How to Grow Your SMB with SMS Marketing: A Simple Guide

News & Blogs

Home/Blogs

Home

Blogs

Real Estate Industry

How to Grow Your SMB with SMS Marketing: A Simple Guide

How to Grow Your SMB with SMS Marketing: A Simple Guide

Real Estate Industry
# January 28, 2026
# 469 Views

Think about the last time your phone buzzed. You probably checked it right away. You did not wait three days as you do with emails. That is exactly why SMS marketing works.

For a small business (SMB), getting someone’s attention is half the battle. We spend a lot of time worrying about social media algorithms or email subject lines. But the most direct way to talk to a customer is right in their pocket on their mobile devices.

You do not need a huge budget to do this. You just need to be smart about how you use text message marketing.

Here is how to get started without annoying your customers.

Why This Actually Works

Let us look at the facts. Email is useful, but our inboxes are full of junk. And social media is overcrowded.

But texting is different.

Open rates are amazingly high, most sources say it is around 98%
It is fast. People usually read texts in about 3 minutes.
Click-through rates are often much higher than email.

For a business owner, this means your message actually gets seen. You don’t need fancy graphics. You just need clear words.

Step 1: Getting Permission (Don’t Skip This)

You cannot just text people because you have their number. That is spam, and it is illegal. You need them to say “yes” first.

You have to give them a reason to join your list.

The Discount: “Text JOIN to 12345 for 15% off.”
The Update: Ask them at checkout if they want shipping updates via text.
The VIP Club: Tell them they will get early access to sales.

Be honest. Tell them how many texts you will send a month. If they trust you, they will sign up.

Step 2: Do not Send the Same Thing to Everyone

A big mistake business makes is sending a single generic message to every contact. This is a quick way to get people to unsubscribe.

You need segmentation. This is just a fancy word for grouping your customers.

If you run a clothing store, don’t send men’s shoe deals to women who only buy dresses.

You can group people by:

What they bought: If they bought a coffee maker, send them a deal on beans.
Where they live: Only text locals about an in-store event.
Loyalty: Treat your best customers differently from new ones.

This is personalization. It shows you are paying attention to what they actually want.

Step 3: What Should You Actually Text?

You have to keep it short; you only have 160 characters.

Here are the types of messages that work best for customer engagement:

The Flash Sale

Create a little urgency. “Hi Tom! We have extra inventory today. 50% off all appetizers until 7 PM. Show this text to your server.”

Appointment Reminders

No shows are painful. If a customer forgets to show up, it costs money. “Reminder: Your appointment is tomorrow at 2 PM. Reply C to confirm”.

Cart Abandonment

Sometimes people get distracted and leave things in their online cart. A quick text can bring them back to finish the purchase. “You left the items in your cart. Finish your order by tonight for free shipping: [Link].”

Asking for Reviews

Reviews are huge for small businesses. The best time to ask is right after they visit, while the experience is still fresh. “Thanks for coming in today, Sarah! It would mean a lot if you left us a quick rating here: [Link]”

Using Tools to Save Time

You are busy. You cannot sit there typing messages on your phone all day.

This is where marketing automation helps. You can use software to send these texts to you. You can connect your SMS tool to your current system (CRM integration). So, when a customer buys something, the system knows. If they haven’t visited in 30 days, the system can automatically send a “We miss you” coupon.

This keeps retention high without you doing the manual work.

SMS vs. Email

You don’t have to pick just one. They do different things.

Feature	SMS Marketing	Email Marketing
Best For	Urgent alerts, promotions, reminders	Newsletters, long stories
Length	Short	Long
Speed	Instant	Slower
Frequency	Rare (2-4 times a month)	Often (Weekly)

Do not Be Annoying

Texting is personal. If you abuse it, you lose the customer.

Watch the clock: Do not text people at 6 AM or 10 PM. Stick to business hours.
Don’t overdo it: If you text every day, they will block you. Once or twice a week is usually enough.
Make it easy to leave: Always include “Reply STOP to opt out.” It keeps your list clean and keeps you legal.

Get Your Systems in Order

If you are trying to manage leads, follow-ups, and marketing all at once, it gets messy fast. This is especially true for the real estate industry, where timing is everything. You need a system that handles the heavy lifting for you.

If you want to simplify your lead management and follow-up processes, visit Streamlinerei. It can help you keep track of everything, so no lead falls through the cracks.

The Bottom Line

Growing your business with text messages isn’t complicated.

Start by asking customers if they want to hear from you. Send them discounts or info that is actually useful. Use smartphones to your advantage.

If you treat their phone number with respect and offer value, loyalty goes up. It is simple.

FAQs

Does SMS marketing really work for small businesses?

Yes. It works because people check their phones constantly. With open rates near 98%, your customers are much more likely to see your message compared to email.

How do I get people to sign up for SMS marketing?

Give them something they want. Offer discounts, free shipping, or exclusive updates in exchange for their number. Always make sure they agree to receive texts.

When should I send marketing texts?

Send them during normal business hours, like 9 AM to 6 PM. Never text late at night or early in the morning. It annoys people and looks unprofessional.