40+ promotional text message examples you’ll love

Looking for ways to spice up your SMS marketing campaigns and boost sales? You’re not alone, and the opportunity is real. In our 2025 survey of over 2,800 global consumers, 31% said they want to receive promotional offers via text messaging. That’s a sizable audience ready to engage.

But crafting the perfect promotional SMS isn’t always easy. You want to grab your audience’s attention, showcase your products or services, and drive conversions – all in just a few short sentences.

That’s where we come in. In this post, we’ve gathered over 40 examples of smart promotional text messages from top brands in various industries.

A promotional text message is a type of SMS marketing that businesses use to inform customers about special offers, discounts, or time-sensitive deals. These messages grab attention, create a sense of urgency, and ultimately drive sales.

Perhaps you think of promotional texts as the digital equivalent of traditional advertising like billboards – but instead of just catching glances, they land right in your customers’ pockets through their mobile devices.

But a better comparison is to email marketing or even a one-on-one conversation with a sales representative. Unlike a traditional out-of-home (OOH) advertisement that’s available to anyone passing by, SMS campaign subscribers have opted in to hear from you. They want and expect to get updates and offers.

This represents a more permission-based marketing approach that can result in high response rates and deeper customer relationships.

With a well-crafted promotional SMS message, you can:

• Announce a flash sale that expires in 24 hours
• Share a coupon code for 20% off in honor of a holiday weekend
• Invite loyal customers to an exclusive VIP event with early access to new products
• …And more!

Roughly a quarter of consumers have made a purchase from a text in the last year. However, our 2025 research also found that over 40% of consumers say that frequent or excessive marketing messages are what frustrates them the most about promotional messages from brands. Striking the right balance is key – and only sending timely, relevant offers rather than overwhelming your audience. Following a few best practices also helps increase click-through rates, like:

• Get opt-in consent: Our research shows that 58% of consumers say they want to choose their preferred channel when opting in to communications, and many expect brands to offer that flexibility. When SMS is one of those options, it’s essential that you get clear, informed consent to contact them. Make sure subscribers know what they’re signing up for, and always include an easy way for them to unsubscribe, like by texting a short code.
• Keep it concise: Aim for 160 characters max to ensure your message fits in a single text and is easy to read. Concise messages respect your customers’ time and attention so they may be more likely to read and act upon them – especially in the long-term.
• Personalize messages: Use the customer’s name or location to personalize your texts and make them more relevant and valuable to each recipient. Personalization increases engagement and builds a stronger connection between your brand and customers.
• Avoid public URL shorteners and all caps: These tactics trigger spam filters and make your messages look unprofessional. Maintain a clear and trustworthy image to build customer confidence.
• Ensure compliance: Work with your legal team to ensure your text messages comply with all applicable laws and regulations. SMS compliance protects your business from legal issues and shows your commitment to ethical marketing practices.
• Mind your timing: Avoid sending messages late at night or early in the morning when customers are likely to find them intrusive. Respectful timing shows you value your customers’ personal space.
• Include a clear call to action (CTA): Encourage customers to take the next step, whether it’s shopping for a sale, claiming a coupon, or signing up for an event. A clear CTA guides customers toward the desired action and drives measurable results for your campaign.
• Prioritize customer needs: Provide genuine value rather than simply promoting your products. Center your messages on solving customer problems or improving their experience with your brand to improve customer retention and loyalty.

And as a general best practice: Be creative! In his 2024 Email Camp session about SMS strategies, Alfredo Salkeld, Brand Director at Sinch SimpleTexting, stressed that marketers should feel free to be creative when they get started with using SMS for marketing campaigns and think about what they would want to receive.

The difference between promotional and transactional SMS messages lies in how you use them. Broadly speaking, promotional text messages are for marketing purposes. This could include messages like:

• Discount codes for an upcoming sale

• Product launch announcements

• A limited-time offer for loyal customers

On the other hand, transactional messages deliver essential updates. This includes messages like:

• Appointment reminders

• Order confirmations and shipping updates

• Account alerts or one-time passwords

Knowing the difference helps you stay compliant and build stronger customer relationships.

