A Guide to Text Sales [Strategies, Examples, Software]

You're trying to find new ways to engage your prospects and gain your customer's loyalty, but you've noticed emailing is no longer cutting it. Fewer people are opening the emails you're sending, and more and more are unsubscribing. It's becoming quite the problem.

And you think you know how to fix it, text sales. But you don't know how exactly to use it, so they don't suffer the same fate your emails did.

That's how you ended up here. So, buckle up because you've ended up in the right place. In our guide to text sales, we'll cover what it is, different types, strategies, and much more.

What is Text Messaging for Sales

Text messaging for sales, or text sales, are texts a business sends to customers or prospects to aid in sales.

These text messages can be sent for various reasons, including following up with prospects, sending promotions, confirming or reminding customers about meetings, etc. They can be a very effective sales tool when used the right way.

A common statistic that's touted in pretty much every blog on SMS on the internet is that texts have a 98% open rate. This stat doesn't have a source that we could find, but it's probable since the number of texts sent over the years land in the trillions.

If your clients are anything like us, they'll be much more on top of answering their personal text messages than personal email. (They should be checking both when it comes to working devices, but we're not here to call anyone out if they check one more than the other).

Although much like email, there are certain laws around consent to send messages, bulk messaging, etc., that you'll have to follow. In more detail, we go through some of these laws in our articles Comprehensive Guide to Business Online Texting and 5 Sales Strategies Using CRM with Text Messaging.

But we recommend speaking to a legal professional about the laws in your country and your area surrounding this type of communication.

With text messaging, you can achieve what you want to achieve with the email and to a certain degree, social media as well, but in a much more effective way (if you heed our advice, that is).

Before we get to the advice, though, let's elaborate a little more on text sales by digging into some of the different types.

Types of Sales Text

Sales Text Messages Strategies

Before looking into text sales strategies, it helps to understand customer preferences. About 4.5% of customers say they'd rather respond via text than through any other channel. On top of that, 41% prefer receiving business messages directly on their mobile devices.

That's a powerful slice of your audience you can't ignore if you're serious about expanding your reach.

That aside. Here are five proven strategies to make your sales texts cut through the noise and actually convert.

1. Use Local Area Codes for Higher Open Rates

Nobody likes getting a random call or text from an unfamiliar number that screams "telemarketer." By using a local area code, you instantly make your message feel more trustworthy.

Think of it as wearing the right uniform. You're signaling that you belong in their world. Customers are far more likely to open and respond to sales text messages when they recognize the number as local. This small change can significantly boost engagement before you've even typed "hello."

2. Automate Your Follow-Ups Without Sounding Robotic

One text rarely seals the deal. The magic lies in persistence, but not the pushy kind. Automated drip campaigns can keep your prospects warm without overwhelming your sales team. The trick is to blend automation with personalization.

Here's how:

• Drip Sequences: Schedule timely sales follow-up text messages that feel like natural reminders rather than spam. For example, "Hey Alex, just checking if Thursday still works for a quick demo?"
• Dynamic Tags: Use your CRM system to insert names, company details, or even recent interactions. This keeps your sales texts from sounding like they were sent by a bot running on autopilot.

The result? Efficiency for you, authenticity for them.

3. Keep It Short, Action-Oriented, and Conversational

Let's be real: nobody wants to read a novel in a text message. The sweet spot is around 160 characters. Think snackable, not a five-course meal. Your goal is to sound human, deliver value, and move the conversation forward. The best sales text messages are short, witty, and leave no room for confusion.

For example:

"Hey Sam, quick question. Want me to reserve your spot for tomorrow's webinar? Just reply YES."

4. Use Text + Call Sequences for Multi-Touch Success

A text message on its own is powerful, but pairing it with a call is like adding rocket fuel to your outreach. Start with a sales text to break the ice, then follow up with a voicemail or live call. This sequence warms up the prospect so your call feels less cold and more like a natural continuation of the chat.

