SMS marketing.

The most direct form of advertising: text message marketing

SMS has a 98% open rate compared to just 20-30% for email. With over 5 billion mobile phone users worldwide, text message marketing gives you direct, instant access to your audience. Whether you're sending promotions, reminders, or alerts, SMS cuts through the noise and gets read within minutes.

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STYLE CO

Flash sale! 40% off everything this weekend only. Code: SMS40

slam

LUXE SPA

Your VIP code: GLOW50. 50% off your next visit

invisible ink

MEGA DEALS

LAST CHANCE! Sale ends midnight tonight!

loud

BEAN & BREW

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy 10% off your next order

gentle
Branded sender ID 98% open rates 45% response rate £71 ROI per £1 spent

Why SMS Marketing

11 reasons to use SMS marketing.

SMS is the only truly direct method of marketing, delivering messages straight to your customer's pocket without filters, algorithms, or distractions.

01

High open rates

SMS messages have approximately 98% open rates, significantly higher than email. Most are read within minutes of delivery, making SMS the most reliable way to ensure your message is seen.

02

Direct & immediate

Text messages reach mobile phones directly and are typically read within 90 seconds, making SMS ideal for time-sensitive campaigns, flash sales, and urgent notifications.

03

Wide reaching

Nearly everyone has a mobile phone capable of receiving SMS. With approximately 5 billion mobile users worldwide, SMS reaches audiences that email and social media simply can't.

04

Personal & engaging

SMS feels personal, delivered directly to a device people carry everywhere. Response rates average 45% compared to just 6% for email, and over 75% of consumers prefer receiving business updates via SMS.

05

No internet required

SMS works without an internet connection, data plan, or smartphone app. Your message gets through even in areas with poor data connectivity, reaching every mobile device on every network.

06

High conversion rates

SMS campaigns generate 29% higher response rates than other digital marketing methods. The immediacy and personal nature of text messages drives customers to take action.

07

Short & actionable

With messages of 1–918 characters, SMS forces clarity and directness. This concise format translates to higher engagement, and recipients know exactly what to do and can act immediately.

08

Opt-in compliance

SMS marketing is permission-based. Your recipients have actively chosen to hear from you, which means they're more likely to engage, convert, and remain loyal customers.

09

Versatile

SMS supports a wide range of campaign types, from promotions, discounts, and product launches to appointment reminders, delivery notifications, and customer surveys.

10

Cost-effective

SMS is relatively inexpensive compared to traditional advertising, PPC, or print. With an average ROI of £71 per £1 spent versus just £5 for social media, SMS delivers exceptional value.

11

Trackable

Monitor delivery rates, open rates, click-throughs, and responses with data-driven analytics. Measure the performance of every campaign and optimise for better results over time.

Sources

BankMyCell | Zippia | Pew Research Center | Statista | PCMag | Forbes | GrandViewResearch | BusinessWire | G2

SMS marketing use cases.

From retail promotions to appointment reminders, see how businesses use SMS.

Promotions

SMS product launch campaign

Product Launches

Build anticipation & drive sales

Drive day-one sales with timed SMS blasts announcing new products, features, or services to your most engaged customers.

SMS VIP exclusive offers

VIP Exclusives

Reward your best customers

Early access, exclusive discounts, and personalised offers via SMS. Make your VIPs feel valued with direct, personal messaging.

Operations

Cancellation Recovery

Fill last-minute availability

Send targeted SMS alerts to waiting lists when cancellations open up. Perfect for healthcare, salons, restaurants, and any business where last-minute availability means lost revenue. SMS reaches customers instantly, giving them the chance to book before the slot goes.

SMS cancellation fill alerts
SMS job notification alerts

Job Notifications

Alert candidates instantly

Notify candidates of new vacancies the moment they go live. Perfect for recruitment agencies and HR teams with urgent roles to fill. SMS has a far higher read rate than job board emails, getting the right candidates to respond faster.

Loyalty

SMS property alerts

Property Alerts

First to know, first to view

Notify buyers and tenants of new listings, price drops, or viewing availability before anyone else.

SMS loyalty rewards

Loyalty Rewards

Keep customers coming back

Points updates, birthday offers, and member-exclusive deals. Keep your loyalty programme active with SMS.

Getting Started

Getting started in 6 steps.

From sign-up to your first campaign. Here's everything you need to start sending effective SMS marketing campaigns with Faretext.

Create your account

Register via our connect page and choose your preferred connection method: SMS API, email-to-SMS, or the Oello app. You'll get 25 free credits to test the platform.

Share your preferences

We'll verify your account by phone or email, and confirm whether you plan to send marketing text messages so we can tailor the platform to your needs.

Understand SMS marketing

Learn the ICO rules about what qualifies as a marketing message and what content restrictions apply. We'll guide you through best practices for timing, frequency, and compliance.

Check your audience

Ensure your contact lists have proper permissions and valid opt-ins. If you need help obtaining them, we'll provide guidance on building a compliant subscriber list.

Acceptable SMS format

Messages must include accurate offers, clear business identification, and opt-out instructions. We'll help you format messages that comply with UK regulations.

