Salt Strong, an online fishing community, had a challenge that many niche brands face, how to speak personally to every type of customer without sounding generic. Their audience included anglers with different preferences, some loved inshore fishing, others were all about offshore adventures or specific lures and regions. Sending the same message to everyone just wasn’t working anymore.
Strategy
Salt Strong turned to SMS marketing with a smart twist hyper-segmentation.
When new members signed up for text alerts, they were asked a few quick questions about their fishing style and interests.
This allowed Salt Strong to send messages that truly matched what each person cared about like a new tutorial on a lure they had shown interest in or region-specific fishing tips.
Outcome
This hyper-personalized approach significantly boosted engagement and revenue. The brand achieved a 25% increase in message reply rates, a 35% growth in revenue, and a remarkable 42x return on investment. The campaign proved that focusing on deep personalization is far more powerful than simple broadcast messaging.
2. Game of Thrones: The Three-Eyed Raven campaign
When HBO was gearing up to release new seasons of Game of Thrones, traditional ads and social media buzz just weren’t enough. The show already had a massive audience, but HBO wanted to go deeper to connect directly with its most passionate fans, the "superfans" who were always hungry for more information.
Strategy
HBO launched the “Three-Eyed Raven” SMS campaign.
Fans who opted in began receiving mysterious text messages written as if they were sent by the Three-Eyed Raven himself.
Each message contained cryptic hints, exclusive links, and early teasers about upcoming episodes - making fans feel like part of the story.
Outcome
The campaign engaged 70,000 subscribers and generated record-breaking hype for each episode.
3. Burger King: The “Burn That Ad” campaign
Burger King has never shied away from bold marketing and this campaign proved it. Wanting to grab attention and outsmart its rival McDonald’s, the brand came up with a fiery idea.
Strategy
Using augmented reality (AR) in its app, customers could scan McDonald’s ads on billboards, posters, or magazines and watch them burst into digital flames.- Once the ad was “burned,” users instantly received a coupon for a free Whopper.
The campaign turned ordinary ads into an interactive game, making people laugh, share, and engage with the brand.
Outcome
It wasn’t just a clever gimmick. The campaign turned ordinary ads into an interactive game, making people laugh, share, and engage with the brand. A massive spike in app downloads and user activity, plus global buzz that positioned Burger King as one of the most creative players in fast-food marketing. Burger King didn’t just advertise; it invited people to play with the brand.
4. Anytime Fitness: Winning back members with a $1 deal
Anytime Fitness wanted to reconnect with past members who had drifted away, people who once loved the gym but needed a little push to return. Instead of relying on emails or social media ads that might get ignored, they turned to something more personal and direct: SMS marketing.
Strategy
They launched a limited-time campaign offering $1 memberships exclusively through text messages.
The offer was simple, time-bound, and sent only to former members making it feel exclusive and personal.
Outcome
The campaign drove a strong increase in reactivations members who had lapsed for months began signing up again, showing the power of exclusive, time sensitive offers via SMS.
5. 310 Nutrition: Subscriber growth
310 Nutrition started as a direct to consumer wellness brand with strong products and an engaged community. But the team saw that email alone wasn’t enough to reach people often, and they wanted a channel that felt more immediate and direct. That’s when they turned to SMS marketing as a core part of their growth plan.
Strategy
SMS was used to send timely promotions, product launches, and value driven content to opt-in subscribers.
They optimized sign-up points and used segmentation based on customer behavior and preferences to keep messages relevant.
Outcome
As a result, 310 Nutrition built a list of over 75,000 SMS subscribers. Today, SMS is one of their core communication channels driving not just one-time purchases but loyalty and repeat sales, thanks to that direct, personal access to their audience.
6. Domino’s Pizza: Turning updates into cravings
Domino’s has always been known for fast delivery, but it wanted to go beyond just sending pizzas it wanted to deliver experiences. The brand realized that customer engagement didn’t have to stop after someone placed an order. By using SMS creatively, Domino’s turned simple delivery notifications into moments of excitement that kept customers coming back for more.
