According to the National Retail Federation, consumers plan to spend a total of $25.8 billion for Valentine’s Day this year, a number similar to last year’s spending. This year’s estimated spending number is the third highest in the survey’s history, which is a promising sign that consumers are ready to celebrate (and spend).
But that’s not the only data point that marketers need to consider, as Google Trends notes that Valentine’s Day searches can start as early as the day after Christmas, and searches increase between February 11th and 13th. Remember this: the first two weeks of February is the time to push Valentine’s Day deals with romantic messaging and savvy marketing campaigns. While there’s an arsenal of tools at your fingertips, SMS is arguably the best vehicle for gaining your subscriber’s attention and increasing engagement.
Here, we’ll provide Valentine’s Day-specific text messaging tactics to inspire your marketing campaigns and help identify opportunities to improve your planning and execution.
🗓️ Encourage your subscribers to plan ahead
Even if your business isn’t running a Valentine’s Day specific promotion or deal, you can still celebrate it within your marketing’s messaging! Sending a SMS campaign to your subscribers that encourages them to book a reservation in advance is beneficial for both parties: your customer is scratching off a task on their to-do list with the tap of a button, and your business is making sure tables are booked for one of the busiest dining days of the year.
Once a customer books a table, ask them if they’d like more information your Valentine’s Day dining offers, such as a limited, three-course meal or heart-shaped dessert.
Pro Tip: Send a reminder message 24 to 48 hours ahead of the booking time to confirm their arrival.
For fast casual dining, be sure to utilize SMS marketing to keep your customers informed about upcoming orders, including pick-up time, order deadlines, and more. To keep the spark alive after Valentine’s Day has ended, follow up with a marketing message asking how their order went, or if their significant other is satisfied with your product.
Curious for more text message marketing tips for eateries? Dive deeper with How To Market Your Restaurant with SMS.
🌐 Share Your Valentine’s Day Promotions
With 50% of shoppers browsing gift ideas on their phones, it’s important to get your Valentine’s Day promotions on your customers’ screens. A multi-touchpoint marketing campaign with 1) An intro message with your offer details, 2) A reminder to make a purchase, and 3) A last chance to order with shipping deadlines will give your customers plenty of opportunities to make a purchase on time for the big day.
🔦 Spotlight Your Gift Cards
We get it: not everyone in your life can be easy to shop for, and brainstorming ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts that don’t involve flowers or candy can be tricky. Purchasing a gift card is easy for your subscribers, and it’s also a way for the gift receiver to order something they’ll truly like.
Pro Tip: If your brand offers e-gift cards, send a SMS campaign to a segment of your subscribers that haven’t made a purchase in x amount of days, and remind them that e-gift cards are an easy, same-day Valentine’s Day gift idea that can be delivered via email in a matter of minutes.
💙 Celebrate Love in All Forms
Did you know that Galentine’s Day is on February 13? Don’t miss out on promoting products for a fun friends gathering, a BOGO deal for besties, or a flash sale exclusively offered to SMS subscribers.
Singles Awareness Day is on February 15! This is a fun way to extend your Valentine’s Day sale as well as sending a shout out to your single subscribers to treat themselves to a little self-love.
Write the Text Message for the SMS Subscriber, not for the Valentine’s Day Gift Recipient
Let’s say you run a chain of jewelry boutiques; the bulk of your subscribers will be women who regularly buy pieces for themselves, not their partners who may be one-time shoppers. In this scenario, you may want to craft your messaging as “treat yourself …” or “sparkle this Valentine’s Day …” rather than suggesting that they buy a jewelry-themed gift for their sweetheart.
Additional Text Messaging Tips to Spice Up Valentine’s Day Marketing
- Win recipients’ hearts with SMS personalization - Personalize your Valentine’s Day marketing messages by including the recipient’s name and tailoring the content to their preferences and past interactions. This approach makes your texts feel more intimate and relevant, increasing the likelihood of engagement and response.
