builds trust and gives the lead immediate next steps.
2. Flash sale or limited-time offer
Drive instant conversions during short windows, like weekend sales or holiday drops. This is ideal for eCommerce, beauty, or food delivery brands.
Example:
Flash sale ends in 3 hours! Get 30% off all shoes today. Shop now: [link]
Why it works: It reaches customers instantly, critical when timing is everything.
3. Lead qualification
In industries like telco, insurance, or education, SMS can qualify and segment new leads fast after they express interest.
Example:
Hi Mike! Thanks for your interest. Are you looking for an individual or family plan? Reply 1 or 2.
Why it works: Customers get a quick, friction-less experience. You collect data that helps personalize the next step.
Pro tip: For even more efficiency, use AI and conversational SMS to qualify leads instantly and route them to the right rep or workflow.
4. Abandoned cart recovery
Recover lost revenue by reminding customers to finish their purchase. Cart reminder SMS messages work well for retail, fashion, and direct-to-consumer brands.
Example:
Why it works: SMS is short, personal, and tends to reach customers instantly, making it ideal for quick reminders.
Pro tip: For some shoppers, a timely email can also provide added details or incentives. Pairing SMS with email in a coordinated campaign can increase cart recovery rates. You can use SMS for urgency and email for rich content or special offers.
5. New arrivals or product alerts
These messages are ideal for fashion, tech, or lifestyle brands launching new collections.
Example:
Our summer drop just landed. Shop fresh arrivals now before sizes run out: [link]
Why it works: SMS is short, personal, and tends to reach customers instantly, making it ideal for quick reminders.
Pro tip: Drives early traffic from loyal or high-intent customers.
6. Loyalty rewards & engagement
Keep your top customers engaged with point updates and exclusive perks. These types of messages are perfect for restaurants, retailers, and hospitality brands.
Example:
You’ve earned 200 points! Redeem them for $10 off your next order: [link]
Why it works: It feels personal and creates a strong sense of brand connection.
7. Appointment or delivery reminders
Healthcare, service providers, or delivery apps can send these to reduce no-shows and boost satisfaction.
Example:
Reminder: Your appointment with us is tomorrow at 3 PM. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule.
Why it works: Keeps customers informed and engaged at the right moment.
CUSTOMER STORY
How Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz increased appointment bookings by 82%
Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz partnered with Infobip to enhance patient communication and streamline operations.
Integrating our conversational communications platform with their CRM allowed them to adopt WhatsApp, SMS, RCS, and chatbot support.
This led to a 63.3% reduction in patient response time and an 82% increase in bookings for appointments, medical tests, and check-ups.
8. Seasonal reactivation campaigns
These are great for telco, retail, or beauty brands that see seasonal buying spikes.
Example:
Ready for back-to-school? Reconnect your plan today and get 1 month free: [link]
Why it works: Targets inactive users with context-driven messaging.
Tip: Use behavioral tags from a customer data platform to trigger SMS drips based on inactivity or missed conversion points.
9. FOMO and urgency boosters
Use social proof and limited availability to close the deal.
Example:
Only 12 spots left for this week’s Maldives deal. Tap to book your dream escape: [link]
Why it works: Creates urgency with scarcity and high desirability.
10. Post-sales: Feedback and review requests
Local businesses and online retailers can gather post-purchase reviews via SMS.
Example:
Thanks for your order! Tell us how we did. It only takes 30 seconds: [link]
Why it works: Captures feedback while the experience is still fresh.
Have your own use case in mind?
Sign up for a free Infobip account and give our platform a try.
How to integrate SMS into your sales funnel
SMS doesn’t sit outside your sales strategy, it enhances it at every stage. From lead capture to post-sale support, SMS adds speed, personalization, and automation that email and calls can’t always deliver.
Here is a short breakdown for every stage:
1. Lead capture: Boost form fills and qualification
Start strong by capturing leads with mobile-first forms or landing pages that include SMS opt-ins.
- Trigger instant welcome texts or qualification questions.
- Use shortcodes at events or in social ads to let people opt in quickly via text (e.g., “Text DEMO to 12345”).
- Use QR codes at physical locations or in print materials (like flyers or booths) to drive people to a signup form or SMS flow with a quick scan.
Example:
Thanks for signing up! We’ll text you a quick demo scheduler — reply YES to confirm.
2. Lead nurturing: Stay top-of-mind without spamming
Not all leads convert right away. Use SMS drip sequences to nudge them through the funnel with:
- Demo reminders
- Case studies or product tips
- Deadline-driven offers
Example:
Still comparing options? See how Infobip helped a team like yours scale 4× faster: [link]
- Use double opt-ins to confirm interest and reduce spam complaints.
- Offer SMS sign-up during email capture or account creation.
3. CRM sync & rep handoff: Automate the transition
When a lead moves from marketing to sales, timing matters.
