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Creative Black Friday SMS marketing campaign ideas for retailers in Australia
Black Friday is a digital battlefield for brands.
Shoppers are bombarded with nonstop offers, and while last year’s record-breaking $74.4 billion in online sales proves people are still spending, it also highlights the challenge: standing out is harder than it’s ever been.
Inboxes are crammed with almost identical discounts, so it’s no surprise that generic blasts rarely get the attention they want. To rise above the sea of “unmissable” deals, you need fresh, creative ways to connect.
To help you do just that, here are 10+ creative Black Friday SMS marketing ideas you can roll out that are simple to set up and designed to stand out.
Black Friday SMS marketing strategies to boost sales this year
BFCM might be a great time for bold promotions and bigger-than-life discounts, but those discounts only work if you’ve got the foundations in place.
1. Make the most out of abandoned carts
One thing’s for certain: there will be a lot of abandoned carts during Black Friday shopping days. It’s something you can’t really avoid. But a quick, friendly reminder can recover thousands in lost sales.
Capture high-intent shoppers with automated flows that send out a cart reminder message within the first hour of abandonment. This is when shoppers are most likely to still be in buying mode. You can even sweeten the deal with a steeper discount for those who come back.
Example: “Hey Emma, you left a few of your favorites behind! Grab them now before they’re gone: [link]”
Get inspired:
Queensland retailer Simply for Strings used MessageMedia’s Shopify SMS integration to cut down on cart abandonment.
Automated text reminders nudged hesitant buyers back to checkout, while dedicated BFCM campaigns increased overall sales. As a result, the brand saw a 41% lift in completed orders, 29% click-through rate, and ROI in the thousands.
2. Follow up post-purchase to convert repeat buyers
BFCM is the perfect opportunity to turn impulse buyers into long-time fans. Sending a thank-you text once someone has bought shows you appreciate their custom and keeps your brand fresh in their mind.
Example: “Thanks for shopping with us this Black Friday, James! Here’s 10% off your next order – valid until Sunday midnight: [link]”
3. Entice “window” shoppers with multimedia
Some shoppers love scrolling through deals but don’t always commit. That’s where rich media through MMS messaging can make the difference. An eye-catching image, a funny GIF, or a short product video turns a static text into something that feels a bit more like traditional window-shopping.
Here are some ideas:
- Visual gift guides
- Demo video with product styling
- Before-and-after transformation
- Carousel of colour options
Even something as simple as a countdown GIF can create urgency and keep your brand top of mind.
Example: “Still deciding? Check out our Black Friday Gift Guide. We’ve rounded up our top 10 picks to make it easy: [link]”
4. Use the same marketing message across channels
Email is still a top channel for BFCM deals, but the gap is closing.
Preference dropped by 5.5% this year, with messaging channels like WhatsApp picking up the slack. While different channels call for different approaches, it’s important to keep your message clear. Black Friday is overwhelming enough without mixed messages from brands – sticking with the same message helps them remember you over the rest.
Example: “Black Friday starts now: 40% off sitewide. The same deal is waiting in your email inbox – but you can shop straight from here: [link]”
5. Create segments to get more personal
Not all customers are attracted by the same deal. It may make sense to give past customers a sitewide discount, while free shipping and a free bonus item might be the way to go for new and international customers.
By segmenting your audience based on past purchases, location, or engagement, you can tailor your messages so they feel personal.
Example: “Hi Priya, loved your last activewear pick? This Black Friday, all active tops are 40% off just for you: [link]”
6. Offer real-time support to drive conversions
SMS is powerful, but you shouldn’t stop there. Some customers prefer Messenger, WhatsApp, or even LINE. In fact, 57% of shoppers want to choose their preferred communication channel when they opt in. Think about creating flexible journeys that start with SMS but expand across the channels your audience already uses.
Example: “Want updates on WhatsApp instead of SMS? Respond YES to let us know!”
Even more Black Friday SMS deal ideas to send
Once you’ve nailed the essentials, it’s time to layer in some high-impact campaign ideas. These are quick wins you can set up in advance, and they work because they tie into three big factors that define BFCM: urgency, exclusivity, and excitement.
Here are some proven ideas to try, with SMS templates you can swipe and adapt.
The sneak peek message
Give your loyal customers or SMS subscribers early access to deals. This builds excitement and rewards them for being on your list, but there’s a secondary benefit here too: it can help you iron out any kinks before the full campaign goes live.