It can be difficult to visualize these best practices when they’re just instructions.

But here’s a solution: text message templates for promotional and transactional SMS. These ready-to-use SMS templates and examples put best practices into action. Simply copy, paste, and customize these templates to fit your brand’s unique voice and products.

Welcome SMS messages set expectations, build trust, and drive engagement right from the start for new customers. This template can help you create a warm, inviting introduction to your brand. Using automation for welcome messages ensures every new customer receives a consistent experience, without adding extra work for your team.

Or, you can use this one to provide an enticing offer and encourage quick action.

Opening a new store location? That’s a big deal – and the perfect opportunity to get your SMS subscribers excited and engaged. Use personalization, exclusive offers, and a sense of urgency to drive that foot traffic and create buzz around your new location.

This promotional text message example can help you announce a VIP grand opening:

Got a new product or promotion you’re itching to share with your customers? Text them.

Use SMS to give subscribers an exclusive sneak peek, a special discount, or early access to your latest and greatest offerings. It’s like having a direct line to your biggest fans.

Use this template to offer early access to the sale.

There’s something special about limited edition products. They’re exclusive; they’re unique; and they have that “gotta have it” factor that customers can’t resist.

The secret to using text messages to promote limited-edition releases is to create a fear of missing out (FOMO). Also, make your subscribers feel special with early access, exclusive discounts, or even a sneak-peek, behind-the-scenes look.

You can use this template to give subscribers limited VIP access.

Want to create a sense of excitement and urgency around your products? That’s what flash sales do best.

These short-term, high-discount promotions move inventory, boost sales, and build buzz around your brand.

Or, try this template to create a sense of urgency.

Give your subscribers the red-carpet treatment with early access sales.

When you give a select group of people first dibs on your latest products or promotions, they feel like they’re part of an exclusive club. The result? Higher customer engagement, stronger brand loyalty, and more frequent purchases.

This example can help you offer early access to holiday shopping.

Black Friday is like the holiday rush at a busy airport. If you’re not using SMS marketing to reach your customers, you’re allowing your competitors to board the flight while you’re stuck at the terminal.

Our 2024 BFCM communications survey of over 1,200 consumers found that they wanted to start hearing from brands as early as October 29, a full month before BFCM, while 21.9% prefer even earlier. SMS is a great channel for engaging shoppers early – here’s an example of how you might word that.

Use this template when you want to highlight budget-friendly options.

For some shoppers, clearance racks are like a treasure hunt. The differences between the “original prices” and the marked-down rates draw them in and leave the impression these deals are just too good to pass up.

You can use this promotional text message template when you want to create a sense of urgency for your clearance sale.

Everyone loves a good deal, and discounts tap into that universal urge to get more for less. In our 2025 research, 51% of consumers said price drop promotions catch their attention, and 40% are drawn to percentage-off offers. That makes a good case for using discounts to grow your SMS list!

Here’s an example you could use:

This template is perfect for offering tiered discounts:

Mobile coupons delivered via SMS drive in-store traffic, boost sales and encourage customer loyalty. Plus, with the ability to track redemption rates and customer behavior, you get juicy insights into what offers resonate with your audience.

This example is great for promoting mobile app usage:

Free shipping is a powerful motivator for online shoppers. Our 2025 research found that 58% of consumers find free shipping offers very interesting.

Free shipping removes a key barrier to purchase and provides your customers with a compelling reason to choose your brand over competitors. Trackable links and unique promo codes also attribute sales directly to your SMS campaign.

Or, use this promotional example to emphasize convenience:

The average shopping cart abandonment rate globally is a staggering 73%. That means nearly three out of every four potential customers leave items behind in their online carts.

But abandoned cart reminders turn those lost sales opportunities in omnichannel ecommerce into sales. Timely text messages to customers who’ve left items in their cart gently nudge them to complete their purchase while the intent to buy is still fresh in their minds.

You can also use this concise reminder.

When it comes to brands they’re loyal to, customers expect a little something extra. And what better way to show your customers you care than by sending them a unique discount on their special day?

