The Hidden Secrets of SMS Marketing (That No One’s Talking About)

Alright, let’s talk about something that most business owners are either overlooking - or completely underestimating…

SMS marketing.

Now before you roll your eyes and think “isn’t that just spammy texts I ignore?”, hear me out. Because when done right, SMS marketing is one of the most powerful (and profitable) tools you can have in your marketing kit. No fluff. No overcomplicated funnels. Just messages that land directly in your customer’s hand. Literally.

And the best part? It still flies under the radar. Everyone is chasing social content, influencer deals, and paid ads (which are great, don’t get me wrong), but SMS marketing is quietly bringing in sales on autopilot for brands who know what they’re doing. Let’s get into it.

What actually is SMS marketing?

So in case this is your first rodeo, SMS marketing is basically sending promotional or transactional messages via text. Simple, right?

Think back-in-stock alerts. Flash sales. Order confirmations. Birthday discounts. Review requests. Abandoned cart nudges. Product launches.

But here’s the kicker: the open rate for SMS is around 98%. That’s not a typo. NINETY-EIGHT. And it usually happens within the first 5 minutes of sending.

Compare that to email (which we also love, don’t worry) where you’re lucky to get a 25–30% open rate on a good day.

Why it works so damn well

Let's paint a picture here. You’re sitting at home. Your phone buzzes. You glance down. It’s a message from a brand you actually like, telling you the shoes you’ve had your eye on are back in stock - and here’s a 10% off code, just for you.

You’re not on social. You’re not scrolling your inbox. It’s just there. Personal. Direct. Urgent. That’s why SMS works. You cut through the noise.

It’s not some billboard hoping the right person drives past at the right time. It’s a tap on the shoulder. A whisper in the ear. And when done with intention - it converts.

The secret sauce isn’t sending texts. It’s how you send them.

Now let’s be clear: SMS isn’t a silver bullet. If you just blast people with generic offers or “SALE NOW” texts every week, they’ll unsubscribe faster than you can say “low engagement.”

The magic is in the strategy. Here’s what we’ve found works best:

1. Keep it human. Don’t write like a robot. Write like you’re texting a mate (depending on your branding of course). Short, casual, to the point. “Hey! We’ve just restocked your fave. Use code VIP10 before 9PM.” That’s the kind of tone that lands.

2. Make it timely. SMS thrives on urgency. 24-hour flash sale? Back in stock? Time-sensitive offer? Perfect. It’s not for casual content. It’s for action now energy.

3. Link it to something meaningful. Give them a reason to click. Whether it’s a special collection, new arrivals, or an abandoned cart reminder, always pair your message with a clear destination. Don't just say “Sale’s on.” Say “Sale’s on - your wishlist items are 20% off. Go.”

4. Segment your audience. Just like email, not everyone should get the same message. VIP customers? Give them first dibs. New sign-ups? Hit them with a welcome offer. One-time buyers? Bring them back. The more relevant, the better the conversion.

Have you used SMS marketing before?

• 100% it's the best marketing tool ever!
• No, I don't want to spam people :/

The combo move: SMS + email = 👑

Now, if you’ve already got a strong email marketing setup (or you’re working with us, wink wink), pairing SMS with email is the dream team.

Email gives you the space for storytelling, visuals, and long-form content. SMS gives you immediacy and impact.

We’ve seen clients hit abandoned carts with an email first, then follow it up with an SMS two hours later. Boom. 15-25% recovery rate. Easy money.

The tools we love

There are a few platforms doing SMS really well. Klaviyo (our go-to for email) has a great SMS setup, and Postscript is another standout - especially if you’re on Shopify.

They let you automate flows, segment your list, and keep everything compliant (yes, there are rules… and no, you can’t just text everyone without consent).

So, should you be doing SMS marketing?

If you’re generating any kind of traffic, if you’re making sales already, if you’re running campaigns that drive people to a product page - yes.

SMS isn’t a question of if, it’s when. And if you jump on it now, you’ll be ahead of the curve before it becomes the next saturated channel everyone scrambles to figure out.

Final thoughts (and a cheeky CTA)

If you’ve been putting all your energy into ads, socials, and content but your conversions are lagging behind - SMS could be the missing piece.

It’s not complicated. It’s not spammy. When done right, it’s a personal, powerful way to get more out of your existing audience.

And if you’re sat there thinking, “This sounds great but I don’t have time to figure it all out,” then don’t worry - that’s what we’re here for.

📲 Book a call with Atlas MKT and let’s build your SMS marketing system the right way.

📚 Want more juicy marketing knowledge? Hit up our blog.

👀 See the kind of results we get for our clients over on our portfolio.

💬 And if you want to chat directly, you can always reach out to Thomas Walker on LinkedIn—he’s always got thoughts.

Talk soon. And don’t sleep on SMS.