How to Send Promotional Offers via Email to SMS: The Complete Business Guide

Your promotional emails are sitting unopened. While email performs well overall, time-sensitive offers often don’t reach customers until hours after delivery sometimes after your offer expires.

That’s where SMS changes the game. Text messages are opened almost immediately, typically within just a few minutes of delivery. Instead of waiting in crowded inboxes, your promotional offers reach customers right when they matter most.

What makes this especially frustrating for businesses is the misconception that SMS marketing is complex or expensive. Many assume it requires new platforms, technical integrations, or dedicated apps their teams must learn.

In reality, you can send promotional text messages directly from your computer using tools you already use every day like email.

Why Email to SMS Works Better for Promotional Offers

Traditional promotional channels have a visibility problem. Email inboxes are flooded. Social media algorithms bury organic posts. Direct mail takes days and costs dollars per piece.

SMS cuts through all of that noise.

The Numbers That Matter for Promotional Success

When you send a promotional offer via text message, here’s what happens:

• 98% open rate compared to 20-32% for email
• 90% of texts read within 3 minutes of delivery
• 20–30% conversion or response rates for well‑targeted SMS campaigns
• Several times higher engagement than email promotions, especially for time‑sensitive offers

For a flash sale, limited-time offer, or exclusive discount, timing matters. An email sent at 10 AM might not be opened until 6 PM, long after your lunch special ended. A text message gets seen almost immediately.

Why Email-to-SMS Beats Traditional SMS Platforms

Most businesses avoid SMS marketing because the platforms seem complicated. Dashboard-based SMS tools require learning new software, managing separate contact lists, and training staff on yet another system.

Email-to-SMS eliminates these barriers.

With an email to text service, you compose promotional messages in Gmail or Outlook, the same tools your team already uses. No new dashboards. No separate apps. No training sessions.

Your promotional SMS workflow becomes:

1. Write your offer in an email
2. Send to the recipient’s phone number at a special address
3. Customer receives it as a professional SMS

That’s the entire process. If your team can send an email, they can send promotional texts. For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide on how to send email to text.

Types of Promotional Offers Perfect for Email to SMS

Not every promotion belongs in a text message. SMS works best for time-sensitive, high-value offers that benefit from immediate visibility.

Flash Sales and Limited-Time Discounts

Flash sales depend on urgency. A 24-hour sale announcement sent by email might not be seen until the sale ends. Text messages create immediate awareness.

Example promotional SMS:

FLASH SALE: 30% off all services today only! Use code FLASH30 at checkout or mention this text. Offer expires at midnight. Reply STOP to opt out.

Exclusive Member or VIP Offers

Customers who opt in to text notifications expect special treatment. Reward them with exclusive offers they can’t get elsewhere.

Example promotional SMS:

VIP EXCLUSIVE: You’re getting early access to our summer collection – 25% off before anyone else. Shop now at [link]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Appointment-Based Promotions

For service businesses, promotional texts tied to appointments drive additional revenue without feeling pushy. Learn more about sending appointment reminders via email to maximize this strategy.

Example promotional SMS:

Hi Sarah! Your appointment is confirmed for tomorrow at 2pm. Book a friend this month and you both get 15% off your next visit! Reply STOP to opt out.

Event and Seasonal Promotions

Holiday sales, anniversary specials, and seasonal promotions benefit from the immediacy of SMS.

Example promotional SMS:

Happy Birthday from [Business Name]! Enjoy 20% off your next purchase this month. Show this text to redeem. We appreciate you! Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Abandoned Cart Recovery

For e-commerce businesses, a well-timed text about an abandoned cart converts better than email follow-ups.

Example promotional SMS:

You left something behind! Complete your order in the next 2 hours and get free shipping. [link] Questions? Reply to this text. Reply STOP to opt out.

Compliance Requirements for Promotional SMS

Before sending your first promotional text, you need to understand the rules. Promotional SMS is heavily regulated, and violations carry significant penalties.

TCPA Requirements for Promotional Texts

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) governs promotional text messages in the United States. Key requirements include:

Express Written Consent Required

Unlike transactional messages (appointment reminders, order confirmations), promotional texts require express written consent before you can send them. This means:

• Customers must actively opt in to receive promotional texts
• The opt-in must be documented and stored
• Consent cannot be a condition of purchase
• Customers must be informed about what they’re signing up for

Clear Opt-Out Instructions

Every promotional message must include a way to unsubscribe. Standard practice is including “Reply STOP to opt out” or similar language.

