During Black Friday, companies use discounts, perks, and freebies to drive purchases and inspire customer loyalty, and texting is a quick and easy way to deliver them.
If you’re looking for inspiration on creating an efficient campaign this year, we have you covered with ten Black Friday SMS marketing ideas that will boost your sales and motivate buyers to keep coming back to your shop. Let’s get into it.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER: Before sending bulk SMS campaigns, ensure your number is verified. In the USA, all campaigns must be registered through 10DLC or toll-free verification, and in Canada, this applies to toll-free numbers. Instant texting isn’t possible in these regions, but it is available in the UK and Australia.
Also, remember MMS limitations, including file size restrictions and varying carrier support.
Black Friday SMS marketing best practices
To stand out during the busy shopping season, your Black Friday messaging needs to be strategic, personalized, and fully compliant. Follow these best practices to boost conversions and deliver a seamless customer experience.
Segment and personalize
Use contact segmentation to tailor your Black Friday texts for each audience. Send early-access offers, showcase trending items for younger audiences, and personalize discounts based on purchase history.
Tap into FOMO
Create urgency and scarcity to encourage faster purchases. Use time-sensitive phrases like “while supplies last,” “offer ends today,” “48-hour sale,” or “limited stock available.” This strategy triggers the fear of missing out (FOMO) and motivates customers to act quickly before deals disappear.
Clear and concise messaging
Craft short, compelling messages with a strong call-to-action (CTA), such as “Claim discount.” Avoid using abbreviations, too many emojis, or shortened URLs, as they can look unprofessional and reduce trust.
Send strategic reminders
Plan multiple touchpoints throughout your campaign. Send reminder texts during the final hours of your sale to capture last-minute buyers, and don’t forget to set up automated cart abandonment messages.
Plan and automate
Prepare campaigns in advance to handle peak shopping traffic. Review your customer journey to identify and fix friction points, such as broken links or confusing checkout steps.
Track and analyze
Black Friday is an ideal time to gather insights for future campaigns. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as conversion and click-through rate (CTR) to help you refine your future campaigns.
Stay compliant
Compliance is essential for protecting your brand reputation and maintaining customer trust. This is why you need to:
- Use a recognizable sender ID: Let customers easily identify your business as the sender.
- Respect quiet hours: Only send texts between 8 AM and 9 PM in the customer’s local time zone.
- Provide clear opt-in disclosure: Only send promotional texts to customers who have explicitly agreed to receive them.
- Include opt-out instructions in every message: Make it easy for recipients to stop receiving texts.
Please also note that, as of April 11, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforced a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) ruling requiring that when a consumer revokes consent through any channel (text, email, or phone), the opt-out must apply to all future communications across every platform, including both marketing and informational messages.
Black Friday SMS marketing templates
Boost sales and engagement this season with these ready-to-use Black Friday SMS marketing templates, perfect for promoting deals, driving urgency, and connecting directly with your customers.
1. Exclusive early bird SMS alert
Build excitement and anticipation for your sale by offering VIP customers early access to deals through text messages. This Black Friday marketing idea rewards loyal customers and creates a sense of exclusivity that encourages higher engagement.
By offering exclusive coupon codes or deals, you also drive sales ahead of the official rush, alleviating some of the pressure from your busiest shopping day. All in all, this Black Friday SMS marketing strategy is a great way to build excitement and encourage opt-ins for future text messaging campaigns.
🎉 You’re in! Early access starts now. Enjoy [X]% off everything before the rush. Shop today in the [Company] app or online store. Reply STOP to opt out.
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2. Campaign launch day announcement
Launch day sets the tone for your entire Black Friday campaign. A well-timed text ensures your audience doesn’t miss out on early deals and encourages immediate engagement.
Your SMS should be clear, energetic, and focused on the main benefit, whether it’s the biggest discount, limited stock, or free gifts.
Black Friday starts now! Enjoy [X]% off everything in our online store. Our biggest sale is live! Reply STOP to opt out.
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3. Countdown SMS reminder
Create urgency and excitement by sending countdown reminders leading up to your Black Friday sale. SMS countdowns are a great way to build anticipation and keep your brand top of mind for customers as the big day approaches.
You can also use the countdown to tease special deals or limited-time offers, motivating customers to be ready to shop as soon as your sale goes live.
⏰ Time’s running out! Only [X] hours left to grab your Black Friday deals . Don’t miss out! Reply STOP to opt out.
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4. Limited-time flash sales via SMS
Boost sales by offering limited-time flash deals exclusively during your Black Friday SMS marketing campaign. These short-lived offers create buzz around your product and encourage customers to act quickly to claim their discount.
Flash sales are a powerful tactic for moving inventory quickly, driving immediate traffic, and creating a sense of exclusivity. Since texting is a direct and fast communication channel, your customers will receive the deal in real time and be motivated to participate in the promotion.
Flash Sale! Get [X]% off everything for the next [Y] hours only. Offer ends at [Time]. Reply STOP to opt out.
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5. Purchase history personalized SMS offer
Sending personalized Black Friday offers based on individual purchase history is a great way to encourage repeat business and drive targeted sales. By presenting customers with offers that are relevant to their preferences, you increase conversions and move stock at the same time.
This idea for Black Friday marketing creates a personalized shopping experience, making customers feel valued and understood. People are more likely to respond to offers that align with their past buying behavior, fostering loyalty in the long run.
Hi [First Name], since you loved our [Product], enjoy exclusive Black Friday deals on similar picks today. Reply STOP to opt out.
