Discover how the best brands use cart abandonment
text messages to engage mobile consumers & drive revenue.
This curated collection of SMS marketing examples we love will help spark creativity and elevate your strategy
TEXTS WE LOVE
Why We Love It:
Dr. Caroline Leaf—a communication pathologist, cognitive neuroscientist, and bestselling author—uses text messaging to send words of encouragement to her subscribers and invite them to listen to recent episodes of her podcast, Cleaning Up The Mental Mess.
Why We Love It:
Represent used text messaging to promote a new merch collection from Jonathan Van Ness (know as JVN). They infused the message with JVN’s signature voice (“Stun, Queen!!”) and let subscribers know to shop now since the collection would only be available for a limited time.
Why We Love It:
Represent sent a text message to subscribers to promote Mark Tuan’s new XC3 Collection drop. Since it’s a limited-time drop, promoting it via text messaging ensures subscribers would see the message in time to complete their purchase before the collection was no longer available.
Why We Love It:
Represent, a custom merchandise platform, uses Attentive’s 2-in-1 sign-up unit on their website, allowing them to quickly scale their email and text messaging subscriber lists simultaneously. After a visitor opts in for both channels, they’ll be entered to win a $250 Represent gift card.
Why We Love It:
Fast casual restaurant Jason’s Deli sent a text message highlighting various ways subscribers could enjoy their lunch—helping subscribers feel comforted that the brand was putting their safety first. Jason’s Deli included an image that featured a craving-inducing meal to help their message stand out by catching their subscribers’ eyes. The brand ended the text message with a link for subscribers to immediately order their favorite meal and select their preferred dining option.
Why We Love It:
Personalized hair care brand Function of Beauty sent a text message revealing a new limited-edition fragrance. The message ended with a direct link to the product, making it easy for subscribers to add the items to their carts. By giving subscribers a first look, Function of Beauty created excitement and a sense of exclusivity. And the sense of urgency conveyed in the messaging (”long-awaited" and "get it now") encouraged subscribers to shop the in-demand product before it’s gone.
Why We Love It:
Healthcare apparel brand Scrubs & Beyond alerted text messaging subscribers about new seasonal arrivals. Calling attention to “what’s new” through a text message is an easy way to send relevant content to subscribers who are eager to hear new updates from a brand. Additionally, this approach opens up an opportunity for Scrubs & Beyond to send this type of message as an ongoing seasonal campaign to excite shoppers with new “trend alerts” throughout the year.
Why We Love It:
Philanthropic accessories brand Pura Vida Bracelets texted subscribers to announce their newly-launched product pack. The limited-time “today only” offer created a sense of urgency to excite shoppers about the new product, while also providing a 20% off discount. The playful messaging (“major sense of wanderlust”) coupled with a colorful image, plus the use of an emoji, appeals to the brand’s target audience of Millennial and Gen Z shoppers.
Why We Love It:
Footwear and fashion accessories retailer Steve Madden sent a text message to subscribers alerting them of a “must-have” item. The brand used a sense of urgency in the copy (“selling out fast” and “before it’s gone”) to encourage subscribers to purchase the wardrobe staple. Steve Madden kept the message short and ended with a direct link to immediately shop the item. By emphasizing a popular item, subscribers feel like they’re staying on top of the latest footwear trends.
Why We Love It:
Bohemian apparel brand Free People acquires new text and email subscribers through Attentive’s 2-in-1 sign-up solution. By offering free shipping, shoppers are even more incentivized to opt in. Once the shopper inputs their email address, they are prompted to complete their sign up and receive the free shipping reward by also opting in for text messages. This marketing strategy is a powerful tool for brands to rapidly grow both email and text messaging subscribers.
Why We Love It:
Online perfume retailer FragranceNet uses Attentive’s Journeys functionality to send automated cart abandonment reminders to text messaging subscribers 30 minutes after they abandon their online cart. The instantaneous nature of text messaging means shoppers will see the message and complete their purchase quickly. And, sharing a picture of the item the shopper was considering purchasing helps provide a touch of personalization, while helping visualize the product they left behind.
