Is your foot traffic declining because tech giants like Amazon and Uber Eats continue to raise expectations around convenience, personalization, and speed?
To compete with the behemoths, you need to build direct, personal relationships with customers.
That’s why in this blog, we’re going over the benefits of SMS marketing for small businesses. Keep reading to see why business text messaging has become one of the most effective tools for driving repeat visits, boosting sales, and building lasting loyalty.
Why Should Small Businesses Use SMS?
It’s harder than ever for small businesses to cut through the noise.
Email campaigns get lost in spam folders. Social ads are skipped in seconds. But SMS boasts an open rate as high as 98%.
Not only that, but business text messaging can help your storefront stay top-of-mind between visits. Because you’re competing against nearby businesses, Amazon, and Uber Eats, SMS can be a valuable tool for reclaiming attention and keeping customers coming back.
Additionally, SMS marketing for small businesses is a great customer relationship tool. You get a direct line of communication to your customers without third-party fees eating up your revenue. That, plus personalized rewards, can help you build stronger, more loyal connections by engaging customers where they primarily are: their devices.
How Does Text Marketing for Small Businesses Promote Growth?
SMS marketing for small businesses offers speed, personalization, and data-driven targeting that few other channels can match.
Here’s how:
1. More Foot Traffic With Real-Time Promotions
When business is slow or you want to boost sales on a specific day, business text messaging can help you fill the gap. You can send out a message like:
“Today only: double loyalty points on all purchases!”
“Flash sale—20% off everything until 4PM!”
“Buy one smoothie, get one free for the next 2 hours!”
These time-sensitive offers can spark urgency and change short-term consumer behavior, which is ideal for storefronts that rely on in-person visits.
2. Encourages Repeat Purchases and Loyalty
Business text messaging keeps you top-of-mind, but more importantly, it keeps customers coming back. For example:
“You’re just 1 visit away from a reward—don’t miss out!”
“It’s your anniversary with us! Celebrate with 25% off.”
These messages make people feel seen and appreciated, which can encourage repeat business and brand loyalty.
3. Builds Smarter, Data-Driven Marketing Strategies
SMS marketing for small businesses becomes even more powerful when it’s backed by data. Instead of generic blasts, you can send messages triggered by consumer behavior, such as:
Purchase history: “Loved your strawberry-banana smoothie? Here’s 15% off your next one.”
Time since last visit: “It’s been two Mondays since your last visit—here’s a little something to start your week.”
Behavioral patterns: “Need to restock your supplements? Get early access to next month’s new arrivals.”
4. Increases ROI Without Increasing Overhead
Because SMS marketing for small businesses is low-cost and high-impact, it offers one of the best returns on investment for small businesses: Some have seen rates as high as $8.11 per message.
You don’t need a massive ad budget or extra staff to send out SMS messages. All you need is the right message sent at the right time—and some personalization sprinkled on top.
Best Types of SMS Campaigns Retailers Should Try
Whether you’re a retail boutique or a high-frequency QSR, here are some of the most effective types of business text messaging campaigns to implement in 2025:
Time-Sensitive Offers
Nothing motivates action like a ticking clock. Time-sensitive texts are ideal for driving immediate traffic, especially on slower days or during key sales periods.
Examples:
“🚨2-Hour Flash Sale: 25% off everything in-store!”
“Lunch rush special: Free drink with any wrap before 2PM.”
“Today only, get triple points on all purchases!”
Loyalty Rewards Updates
One of the easiest ways to increase repeat visits is by repeating the perks of your loyalty program. Use SMS marketing for small businesses to show customers how close they are to a reward on their loyalty card or a substantial gift certificate.
Examples:
“You’re just 1 visit away from a free coffee! Stop by today?”
“New reward unlocked: $5 off your next purchase 🎉”
“Your points are just sitting here doing nothing. Treat yourself this weekend!”
Win-Back Campaigns
If a customer hasn’t shopped with you in a while, don’t assume they’re gone for good. That’s what well-timed win-back campaigns are for:
Examples:
“We miss you! Here’s 20% off your next visit.”
“Still craving your favorite smoothie? Get one on us this Friday.”
“Haven’t seen you in a while. Let us win you back with a little surprise 🎁”
Big tip: These campaigns are especially powerful when personalized and tied to past purchase behavior.
Exclusive Events & Early Access
Another great way to incentivize your audience to come back is by sharing exclusive offers that only they, or a select group, can get. Give them special access to:
- VIP shopping nights
- Pre-sale events
- Limited-edition drops
- Local pop-ups or in-store activations
Example:
“🎉 VIP invite: Our summer pre-sale starts tomorrow—only for people who receive this text!”
What are the Rules for Business Text Messaging?
With great power comes great responsibility.
The same goes for SMS marketing from small businesses.
To stay compliant and build trust with your customers, store operators must follow key legal and carrier guidelines. Here’s what every small business should know before sending that next text:
Prior Consent/Opt-Ins
Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), you must have prior express written consent before sending promotional SMS messages to a customer’s mobile phone. This means the customer must actively agree to receive marketing texts from your business. This is usually done by checking a box or texting a keyword like “JOIN”.
