You know you should be texting your customers. The hard part is the blank screen. What do you actually say in 160 characters without sounding like a robot or a spammer? This post skips the theory and gives you SMS marketing examples you can adapt today, sorted by the job each text does.
Each sample comes with a short note on why it works and what to change. Swap in your own name, details and voice, and you’ll have a small text library ready to use.
What Every Good Business Text Has in Common
Strong texts share four parts. First, they name the sender right away, because a message from an unknown number reads like spam. Next, they give one clear reason for writing. Then they ask for one action, such as reply, tap or call. Finally, marketing texts tell people how to stop getting them.
Length matters, too. A standard text segment holds 160 characters. However, a single emoji switches the message to a different encoding, and the limit drops to 70 characters. Curly quotes pasted from a word processor can trigger the same switch. Since many platforms bill per segment, one smiley face can double or triple the cost of a send. That’s why the SMS marketing examples below use plain text. Count the length after you fill in the brackets, too.
One more thing before you copy anything: consent. Under federal rules, marketing texts generally need the customer’s written permission, and a number on an old invoice doesn’t count. Our starter guide to building a text channel covers consent, frequency and measurement. For the legal fine print, see our rundown of text marketing compliance and consent rules.
Welcome Texts: The First Message After Someone Opts In
Your first text sets expectations. The wireless industry’s messaging principles and best practices call for a confirmation text right after someone opts in, before anything else goes out. It should name your program, say how often you’ll text, explain HELP and STOP, and mention any charges. Here’s a version that covers all of it:
[Business]: Thanks for joining our text list! Up to 4 msgs a month with offers and updates. Msg and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to opt out.
Set it to send automatically the moment someone joins, online or at the counter. After that, keep the promise. If you said four a month, don’t send eight in December just because you’re busy.
Appointment Reminder SMS Examples
Reminders are the easiest texts to get right, because customers actually want them. They also tend to count as informational rather than promotional. Once you tuck an offer inside, though, treat the message as marketing. So keep reminders clean.
Dental or medical office:
Hi [First name], this is [Practice] confirming your visit on [Day] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule.
Notice what’s missing: the procedure. HIPAA’s privacy rules still apply, and anyone near the phone can read a lock screen. So leave treatment details out of every reminder.
Auto repair shop:
[Shop]: Good news, your [car] is ready for pickup. We’re open until 6 today. Questions about the work? Just reply to this text.
Home services, on the way:
[Business]: [Tech name] is on the way and should arrive around [time]. Reply here if anything has changed at the house.
That last line does real work. It invites a reply, and a reply lets you sort out parking, pets or a gate code before the truck pulls up. As a result, your tech spends less time on the phone in the driveway.
SMS Marketing Examples for Offers and Promotions
Promotional texts land best when they tie into something already on the customer’s mind, such as the weather, the calendar or a slow night. They also need to be honest. If a text says an offer ends Friday, then it has to end Friday.
Restaurant, slow weeknight:
[Restaurant]: Slow Tuesday, sweet deal. Free dessert with any 2 entrees tonight until 9pm. Just show this text. Reply STOP to opt out.
A restaurant in Montclair might send this right after the lunch rush, while people are still deciding on dinner.
HVAC or seasonal service:
[Business]: Summer is almost here. Book an AC tune-up by [date] and get [offer]. Pick a time here: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Timing does the heavy lifting. Picture an HVAC company in Toms River sending it in late May, while techs still have open slots.
Class or appointment opening:
[Studio]: Two spots just opened in Saturday’s 9am spin class. Want one? Reply YES and we’ll hold it until noon Friday.
This is scarcity done right, because it’s literally true. Still, never invent a countdown or a “last chance” that isn’t real. Retail shops have their own playbook, with VIP clubs and new-arrival alerts, and our post on promotional texting for retail and consumer businesses covers it.
Review Request Texts That Follow the Rules
The best time to ask for a review is right after a job goes well, while the customer still has their phone out. Keep the ask personal. Also, send it to everyone, not just the customers you expect to be happy.
Hi [First name], thanks for choosing [Business] today. Would you share how it went? It takes about a minute: [review link]. Honest feedback helps us improve.
One caution, though. Don’t offer a discount or gift in exchange for a review. The FTC’s rule on consumer reviews and testimonials bars incentives tied to a positive or negative review, and courts can impose civil penalties for knowing violations. Many review sites, Google included, ban incentives outright. If reviews are a weak spot, our reputation management service can build this ask into your follow-up.
Win-Back SMS Examples for Past Customers
Past customers already know your name, so a short, personal note often gets a reply. Write these like a person, not a brand. In other words, use first names and ask a real question instead of leading with a coupon.
Hi [First name], it’s [Your name] at [Business]. It’s been about a year since your last [service]. Want me to find you a time next week? Reply STOP to opt out.
Hi [First name], [Your name] from [Business] here. How is the [job] we did in [year] holding up? I read every reply myself. Reply STOP to opt out.
The second text asks for nothing, and that’s the point. It restarts a conversation, and conversations often turn into booked work. It suits a Bergen County hardscaper writing to past patio customers in late February.
Of course, only text past customers who opted in to marketing messages. If you have an older list with proper consent, our database reactivation service can help turn those contacts back into paying customers.
How to Adapt These Texts for Your Business
Treat these SMS marketing examples as a starting point, not a script. Before any of them goes out, run it through a quick checklist:
- Read it out loud. If it sounds like a press release, rewrite it the way you’d talk at the counter.
- Keep one ask per text. Two calls to action split attention, so pick the one that matters most.
- Watch the clock. Federal TCPA rules bar telephone solicitations before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. at the recipient’s location. Schedule well inside that window.
- Test one change at a time. For example, try a new opening line or a different send day, then compare replies and bookings.
- Save your winners. Store the texts that work as templates, so your whole team sends the same clear message.
Questions About SMS Marketing Examples
Can I use these texts word for word?
You can, but they’ll sound more natural in your own voice. Keep the structure (sender, reason, one action, opt-out) and change the rest. After all, your customers know how you talk.
Do I need “Reply STOP” in every text?
Industry guidelines call for opt-out instructions in your welcome text, and many businesses add them to every promotional text because it’s the easiest habit to keep. Federal rules also treat replies like STOP, QUIT and UNSUBSCRIBE as valid opt-outs. You must honor them within ten business days at most, but most texting platforms can process STOP instantly, so turn that setting on.
How many SMS examples should I start with?
Three is plenty: a welcome text, a reminder and one offer or win-back message. Get those working first, then add more.
Put One of These Texts to Work This Month
You don’t need a big launch. Instead, pick one sample, adapt it and send it to a small group that opted in. Then read the replies and adjust. Samaroo Solutions is based in northern New Jersey and helps businesses across the state write, schedule and track texts like these. If you’d like help turning these samples into a working program, tell us about your business.