Identification Requirements

Recipients must be able to identify who sent the message. Include your business name in promotional texts.

For complete details on SMS compliance requirements, review the SMS compliance laws that govern business text messaging.

CTIA Guidelines for Commercial Messages

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) provides messaging best practices that carriers enforce:

• Message frequency must match what customers agreed to
• Content must be relevant to the consent provided
• Opt-out requests should be processed as quickly as possible and no later than a few business days
• Message content must not be deceptive or misleading

10DLC Registration for Business Messaging

If you’re sending promotional SMS from a business, 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) registration is required. This carrier registration:

• Verifies your business identity
• Improves delivery rates (up to 98% vs. unregistered senders)
• Prevents your messages from being filtered as spam
• Ensures compliance with carrier requirements

Professional email-to-SMS services like TextBolt help handle 10DLC registration during setup and guide you through the required information, so you don’t have to manage the process alone.

How to Set Up Email to SMS for Promotional Offers

Setting up an email-to-SMS system for promotional messages is quick on the technical side and can be done in under an hour. Building a compliant, high‑quality list may take a bit longer. Here’s the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Choose Your Email-to-SMS Provider

Your email-to-SMS provider determines delivery rates, compliance handling, and ease of use. Look for:

• 10DLC compliance included (ensures deliverability)
• Works with your email client (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
• Two-way messaging (customers can reply)
• Team access (multiple staff can send promotions)
• Message logging (audit trail for compliance)

TextBolt’s Gmail text integration handles all of these requirements while letting you send promotional SMS directly from your inbox.

Step 2: Complete Business Verification

10DLC registration requires business verification. You’ll need:

• Business name and address
• EIN or business registration number
• Website URL
• Brief description of your messaging use case (promotional offers, customer communication, etc.)

This verification process takes 1-2 days in the background while you continue setup.

Step 3: Build Your Opt-In List

You cannot send promotional texts to customers who haven’t explicitly opted in. Build your list through:

Website Opt-In Forms

Add a checkbox to your contact forms: “Yes, I’d like to receive exclusive offers and promotions via text message.”

In-Store Sign-Up

Train staff to ask: “Would you like to receive exclusive text-only deals? We’ll send 2-4 messages per month.”

Existing Customer Outreach

Send an email to existing customers inviting them to join your SMS list: “Get exclusive deals sent directly to your phone. Text JOIN to [number] to subscribe.”

Important: Never assume existing email subscribers want text messages. SMS opt-in must be separate and explicit.

Step 4: Segment Your Contact Groups

Not every promotional offer applies to every customer. Use Google Contacts groups to segment your list:

• VIP Customers: Highest-value clients who get early access
• New Customers: Recent sign-ups who need onboarding offers
• Lapsed Customers: Haven’t purchased recently, need reactivation
• Location-Based: Customers near specific store locations
• Interest-Based: Customers who’ve shown interest in specific products/services

Segmentation improves response rates and reduces opt-outs. A customer who signed up for “salon specials” doesn’t want automotive service promotions.

Step 5: Create Your Promotional Message Templates

Effective promotional SMS messages share common characteristics:

Keep It Short

SMS has a 160-character limit for standard messages. Longer messages split into multiple segments (using additional credits). Aim for one clear message per text.

Lead With Value

Don’t bury the offer. Start with what the customer gets: “25% OFF” or “FREE shipping” should come early in the message.

Include Clear Action

Tell customers exactly what to do: “Show this text,” “Use code SAVE25,” “Click here,” or “Reply YES.”

Add Urgency When Appropriate

“Today only,” “Expires midnight,” or “While supplies last” drive faster action.

Always Include Opt-Out

Every promotional message must include opt-out instructions: “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”

Step 6: Send Your First Promotional Campaign

With your email-to-SMS service configured and opt-in list ready:

1. Open Gmail (or your email client)
2. Select the contact group for this promotion
3. Compose your promotional message
4. Send to the group using your email-to-SMS address format
5. Monitor delivery confirmations and responses

For businesses sending promotional SMS regularly, this process becomes as natural as sending any other email.

Best Practices for Promotional SMS Success

The difference between promotional SMS that drives revenue and texts that get ignored comes down to execution.

Timing Your Promotional Messages

For even more control over delivery timing, you can schedule SMS from Gmail to ensure messages arrive at optimal moments.

