15 Examples of Companies That Use SMS Marketing

Thanks to SMS’s high open rates and rapid response time, some of the world’s top brands and companies have added texting to their marketing strategy.

You can see this in action with CNN breaking news text alerts, Facebook’s SMS authentication tool that prevents false account creation, and Chipotle’s  text-to-apply job applications.

Though these are household name brands, you can use these examples of companies using SMS marketing to brainstorm text campaigns for your own business.

What are some examples of companies using SMS marketing?

1. Michaels
2. Applebee’s
3. Papa John’s
4. World Market
5. Domino’s
6. PetSmart
7. Kohl’s
8. American Eagle Outfitters
9. Sherwin Williams
10. Cabela’s
11. Ulta
12. Barefaced
13. IKEA
14. Old Navy
15. Target

One of the easiest ways to grow your SMS contact list is to include it in your signup or purchase flow. Just be sure to ask for explicit consent to send texts by adding a disclaimer and a checkbox. 

The art supplies store Michaels provides people with an opportunity to sign up for their texting list when they create an online account. In exchange for signing up, customers receive promotions and arts and crafts trends.

Mobile apps can streamline curbside pickup for restaurants, but not everyone wants to download a separate app for every restaurant they frequent.

Applebee’s knows this and offers its customers the ability to place a to-go order online and receive text updates instead of downloading the app. When the customer arrives, they can simply text, “I’m here,” and a staff member will bring out their order.

Many pizza restaurant chains have added texting as a channel for coupons and deals so it’s easy for customers to sign up. It also allows the restaurant brand to stay top of mind in a highly competitive industry.

Papa John’s, for instance, offers coupons and special deals when customers text START to 47272.

World Market customers can opt into exclusive savings when they sign up for a free membership. If they already have a membership, they can text SIGNUP to 95730 and enter their member ID to receive promotional texts.

I like how they prominently highlight the benefits of becoming a member and joining their texting program on the sign-up page. It reinforces the value of the texting program and encourages people to stick around instead of opting out as soon as they get a coupon code.

Instead of a keyword, Domino’s uses a signup form to collect contacts for their text club. Customers can enter their phone number and opt in to receive discounts.

They also made headlines in 2015 when they introduced their pizza emoji SMS ordering system (yes, you read that right). Customers can text a pizza emoji to 88607 to place an order.

Pet parents will love the PetSmart coupons they get when they text TREATS to 704704. They even extend the reach of their texting list through partnerships.

Separate from their Kohl’s cash savings program, customers can join the Kohl’s SMS club by texting SAVE to 56457 for 15% off their order.

Popular apparel brand American Eagle offers coupons when you text JOIN to 32453.

Find some unique offers when you text COLOR to 27579 to sign up for the Sherwin Williams discount program. When you sign up, you get $10 off your next purchase of $50 or more.

When outdoors enthusiasts text WILDLIFE to 247365, they’re automatically enrolled in the Cabela’s coupon club. 

To make it easy to sign up on mobile, Cabela’s added a click-to-text button to their signup page. When someone taps the button, a message is pre-filled in their default SMS app.

Short, simple, and sweet. Text ULTA to 95637 to receive special offers on a variety of products and brands offered in store and online.

Barefaced offers customers the opportunity to get their skin care questions answered via text. This is a genius way to build trust with customers and provide personalized product recommendations.

The popular Swedish furniture shop offers an online web form for access to discounts via text and/or email.

Old Navy customers can text OLDNVY to 653689 to receive exclusive discounts from the retailer.

Target has several text messaging programs, including a one-on-one with beauty experts (text BeautyChat to 827438) and automated information about job openings (text JOBS to 827438).

You don’t have to own a massive brand to get meaningful results from SMS marketing. Brands of all sizes are using it to connect with their customers on a personal level and makes more sales (which you can read about in our success stories). 

Sign up for a free 14-day trial of our SMS marketing platform to see how easy it is to get started.

This piece was originally published on March 5, 2020. It was refreshed May 12, 2023. Meghan Tocci and Dani Henion contributed to this piece.