Insights
Can you feel it? That’s love in the air! Valentine’s Day is coming and it’s the ideal time for retailers to get the year right after a slow January.
But Valentine’s Day represents more than just roses and chocolates for businesses. In 2024, Valentine’s Day spending in the U.S. hit $25.8 billion, with consumers averaging $185.81 each. How much of that is your brand capturing?
You can do much better than adding a simple heart emoji to your subject lines. With personalized text offers and timed reminders for flash sales and other events, mobile messaging puts your brand in your customers’ pockets right when they’re making key purchase decisions.
Want customers to fall in love with your brand this February? Here are 10 tips on how to create mobile Valentine’s Day campaigns that drive sales and loyalty.
Modern mobile channels give you countless ways to deliver highly personalized customer experiences.
With SMS marketing, you can target customers based on their past purchases and preferences. RCS messaging goes a step further, adding rich media cards to showcase personalized product recommendations. WhatsApp facilitates interactive conversations, helping you uncover precisely what gifts your customers are looking for. Even push notifications adapt to app browsing behavior for hyper-relevant engagement.
Here are a few tips and messaging examples to make your Valentine’s Day SMS mobile campaigns more personal across channels in your steps towards an omnichannel experience:
The data you gather now shapes relationships year-round. For example, you could track which personalized messages drive engagement, or note which product recommendations lead to purchases. These insights will help you create even more relevant campaigns for future holidays and everyday communications.
Turn Valentine’s shopping into a fun, omnichannel marketing experience. Interactive, personalized shopping not only makes the process enjoyable, but also builds customer loyalty and drives repeat sales by creating memorable experiences.
You could start with a playful click-to-chat ad on Instagram, using fun language like, “Find your perfect match!” which invites users to discover personalized gifts by connecting them to an AI chatbot connected to WhatsApp.
The assistant could ask questions about Valentine’s interests and style preferences, showing product cards based on their answers.
Afterwards, you could give them personalized gift suggestions, with special offers unlocked through fun, mini games like fortune cookies or matching cards. And in the process, you’re bringing shoppers closer to the perfect gift while also encouraging them to have fun, which will help them have a more meaningful connection with your brand.
Start creating buzz weeks before Valentine’s Day with a strategic message sequence that guides customers from discovery to purchase.
Three weeks out, generate excitement and early browsing with an email featuring your Valentine’s collection and exclusive limited time offers. Two weeks before, send an MMS message featuring your best-selling gifts with a countdown timer. As February 14 approaches, use RCS for retail to highlight limited-quantity items and delivery cutoff dates.
As an example, here’s how a luxury retailer might run their Valentine’s Day marketing campaign for their subscribers:
Track engagement across each channel to understand which messages drive the most clicks and conversions. This gives you the power to optimize timing and messaging for even stronger results in future campaigns.
Use RCS messaging to create immersive Valentine’s shopping experiences. Instead of just plain text, RCS turns messages into visually stunning and interactive shopping journeys that can spark romance and make gift-giving a breeze.
Let customers swipe through product carousels showcasing roses, chocolates, and other gifts, with high-res images that make details pop and help them choose the perfect item. Plus, you can add tappable buttons like “For Him” or “Just Friends” that make gift selection easy and personal.
Consider using the following rich features to elevate your Valentine’s campaigns:
Every feature makes the experience smoother, more engaging, and more personal, leading to higher conversions and engaged customers.
Mobile marketing is your direct line to customers who love a great deal – so treat them like VIPs. Give your SMS subscribers first dibs on limited-edition products, early bird pricing, and exclusive discounts.
You could try a text like: “VIP access granted: Shop our Valentine’s collection 24 hours before anyone else. Plus, get 20% off when you order in the next 3 hours.”
You could also create FOMO by layering exclusive deals across channels, like:
Track which exclusives drive the most engagement and note patterns in the timing, offer types, and channels. For example, maybe a three-hour flash sale outperforms a weekend-long discount, or morning texts might see higher conversion rates than afternoon pushes. Use those insights to refine your next seasonal campaign – because when customers know your deals deliver real value, they’re more likely to stay subscribed and engaged year-round.
Don’t let cold feet stop a Valentine’s Day purchase. Smart recovery messaging across channels can reignite shopping momentum and save sales.
Time your recovery messages strategically: A WhatsApp message one hour after abandonment catches shoppers still in decision mode.
Or you could use an RCS message 24 hours later showing their saved items with real-time inventory alerts. You could even use SMS 48 hours before the Valentine’s delivery cutoff to create a sense of urgency, perhaps sweetening the deal with free express shipping.
