Updated March 12, 2025
Getting started with SMS marketing can feel daunting for ecommerce retailers who are used to email marketing. Even though most marketers recognize the growing need for SMS marketing for everything from shipping updates to customer loyalty, using text message marketing software does come with its own opportunities and challenges. An effective sms marketing campaign can be used to achieve specific business objectives, such as increasing sales, enhancing customer engagement, and building a loyal customer base.
The first challenge for marketers is to grow their list. That’s what Greats.com set out to do when they implemented SlickText’s text message marketing software. Between the period of July 2014 and April 2015, Greats.com gathered 6,397 qualified opt-ins.
Keep reading for an overview on SMS marketing and an explanation on how Greats.com found success through texting.
Introduction to SMS Marketing
As customers demand personalized attention, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with their audience. SMS marketing is one of the most powerful tools for this, allowing companies to reach their customers directly and personally. Unlike traditional marketing channels, SMS marketing leverages the convenience of mobile phones to deliver timely and relevant messages straight to the consumer’s pocket. This direct line of communication not only enhances customer engagement but also drives higher conversion rates, making SMS marketing an essential part of any modern marketing strategy.
Case Study Overview
In this case study, we dive into the SMS marketing journey of Greats.com, an innovative ecommerce retailer that successfully leveraged text message marketing to enhance customer engagement and drive sales. By implementing SlickText’s SMS marketing platform, Greats.com was able to build a substantial list of SMS subscribers and execute highly effective marketing campaigns. This case study will explore the strategies they tested, the challenges they overcame, and the overall results.
Company Background
Greats.com is an ecommerce retailer specializing in high-quality, stylish footwear. Founded with the mission to offer premium shoes at accessible prices, Greats.com prides itself on its commitment to quality, design, and customer satisfaction. By embracing innovative marketing strategies like SMS marketing, Greats.com continues to set itself apart as a leader in the ecommerce space.
Promoting their SMS subscribers list
Greats.com gathered interest with a website widget and on-site banners. Once subscribers double-opted in, they were each rewarded with a coupon code that gave them $10 off their first pair. Why was this incentive valuable to the Greats.com subscriber? With limited quantities, it encouraged an instant purchase. Pictured below is the official auto reply that was sent back after a new subscriber joined the list.
Note that Greats.com immediately rewards their new subscribers with a valuable offer. Never make your offers difficult to redeem, or your opt-in incentives too generic. Always provide an exclusive offer for your VIPs.
At the height of this promotion, Greats.com collected 638 new subscribers in 30 days.
Why Greats.com chose SMS marketing
While most ecommerce retailers were chasing down email subscribers, the Greats.com team saw text messaging as less saturated, with recipients who are more engaged. The average email open rate is just 18%, which hardly compares to text messaging’s 98% open rate. Engaging existing customers through targeted SMS marketing strategies is crucial for fostering loyalty and repeat purchases. The Greats.com marketing team recalled, “I can’t remember a single time when I haven’t read a text. Keeping that in mind, SMS marketing seemed like an obvious solution.”
Greats.com felt that text messaging helped their visually-oriented campaigns and text promotions increase customer satisfaction by providing timely and relevant updates. These campaigns helped sell the merchandise and build a stronger connection between product and consumer.
Greats.com also followed an SMS marketing strategy similar to Uber. They promoted a huge offer to encourage the initial opt in, but after that, just followed up with valuable announcements and new product alerts. This exclusivity worked well for them, as new footwear now sells out in a matter of hours after releasing an early access text message blast.