How to Set Up SMS Marketing on Shopify – Beginner’s Guide

Setting up SMS marketing (short message service marketing) for your Shopify store can feel overwhelming, but the rewards are undeniable. With SMS open rates as high as 98%, it’s one of the most direct and effective ways to connect with customers. In fact, brands using SMS marketing experience up to 30% higher conversion rates, especially when campaigns are strategically planned. But how do you ensure your marketing messages reach customers at the perfect moment?

In this guide, you’ll discover:

• Step-by-step instructions to set up SMS marketing on Shopify
• How TxtCart’s features simplify SMS success for Shopify stores
• Essential automations to maximize engagement and conversions

PS., TxtCart is the best SMS marketing app for growth-obsessed Shopify brands. Deploy smart automations, send eerily human-like texts to customers, and make record-breaking sales. Eligible brands get a 10x ROI guarantee — start for free below.

Why You Can’t Ignore SMS Marketing for Your Shopify Store

In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, SMS for marketing channels has become a must-have strategy for Shopify customers and stores. Here are some of the key reasons why SMS is so effective, along with the latest statistics to show its impact:

• Unmatched open rates and instant reach: SMS messages have a jaw-dropping 98% open rate (Gartner), with most being read within just 3 minutes. This level of immediacy blows email out of the water, making SMS perfect for urgent promotions or cart recovery nudges.
• Higher engagement compared to email: Research shows SMS messages get a 45% response rate—much higher than email’s average 6%. This means customers aren’t just seeing your messages; they’re responding, leading to more sales and brand interaction.
• Better conversion and cart recovery rates: For Shopify stores, SMS is a game-changer in recovering abandoned carts, often boosting cart recovery by 20-30%. This means fewer missed sales and more revenue in your pocket.
• Mobile-friendly and personal: SMS reaches customers right where they spend most of their time—their phones. With over 70% of online purchases now happening on mobile, SMS helps brands stay connected in a way that feels direct and personal.

How to Set Up SMS Marketing on Shopify

Getting a SMS marketing strategy up and running on your Shopify store is a straightforward process, especially with tools like TxtCart. Let’s walk through the essential steps to set up SMS marketing, build a subscriber list, and start reaching your customers effectively.

Read more: We Tried The 10 Best SMS Apps for Shopify (Our Review)

TxtCart offers a user-friendly setup process that can get your SMS marketing launched in just minutes. Here’s how to get started:

• To begin, access your Shopify admin portal and log in. From there, you have a few options: either click the “Add Apps” button and search for TxtCart using the top search bar, or navigate directly to the Shopify App Store and search for TxtCart or SMS.
  • How to Install TxtCart on your Store (Help article)
  • How do I set up my checkout for SMS?

• Use TxtCart’s campaign flow builder and automation features to create campaigns for cart recovery, promotions, and product updates.
• View Customer Communications on the Dashboard: TxtCart’s master inbox lets you manage all customer interactions, enabling you to view, reply, and follow up on SMS messages—all from a single dashboard.

A successful SMS marketing setup also involves optimizing for engagement. Learn how to improve your SMS response rates for better results.

Step 2: Build an SMS Subscriber List

Building a robust SMS subscriber list is crucial for your promotional SMS messages. Here are some effective marketing strategies used to get your SMS list growing:

• Offer a signup incentive: Entice customers to opt into SMS with a special offer. Even a small discount can work wonders in boosting signups. Try gamifying the incentive by offering a “mystery box” reward—like a surprise discount or freebie. It adds excitement and can increase conversions.
• Get the first “yes” with email: Email’s personal but not SMS personal. The latter is a heavier ask. So start by requesting the customer’s email before requesting their phone number. This initial “yes” makes them more likely to agree to SMS. You could frame it as: “Get exclusive updates! Enter your email for your first perk, then unlock an extra reward by adding your phone number.”
• Create a sense of exclusivity: Let customers know that joining your SMS list means insider perks—think early access to new products, VIP discounts, or members-only promos. Everyone loves feeling like they’re part of something special.
• Leverage Social Proof: Display how many people have already joined your SMS list and the benefits they’re enjoying. A simple “Join 10,000+ savvy shoppers and never miss an exclusive deal” can create FOMO and drive signups.
• Integrate Pop-Ups Strategically: Use well-timed pop-ups or slide-ins on your website to capture attention without intruding. Consider displaying them when users show exit intent or have spent some time on your site (this is an upcoming TxtCart feature!).
• Run SMS-Exclusive Contests or Giveaways: Promote contests that only SMS subscribers can enter. For example, “Sign up for SMS and enter to win a $100 gift card” makes joining enticing and adds a layer of engagement.