Why We Love It:
Lifestyle brand Erin Condren Designs texted their subscribers about an exciting “buy one, get one free” deal. The brand highlighted the limited-time nature of the offer to encourage subscribers to take advantage of the deal right away. Pairing the text message with an eye-catching GIF highlighting popular products helps create a consistent brand identity across digital channels in addition to providing a preview of the items included in the BOGO offer.
Why We Love It:
Beauty brand Milani Cosmetics texted subscribers about a much-anticipated product launch. The brand included a playful GIF featuring the newly released item and inclusive makeup shades—helping subscribers feel represented—paired with compelling copy that this is “all you need for a flawless makeup application.” Letting loyal SMS subscribers be the first to know about new items helps create hype for the new product while driving more immediate traffic to your online store.
Why We Love It:
To help guide shoppers to complete their purchases, online fashion boutique Dolls Kill sends triggered cart abandonment reminders to text messaging subscribers 1 hour after they abandon their online carts. This reminder is short and sweet, but highly effective. Dolls Kill uses playful, on-brand messaging to remind shoppers that they "left something fabulous" in their online shopping cart.
Why We Love It:
Skincare and cosmetics brand PÜR used text messaging to let subscribers know about their giveaway featuring a new PÜR collection and a pair of Felix Gray Blue Light Glasses. The copy in the text message clearly explained what’s included in the giveaway, as well as the total value of the package. PÜR used a custom GIF to display all the items that are part of the giveaway. They ended with a call to action to “Enter to Win.”
Why We Love It:
Luxury fashion brand Coach alerted outlet shoppers of new items for spring by sending a timely and visually appealing text message. The pink graphic with the Coach logo, the new “Coach X Keith Haring” purse, and floral accents gives the message a spring feel. The warm tone of the message copy (“Baby, it’s NEW!”), combined with the mention that these items just arrived, is the perfect way to excite Coach shoppers about the new spring collection.
Why We Love It:
Socially conscious eyeglasses and sunglasses retailer DIFF Eyewear, takes an innovative approach to acquire new subscribers. They use Attentive’s 2-in-1 sign-up feature to grow their email list while simultaneously growing their text messaging list. Once a shopper inputs their email address, they are then prompted to complete their sign-up and receive the 15% off reward by opting in for text messages.
Why We Love It:
Audio retailer Skullcandy texted subscribers about a time-sensitive 30% off sitewide offer. The message included a link to their site, which allowed subscribers to take advantage of the promotion immediately. Shoppers are always looking for exclusive deals from their favorite brands. Offering a time-sensitive discount is a great way to excite and engage your customers. And, by calling out the sense of urgency of the deal (“4 hours remaining”), shoppers are likely to act quickly on the offer.
Why We Love It:
Intimates apparel brand Knix texted subscribers about their new, limited-edition product launch. The brand included a GIF that offered a sneak peek of the new loungewear, and they ended the text message with a direct link to shop the new line. Including a sneak peek of the “comfy, cozy and cuddly” new line, and highlighting the limited edition nature of the product, excites subscribers and encourages them to be the first to shop the new collection.
Why We Love It:
Luxury watch brand Seiko texted subscribers about an exclusive offer for a free gift with the purchase of any of its Prospex watches. The message included an image of a classic Prospex watch and a Prospex backpack to show subscribers what they would receive. Sending subscribers a “gift with purchase” offer is an effective way to drive brand loyalty. This type of incentive is also a great alternative for brands who don’t offer discounts.
Why We Love It:
Party supplies retailer Party City texted subscribers about deals for the upcoming 4th of July holiday. They included a patriotic image of party supplies and listed a few of the different deals that shoppers could expect to see. They ended the message with a clear call to action to “Shop now.” With all the other seasonal promotions consumers receive, text messaging offers a mobile-first channel for marketers to quickly and directly reach their audience.
Why We Love It:
Bakery chain Baked by Melissa texted subscribers about an upcoming shipping deadline ahead of the holiday. The message clearly stated the deadline (“before 2pm EST today”) and expected delivery date (“for arrival by Friday”) before linking back to its website so subscribers could place their order. Including a mouth-watering image featuring a popular product, in addition to a deadline to place the order for on-time delivery, helps inspire shoppers and build excitement.
