Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited. This sweet holiday is the perfect time to connect with your customers via SMS.
After the holidays, many businesses take things easy during the first few months of the year. However, Valentine’s Day can actually be a very profitable time of year - it’s all about the way you market yourself and connect with your customers. It’s the perfect time to set up themed promotions, release exclusive seasonal items, or even host a holiday event.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with fun and creative marketing ideas that your customers will swoon over this Valentine’s season. Read on to learn why SMS marketing is a must this time of year, as well as some of our favourite Valentine’s Day text message ideas.
Why You Need A Valentine’s Day SMS Campaign
After all of the excitement of the holidays, the first few months of the year can sometimes feel a little, well, boring. As we make our way back to work and school and try to keep up with our New Year’s resolutions, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. When you’re feeling a bit dreary, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate and have fun with your loved ones.
The need for a bit of holiday cheer is particularly important this year. We’re more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and although things have improved, many people are feeling worn down by the challenges of the past few years. Valentine’s Day gives us something to look forward to and is a great opportunity to connect with your loved ones, whether that’s a significant other, friends, family, or even a pet.
This holiday also presents a huge commercial opportunity for businesses across many sectors. E-commerce businesses are poised to do particularly well this year, as 54% of consumers now prefer to order products online. However, in-person businesses like restaurants, spas, boutiques, and more can still benefit from holiday sales.
According to the National Retail Foundation, American consumers alone spent $21.8 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts - and that’s not even counting international spend. If this year follows suit, this means Valentine’s Day could be hugely profitable for businesses. Most of the money consumers spend on Valentine’s Day is for significant others, but they also spend money on family, friends, co-workers, pets, and other people who are important to them.
Text messages are a great way to communicate about your Valentine’s Day sales with both existing customers and prospective customers. Sending a text message feels very personal and is a more direct way to reach your customers than email or social media marketing. Text messages also have a very high open rate of 98%, so you’ll reach your customers much more quickly than you would with email or other forms of direct marketing.
Valentine’s Day SMS Ideas
There are so many amazing ways to use SMS messages this Valentine’s Day. Here are some of our favourite strategies to generate engagement and hopefully boost your sales.
Exclusive Promotions
A holiday sale is a great way to generate business, but you can take things up a notch with exclusive promotions for your customers. Audience segmenting tools have made it easier than ever to personalise your sales by sending different messages to different customers. Exclusive promotions create a sense of urgency and encourage your audience to visit your site right away, before the deal expires.
Exclusive promotions also built a sense of rapport and connection with your audience. Adding personal touches like your customer’s name makes the message feel more authentic. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, don’t be afraid to get cute with your copy or even add themed emojis if it fits your brand.
BOGO Deals
Since so many people spend Valentine’s Day with their special someone, it’s the perfect time to introduce a two-for-one offer via SMS. This is particularly helpful for products that people like to share, like wine or chocolate, or experiences that couples can enjoy together, like a massage or tickets to a show. Create a sense of urgency by only offering the deal in the days leading up to the holiday.
Cute Graphics
MMS messages allow you to add images, animations, or even videos to your text messages. Valentine’s Day is an ideal time to take advantage of this technology by augmenting your text with cute Valentine’s graphics. If it fits with your brand messaging, you can also opt to add heart-shaped emojis or other details to add a little bit of personality.
Seasonal Products or Events
The holidays are a great time to do something unique that your customers wouldn’t typically expect. Consider launching a limited edition Valentine’s Day product that is only available to customers who are signed up for text messages. Consumers love the feeling of collecting limited edition items.
If you run a business with a brick-and-mortar location, you can also run an exclusive Valentine’s Day event for your text message subscribers. This is also a great way to appeal to people who might not have a “Valentine” and are looking to connect with others.
Booking Reminders
If you run a hospitality business like a restaurant, hotel, entertainment venue, or spa, now is the perfect time to send out a booking reminder for Valentine’s Day. Things can quickly get very crowded with couples on dates and friends enjoying each other’s company, so why not remind your customers to make a reservation now?
When you send a text encouraging your customers to book now, it creates a sense of urgency. No one wants to miss out on a great Valentine’s Day date!
Loyalty Program Incentives
If you have a loyalty program, consider launching a Valentine’s Day incentive and using SMS to let your customers know about it. For example, you could give your customers double loyalty points if they shop during Valentine’s Day, or offer unique Valentine’s Day-themed loyalty rewards. Your customers are your Valentines, so don’t forget to reward your most loyal customers.
Appreciation Messages
Your customers mean a lot to you, but do they know exactly how much they are valued? Valentine’s Day is an ideal time to let your customers know how much you care about them and appreciate their business. It’s a great time to send a message thanking your customers for being a part of your business or making a recent purchase. A simple but genuine message can go a long way when it comes to building brand loyalty.
Gift Guide
We all have that one friend or family member that waits until the last minute to get gifts - or maybe you’re the person who puts things off until the last minute! You also might not be sure what to get your significant other, especially if they have very specific taste.
Your business can cater to these customers by sending out a Valentine’s Day gift guide via SMS. Instead of sending the entire gift guide in a text message, post it on your blog instead and send your readers the link. They’ll be able to shop directly from the blog post, making things a little easier for shoppers in a rush.
Valentine’s Day SMS Templates
If you know you want to send out a Valentine’s Day SMS campaign, but aren’t exactly sure what to say, don’t worry. We’ve created some holiday-themed templates to help get you started.
Appreciation Message:
“Hi, (customer name), we’re so glad you’ve been our Valentine this year. We wanted to send some love your way with a little Valentine’s Day treat! Click here to check it out. [link] Reply STOP to opt-out.”
Reservation Reminders:
“Hi there (customer name), did you know Valentine’s Day is just a week away? Our V-Day reservations are filling up fast, so click here to book now! [link] Reply STOP to opt-out.”
Exciting Deals:
“Treat yourself this Valentine’s Day with heart warming new deals from [company name]! We’re showing the love with 20% off our entire store this weekend! Reply STOP to opt-out.”
Loyalty Program:
“Earn double points this weekend when you shop [company name]’s Valentine’s Day sale! Now’s the perfect time to pick up something special for your sweetheart. Reply STOP to opt-out.”
BOGO Sale:
“Hi (customer name), got a hot date this Valentine’s Day? Treat them to something special from [company name]’s BOGO sale! One day only, so don’t miss out! Reply STOP to opt-out.”
Exclusive Offer:
“Hi (customer name), as one of our favourite customers, we have a special treat for you this Valentine’s Day! Click here [link] to check out a special offer just for you! Hurry, this offer won’t last forever. Reply STOP to opt-out.”
Your customers are sure to fall in love with these cute Valentine’s Day SMS ideas! Contact SMSGlobal today to see how we can help you with all of your SMS needs.
