SMS Trends Your Business Needs to Know About in 2024

SMS is an increasingly essential tool for businesses across all industries including med spa, jewelry, mattress, appliance, HVAC, furniture, and auto. It enables businesses to interact with clients efficiently, provide quick and easy service, convert leads, increase sales, and more. 

To stay on top of your game, build relationships with your customers, and grow your business, you need to be aware of the latest SMS marketing trends. In this blog post, we’ll highlight the latest SMS trends for: 

• Med spas
• Jewelry stores
• Furniture, appliance, and mattress stores
• HVAC businesses
• Auto dealers and OEM

This data comes from over 100 million text messages sent by Podium users over the 2023 Holiday Season.

Before we dive into those five business types mentioned above, here are some high-level SMS learnings from 2023 that you should carry into 2024. 

General SMS Trends for 2024

• Share limited-time offers.
• Give exclusive deals and memberships.
• Offer holiday special sales events.
• Provide sneak peeks and early access.
• Use hyper-local messaging.
• Use retargeting campaigns to send timely reminders and follow-ups.

Top 5 SMS Trends for Your Business

Now, let’s review the top five SMS trends for five major industries. 

Top 5 SMS Trends for Jewelry Stores

We’ve compiled the top five trends we’re seeing from jewelers across holiday messaging, with results as high as 25% click rates. 

1. Early Access and Exclusive Peeks

Subscribers were given early bird access to sales and private peeks at what’s to come.

2. Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales

Jewelers rang in their sales season with a mix of enticing bargains and exclusive codes tied to these global sales events.

3. Festive Sentiments

Each message had a personal touch, with jewelers sharing Thanksgiving and holiday wishes. It created a warm connection, kind of like sharing a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day.

4. Flash Sales

‘Limited Quantity’, ‘Today Only’, and ‘Sale Ends at Midnight’—these phrases gave recipients the push they needed across campaigns, making sure customers feel that adrenaline rush.

5. Specific Product Promos

Sales were often themed around specific product deals – gold chains, diamond studs, or unique jewelry collections. These pitches stole the limelight.

Top 5 SMS Trends for Med Spas

We’ve compiled the top five trends we’re seeing from med spas across holiday messaging, with results as high as 25% click rates.

1. Digital Deal Reveal

Black Friday hype was all the rage, with spas blasting unbeatable deals bright and early. Links directly to the sales were a game-changer! 

2. Early Access Extravaganza

Sneak peeks and members-only sales created VIP buzz and drove urgent action. 

3. National Botox Day Blitz

Coinciding with the festive season, National Botox Day was a hit! Spas capitalized on the big day, offering BOGO deals & special perks. 

4. Birthday Bonuses & Loyalty Treats

Spas delivered gifts all around with VIP memberships, special birthday upgrades, and rewards points. ‘Tis the season to pamper loyal customers.

5. Direct Digital Booking

‘Text us back’ was the mantra, with customers encouraged to respond directly for appointments and purchases. 

Top 5 SMS Trends for Furniture, Appliance, and Mattress Stores

We’ve compiled the top five trends we’re seeing from furniture, appliance, and mattress stores across holiday messaging, with results as high as 32% click rates.

1. Trending: Friendly First

Successful campaigns started on a personal note, displaying a fond familiarity with customers by using emoji greetings and personalized names. 

2. Black Friday Blitz

Black Friday promotions were a common thread throughout with bonus bundles creating urgency and FOMO.

3. Cyber Spinning

Cyber Monday also made waves with promotions for online-exclusive deals and online rebates.

4. Added Extras

Extra benefits or services are common this season, including free giveaways, additional discounts with bundles, and even small donations.

5. Online Links

No surprises here! Every campaign included direct links to online platforms or websites, encouraging immediate action. 

Top 5 SMS Trends for Auto Dealers and OEM 

We’ve compiled the top five trends we’re seeing from auto dealers and OEM across holiday messaging, with results as high as 20% click rates.

1. Giving is Getting

Dealerships are offering cash bonuses, whether it was bonus cash on the side or added onto trade-ins, it was a season of giving (and getting).

2. Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales

Dealerships offered killer Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

3. Year-End Clearance

As the year comes to an end, so does the inventory. Dealerships made sure customers knew they were looking to clear their lots, providing even more motivation to buy.

4. It’s Showtime

This holiday season, some dealerships didn’t just stick to sales; they brought the entertainment with characters like The Grinch and Santa showing up to celebrate the holiday rush!

5. Specific Model Spotlight 

Certain car models rode shotgun in quite a few campaigns, highlighting specific great deals on fan favorites.

Top 5 SMS Trends for HVAC

Here’s a look at the top five SMS trends for HVAC businesses. 

1. Rejuvenate, don’t replace.

HVAC businesses emphasized the cost-saving benefit of servicing older furnaces rather than replacing them entirely. An old-fashioned tune-up brought home appliances back to factory fresh condition and ensured a no-breakdown guarantee! 

2. Educational content roll-out.

Links to informational videos and training certifications saw a massive uptick. Not only were customers updated about services, but they also learned more about their equipment. 

3. A deal you can’t refuse.

Promotions and special offers dominated the season. Whether customers enjoyed a discount, a free extra service, or a bonus upgrade, businesses were in a festive mood to cut deals and dish out specials! 

4. The digital appointment revolution. 

Online appointment scheduling became more popular with many businesses providing online service booking links. It was all about convenience and instant booking confirmation.

5. Holistic home wellness. 

Beyond just heating efficiency, the messaging trend was about comprehensive home wellness. This included indoor air quality, reducing allergens, and providing a healthier living environment.