Drive More Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales with SMS

Philip Manzano -

As we prepare to head into the busiest shopping weekend of the year, it’s important to ensure your eCommerce strategy is as robust as possible. And while there are many moving parts to consider, one channel that is often overlooked is SMS.

That’s right—in addition to email, social media, and ads, you can also use SMS to reach your customers and promote your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

And the best part? It’s easier than you might think.

Here are a few tips and ideas to get you started:

  1. Use SMS to remind customers of your BFCM deals.
  2. Send exclusive BFCM offers via SMS.
  3. Use SMS to create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to buy now.
  4. Use SMS to direct traffic to your website or brick-and-mortar store.
  5. Use SMS to answer customer questions about your BFCM deals.

With a little creativity, you can use SMS to make a big impact this BFCM. And here are a few examples of how to leverage SMS in BFCM.

1. Use SMS to remind customers of your BFCM deals

With all of the excitement and chaos of BFCM, it’s easy for customers to forget about your deals. So make sure you remind them! A quick SMS blast a few days before the big weekend (or even on the day of) can help jog their memory and get them excited about your offerings. You can do this by sending a general message about your BFCM deals, or by sending targeted messages to customers who have shown interest in specific products or categories.

Here are a few examples that convert:

  • “Reminder: our BFCM sale starts tomorrow! Get up to 50% off sitewide!”
  • “Don’t forget – our BFCM sale is happening now! Come in and get 30% off all clothing.”
  • “It’s Cyber Monday! Get 50% off your purchase when you use code CM50 at checkout.”

These work because they’re short, sweet, and to the point. Customers can easily see what’s on sale and how to take advantage of the deals. So, if you want your SMS messages to be effective, make sure they are clear and concise.

2. Send exclusive BFCM offers via SMS

Another great way to use SMS during BFCM is to send exclusive offers and discounts to your subscribers. This is a great way to encourage customers to shop with you, as they know they will be getting a better deal than if they shopped elsewhere. And because these offers are only available via SMS, it will also help you boost opt-ins to your list.

To do this, create a unique discount code that can be used during the BFCM sale period, and promote it via SMS. You can also include a link to your website or store so that customers can easily take advantage of the deal.

How to send exclusive BFCM offers via SMS:

  • “Get 20% off your purchase when you use code BFCM20 at checkout.”
  • “For a limited time, get 30% off all items in our BFCM sale. Just use code BFCM30 at checkout.”
  • “It’s Cyber Monday! Get 50% off your purchase when you use code CM50 at checkout.”

While it may seem obvious, it’s important to make sure that your discount codes are easy to remember and easy to find. Otherwise, customers will get frustrated and may not take advantage of the deal.

3. Use SMS to create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to buy now

When it comes to BFCM, time is of the essence. So it’s critical to create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to buy now. This can be done in several ways, but one of the most effective is to use SMS.

With SMS, you can send time-sensitive messages that let customers know when deals are about to end, or when inventory is running low. This helps create a sense of urgency and encourages customers to take action.

Here are a few examples:

  • “Today only! Get 20% off your purchase.”
  • “Hurry, sale ends tonight at midnight!”
  • “Only a few left! Get 50% off before it’s gone.”

These triggers have been proven to increase conversions because they encourage customers to buy before it’s too late. Being sent through SMS also makes them more effective, as customers are more likely to see and act on the message promptly.

4. Use SMS to direct traffic to your website or brick-and-mortar store

The goal of BFCM is to get customers to buy, so it’s important to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. One way to do this is to use SMS to direct traffic to your website or brick-and-mortar store.

But how can you drive traffic through SMS?

You can do this by sending messages with links to specific products or pages on your website or by providing directions and store hours for your brick-and-mortar location. This will help customers find what they’re looking for quickly and make it more likely that they’ll make a purchase.

Here are a few examples:

  • “Check out our BFCM deals!” (with a link to your website)
  • “Get 50% off select items in-store only!” (with store hours and directions)
  • “Shop now and get free shipping on orders over $50!” (with a link to your website)

By making it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for, you’ll be more likely to convert them into paying customers. This will also help reduce the number of abandoned carts and increase your overall BFCM sales.

5. Use SMS to keep customers updated on shipping times and delays

During BFCM, it’s not uncommon for there to be shipping delays due to the high volume of orders. So it’s important to keep customers updated on shipping times and any potential delays. This way, they can manage their expectations and avoid getting frustrated.

The best way to do this is to use SMS. With SMS, you can quickly and easily send messages to customers to update them on the status of their order. This will help keep them in the loop and reduce the chances of them becoming disgruntled.

Here are a few examples:

  • “Your order has shipped!”
  • “There may be a slight delay in shipping due to the high volume of orders. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
  • “Your order will arrive on _____.”

By keeping customers updated on shipping times and any potential delays, you can help them manage their expectations and avoid any frustration. This will also help reduce the chances of them canceling their order or requesting a refund.

Include Text in Your Marketing Mix

By using SMS to send discounts, create urgency, direct traffic, and keep customers updated, you can increase conversions, sales, and customer satisfaction. So if you’re not already using SMS, try some of the tips and examples above.