Think of it this way: your sales text chat is the friendly handshake, and your call is the sit-down conversation. Together, they create a multi-touch strategy that feels persistent without being pushy.

5. Always Include a Clear CTA

The golden rule of text message sales: never leave your recipient guessing what to do next. Every text should have a crystal-clear call to action. Otherwise, you're just making small talk.

Here are some winning CTAs you can swipe:

• "Book now to lock in your discount."
• "Reply YES and we'll send the details."
• "Schedule a demo with one click here: [link]."

A strong CTA transforms your message from a casual ping into a conversion driver. Without it, even the cleverest sales text message examples will fizzle out.

Best Sales Text Message Examples

Now that we've covered strategy, let's get practical. Seeing actual sales text message examples is the best way to understand how context, tone, and timing make or break results.

Here are sales text messages examples across common use cases:

When to Use Sales Texting (and When Not To)

Text messaging for sales shines when speed, clarity, and timing matter. The trick is knowing when a sales text will move the deal forward, and when a call or email is the smarter play. Use the cues below to decide where text sales fits in your motion, and where to hold the line.

You Need Quick Responses

When every minute counts, sales text messages beat email. They're typically read within minutes, and a short, friendly nudge can unblock next steps fast. Use texts to confirm logistics, collect micro-commitments, or handle simple questions that don't require a full back-and-forth.

Start with a brief setup, then pick the right ask:

1. Confirmations: "Still good for our 2:30 demo? Reply YES and I'll send the link."
2. Micro-decisions: "Do you prefer monthly or annual if we include onboarding?"
3. Fast info capture: "Best email for the invoice? Reply with it here."

You're Following Up on a Recent Interaction

Strike while the context is fresh. After a demo, quote request, webinar, or a missed call, a concise sales follow up text message keeps momentum without clogging the inbox.

Reference the moment ("Great chatting 10 mins ago…") and offer one clear next step. This feels like a natural continuation of your sales text chat, not a cold pitch.

You Want to Automate Lead Nurturing

Automation lets you scale personalization without sounding robotic. Pair drip sequences with dynamic tags to keep text message sales human and helpful.

Here's a simple framework:

• Warm welcome: "Hey [Name], saw you checked out [Feature]. Want a 2-minute overview video?"
• Value snackables: "Quick tip: Teams save ~30 mins/week using [Feature]. Want the checklist?"
• Decision nudge: "Ready for a hands-on trial? Reply START and I'll activate it."

Keep cadence respectful, include opt-out language, and throttle based on engagement so your best sales text messages feel timely, not relentless.

You're Running a Time-Sensitive Promotion

Short windows demand short messages. For a text sales promotion, limited stock, price increases, and expiring trials, use a direct benefit + deadline + one-tap CTA: "Final day for 15% off Pro. Reply "UPGRADE" and I'll apply it." Urgency works best when it's real; avoid faux countdowns that erode trust.

When Not To

Texting isn't a universal remote. Skip SMS for complex explanations that need visuals, sensitive topics (billing disputes, legal/medical matters), or anything requiring long-form nuance. Don't text prospects who haven't clearly opted in, and avoid out-of-hours pings unless they've asked for them.

If the message could be misread without tone or context, move it to a call or a succinct email and reserve sales text messages for crisp, actionable moments.

Tip for consistency: if you're unsure, ask yourself, "Can this be understood and acted on in under 160 characters?" If yes, text away. If not, switch channels and keep text messaging for sales focused on speed and simplicity.

Conclusion

So, there you go. That's what's what on text sales. Let's run through it one more time.

Text sales are SMS communications you have with your customers to help bolster your sales. Five strategies for using those sales include:

1. Use Local Area Codes for Higher Open Rates
2. Automate Your Follow-Ups Without Sounding Robotic
3. Keep It Short, Action-Oriented, and Conversational
4. Use Text + Call Sequences for Multi-Touch Success
5. Always Include a Clear CTA

And although you have a few options when it comes to sales texting software, we would recommend using a CRM like Ringy. Request our demo to see how it works, and try our free trial, so you can see how it works for you.