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6. Abandoned cart SMS reminder
Recover lost sales by sending abandoned cart reminders during your Black Friday SMS marketing campaign. Shoppers often leave items in their carts, especially during busy shopping holidays, and there’s nothing like a timely text to prompt them to complete their purchase.
This Black Friday marketing strategy leverages urgency by reminding customers that stock is limited during this period, which encourages them to take immediate action. Offering a small discount or free shipping as an incentive to complete their order can also drive conversions.
Hi [First Name], your Black Friday cart is waiting! Complete your order today before items sell out. Reply STOP to opt out.
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7. Post-purchase upsell for Cyber Monday
Capitalize on the momentum generated by Black Friday promotions and send post-purchase SMS to upsell Cyber Monday deals. After customers make a purchase on Friday, send them a discount code to use on Monday to encourage repeat business.
By targeting customers who are already in a buying mindset, you can maximize your revenue across both shopping holidays.
Thanks for your Black Friday purchase, [First Name]! Enjoy [X]% off our Cyber Monday deals. Keep the savings going! Reply STOP to opt out.a
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8. SMS-driven referral program
Launch an SMS-driven referral program to boost your Black Friday sales and encourage existing customers to refer friends and family to your sale in exchange for discounts or rewards.
By using text messages, you can quickly and easily share referral links or codes that customers can pass along to others. This approach not only drives new traffic to your sale but also rewards loyal customers for spreading the word, thus creating a win-win situation.
💸 Share the savings! Refer a friend during Black Friday and you’ll both get [X]% off your next order. Reply STOP to opt out.
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9. Last-minute SMS reminder on Black Friday
Capture those final Black Friday shoppers by sending last-minute text message reminders. These messages create urgency, reminding customers that time is running out and your one-of-a-kind offers will be gone soon.
By reaching out close to the end of the sale, you can prompt indecisive customers to act before the discounts disappear. These reminders are a great way to drive a final surge of sales and clear out inventory before everyone’s favorite shopping holiday comes to an end.
Final hours! Black Friday ends soon, so grab [X]% off your favorites before our deals are gone. Reply STOP to opt out.
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10. SMS & Email combo campaign
Maximize the reach and effectiveness of your Black Friday marketing campaign by combining the powers of text messaging and email. Use email for detailed information, such as full product lists and longer-form content, while leveraging texting to deliver concise and time-sensitive messages.
By pairing both channels, you will increase the chances of reaching customers at the right moment. Plus, this multi-channel approach reinforces your messaging, ensuring customers are aware of your special offers across multiple touchpoints.
Black Friday is here! Check your email inbox for your [X]% off code and shop your favorite deals before they’re gone. Reply STOP to opt out.
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11. Exclusive SMS-only deal
Reward your SMS subscribers with exclusive SMS-only deals during Black Friday. Offering special discounts or products available on one channel only makes your subscribers feel valued and encourages more customers to opt in to receive marketing communications.
This strategy also builds a sense of exclusivity and urgency, driving immediate sales. Text messaging is a direct, personal communication channel, so these exclusive offers feel more special, creating a stronger connection with your audience.
Just for you, [First Name]! Enjoy [X]% off as an exclusive Black Friday offer for our SMS subscribers. Reply STOP to opt out.
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12. Physical store event
Drive in-store traffic by inviting customers to exclusive Black Friday events. Use SMS reminders to highlight limited-time offers, early access perks, or special experiences available only at your physical location.
Mention event details clearly, such as time, date, and location, and emphasize what makes it worth attending. Whether it’s an exclusive product demo, free gift, or VIP discount, use SMS to build excitement and urgency.
Join us in-store today for exclusive Black Friday deals and gifts! Doors open at [Time]. Reply STOP to opt out.
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13. Win back disengaged customers
Reconnect with inactive customers by offering a compelling reason to re-engage during Black Friday. A personalized win-back message reminds them what they’re missing and creates an easy opportunity to return.
Use friendly, conversational language and a strong incentive, like an exclusive discount or a “we miss you” offer. This approach reignites interest while showing appreciation for past loyalty.
Hi [First Name], we’ve missed you! Come back this Black Friday and enjoy [X]% off your next order. Reply STOP to opt out.
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Transform your strategy with Textmagic
Incorporating texting into your Black Friday marketing strategy can significantly boost engagement and drive sales. With its immediacy and personal touch, SMS allows you to connect with customers at the right moment, offering exclusive deals, personalized offers, and timely reminders.
With Textmagic, you can easily create and automate personalized campaigns, send timely reminders, and track real-time results, all from one platform.
Stay on top of the Black Friday rush.
Reach customers instantly on both SMS and email with Textmagic.
With these Black Friday SMS marketing ideas under your belt and the right tool, you can create a sense of urgency around your offers, while rewarding loyal customers and even recovering abandoned sales at the same time.
As competition increases during this busy shopping season, running your SMS campaigns with Textmagic will give you the edge your brand needs to stand out and maximize the holiday’s potential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Start sending teaser messages one to two weeks before Black Friday to build anticipation. Schedule your main campaign launch on the day of the sale and follow up with limited-time reminders during the event.
Limit messages to three over the course of the campaign at most: one for the announcement, one reminder, and one last call. Over-texting can reduce engagement and increase opt-outs.
Yes. Every marketing SMS must include clear opt-out language such as “Reply STOP to opt out.” This ensures compliance with messaging regulations and builds customer trust.
Avoid excessive capitalization, multiple emojis, and overly promotional phrases like FREE!!!, Act now!, Guaranteed, or Click here. Keep messages natural, relevant, and professional to maintain deliverability.
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