Blog ยท 5 min read
SMS marketing for service businesses: what works in 2026
SMS open rates are 98%. Email open rates are 20%. But one bad SMS campaign torches your customer list. Here's how to use SMS as a service business without becoming the spammy one.
The non-negotiables
Always send from your real business number, not a shortcode.
Always include an opt-out ("Reply STOP to unsubscribe") on the first message and any broadcast.
Always get consent first, at booking, at checkout, or via a form.
Skip these and you'll catch carrier filtering, fines, or worse.
What to actually send
Transactional: appointment confirmations, reminders, completion notes, review requests. These are always welcome.
Re-engagement: "Hey, it's been 6 months, time for your next service?" Send sparingly.
Promotional: seasonal offers, openings. Max once a month. Never on Sunday.
What never to send
Daily promos. You'll get blocked.
Mass blasts with no segmentation. Carriers flag these as spam.
"Click here to claim your prize" anything. Even legitimate, it triggers filters.
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