And no, making a purchase doesn’t count as “opting in” to promotional texts.
Easy Opt Outs
Every marketing text must also include a clear opt-out option. Common examples include:
“Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
“Text END to opt out.”
When someone opts out, you must stop messaging them immediately and remove their number from any future marketing sends.
Promotional vs. Transactional Messages
There are two different types of messages you can send by SMS:
- Transactional: Transactional messages are updates like order confirmations, appointment reminders, or receipts. These don’t require prior express written consent.
- Promotional: Promotional messages like discounts, flash sales, or loyalty rewards nudges do require consent.
Mixing the two? Make sure the commercial content is clearly labeled and that you follow opt-out rules, as required under the CAN-SPAM Act.
Respect Frequency and Privacy
Just because someone opted in doesn’t mean you should overwhelm them. Bombarding customers with too many messages is a fast track to opt-outs (and complaints). Best practices include:
- Limiting texts to 2–4 per month unless users opt into a high-frequency list
- Sending messages only during reasonable hours (typically 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. local time)
- Avoiding sensitive or overly personal content unless relevant and expected
Consequences
Failing to follow these rules can result in serious penalties for your business. The TCPA allows consumers to sue for up to $1,500 per violation, and under the CAN-SPAM Act, each violation could cost you over $50,000.
Building Your SMS Subscriber List Ethically
Before you can run powerful SMS campaigns, you need people to send them to. However, how you collect phone numbers matters just as much as what you do with them.
Make Opting in Simple
Your best opportunity to collect SMS subscribers is when people are already engaging with your brand. Use high-traffic touchpoints like:
- In-Store Signage: Place signs near the register or entryway with a clear call to action. Example: “Text BURGER to 33377 to get 10% off your first order!”
- Website Prompts: Add a pop-up or checkout checkbox inviting visitors to join your text list.
- POS and Loyalty Kiosks: Ask for SMS consent during sign-up or checkout.
Incentivize with Real Value
Consumers are protective of their phone numbers. To earn that trust, offer something worthwhile in exchange, like:
- Discounts or Freebies: “Sign up and get 15% off your next visit,” or “Join our list and your next coffee is on us.”
- VIP Perks: Give them early access to sales, exclusive products, or member-only events as soon as they register.
- Loyalty Bonuses: Extra points or rewards for SMS subscribers.
Be Transparent From the Start
Make it crystal clear what customers are signing up for. Tell them how often you’ll text, what kind of content they’ll receive, and how to opt out anytime.
Remember: a smaller, high-quality list of engaged subscribers will always outperform a larger list of untrusting subscribers.
How Much Is a Texting Service for Business?
Business text messaging pricing can vary significantly depending on your needs and the platform you choose. Generally, there are two main pricing models:
Pay-Per-Message
With this model, you’re charged for each message sent. Prices typically range from $0.01 to $0.07 per message, though exact rates depend on your provider, message volume, and whether you’re sending SMS or MMS.
Subscription-Based Plans
Many platforms offer monthly plans that include a set number of messages or credits. These can start as low as $25/month for basic packages and climb to several hundred dollars per month for more advanced capabilities or higher message volumes. Enterprise-level businesses, especially those sending thousands of messages per month, can expect higher pricing tiers.
Other Factors That Affect Pricing
- Number of Subscribers: More contacts mean more messages sent, which increases the overall cost.
- SMS vs. MMS: SMS covers plain text. MMS messages (which include images, GIFs, or video) typically cost more.
- Automation Features: Platforms that offer behavior-based triggers, segmentation, or advanced campaign scheduling may charge extra for those capabilities.
SMS vs. Other Customer Engagement Channels
When it comes to engaging customers and driving real results, business text messaging outperforms other tactics. Take a look at these metrics:
SMS
- 90% of SMS messages are read within three minutes of delivery
- 72% of people have made a purchase after receiving a text from a brand
- SMS campaigns boast an average click-through rate of 20–35%
Push Notifications
- iOS average click-through rate: 3.4%
- Average open rate: 20%
- 48% of app users made an in-store purchase after receiving a personalized push notification
Social Media
- 52% of marketers say social has improved sales
- Social ads are a top source of brand awareness for Gen Z and Millennials
Email Marketing
- Email marketing sees $42 return for every $1 spent
- Email marketing is 40x more effective than social for customer acquisition
Make Business Text Messaging Your Secret Weapon
We know running a business is hectic. Between managing staff, handling the daily rush, and trying to compete with the established giants, marketing can easily fall to the bottom of the list.
But that’s exactly why SMS marketing for small businesses is so powerful. You can use it, even when you’re focused on running your business.
Whether you’re looking to automate birthday offers, push out flash sales, or keep your loyalty program top of mind, business text messaging is fast and effective. And with TapMango, you get more than just texting! You get a complete customer engagement platform built to boost customer retention and loyalty for retail and QSR storefronts.
Ready to see it in action? Book a demo to explore the TapMango platform.
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