Why We Love It:
Subscription fashion retailer JustFab sent VIP text messaging subscribers an offer to shop an exclusive 60% off sale before it ended. In the text message, JustFab highlighted the limited-time nature of the sale (“ends TONIGHT!”) and reminded subscribers of their “VIP” status. Customers love to feel like they’re receiving VIP treatment and exclusive perks. Sending VIP reminders about limited-time sales is an effective way to engage high-value customers.
Why We Love It:
A well-timed reminder is an effective way to re-engage high-intent shoppers and remind them what they left behind. Modern home decor brand CB2 sends triggered abandoned cart reminders via text messaging. CB2 personalizes their abandoned cart reminders at scale by including a photo of the product with the message. The text copy itself uses an engaging brand voice, includes the product name, and serves as a useful reminder of how well the item would fit into the consumer’s home.
Why We Love It:
Protective skincare brand Supergoop! uses text messaging to educate subscribers about the many benefits of protecting themselves against the sun. In this text message, they mention different SPF options—including lotion, sprays, and powder—and encourage subscribers to find the right one for them. They also included an image with three different product examples. Supergoop!’s innovative use of this channel provides quality content that directly relates to available products.
Why We Love It:
The immediacy of text messaging makes it the perfect channel for marketers to spread the word about limited-time deals. Beauty brand Tarte Cosmetics creates a sense of urgency and shares timely information that’s beneficial to shoppers, especially because this specific offer only happens two times per year and for a very limited period of time. The custom graphic showcases the deal and Tarte Cosmetics’ products in a unique and engaging way.
Why We Love It:
Apparel retailer Venus sent a “special treat” to text messaging subscribers. They included an eye-catching animated GIF with “Secret Santa” in big text. Underneath, in small text, Venus wrote, “Surprise! We’ve got a special treat for you. Can you guess how much it is?” Venus played into the holiday spirit by positioning the “treat” as a gift from their “Secret Santa.” They also instilled a sense of urgency by including the expiration date in the message.
Why We Love It:
Apparel brand ELOQUII sent exclusive early access to their new Ivy League product collection, giving mobile subscribers the opportunity to shop before anyone else. The message included a colorful image with a woman wearing an outfit from the new collection and clear, to-the-point copy that says “EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS.” The end of the message creates a sense of urgency (“Grab your faves before they’re gone”) and a clear call to action (“Shop now”).
Why We Love It:
Trendy global fashion brand Lulus sends triggered abandoned cart reminders via text message. Lulus conveys its brand voice by personalizing the message with a playful tone, “you left something cute in your cart, Love!”. This message allows the brand to automatically drive revenue by bringing shoppers back to their online carts, in a way that is perceived as a helpful reminder. By sending a message that will be seen immediately, Lulus effectively retargets customers and recovers sales.
Why We Love It:
Lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters sent a “deal of the day” text message offering 50% off hundreds of styles. They included a custom GIF that boldly stated the deal, along with the brand’s logo in the form of a smiley face and a bright yellow ticket that says “today only.” The copywriting in the message (“nbd”) perfectly embodies the fun voice of Urban Outfitters. And, this campaign suggests there will be more daily deals, encouraging repeat browsing while building brand loyalty.
Why We Love It:
Korean skincare brand LANEIGE sent SMS subscribers an exclusive offer to promote their 12 Days of Beauty holiday campaign. The text message included a GIF that reveals the gift for that day and a reminder to “check back each day” to reveal the latest gifts. The colorful graphic adds a fun touch of holiday spirit into the campaign, and the countdown element of this campaign builds excitement for shoppers as they await a new surprise each day.
Why We Love It:
Specialty craft retailer Michaels used text messaging to share links to different “how-to” video tutorials, providing subscribers with DIY projects they can do at home using products available at Michaels. They’ve built an entire brand on their arts and craft supplies, and inspiring a community around creativity. By communicating with subscribers through a direct and immediate channel like text messaging, they’re able to share quality content that directly relates to available products.