- Don’t make your text messages too sappy or hyper-focused on romantic couples - We previously advised that you “celebrate love in all forms.” This recommendation not only ensures you include all text recipients, but also helps you avoid alienating or angering those who may not currently be in the throes of passion. So while it’s fine to acknowledge romance, do so with a playful tone that doesn’t read as if it came from a Danielle Steel novel.
- Segment your audience - Tailor your messages to different customer segments based on their behaviors, preferences, and past interactions. This ensures that your Valentine’s Day text message marketing is relevant. For example, if you run a pet supply store, knowing whether someone owns a dog or cat (or both) will let you target the texts to their individual needs.
- Support your Valentine’s Day text message marketing with an email campaign - As explored in SMS vs. Email: Maximizing Your Customer Journey for Optimal Engagement, email and text message each come with their own pros and cons. Together, they can form a mighty Valentine’s Day marketing campaign. Texts are great for their immediacy and high open rates, making them perfect for urgent promotions and time-sensitive offers. On the other hand, email marketing is preferable for presenting high-end visuals and leading people to less-urgent CTAs, such as linking to your Valentine’s Day gift guide.
- Do you run an eCommerce store? Warn subscribers when their last day to order gifts for Valentine’s Day will be - Nothing motivates someone like the pressure of Valentine’s Day gift giving combined with “now or never” marketing messaging.
- Similar to the above, restaurants and service providers can war recipients about the potential of becoming fully booked - Messaging like “Make your reservation before it’s too late” can drive immediate action by adding urgency and reminding recipients that your offering is, indeed, coveted by many.
Examples of Valentine’s Day Marketing Text Messages
- Text message example for restaurant offering pre-fixed menu: “❤️ Treat your favorite person to dinner! Join us for a delicious four-course Valentine’s Day pre-fixe menu at [insert restaurant name]. Reserve your table now: [link] 🍷🍽️”
- Text message example from pet store franchise offering 30% off select chew toys: ”🐾 Show [insert dog names] your love this Valentine’s Day! Get 30% off select chew toys at [insert store name]. Show your furry friend some extra affection! Shop now: [link] 🐶❤️”
- Text message example to promote free dessert with every Valentine’s Day food delivery: ”🍰 Make Valentine’s Day a little sweeter with dessert, on us! Get a free treat with every Valentine’s Day food delivery from [insert restaurant name]. Order now and enjoy a delicious meal at home: [link] ❤️🚚”
- Text message example of salon reminding subscribers about their blow-out services: ”💇♀️ Valentine’s Day is almost here! Don’t miss out on a fabulous look – limited appointments available for hair blowouts [insert name]. Book your Valentine’s Day slot now before it’s too late! 📅 Call 555-1234 or visit [link] to reserve. 💖”
- Text message example of local grocer promoting rose bouquets as a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift: “🌹Need a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift? We’ve got you covered! Get beautiful rose bouquets at [insert grocer name]. Hurry, while supplies last! 💐”
- Text message example from a fitness center offering a “love yourself” limited time discount: “🏋️♀️ Love yourself this Valentine’s Day! Join [gym name] with our special offer: 20% off all memberships for a limited time. Start your fitness journey today: [link] ❤️💪”
- Text message example from craft store celebrating Valentine’s Day themed project supplies: ”🎨 Get creative this Valentine’s Day! Shop Crafty Corner’s themed project supplies and make something special! Enjoy 15% off all Valentine’s items: [link] ❤️🧶”
- Text message example from dog-sitting service reminding recipients of their services: ”🐕 Planning a special night out? Let Paws & Play take care of your furry friend. Book our dog-sitting services for a worry-free Valentine’s Day: [link] ❤️🐾”
Need help setting your SMS campaigns up for success? Get in touch with the Voxie team today!
Alternatively download our guide for powering up your SMS strategy for Valentines this year 💙.