Read Next: How to Get More SMS Subscribers

Must-have SMS Marketing Automations

Automation ensures that every interaction with your customers is timely and relevant, even when you’re not on mobile phones or actively managing campaigns. With automated SMS messages, you can:

• Recover lost sales with abandoned cart reminders.
• Prompt repeat purchases with upsell messages.
• Build loyalty through welcome and re-engagement campaigns.

TxtCart makes SMS automation easy with targeted campaigns that reach the right customers at the right time—without manual effort. Here’s a breakdown of TxtCart’s key automation features and how they can drive results for your Shopify app store, too.

1. Abandoned Cart Recovery

Cart recovery is crucial for reclaiming lost revenue from customers who left items in their cart. With TxtCart’s Conversational AI, this process goes beyond a short message service a simple reminder—customers receive a personalized sms marketing messages that feel like a genuine conversation. Here’s how it works:

• Immediate Reminder: TxtCart sends a gentle nudge shortly after a cart is abandoned, reminding customers of their items.
• Conversational Approach: TxtCart’s AI responds to questions, offers additional incentives like discounts, or addresses concerns, helping remove obstacles to purchase.

Abandoned Cart Recovery with TxtCart’s AI
Imagine receiving a friendly SMS saying, “Hey [Customer Name], noticed you left something behind! Let us know if we can answer any questions. Here’s 10% off if you’d like to complete your order!”

2. Personalized Upselling for Repeat Purchases

Upselling is essential to increase the lifetime value of your customers past purchases, and TxtCart makes this easier with Conversational AI-based upsell messages. Instead of generic suggestions, customers receive personalized messages with relevant product recommendations based on previous purchases, helping boost average order value and customer loyalty.

• Targeted Product Recommendations: TxtCart’s AI identifies complementary or higher-value items related to a customer’s previous purchases.
• Personalized Messaging: Upsell messages are crafted to feel personal, creating a stronger connection and likelihood of conversion.

By using customer behavior and leveraging past purchase data, TxtCart’s AI can send tailored messages like, “Loved your recent purchase? Check out this matching accessory with a special 15% off!”

3. Welcome Series for New Subscribers

A Welcome Series introduces new customers to your brand and sets the tone for a valuable relationship. TxtCart allows you to craft a series of welcome messages, that welcome new subscribers, provide a welcome discount, encourage customers, and guide them to explore your customer’s order and popular products.

• Builds Trust: A series of warm, welcoming messages helps make a memorable first impression.
• Drives Initial Engagement: By offering an exclusive discount, you encourage subscribers to make their first purchase quickly.

Pro Tip: A 3-message sequence that introduces your brand, offers a discount, and highlights popular products can significantly increase conversions.

4. Loyalty and Re-Engagement Campaigns

TxtCart’s Loyalty and Re-Engagement Campaigns keep your brand top-of-mind for customers who haven’t interacted with your online store recently. These campaigns can be tailored with TxtCart’s conversational AI to feel less like an ad and more like a personal invitation back to your brand.

• Reward Loyalty: Offer exclusive discounts, early access to new arrivals, or loyalty points to re-engage inactive customers.
• Boost Retention: TxtCart’s conversational style makes these reminders feel personalized, which helps build loyalty and customer lifetime value.

Example Message: “We’ve missed you! Come back and enjoy an exclusive 20% off on your next purchase as a thank-you for being part of our community.”

With TxtCart, you can get an understanding of phone numbers of your most popular products that are recovered and the products that are frequently abandoned to evaluate how to improve their conversion rate.

And Identify, retarget, and reward your most profitable subscribers.

This way you will have customer data and be able to improve on your SMS strategy with insights on subscribers and top-performing products.

5. Back-in-Stock Alerts

Back-in-stock SMS notifications are perfect for engaging customers who missed out on a previous sale. TxtCart’s automation notifies them the moment a product is available again, helping you convert eager customers informed buyers and boost inventory turnover.

• Instant Updates: Notify customers as soon as their favorite items are back in stock.
• Increases Sales Potential: Creates a sense of urgency and encourages quick action.

Quick Tip: Include a CTA with “Limited stock available!” to drive faster conversions.

Ready to implement these powerful automations? Head to TxtCart’s Setup Guide to activate these automations and start maximizing your Shopify store’s potential.

Read more: Best SMS Marketing Flows to Boost Your Shopify Store Sales

Make Record-breaking Profits with TxtCart

Now that you’ve read this guide, you know that SMS marketing isn’t just powerful—it’s essential for any Shopify store looking to stay ahead.