Examples of how you can sync SMS with your CRM:
- Alert reps immediately when a lead replies to SMS
- Auto-tag SMS replies (e.g., “Interested,” “Later,” “Booked”) to trigger next steps
- Route hot leads directly into Salesforce or HubSpot for faster follow-up
4. Sales follow-ups: Keep deals moving
Whether it’s confirming a meeting or checking in after a proposal, SMS is your no-nonsense follow-up channel.
- Use templates for meeting reminders, pricing nudges, or social proof
- Personalize based on previous interactions from your CRM
Example:
Hi Sam, just checking in. Want to revisit the pricing we discussed last week? Tap to book a call: [link]
5. Post-sale: Stay connected and reduce churn
The sale isn’t the end, it’s the start of retention.
Use SMS to support onboarding, gather feedback, and upsell:
- Send activation tips, links to support, or onboarding checklists
- Trigger satisfaction surveys or NPS
- Promote new features or upgrades based on usage data
Example:
Your dashboard’s ready! Need help getting started? Here’s a 2-min setup guide: [link]
Benefits of SMS for sales teams
Whether you’re working with warm leads or cold prospects, SMS helps your sales team move faster and smarter.
Here are some of the main benefits:
Faster replies, faster deals
SMS messages typically receive a response within 90 seconds, making it one of the fastest channels for lead engagement.
That means your team can:
- Qualify leads in real time
- Confirm meetings with minimal back-and-forth
- Keep momentum strong throughout the sales cycle
- Follow up with personalized demo reminders
- Send relevant upsell offers based on purchase history
- Trigger messages based on inactivity or milestone dates
Automation that reduces costs and increases ROI
Unlike email, SMS doesn’t require design resources or long copywriting.
Here’s how SMS helps you do more with less:
- Minimal production, maximum impact: Text-only messages take minutes to create and send, but they can drive outsized results, especially when time-sensitive.
- Lower content costs: SMS campaigns don’t require images, HTML formatting, or visual QA, which reduces reliance on creative teams.
- Real-time analytics to optimize ROI: See which SMS messages drive clicks, conversions, and follow-ups, and use those insights to refine future sequences.
Seamless CRM and sales stack integration
To maximize the impact of your SMS sales strategy, it’s critical to sync it with your broader sales stack. Integrating SMS with CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot enables your team to:
- Automatically update lead status based on SMS replies like “Interested” or “Call me”
- Trigger sales workflows or handoffs when a lead takes action
- Track every interaction across the customer journey from first contact to closed deal
If you need flexibility, SMS APIs allow you to build and refine your SMS workflows as your sales process evolves.
Best practices for SMS sales messaging
Whether you’re running outreach campaigns or closing deals, crafting the right message makes all the difference. These best practices will help you boost conversions while staying compliant.
Get permission through opt-ins
Never skip this step. Consent builds trust and ensures legal SMS compliance.
Quick tips:
- Use double opt-ins to confirm interest and reduce spam complaints.
- Offer SMS sign-up during email capture or account creation.
Example:
Text JOIN to 50505 to receive early-bird offers and VIP updates.
CUSTOMER STORY
How TLC Marketing automated SMS validation and campaign efficiency
TLC Marketing needed a smarter way to manage and validate entries from their SMS coupon campaigns. Manual processes were slowing them down and limiting scale.
By partnering with Infobip, they integrated a premium short code SMS system to streamline opt-ins and automate validation workflows.
With Infobip, they were able to:
- Eliminate manual entry validation for SMS campaigns
- Handle incoming SMS traffic at scale for major retail promotions
- Improve campaign speed and effectiveness across South African markets
The result? Easier, faster campaign execution and better experiences for global consumer brands.
Personalize beyond the first name
Generic texts get ignored. Personalization increases response rates and relevance.
Ways to personalize:
- Reference recent actions: “Still thinking about that blue sofa?”
- Mention location-based offers: “NYC customers get free delivery this weekend.”
- Tailor based on segment: “As a repeat buyer, your next purchase ships free.”
CUSTOMER STORY
How Zingala used centralized data to personalize customer experiences
Zingala, a leader in flexible consumer payments, needed a smarter way to personalize communications across the customer lifecycle.
With scattered data and manual campaign processes, launching SMS and email campaigns required cross-department coordination—and often delayed go-to-market timelines.
By partnering with Infobip, they were able to:
- Consolidate member data with People CDP to create a unified customer view
- Automate SMS campaigns based on user behavior and preferences
- Trigger timely, personalized messages at scale across multiple channels
The result? A 53% SMS click-through rate and faster execution of hyper-targeted customer journeys.
Use short, clear CTAs and links
Every SMS should have one goal. Make it clear, clickable, and easy to act on.
