How You Can Write an Attention-Grabbing Marketing Text

November 3, 2025 Marketing

In an era dominated by clickbait-heavy social feeds and overflowing inboxes, capturing attention isn’t just difficult—it’s imperative. If you’re working for a small business (or you’d like to help small businesses), writing marketing text that actually gets read and drives action is non-negotiable. But here’s the good news: you’re not competing against the entire internet—you’re competing for a fraction of one mobile screen. That means you have an edge. Let’s walk through how to make that edge count.

Why SMS (Yes, text-message) marketing deserves your attention

Before we dive into how to write the message, let’s step back and look at why SMS (short message service) marketing is more relevant in 2025 than ever.

  • Open rates for SMS campaigns routinely hit about 98 %, while email often lingers in the 20–30 % range. (Sender)
  • Over 80% of consumers check their text notifications within five minutes of delivery—and nearly a third check within 60 seconds. (SimpleTexting)
  • In one recent survey, 72% of consumers said they had made a purchase after receiving a brand-text message. (Klaviyo)
  • Businesses using SMS marketing are far more likely to report digital-marketing success than those that don’t. (Mailmodo)
  • Conversion rates for SMS campaigns can range around 21 %–35 % (and sometimes higher) depending on industry, versus much smaller numbers for many other digital channels. (Sakari)

In short: SMS gives you visibility, timeliness, and action potential. For small businesses wanting real traction—not just vanity metrics—text marketing is a channel worth mastering.

The anatomy of an attention-grabbing marketing text

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients you’ll want to include. You can think of each text message as a mini-ad: short, sharp, and built to convert.

1. A hook that demands attention

Your opening line should pull someone off autopilot:

  • Use the recipient’s first name (where privacy/compliance allows).
  • Mention something they care about (“Your order is ready”, “Flash deal for loyal customers”, etc.).
  • Keep it under 160 characters (so it fits neatly in SMS without wrapping awkwardly).

2. A value-driven message

Right after the hook, answer the key question your reader will have: “What’s in it for me?”

  • A discount, early access, or notification of something they asked for.
  • Delivery/tracking updates work especially well because people opt-in for convenience. (Adam Connell)
  • Keep it personal and relevant: if they’re already a customer, mention that. If they’ve shown interest, refer to it.

3. A clear and timely call-to-action (CTA)

You don’t want ambiguity. Tell them:

  • “Use code TEXT20 to get 20 % off today only.”
  • “Reply YES to confirm your booking.”
  • “Click the link below to reserve now (only 10 spots left).”
    Given how quickly people read texts, creating urgency helps. (OptiMonk)

4. Respectful and opt-out friendly

Texts feel personal—so respect that.

  • Provide an easy “STOP” or “Reply STOP to opt-out”.
  • Don’t over-text: one study showed 61 % of people unsubscribe when they receive too many texts. (Klaviyo)
  • Avoid spammy language; value and relevance matter.

5. Timing & segmentation

Because most people check texts within minutes, your timing matters.

  • Tie messages to purchase behavior (e.g., cart abandonment, shipping alerts).
  • Segment: not all customers are the same. A birthday offer for someone who bought once vs. a VIP who buys monthly need different messages.
  • A benchmark report from Klaviyo suggested top-10% campaigns drive up to 7× revenue per recipient compared to average SMS campaigns. (Klaviyo)

Example structure with a sample text

Hi [name] 👋 Your spring-edition sneakers just dropped – only 50 pairs available. Use code SPRING10 for 10% off. Shop now: [link] Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Break it down:

  • Hook: “Your spring-edition sneakers just dropped”
  • Value: “only 50 pairs available… 10% off”
  • CTA: “Shop now: [link]”
  • Opt-out: “Reply STOP”
  • Urgency: “only 50 pairs”
  • Personalization: [name] placeholder

Adapt this for service businesses: appointment reminders, reservation confirmations, flash-sales alerts, etc.

Why small businesses especially should lean into SMS

  • Cost-efficiency: SMS platforms are affordable and easy to scale; you don’t need thousands of dollars or a massive email list.
  • High visibility: With open rates around 98 % and most texts read within minutes, a small business can compete with bigger brands simply by being seen and being timely.
  • Direct channel: Unlike social media algorithms, text messages go straight to the user’s device, reducing the noise.
  • Omnichannel synergy: SMS doesn’t replace email—it complements it. You might email a newsletter, then send a text reminder when the sale goes live.
  • Actionable metrics: You can measure click-throughs, conversions, and opt-outs in real time. Benchmark reports show conversion rates between ~21–35 % for SMS campaigns in 2024–25. (Sakari)
MetricWhy it mattersTarget benchmark
Open rateIndicates message visibility~90–98% (as industry norm)
Click-through rate (CTR)Shows engagement & movement to action~19–36% (varies by industry)
Conversion rateIndicates actual customer action taken~21–40% (upper range)
Opt-out ratePain point if too high; reflects relevance< 3% opt-out is considered good
Revenue per recipientDirect ROI metricTop campaigns: 5–7× avg

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

  • Over-messaging: Bombarding your audience kills trust. Many unsubscribe when messages feel too frequent or irrelevant. (SimpleTexting)
  • Lack of relevance: One-size-fits-all blasts perform poorly. Segmentation and personalization matter. (Klaviyo)
  • Weak CTA: If people aren’t sure what to do next, you lose that moment of attention.
  • Poor timing: Sending late-night or irrelevant messages reduces engagement and increases opt-outs. (OptiMonk)
  • Ignoring regulations: Depending on region, obtaining consent and offering opt-out are legal requirements—not just best practices.

f you’re a small-business marketer (or helping one), you can’t afford to treat SMS as an afterthought. The data is clear: consumers read texts quickly, they respond, and they act. And when it’s done well—relevant message, clear value, timely delivery—SMS becomes a competitive advantage.

Start by drafting short, sharp text messages with your audience’s needs in mind. Track performance, learn what works, iterate. Then scale. It won’t replace every channel—but for attention, conversion, and mobile-first engagement, it’s hard to beat.

Sources

SimpleTexting (2025). 2025 Texting and SMS Marketing Statistics. simpletexting.com

Sender.net (2024). SMS Open Rates — How Effective Are Text Messages in Marketing? sender.net

Klaviyo (2024). SMS Marketing Benchmarks and Statistics. klaviyo.com

Mailmodo (2024). SMS vs Email Marketing Statistics — Which Performs Better? mailmodo.com

Sakari (2025). SMS Marketing Benchmarks 2025: Performance Metrics and Industry Insights. sakari.io

OptiMonk (2025). Essential SMS Marketing Statistics and Trends for 2025. optimonk.com

Adam Connell (2024). SMS Marketing Statistics Every Marketer Should Know. adamconnell.me