Why We Love It:
Accessories brand Sprayground texted subscribers to announce their new Liquid Gold line. They included an eye-catching image featuring two bags from the new line. Sprayground ended the message with a straightforward call to action and a link back to the product details page so shoppers could easily add items to their carts. Not only does this type of message work for brands who operate on a limited-inventory drop model, but it also works great to get the word out about new products.
Why We Love It:
Luxury fashion brand Marc Jacobs used text messaging to alert shoppers of new sale items. The text message included a custom animated GIF which featured a sneak peek of the new styles. The text message copy complements the graphic by stating the discount that shoppers could expect to receive. The urgency of the copy (“Don’t miss out”) combined with the mention of “standout styles” is the perfect way to excite shoppers about the new spring collection and encourage them to shop.
Why We Love It:
Hello Bello—a plant-based brand of baby products founded by actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard—acquires new subscribers through Attentive’s 2-in-1 sign-up feature. After a shopper enters their email address on Hello Bello’s mobile site, they are then prompted to complete their sign up to receive 15% off their next diaper bundle by opting in for text messages. This allows Hello Bello to seamlessly collect both emails and text subscribers in just a few simple steps.
Why We Love It:
At-home dip powder and nail accessory brand Revel Nail texted SMS subscribers about their Color of the Week offer, available at the special pricing for a limited time (“this week only!”). They included an image of the color and detailed the offer within the text message—including the price for each size of jar. They ended the message with a direct link to the product so shoppers could quickly complete their purchase.
Why We Love It:
At-home dip powder and nail accessory brand Revel Nail launched a new collection, Postcards from Provence, and used text messaging to give exclusive first access to their segment of “Powder Perfectionist” loyalty members. By letting their VIP customers shop before anyone else, the brand created excitement around the new collection while making their subscribers feel valued. The instantaneous nature of text messaging made it the ideal channel for promoting a new, limited edition collection.
Why We Love It:
At-home dip powder and nail accessory brand Revel Nail helped SMS subscribers celebrate Galentine’s Day by giving them early access to their seasonal sale. The brand used excitement-inducing language (“Start celebrating!”) in their text message. They also provided a seasonally-relevant discount code (“GDAY2021”) that subscribers could use at checkout to receive their 20% off discount.
Why We Love It:
Modern home decor brand CB2 used text messaging to let their subscribers know about new spring furniture. They took their message strategy a step further by creating several category-focused new arrival messages and targeted subscribers based on their browse history (e.g. browsed furniture, lighting, etc). Using data to segment text messaging sends is an effective way to send highly relevant content to your subscribers. CB2 also included an eye-catching GIF that previewed an item from the new collection.
Why We Love It:
Modern home decor brand CB2 created a segment of loyal text messaging subscribers and sent them an exclusive 15% off discount. This is an effective example of how to treat your most loyal subscribers like VIPs. CB2 made this offer available to SMS subscribers only.
Why We Love It:
Modern home decor brand CB2 used text messaging to get the word out about their AR feature that allows shoppers to see what select chairs would look like in their space. They crafted compelling copy that described how to use the AR feature in three simple steps, including “add to cart.” CB2 also included a GIF in their text message that featured a few different chairs and inspirational copy (“how to find your perfect chair”).
Why We Love It:
Bohemian apparel brand Free People texted SMS subscribers about their “NEW! NEW! NEW!” spring collection that “*just*” dropped. The instantaneous nature of text messaging makes it the perfect channel to quickly promote a new collection and drive immediate action. The brand ended with a clear call to action to “shop all new spring styles here” with a link to the new collection.
Why We Love It:
Bohemian apparel brand Free People used text messaging to excite SMS subscribers about best-selling items that were back in stock. They created a sense of urgency by letting subscribers know that these items were back… “but not for long!” Sending a text that highlights the time-sensitive nature of the offer is a great strategy for encouraging action. Free People kept the message short and ended with a direct link to shop the items.
Why We Love It:
Plant-based baby products brand Hello Bello promoted their Halloween-themed diaper bundle subscription box to text messaging subscribers. They included a “spook-tacular” image of the Jack o’Lantern box to play into the seasonal theme. Hello Bello ended the text message with an urgent call to action (“Order yours before they disappear”) and a direct link to shop the bundle.