Best practices:
- Limit CTAs to 4-6 words such as: “Book your demo now”
- Shorten URLs (branded links) to save characters
- Use action verbs: “Reply YES,” “Tap here,” “Reserve your spot”
Example:
Let’s get your free trial started. Tap to begin: [short.link]
Tips:
- Respect timing and decide on when and how often to send
- Right message, wrong time = lost opportunity
- Best hours: 10 AM–4 PM local time
- Avoid weekends unless it’s a promo or alert
- Limit frequency: 2–4 messages per week (max), or fewer for high-ticket sales
CUSTOMER STORY
How Rappi used Sunday SMS campaigns to drive instant food orders
Rappi, a rapidly growing delivery platform in Latin America, needed a reliable, real-time way to engage users with personalized, timely offers. Their goal was to boost weekend activity and re-engage dormant users with segmented, high-impact messaging.
They turned to Infobip to power targeted SMS campaigns that delivered results in minutes, not days. By partnering with us, they were able to:
- Segment customers based on order history and behavior
- Launch time-sensitive campaigns (like Sunday meal offers) with instant delivery
- Track real-time engagement and campaign performance
The result? A single Sunday SMS blast generated 150 orders in just one hour, proving SMS is still unmatched when timing and personalization align.
Follow regulations: stay compliant globally
Compliance isn’t optional – it protects your business and your audience.
Keep in mind:
- Always include opt-out language such as: “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
- Use approved sender IDs in restricted countries
- Categorize messages correctly (marketing vs. transactional)
Related:
How to choose the right SMS sales software
When sales performance, lead conversion, and customer retention are at stake, choosing the right SMS sales software can be the difference between hitting quota and missing it.
Make sure the platform you choose includes these must-have features:
- Two-way messaging: Enables personalized conversations with prospects in real time.
- Automation & workflows: Lets you schedule sequences, follow-ups, and reminders based on lead behavior.
- CRM integration: Can sync with CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or your existing tech stack to streamline lead management.
- Personalization at scale: Allows dynamic fields for names, locations, last purchase, etc.
- Compliance tools: Can handle global opt-out mechanisms, consent tracking, and sender ID registration.
- Reliability: Provides high delivery rates through strong connections with mobile carriers.
- Real-time analytics: Enables tracking replies, clicks, and conversions in a unified dashboard.
PRODUCT FEATURE
How Infobip’s send-time optimization (STO) improves SMS campaign results
Timing is everything in SMS campaigns, and Infobip’s send-time optimization (STO) feature makes it effortless. Instead of guessing when to send your messages, STO automatically delivers each message at the moment your customer is most likely to engage.
The best thing about STO is that it analyses past customer behaviour, such as link click or message interactions. This is why it’s able to determine the optimal delivery window within a 24-hour period.
STO is available across channels and adapts based on channel-specific metrics:
- SMS: Optimizes delivery based on click-through rates
- Email: Adjusts for open and click behavior
- Push, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram: Uses engagement patterns specific to each channel
- Voice: Based on pickup rates
Activate send-time optimization (STO) to send each message when your customer is most likely to respond, based on their past interaction behavior. STO can be enabled per message inside your flow, and even paired with a delivery window (e.g., “between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time”).
Sealing the deal: wrap-up on SMS sales
SMS helps your sales team reach buyers exactly when it counts—no more waiting around or getting lost in crowded inboxes.
When used respectfully and with permission, SMS is actually a highly preferred channel. It’s fast, easy to access, and always relevant when done right. With unbeatable reach, sky-high open rates, and messages that feel truly personal, it can put you a step ahead of the competition.
Plug it into your sales funnel, try out the tips we’ve shared, and watch your conversations—and your results—take off.
Need more guidance?
Related products:
FAQ about SMS sales
1–3 messages per week is the sweet spot. Too many messages can lead to opt-outs, so test frequency, monitor engagement, and let performance guide you.
Focus on value, timing, and clear opt-in, and your messages will be welcomed—not ignored or seen as spam.
Late mornings (10–11 AM) or early evenings (4–6 PM) typically perform best. Avoid early mornings, late nights, or weekends unless your audience prefers it.
You can connect SMS to platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Marketo via API or use pre-built integrations.
This lets you:
- Sync contacts and conversations
- Trigger SMS based on CRM events
- Track replies and conversion history
To stay compliant globally:
- Always get opt-in before sending SMS
- Include opt-out options in every message
- Avoid sending during restricted hours (e.g., late night, weekends in some countries)
- Be aware of local regulations as they vary by region
Infobip’s built-in tools help you follow all global and local SMS regulations, from opt-in and opt-out management to sender ID approval.
You can automate consent processes and rely on real-time updates to stay ahead of changing rules—giving you peace of mind as you engage your customers, wherever they are.
If you have specific questions, feel free to reach out to our experts.
SMS is actually one of the most efficient and cost-effective communication channels available. There are no design or coding requirements, and setup is quick—especially when integrated with your existing CRM or sales tools. You can learn more about Infobip’s SMS pricing here.
