Text messages get opened. Emails sit in spam. Social media gets scrolled past. Combine SMS with email automation for a true cross-channel strategy. See our SMS opt-in best practices to build the list right.
But that text notification? 98% open rate. Most read within 3 minutes.
You already knew this. That's why you're here looking for examples you can actually use.
I'm going to give you 10 types of text messages that work. Not theory. Not "best practices." Actual messages you can copy, tweak for your business, and send today.
1. Promotional SMS (The Money Maker)
Most businesses mess this up. They send generic discount codes to their entire list and wonder why unsubscribes spike.
Here's what works instead.
A shoe store sending this to customers who bought running shoes 3 months ago:
"Hey [FirstName], your running shoes are probably due for a replacement. 20% off your next pair, today only: [link]"
That's specific. That's timed right. That converts.
The generic version? "SALE! 20% off everything! Shop now!"
Boring. Ignorable. Deleted.
What makes promo texts work:
- Segment by past purchases (someone who bought dog food gets dog food offers)
- One clear action (not three links and a phone number)
- Real urgency, not fake urgency ("24 hours" means 24 hours)
- Send between 10am-8pm local time
The click-through rates on segmented promo texts run 3-5x higher than blast-to-everyone campaigns. For more on SMS strategies for online stores, check out ecommerce businesses on inboxconnect.co.
2. Two-Factor Authentication SMS
Not glamorous. But if you're running any kind of account system, you need this.
The text is simple:
"Your verification code is 847291. Don't share this with anyone. Expires in 10 minutes."
That's it. Code first. Warning second. Expiration third.
Some companies get cute with branding here. Don't.
This is security. Keep it clean.
Quick implementation notes:
- Put the code at the very beginning of the message
- Always include "don't share this" (scammers are getting creative)
- Set codes to expire in 5-10 minutes
- Have backup options for users who can't receive SMS
3. Appointment Reminders (Stop No-Shows)
No-shows cost real money. A salon with 10% no-show rate is basically lighting cash on fire.
Here's a reminder that works:
"Hey [FirstName], just confirming your haircut with Sarah tomorrow at 2pm. Reply YES to confirm or call 555-0123 to reschedule."
Simple. Has all the info. Easy to respond.
The timing matters:
Send the first reminder 48 hours out. Then another 2-3 hours before.
The two-reminder approach cuts no-shows by 30-40% for most service businesses.
One chiropractor we worked with went from 15% no-shows to 4% just by adding text reminders. That's thousands of dollars in recovered revenue per month.
Want to see how the pros handle this? Check out appointment setting services on inboxconnect.co.
4. Customer Service SMS
Nobody wants to sit on hold for 45 minutes.
Text-based support solves this.
A plumbing company sends: "Got your request. A tech will call you within 2 hours to schedule. Reply here if you have questions."
Now the customer knows what's happening. They can text back. No hold music.
Making it work:
- Set response time expectations upfront ("We reply within 1 hour")
- Pre-write templates for common questions
- Train your team to write like humans, not robots
- Always give an escalation path for complex issues
The businesses doing this well see support satisfaction scores jump 20-30%.
People just want fast, clear answers. Texting delivers that.
5. Personal and Social SMS
This isn't a business category. But it matters.
Why?
Because the reason business texts work is that people are already trained to pay attention to texts. That's where their friends and family are.
When your business shows up in the same inbox, you're borrowing that trust.
So don't abuse it.
Lessons for business texts:
- Sound like a person, not a press release
- Don't text more than you'd want to receive
- Keep messages short (you're in their personal space)
- If you wouldn't text it to your mom, reconsider the tone
6. Order Confirmations and Shipping Updates
These aren't optional. Customers expect them.
Order confirmed text: "Thanks [FirstName]! Your order #4827 is confirmed. We'll text you when it ships."
Shipped text: "Your order just shipped! Track it here: [link]"
Delivered text: "Your package was delivered today. Enjoy!"