Each channel has its own strengths for re-engaging your subscribers. Where RCS vs WhatsApp is concerned, WhatsApp can be used for interactive support for sizing questions while RCS can help you showcase products in rich detail. And SMS, because of its wide reach, creates urgency with time-sensitive offers.
Track which recovery tactics work best. Some customers might respond to scarcity (“Only 3 left”), while others will need social proof (“Top-rated Valentine’s gift”).
Who doesn’t love an exclusive offer? Promote special deals like extra discounts and free shipping for those on your SMS list. Offering exclusive Valentine’s Day pricing is a great way to convince them to opt in to your brand’s messaging program.
But once they’ve opted in, make sure they stick around. If your subscribers don’t see the value of your SMS program after Valentine’s Day, they might unsubscribe. Send compelling post-purchase content, like a link to a video tutorial for the product they bought.
Create connections across channels that keep subscribers engaged. Use SMS to unlock special perks on other platforms – this could be codes for VIP email newsletter access, exclusive mobile app features, or early access to social media drops.
Think beyond promotional text messages:
Show subscribers they made the right choice by subscribing. When they see consistent value across all touchpoints, they’re more likely to stay subscribed long after Valentine’s Day ends.
February is already the shortest month and Valentine’s Day happens right in the middle, so you won’t have a lot of time for your campaign. Use this to your advantage. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is real, and using language like “limited time only” in your messages encourages customers to act quickly.
Strategic timing across channels and a multichannel marketing campaign can amplify this natural urgency.
Try starting with an email showcasing your full Valentine’s collection and following it with RCS holiday marketing messages featuring visual countdowns for early bird pricing.
If there’s only a limited number of a specific item in stock, the “Only a few left” alert works across all channels. Another good urgency-driving technique is to send messages linking to a countdown clock for lightning deals due to expire.
Urgency should feel authentic, not manufactured. When you alert customers that “Only 3 bouquets remain in stock,” that number needs to be real. Combine genuine scarcity with helpful reminders about ordering deadlines to naturally drive customers towards a purchase.
SMS and email work well together. SMS can create that urgency we discussed above, whereas email is great for long-form communication. And today’s mobile messaging solutions offer even more ways to create seamless experiences.
For example, you could use SMS or RCS to let subscribers know about limited-time sales, last-chance items, and shipping deadlines. Then send emails with additional content that isn’t as time-sensitive, like on-sale product galleries and more details of your offers.
Your Valentine’s Day campaign data tells a love story about what your customers truly want. Track engagement across channels to understand which messages make their hearts flutter!
Test different approaches: Does RCS with product carousels outperform traditional SMS? Do morning messages see higher conversion rates than evening sends? Which channel drives more first-time buyers?
Watch for patterns in your metrics:
Use these insights to strengthen your relationship with customers through more targeted, effective campaigns all year round.
Not sure where to start with your Valentine’s SMS strategy? Strapped for time? We’ve got you covered. Here are nine SMS templates to inspire you, complete with opt-out text to make sure your messages stay compliant and customer-friendly.
1. Get ready to steal hearts. Members-only Valentine’s deal: 25% off our most-loved collection. Use code VIPVAL at checkout. Shop now: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(160 characters)
2. Early access granted. You’re invited to shop our Valentine’s Day collection 24hrs before anyone else, with free overnight shipping: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(158 characters)
3. Members save more this Valentine’s Day. Spend $75, get $25 off. Double your rewards points through Feb 14. Shop your exclusive deal: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(160 characters)
1. Your Valentine’s picks are waiting. The [product] you added is almost sold out. Complete your order now to guarantee delivery by Feb 14: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(160 characters)
2. Don’t let your Valentine’s gift slip away. We saved your cart, but popular items sell fast this time of year. Finish your purchase: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(138 characters)
3. Still thinking about that perfect gift? Your cart misses you. Order in the next 3 hours to keep your 20% discount: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(142 characters)
1. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. Need a perfect last-minute gift? Order within 2 hours for guaranteed delivery. Browse our top picks: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(157 characters)
2. Forgot Valentine’s Day? We’ve got you covered. Same-day pickup available at your nearest store. See what’s in stock: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(144 characters)
3. Time’s running out for Valentine’s delivery. Order by 3 PM today for overnight shipping. Plus, use code RUSH for 15% off: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out
(149 characters)
Valentine’s Day mobile messaging opens doors to deeper customer connections and higher sales. Mix in omnichannel personalization, interactivity, and perfectly timed messages across channels to create campaigns that shine.
Kick off your campaign with one of our proven templates and experiment with tailored offers, creative messages, and interactive formats to see what resonates best with your audience.
Want to make your Valentine’s Day SMS campaigns unforgettable and profitable? Try the templates above or reach out to our team to create campaigns that increase loyalty and boost your bottom line.