Are text messages part of your Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM) plan? As we move towards these huge sales dates (seriously, check your calendars), it’s time to start thinking about how to grab your chunk of those sweet retail dollars.

SMS is a dream for retailers because it’s both simple and effective – 98% open rate, anyone? You can weave texting through your BFCM strategy, sending messages before, during and after the big days to keep customers informed and engaged.

Ready to get started? Here’s our rough guide to BFCM planning, complete with 40-ish SMS templates for Black Friday and Cyber Monday to get you started – copy, paste, tweak, and send.

But first… to help you prepare your overall BFCM communication strategy, check out some eye-opening findings from a new consumer survey.

What consumers say about Black Friday and Cyber Monday communications

To find out more about what holiday shoppers expect from brand communications and promotions, Sinch surveyed around 1,200 consumers from the U.S., UK, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, and Spain. Here are some of the key findings:

• Most consumers (almost 57%) expect to hear from brands about Black Friday at least one month before a promotion launches.
• Having a multi-channel approach is an effective way to optimize holiday campaigns:
  • 48% of consumers say they’ll go straight to a brand’s website to find promotions.
  • 44% prefer seeing holiday promotions on social media.
  • 45% of consumers choose at least one mobile messaging option (SMS/MMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram) as a preferred channel.
• Nearly 80% of consumers get value from personalized recommendations in holiday promotions. That means going beyond basic first name personalization in your holiday email campaigns.
• Order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery notifications are vital to the customer experience this time of year. More than 94% of consumers say transactional messages are important during holiday shopping.
• Interactive holiday campaigns could help boost email engagement. More than half of survey respondents said they’d be likely to engage with campaigns featuring interactivity and multimedia.

Explore more of the findings in the infographic from Sinch…

Build excitement with BFCM teaser texts

Want to create hype and excitement leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales? Start with teaser texts in the weeks leading up to the big days. It’s not about pushing sales at this point – it’s about keeping your brand top-of-mind so people come back when it matters.

Mix up your messaging by using a combo of SMS and MMS, and use mobile landing pages to add extra pizazz.

What should your teaser texts actually say? Amp up the excitement, include a link to your BFCM preview page, and keep it super positive. (Or, just use our templates.)

Black Friday / Cyber Monday SMS templates for teaser texts

TEMPLATE: Guess what, [NAME]? Something big is on the way! Get the inside scoop: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Black Friday & Cyber Monday are going to be HUGE this year – here’s why: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Just 10 more sleeps til our massive Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale. Here’s a sneak peek: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Use exclusive deals to drive membership

Got a VIP or loyalty club? Offer members-only BFCM deals, prompt customers to sign up, and watch it grow.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to message current members. Exclusive discount codes or early access to sales are a great way to remind your VIPs that they’re important to you – and build positive feelings about your brand at the same time.

Here are a few ways to word your VIP texts.

Black Friday / Cyber Monday SMS templates for growing memberships

TEMPLATE: [NAME], want early access to our amazing Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales? Sign up for our VIP club, and you’re in! Text Y to join or STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Welcome to the [BRAND], club, [NAME]! Your early access link will be with you soon – keep your eyes peeled! Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Sick of missing out on the best deals? Become a [VIP CLUB NAME] member for early access to sales, special Black Friday discounts and your very own gift code. Sign up here: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Hey [NAME], we’ve got some super-secret Black Friday deals for VIP members like you. Keep an eye out for your members-only link. Reply STOP to opt out.

Use BFCM to reward your best customers

You don’t have to have a VIP club to show some love to your biggest fans. Use your database to scope out your long-lasting customers, text them an early access link to your BFCM deals, and make sure they know it’s exclusive. You want them to feel those warm, fuzzy feelings about your brand. 

Don’t forget to include the customer’s name, the number of years they’ve been shopping with you, and any other relevant details – like their favourite products or recent purchases. Personalisation is a proven (and easy) way to drive one-time purchases and boost long-term loyalty.  

Here’s what that might look like:

Black Friday / Cyber Monday SMS templates for VIP customers

TEMPLATE: Black Friday starts early for our favourite customers – that’s you, [NAME]. Use code [CODE] to access our big sale, starting now. Shop now at [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Can you keep a secret, [NAME]? Because you’ve been a loyal [COMPANY] customer for [X] years, you get the chance to shop our Black Friday sale early. [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Our biggest BFCM deals are about to launch, and you get first dibs, [NAME]. Shop now before we sell out: [URL] Reply STOP to opt out.

Keep the messages coming during your sale

The big day arrives. Your shelves are stocked, your staff are ready, your discounts are hot. Customers are – hopefully – primed to shop after your teaser texts and special offers. Your job? Keep your sale top of mind while it’s happening.

At BFCM, this means cutting through a forest of messages in SMS, email, online and almost anywhere else. Try different messages and styles and send texts at different points during your sale to maximise their impact. 