Example: “Hey Sarah, you’re on the VIP list! Get early access to our Black Friday sale from 6pm tonight. 40% off sitewide: [link]”
Why it works: SMS feels personal and exclusive, so using it to announce early access makes customers feel like insiders.
The countdown message
A ticking clock is one of the simplest, most effective ways to boost conversions. Send reminders as the deadline approaches to prompt last-minute purchases.
Example: “Only 3 hours left to score 50% off our Black Friday deals! Shop now before the sale ends: [link]”
Why it works: People are more likely to act when they know time is running out. Use a series (e.g., 24 hours left > 6 hours left > 1 hour left) to catch different customer segments.
The giveaway message
SMS isn’t just for promos and last-minute reminders. You can also use it to make BFCM feel more interactive – it is a communication channel after all.
Running a giveaway or contest through text turns a one-way message into a two-way experience where shoppers aren’t just scrolling past yet another discount, they’re tapping in to win, reply, or share.
Example: “Win your cart this Black Friday! Place an order today and you could get it all for FREE. Shop now: [link]”
Why it works: Giveaways add a splash of fun and create a sense of community around your sale. They’re also a smart way to encourage shoppers who are on the fence to buy now.
The flash deal
Shoppers dip in and out of sales all weekend long and short, surprise promotions are a smart way to keep that energy alive. For example, a well-timed flash deal creates urgency, but it also builds anticipation because customers start checking back to see what’s coming next.
Example: “FLASH SALE! 2 hours only: Extra 20% off clearance items. Hurry, ends at 4pm: [link]”
Why it works: Flash deals tap into FOMO (fear of missing out). They work especially well when layered on top of existing discounts, because they give customers one more reason to hit the buy button.
Back-in-stock alerts
Best-sellers fly off the shelves during Black Friday, and few things annoy shoppers more than missing out.
But a timely text can quickly flip that frustration into excitement. Letting customers know the moment a popular item is back in stock can be a great way to recover lost sales and it makes people feel like they’re getting insider access.
Example: “Good news! One of our all-time bestselling [Product] is back in stock for Black Friday. Don’t wait, it won’t last long: [link]”
Why it works: Customers who missed out feel like they’re getting a second chance. You also keep demand high without blasting your whole list unnecessarily.
The post-sale extension
Not everyone makes it to checkout during the frenzy of Black Friday. If you’ve still got stock to move, extending your sale by a day (and letting people know by SMS) gives last-minute shoppers a second chance and helps clear out any leftover inventory.
Example: “Missed our Black Friday sale? Good news – we’ve extended it for 24 more hours! Shop now: [link]”
Why it works: It’s an easy way to keep the momentum going on a great sale and convert extra revenue from people who missed the main event.
Last chance reminder
The final hours of your BFCM campaign matter just as much as the launch (if not more). It’s the last opportunity you have to capture extra sales, and a well-timed final reminder via SMS can nudge “almost buyers” to the checkout.
Example: “Last chance to save BIG! Our Black Friday sale ends at midnight. Shop now and save up to 50% on all items: [link]”
Why it works: Shoppers often need multiple nudges before acting, especially if they’ve overlooked your previous messages in their busy inboxes.
How Australian retailers can save time and make more sales with Black Friday SMS marketing campaigns
The frenzy of Black Friday itself feels like it’s such a small window of time, but remember – there’s a lot that goes into the prep and post-planning, too. Expectations are high and, if you don’t have the right tools in your corner, it can very quickly become a huge missed revenue opportunity.
MessageMedia AU makes Black Friday SMS marketing for retailers easier with instant updates, well-timed abandoned cart nudges, and automated campaigns that span days and channels.
Here’s what you get in a single, easy-to-use SMS platform made for retail in Australia:
- Automated reminders. Set up cart recovery, delivery updates, or “back in stock” alerts once, and let them run in the background.
- Seamless integrations. Our Shopify and CRM integrations mean SMS campaigns fit into your existing workflow.
- Reliable delivery. It doesn’t matter if you’re sending a few hundred texts or a few hundred thousand, our Tier 1 deliverability means messages are delivered when they should be.
- Two-way messaging. Customers can reply with questions, and your team can answer quickly in one shared inbox.
Book a demo today to see how MessageMedia can help your business get Black Friday ready, or try it for free and start sending in minutes.