That's three touchpoints where you're building trust instead of making them wonder where their stuff is.
Pro tips:
- Send immediately after purchase (delays create anxiety)
- Always include the order number
- Make tracking links mobile-friendly
- Add a reply option for questions
Companies that send these updates see 40% fewer "where's my order" support tickets.
7. Event Invitations
Emails get lost. Facebook events get ignored.
Text invites get read.
"You're invited: Small business networking happy hour. Thursday 6pm at Brewster's Pub. Free drinks. Reply YES to RSVP."
Everything they need in one message. Easy response.
What works:
- Include date, time, location, and what they're getting
- Make RSVP dead simple (just reply YES)
- Send a reminder the day before
- Send a final "starts in 1 hour" nudge
Event texts consistently get 3-4x higher RSVP rates than email.
8. Emergency and Alert Notifications
Different category. Same channel.
When things go wrong, text is the most reliable way to reach people fast.
Power company: "Scheduled maintenance: Power outage expected 2-4pm today in your area. No action needed."
Security alert: "Unusual login detected on your account from New York. If this wasn't you, call 555-0199 immediately."
Getting this right:
- Lead with the most important info
- Be specific about what's happening
- Tell people exactly what to do
- Only use this for actual emergencies (alert fatigue is real)
9. Feedback and Survey Requests
Most survey emails get deleted.
Text surveys get 3-4x higher response rates.
Keep it stupid simple:
"Hey [FirstName], quick question: How was your visit today? Reply 1-10."
One question. Takes 2 seconds.
Want more detail? Send a follow-up based on their score:
- Score 8-10: "Awesome! Would you mind leaving us a Google review? [link]"
- Score 1-7: "Sorry to hear that. What could we have done better? Reply here."
Now you're routing happy customers to reviews and catching unhappy ones before they post something negative.
For more on collecting customer feedback, see survey services on inboxconnect.co.
10. Loyalty and Rewards Updates
This is where SMS really shines.
"[FirstName], you've got 500 points! That's enough for a free coffee. Show this text to redeem."
They feel special. They have a reason to come back. They're holding their phone when they walk in.
Making loyalty texts work:
- Remind people when they're close to a reward ("50 more points and you get a free item!")
- Send birthday rewards (everyone loves free birthday stuff)
- Create members-only flash sales
- Make redemption effortless
The coffee shop down my street does this. I'm probably 30% more likely to go there just because I get a text when I hit 10 drinks.
That's the power of staying top of mind.
Comparison Table
| SMS Type | Difficulty | Best For | Key Metric to Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional | Medium | Driving sales | Conversion rate |
| 2FA | Low | Security | Delivery rate |
| Appointment Reminder | Low | Service businesses | No-show reduction |
| Customer Service | High | Support-heavy businesses | Response time, CSAT |
| Order Updates | Low | Ecommerce | Support ticket reduction |
| Event Invites | Low | Events, networking | RSVP rate |
| Emergency Alerts | Medium | Utilities, security | Delivery speed |
| Surveys | Low | Any business | Response rate |
| Loyalty | Medium | Retail, restaurants | Repeat purchase rate |
What Actually Matters
You've got 160 characters. Use them well.
Here's the thing most businesses get wrong: they treat SMS like email. Long messages. Multiple CTAs. Corporate language.
Stop that.
Text like a human. Be useful. Respect people's time.
Your next steps:
- Pick one type from this list that fits your business right now
- Write a first message using the examples above
- Segment your list (don't blast everyone)
- Send it during business hours
- Track what happens
Start with one. Get it working. Then add another.
The businesses winning with SMS aren't doing anything complicated. They're just showing up in the right place, at the right time, with something actually useful to say.
That's it.
Ready to build an SMS program that actually converts? The team at Inbox Connect builds and manages high-performing text and email systems. Book a free 30-minute strategy call and we'll map out exactly what to do. Inbox Connect