We’ve jotted some ideas below:

BFCM SMS templates for the sale launch

TEMPLATE: Our biggest-ever BFCM sale is finally here! Get EPIC deals on all your go-to [COMPANY] gear here: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Black Friday at [COMPANY] starts now – and it’s a big one. Get $[VALUE] off when you spend $[VALUE] in-store, online deals and so much more. Check it out: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: It’s on, [NAME]! Our Black Friday sale is live – get up to X% off all purchases online, starting now. [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

BFCM SMS templates during sale

TEMPLATE: Scoping out the best Black Friday deals? Don’t miss the [COMPANY] sale – with up to [DISCOUNT]% off, online and in-store. Happy shopping! [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Hi [NAME], we’ve got some incredible Black Friday deals this year. Up to [DISCOUNT]% off [PRODUCT LINE 1], [PRODUCT LINE 2] AND [PRODUCT LINE 3]. Don’t miss out: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: It’s Black Friday! Get [DISCOUNT]% off everything and keep an eye out for bonus deals all weekend: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Black Friday’s here, and we’re celebrating til Cyber Monday. Claim your free [SERVICE] when you book any [SERVICE] before [DATE]. Call now: [PHONE NUMBER]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Hey [NAME], you’ve just scored an extra [DISCOUNT]% off all Black Friday sale items. But be quick – it expires in 2 hours. Start shopping: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Tick everyone off your holiday gift list with our fantastic range of Black Friday bargains. Shop now at [URL]. Text STOP to opt out.

BFCM SMS templates as sales end

TEMPLATE: Hi [NAME], there’s still time to grab some stunning deals in our Black Friday Cyber Monday sale. Get in quick for up to X% off: [URL]. Text STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: The [COMPANY] BFCM sale ends tomorrow! If you’ve been eyeing up one of our products, now’s the time to hit that buy button. [URL]. Text STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Our massive Black Friday sale is nearly over! You can still shop the deals until [TIME/DATE]. [URL]. Text STOP to opt out.

Save abandoned sales

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not your ordinary shopping days – and that shows up in shopper behaviour. Your deal-hungry customers will bounce between sites, fill carts, calculate discounts and apply codes, and often end up clicking away before they actually buy. That’s why abandoned carts are so common – one study found that the abandonment rate was 76.63% on Black Friday, and 80.25% on Cyber Monday.

If you can reclaim some of those lost shoppers, you can boost sales numbers during BFCM. SMS is a great place for this type of quick reminder. Keep them friendly and funny – avoid the passive aggressive ‘gentle reminders’ here. Another sales-boosting tip? Throw in an extra discount or free shipping to sweeten the deal.

Here’s how:

Black Friday / Cyber Monday SMS templates for abandoned shopping carts

TEMPLATE: Hi [NAME], you’ve left something in your [COMPANY] cart. To grab the deal, complete your purchase now: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Hi [NAME], we’ll keep your cart on hold for [NUMBER] hours. If you’re still keen, click through to finish your purchase. [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Forget something? Jump back in and get an extra 15% off if you buy within the next 20 minutes: [URL] Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Hey [NAME], your cart is looking pretty full! Finish your shopping now, and we’ll throw in a [PRODUCT] with your purchase. You can’t say no to that, right? [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Mind your SMS manners

Want your customers to feel happy and appreciated post-sale? Set up an automated ‘thank you’ text to send to customers who buy during BFCM. It’s a low-effort way to make customers feel good about your brand, making them more likely to buy from you again.

Don’t overthink these texts – keep them simple, personal and sincere.

Black Friday / Cyber Monday thank you SMS templates

TEMPLATE: Hi [Name], thanks for shopping our BFCM sale! We hope to see you again soon. Text STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Thanks for shopping with us, [NAME]. We hope you enjoy your new [LINE] products. Cheers, the [COMPANY] team. Text STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Thanks for supporting [COMPANY] this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For the inside scoop on our next big sales event, join our mailing list. Repy Y or sign up here: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Stretch your sales beyond Black Friday (and Cyber Monday)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday used to be true one-day sales events. These days, more and more retailers are stretching them out to a few days or a full week.

Whether you advertise a three-day sale from the start or choose to extend the sale, keep your customers up to speed with SMS.

Use our templates to get started:

SMS templates to take sales beyond BFCM

TEMPLATE: Hi [NAME], we just added more awesome Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals to our online store: [URL]. Sale must end on [DATE]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: We don’t know about you, but we’re not ready for Black Friday to end. We’re extending the sale til [DATE], so you have more time to grab a bargain. Shop now: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Good news! We’re giving our very best customers more chances to shop our BFCM sale. Use code [CODE] to access the sales until [DATE]: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: We’re bending the rules just for you, [NAME]. Get one more day of Black Friday deals on our online store. Use code: [CODE] [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Turn sales into feedback and insights

Post-BFCM, think about gathering feedback or reviews from your customers. Thanks to your amazing deals (and friendly text comms), they’re probably feeling pretty positive about your brand, which could make them more willing to share their feelings.

You can use two-way texting to ask for very simple feedback, ask customers to review your products, or drive customers to an online form with detailed questions. You can focus on the sale, try to boost review numbers, or cast a wider net and ask about your brand in general.

Once you’ve gathered your feedback, use it to improve processes, change the way you communicate with customers, or adjust your approach to Black Friday next year.

Here’s where to start:

Black Friday / Cyber Monday SMS templates to gather feedback

TEMPLATE: Hi [Name]. As a valued customer, your feedback means a lot to us. Please rate your experience with our brand between 1 (poor) and 10 (fantastic) and send it as a text reply. Thank you! Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: Hi [NAME], thanks for shopping with us during BFCM! If you’ve got a minute, we’d love you to leave us a quick Google review: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

TEMPLATE: TEMPLATE: [NAME], want to win a [PRODUCT]? Go into the draw when you leave us a review here: [URL]. Reply STOP to opt out.

There’s still time to set yourself up for SMS success before BFCM

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, but don’t worry, with helpful SMS marketing tools like Sinch MessageMedia, you can put your SMS campaign in gear in just a few minutes.

Our platform is designed for easy use, so you don’t need any programming skills or special schooling to get started.

Try texting on for size with Sinch MessageMedia. Start your free 14-day trial now.