Key takeaways? High open rates, unbeatable engagement, and effective automations like abandoned cart recovery and back-in-stock alerts. SMS builds on customer relationships and loyalty, boosts conversions, and brings in repeat sales when done right.

With the TxtCart SMS marketing app, setting up text message campaigns is a breeze. Its intuitive interface, powerful automation tools, and conversational AI take the guesswork out of scaling your store’s marketing efforts.

Looking for More SMS Marketing Tips?

Here are some helpful resources to take your strategy further:

• Black Friday SMS Marketing: Examples, Timing, & Templates: Learn strategic timing and proven templates for maximizing holiday sales with SMS.
• Best SMS Marketing Apps: Discover the top SMS tools to elevate your marketing efforts and find the best fit for your Shopify store.
• How to Set Up SMS Subscriber Collection at Checkout: Capture more subscribers at checkout and boost your SMS list effortlessly.

FAQs About SMS Marketing on Shopify

Understanding the finer points of SMS marketing campaigns and other marketing channels can make a significant difference in its effectiveness. Here, we’ll answer some of the most common and advanced questions around using SMS marketing for your Shopify store.

Q1: Is SMS marketing effective for eCommerce, especially on Shopify?

Yes! SMS marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach customers directly. With 98% open rates and high engagement, SMS can help convert leads, engage customers recover abandoned carts, and boost overall sales, making it a powerful tool for Shopify stores.

Q2: Is SMS marketing legal?

Yes it is legal. But to remain compliant, you must have express consent from customers before sending marketing SMS messages to mobile devices. This includes allowing them to opt-in (and out) of promotional messages at any time. Always include clear instructions for unsubscribing, and follow TCPA and GDPR regulations if applicable.

Read next: TCPA Compliance Guide for SMS Marketing [+ Checklist]

Q3: How much does SMS marketing cost?

SMS marketing costs depend on the number of text messages that you send, the platform you use, and carrier fees. TxtCart, for example, has performance-based plans where users only pay a percentage of sales generated through SMS, making it cost-effective for eCommerce.

Q4: How can I build a quality SMS subscriber list?

Building a subscriber list takes time and intentionality. To attract high-quality subscribers, you can:

• Offer incentives like discounts or exclusive deals for sign-ups.
• Use pop-ups and banners on your site to encourage sign-ups.
• Leverage social media to promote the benefits of joining your SMS list.

Tip: Focus on engagement over quantity to ensure your messages reach the right audience.

Q5: How do I segment my SMS audience effectively?

Segmenting is crucial for personalization and higher conversions in your SMS marketing efforts. TxtCart allows you to segment audiences based on purchase history, browsing behavior, location, and cart status. Popular segments include:

• First-time buyers for a welcome series.
• Frequent customers for loyalty campaigns.
• Abandoned cart users for recovery messages.

Pro Tip: Segmenting based on engagement level (e.g., VIP customers vs. new subscribers) helps you tailor messages that resonate with each group.

Read Next: What is SMS Segmentation? Best Practices and Examples

Q6: What’s the best time to send SMS messages?

Timing is critical in SMS marketing to avoid annoying customers and to maximize open rates. Here’s a general guide:

• Abandoned cart messages: Send within 30 minutes to 1 hour of cart abandonment.
• Promotional campaigns: Send during late morning or early evening when customers are more likely to engage.
• Special events: Time-sensitive messages (e.g., flash sales) work best during peak shopping hours, such as weekends.

Note: TxtCart allows you to schedule SMS based on customer time zones to increase relevance and avoid sending messages at inconvenient hours.

Q7: Can SMS marketing work in tandem with email marketing?

Absolutely! SMS and email marketing complement each other well. While email is ideal for detailed content like newsletters or product updates, SMS shines in delivering quick, time-sensitive notifications. Combining them ensures your message reaches a wider target audience without oversaturating any one channel.

Q8: How does TxtCart’s Conversational AI enhance SMS marketing?

TxtCart’s Conversational AI adds a personal touch by enabling real-time responses to customer queries. Whether it’s answering a question about a product, offering a discount, with shipping updates or guiding customers to checkout, TxtCart’s AI makes interactions feel less automated and more engaging, boosting customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

Q9: How can I measure the ROI of SMS marketing?

TxtCart provides detailed analytics on metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and revenue generated from SMS campaigns. These insights help you see the direct impact on sales and customer engagement, allowing for continuous improvement.