Best times for promotional SMS:

• Retail promotions: 10 AM-12 PM or 5-7 PM (when people have time to shop)
• Restaurant offers: 10:30 AM (lunch decisions) or 4 PM (dinner planning)
• Service businesses: Tuesday-Thursday, mid-morning
• Flash sales: Match the urgency to your offer timing

Times to avoid:

• Before 8 AM or after 9 PM (respect quiet hours)
• During major holidays (unless your offer is holiday-specific)
• Too frequently (2-4 promotional texts per month is typical)

Message Frequency Guidelines

Sending too many promotional texts leads to opt-outs. Too few, and customers forget they signed up.

Recommended frequency by business type:

• Retail: 2-4 per month
• Restaurants: 1-2 per week (meals are recurring purchases)
• Service businesses: 1-2 per month
• E-commerce: 2-4 per month, plus triggered messages (abandoned cart)

Always match frequency to what customers agreed to during opt-in. Also, Keep an eye on opt‑out rates. If a particular campaign causes a spike in unsubscribes, reduce the frequency or adjust your content so messages stay valuable, not annoying.

Personalization That Works

Generic blasts get ignored. Personalized offers convert.

Effective personalization:

• Use first names when available
• Reference previous purchases or services
• Acknowledge customer status (VIP, member since, etc.)
• Tailor offers to demonstrated interests

Example personalized promotional SMS:

Hi Maria! Your favorite shampoo is 20% off this week. Stock up before your next appointment on the 15th. Show this text to save. Reply STOP to opt out.

Tracking Promotional SMS Performance

Unlike email, SMS doesn’t have built-in open tracking. Measure success through:

• Redemption rates: How many customers used the offer code or mentioned the text
• Reply rates: Customer responses to promotional messages
• Opt-out rates: If opt-outs spike, adjust frequency or content
• Revenue attribution: Track sales tied to specific promotional campaigns

Common Promotional SMS Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from others’ mistakes saves you from compliance issues and customer frustration.

Mistake 1: Sending Without Consent

This is the most serious mistake. Sending promotional texts to customers who haven’t opted in violates TCPA and can result in:

• Fines up to $1,500 per unsolicited message
• Carrier blocking of your messages
• Damage to your business reputation

Solution: Only send to customers with documented opt-in consent. When in doubt, don’t send.

Mistake 2: Burying the Offer

Some businesses write promotional texts like emails, with greetings and context before getting to the offer. SMS isn’t email.

Wrong approach:

Hi! We hope you’re having a great week. We wanted to let you know that we’re running a special promotion right now where you can save 20% on…

Better approach:

20% OFF your next visit! Use code SAVE20 at checkout. Valid through Sunday. [Business Name] Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Opt-Out Instructions

Every promotional message needs opt-out instructions. Carriers increasingly filter messages that don’t include them.

Mistake 4: Oversending

The fastest way to destroy an SMS list is by sending too many messages. Each promotional text should be valuable enough that customers look forward to receiving it.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Replies

When customers reply to promotional texts, they expect responses. Email-to-SMS services deliver replies to your inbox. Check and respond promptly.

Email to SMS vs. Traditional SMS Marketing Platforms

Businesses evaluating promotional SMS have options. Here’s how email-to-SMS compares to traditional platforms.

Feature	Email-to-SMS (TextBolt)	Traditional SMS Platforms
Learning curve	None (use existing email)	Hours of training required
Monthly cost	$29-99/month	$50-500/month
Team access	Any email user	Per-seat licensing
Setup time	30 minutes	Hours to days
Contact management	Google Contacts	Separate system required
Two-way messaging	Replies in inbox	Separate dashboard
10DLC compliance	Assistance included	Often additional setup

For small businesses running promotional campaigns, email-to-SMS provides enterprise-level SMS marketing without enterprise complexity.

Getting Started With Promotional Email to SMS

You’ve seen the open rates. You understand the compliance requirements. You know the best practices.

Now it’s time to send your first promotional text.

Here’s your action plan:

1. Set up your email-to-SMS service (30 minutes)
2. Build your opt-in form (add to website and in-store sign-up)
3. Import opted-in contacts to Google Contacts groups
4. Write your first promotional template using the examples above
5. Send to a small test group and measure results
6. Scale based on performance

The businesses seeing around 98% open rates and 45% response rates on their promotional offers aren’t using magic. They’re using SMS, and they started exactly where you are now.

Ready to turn your email into a promotional SMS powerhouse? 

Check out TextBolt pricing to find the plan that fits your promotional messaging volume. Most businesses start with the Standard plan at $49/month, which includes 1,000 message credits and team access for multiple staff members.

Your promotional emails are being ignored. Your promotional texts won’t be.