Here’s what’s great about birthday discounts: They show your customers you really care. That you’re not just another faceless brand, but a company that values their business and appreciates them as individuals.

Here’s another good example to make a subscriber feel special on their birthday.

With the right message, transform any event into a must-attend spectacle. Whether it’s a seasonal sale, an exclusive webinar, or an in-store event, the excitement begins the moment your SMS hits their phones.

You can also use promotional messages to give them a teaser of the event:

Feedback requests are like sitting down for a coffee with your customers and asking, “So, what do you think?” It opens up that friendly dialogue and makes every customer feel heard and valued.

You can also use this conversational example to request feedback:

Product reviews are like a compass for online shopping. They help future customers make smart choices and give you clear feedback on how your products are doing.

You can use this template to encourage feedback:

Want to keep your customers coming back for more? A loyalty program might just be the answer. Our 2025 research found that 43% of consumers find loyalty/rewards points very interesting in promotional messaging.

These SMS examples are the perfect way to keep your loyalty program top of mind. With consistently scheduled text messages you can remind customers of their points balance, alert them to new rewards or perks, encourage them to take advantage of exclusive offers, and celebrate milestones and achievements.

Alternatively, you can use this template if you have a VIP program.

Everyone loves to feel like a VIP. And by offering exclusive deals and perks to your best customers via SMS, you can make them feel like true insiders.

VIP specials make your top customers feel valued and appreciated and create a sense of exclusivity and belonging.

Use this template to invite VIPs to an in-store event:

Suggest complementary products to your customers based on their current or past purchases. Cross-selling and upselling can increase average order value and customer lifetime value – a win-win for both your business and your customers.

Or, you can use this template to encourage someone to explore something else:

Let’s be real: people love free stuff. And when you combine the power of giveaways with the immediacy of text message marketing, magic happens.

Think about it: Giveaways are fun and engaging – a surefire way to get people excited about your brand.

You can use this promotional text message to create urgency:

“Buy One, Get One” promotions have been around for as long as we can remember, and offer a free item when someone purchases the same item or another of equal or higher value.

Here’s an example of a BOGO promotion:

Or, here’s one you could use for repeat customers:

Looking for some inspiration to kickstart your promotional SMS campaigns? These case studies show the real-world impact of SMS marketing done right.

Vail Resorts, a leading global mountain resort operator, knew they needed to improve their direct channel marketing – specifically targeted mobile marketing – to create a more consistent, personalized experience for each customer.

With Sinch’s help, Vail Resorts created a broader opt-in SMS program that delivered engaging, personalized messages to guests.

The result? Stronger relationships and higher sales.

For automobile manufacturers, maintaining strong customer relationships can be challenging due to the lengthy customer life cycle.

Nissan Europe tackled this head-on by partnering with Sinch and Adobe Campaign to make mobile messaging the heart of its customer relations strategy. With personalized Rich SMS campaigns, Nissan Europe can now connect with customers at the right time with relevant information, whether it’s a reminder for routine maintenance or an alert about an exciting new model.

Parfym.se, an established player in the Nordic online beauty retail scene, knew it needed to improve its SMS strategy to stand out during the hectic Black Friday shopping season.

With Sinch’s user-friendly platform, Parfym.se created stunning, personalized landing pages and engaging content that transformed run-of-the-mill SMS promos into immersive, must-click experiences.

The results were incredible: open rates soared above 90%, with most customers engaging with the messages within 15 minutes of receiving them.

When executed with precision and relevance, a well-timed, visually appealing text can be the secret weapon in any retailer’s holiday marketing lineup.

These templates are a great starting point for your SMS marketing strategy. But they’re also just one piece of the puzzle – choosing the right SMS provider and understanding the importance of an SMS API is key to getting started on the right foot.

But that’s easier than you think. With Sinch, you can be up and running in just a few simple steps:

1. Sign up for a free account on the Sinch Customer Dashboard.
2. Get a free virtual phone number for sending test messages.
3. Get credentials.
4. Select a language and follow our instructions to set up a simple application.

Sign up today and start sending promotional text messages that will have your customers clicking and converting in no time.