This Valentine’s Day, all you need is love…but some SMS marketing inspiration doesn’t hurt. Explore five campaigns that won over the hearts of subscribers.

With gift searches spiking weeks before February 14, now’s the time to finalize your Valentine’s Day campaigns ahead of the first major marketing holiday of the year. 

Whether opting for romantic traditions or taking on a modern twist, many of us are buying gifts for those we care about—including ourselves. And while traditional Valentine’s Day gifts—like flowers, chocolates, and jewelry—are likely top of mind, nearly every brand can find a reason to celebrate the holiday with their subscribers. 

Keep in mind that not everyone celebrates this holiday. If you’re looking to take a more thoughtful approach with your Valentine’s Day promotions, consider letting your subscribers opt out of messages specific to this holiday—similar to Revel Nail’s approach to Mother’s Day—while still being able to receive other updates from your brand.

Explore some of our customers’ Valentine’s Day campaigns that won over the hearts of their SMS subscribers.

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Zales: Finding the perfect match through Two-Way Journeys™

Zales—a jewelry brand synonymous with Valentine’s Day gifting success—plays Cupid by recommending personalized gift ideas using Attentive’s Two-Way Journeys™. If a subscriber hasn’t yet made a purchase after opting in to the brand’s SMS program, Zales charms them with a sophisticated and helpful conversational flow to help them find the perfect gift.

These personalized recommendations help Zales drive online revenue by imitating their in-store product discovery experience. Plus, Zales can add these preferences as “custom attributes” to each subscriber’s profile, helping them deliver relevant messaging throughout the entire customer lifecycle.

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Greetabl: Spreading the love with “Galentine’s Day” deals

Thanks to fictional character Leslie Knope from Parks & Recreation, many women look to the day before Valentine’s Day, February 13, as a time to celebrate other equally important relationships in their lives—their friends. Online personalized gifting brand, Greetabl, leaned into this fun holiday with a nod to Knope, and a unique offer to “buy 4 items and get one free” using a seasonally-relevant coupon code (“GALENFIVE”).

This delightful incentive encouraged their SMS sweethearts to “send the love.” Greetabl also included an image of their signature giftable greeting card, providing subscribers with inspiration for their Galentine’s Day gifting experience. 

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R1 Concepts: Charming new subscribers with limited-time deals

Auto parts retailer R1 Concepts launched a customized Valentine’s Day-themed sign-up unit on their mobile website to simultaneously grow their SMS and email lists.

Once a new subscriber opted in, R1 Concepts automatically welcomed them with a 30% off coupon, valid for one day only. The auto brand’s limited-time discount drove immediate revenue, and helped convert their newest subscribers.

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McConnell's Fine Ice Creams: Promoting seasonal favorites with a bundled offer

Last Valentine’s Day, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams ditched real flowers for a bundled “bouquet” of their seasonal best-selling pints. This Valentine’s Day bundle was a perfect low-lift opportunity to help SMS subscribers treat themselves—and their loved ones—with something sweet.

McConnell’s romantic reference (“If your love language is ice cream”) infused their cheeky brand voice and helped set the tone for the holiday. The brand also included an image of their Valentine’s Day bundle to let it “do the talking” this February 14.

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Keranique: Delighting subscribers with VIP experiences

Hair care brand Keranique celebrated new subscribers—who opted in through a Valentine’s Day-themed Text-to-Join—with a triggered welcome message offering early access to their site-wide sale. 

Last year, 23% of consumers who were not celebrating Valentine’s Day still said that they’d still purchase gifts for themselves. In their day-of-sale reminder, Keranique leaned into this trend and sent a campaign message encouraging the VIP segment to treat themselves to their favorite hair care products.

While we often associate Valentine’s Day with traditional celebrations revolving around romantic gestures, the holiday has expanded as a day to celebrate and appreciate all of our relationships. Use this opportunity to show love for your customers while building your SMS community.

Will your brand be celebrating this holiday with your subscribers? Browse hundreds of text messaging campaigns sent by our customers in our SMS gallery, Texts We Love, and find some SMS ideas for Valentine’s Day and beyond.