Strategy
Through SMS updates, customers received real-time notifications like “Your pizza is in the oven!” and “Your order is on the way.”
These updates made the process transparent and engaging.
One-tap reorder links allowed customers to instantly reorder their favorite pizza, increasing convenience.
Outcome
The result was a powerful combination of convenience and craving. Repeat orders surged, customer satisfaction improved, and Domino’s strengthened its reputation as a tech savvy, customer first brand. What started as simple delivery updates evolved into a smart retention strategy proving that even a quick text can turn a routine order into a reason to come back for another slice.
Essendon Football Club wanted to boost merchandise sales and fan engagement during game days. They realized that many fans were most excited and likely to purchase when the game-day energy was at its peak.
Strategy
The club used SMS marketing to send targeted messages to fans right before and during games, promoting special merchandise offers and limited-time deals.
These messages felt timely and personal, reaching fans exactly when their excitement and engagement were at their peak.
Outcome
The campaign successfully increased merchandise sales during games and demonstrated how perfect timing and relevance can maximize customer response and drive revenue.
8. Decibullz: Labor day sale success with a single SMS
Decibullz, a custom-molded earphone company, wanted to make the most of a holiday promotion while keeping things simple. Instead of launching a broad campaign, they decided to test the power of a single, well-crafted SMS targeting their subscribers.
Strategy
They sent a single SMS promoting their Labor Day sale with a 20% discount and a direct purchase link.
The concise, actionable message prompted instant responses.
Outcome
The results spoke for themselves. The campaign achieved a 12% click-through rate and generated $280 in revenue from just one text message. Decibullz demonstrated that even a single, targeted SMS can drive meaningful sales and engagement.
9. HOMAGE: NFL starter jackets launch
HOMAGE, an apparel brand in Ohio, was gearing up to release retro NFL Starter jackets. They wanted to create excitement and drive immediate sales among their loyal customers.
Strategy
- The alerts were exclusive and time-sensitive, sent only to subscribers.- This encouraged fast action and immediate engagement with the offer.
Outcome
The campaign delivered impressive results with over 100 orders in the first hour, an 86.9% click-through rate, and a 9% conversion rate, translating to $167 in revenue per recipient. HOMAGE proved that SMS is a powerful tool for driving instant sales and building hype around product launches.
10. Hydrate Medical: Boosting IV clinic sales with SMS
Hydrate Medical, an IV hydration clinic, wanted to grow its business and reach more customers through digital channels. They partnered with Social Ape Marketing to craft a targeted SMS strategy.
Strategy
Partnering with Social Ape Marketing, they implemented targeted and segmented SMS campaigns.
Personalized messages encouraged appointment bookings and follow-ups at optimal times.
Outcome
The results were remarkable. Within two years, Hydrate Medical tripled its sales, achieving an estimated 1,039% ROI. This case shows how combining SMS with smart digital marketing can drive substantial business growth.
Key Takeaways
SMS Marketing is Direct and Personal
SMS allows brands to reach customers instantly, bypassing crowded email inboxes and social feeds, which leads to higher engagement rates.
High Open Rates and ROI
SMS marketing consistently achieves open rates close to 100% and can deliver exceptional ROI, some campaigns report up to 113x returns.
Revenue Potential
Early campaigns revenue wasn’t always well-documented but Modern examples like Monsoon show a 20% revenue boost, and platforms like TextMagic have grown into multi-million-dollar businesses using SMS strategically.
Strategic Use is Key
Success depends on relevance, timing, and personalization. Brands that use SMS thoughtfully as a complement to email or other channels see the best results.
Conclusion
SMS marketing campaigns have the power to cut through noise, build genuine connections, and turn a few words into measurable impact. From exclusive offers to interactive brand experiences, the examples above prove that success doesn’t come from complexity it comes from clarity, timing, and relevance.
Start crafting your next campaign with messages that feel personal and purposeful. With the right strategy, every text can become a moment of engagement driving loyalty, conversions, and lasting brand relationships.