Manage opt-outs

Handle unsubscribe requests promptly. Our system automatically processes STOP replies, adds them to your blocklist, and updates your account to maintain compliance.

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Templates

Campaign templates.

Ready to send in seconds

Get started fast with ready-to-use message templates. Each template is optimised for length, compliance, and engagement. Just personalise and send.. From promotional campaigns to loyalty rewards, we've got a template for every use case.

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Safe SMS Lists

Faretext Scan and Subscribe QR code SMS opt-in

Grow your subscriber list.

QR code opt-ins made simple

Pop a QR code on your flyers, menus, or ads and your customers can scan it to quickly send a pre-filled SMS to sign up. The QR code generates an SMS template with a reply number we assign to you. When customers hit send, their details are captured as an official opt-in.

It's completely GDPR-compliant, and every inbound message is recorded to your account for peace of mind.

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GDPR compliant

Fully recorded opt-ins

Instant capture

Scan to subscribe

Developer Tools

Built for your stack.

Quick & easy integration

Integrate SMS into your application with our developer-friendly REST API. Send messages, check delivery status, and manage contacts programmatically.

Endpoints RESTful JSON
Authentication API key
Documentation Code samples & SDKs
Support UK-based developers
explore sms api get api key
REST API | API key auth | Code samples | UK support
curl -X POST \
https://api.faretext.co.uk/v1/sms
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"to": "+447700900000",
"from": "MyBrand",
"message": "Flash sale! 40% off this weekend."
}'
$response = Http::withToken(
'YOUR_API_KEY'
)->post(
'https://api.faretext.co.uk/v1/sms',
[
'to' => '+447700900000',
'from' => 'MyBrand',
'message' => 'Flash sale! 40% off this weekend.',
]
);
import requests
response = requests.post(
'https://api.faretext.co.uk/v1/sms',
headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'},
json={
'to': '+447700900000',
'from': 'MyBrand',
'message': 'Flash sale! 40% off this weekend.',
}
)
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.faretext.co.uk/v1/sms', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json',
},
body: JSON.stringify({
to: '+447700900000',
from: 'MyBrand',
message: 'Flash sale! 40% off this weekend.',
}),
});

FAQS

SMS marketing FAQs.

SMS marketing involves sending promotional messages, updates, or incentive information directly to customers' mobile phones via SMS. Businesses can personalise, schedule, and track campaigns with features like branded sender IDs, enhancing engagement and response rates.
Promotional texts drive engagement through discounts and announcements. Timely alerts notify customers about sales, availability, or stock updates. Personalised vouchers reward customers and encourage loyalty. Event reminders ensure attendance. Surveys gather valuable insights. These strategies build stronger customer relationships and boost business success.
Obtain explicit, informed, freely-given consent before sending marketing texts, recorded accessibly. Include simple opt-out methods like replying STOP, processed promptly. Clearly identify your business, ensure honesty, and provide contact details within messages. State offer terms transparently via a web link if applicable. Adhere to ICO guidelines for compliance.
Send only to those with explicit consent. The "soft opt-in" exception applies to existing customers if: details came from product or service sale discussions, messages concern similar products or services, and opt-out options appeared at collection and in every message. Soft opt-in applies only to individuals with directly-provided contact details.
Multichannel connects via separate, independent platforms such as email, SMS, social media, and websites. Omnichannel integrates SMS, email, and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, and Telegram into one seamless system. Omnichannel enables personalisation using complete customer data for consistent, relevant interactions across platforms.
Evaluate genuine business fit. SMS isn't appropriate for every organisation. Seek clear guidance on formatting and compliance rules. Prioritise features like mini-URL tracking, real-time reporting, and keyword management. Verify transparent, predictable pricing without hidden fees. Confirm reliability, security measures, and responsive customer support. Ensure scalability matching business growth.
Results vary by industry. Retail: 18% online sales increase, 98% open rate, 22% click rate, 12% conversion. Hospitality: 15% upgrade increase, 95% booking confirmations, 20% no-show reduction. Healthcare: no-shows reduced from 18% to 8%, 85%+ appointment confirmations. Food and beverage: 24% foot traffic increase, 35% offer redemption. eCommerce: 21% abandoned cart recovery, 15% SMS revenue increase. Fitness: 25% membership renewal increase, 30% class sign-up increase.
UK SMS marketing typically costs 3–7p per message. SMS delivers impressive ROI: £71 per £1 spent versus £5 per £1 for social media. Print materials involve design, printing, and distribution costs. Social media and Google Ads require ongoing budgets. SMS provides budget-friendly, efficient audience connection with superior performance. Visit our pricing page for details.
Sign up via our connect page and select your preferred connection method: API, email-to-SMS, or Oello. Account setup includes a validation call confirming your details. We'll verify compliance needs, review your contact lists for proper permissions, guide message formatting standards, and explain opt-out handling.
SMS is generally more secure than email. Sensitive credentials such as passwords, usernames, and API keys are issued only to authorised individuals who need them, and are stored securely. Initial-setup visibility prevents subsequent access, keeping data private even from account holders.
Retail and eCommerce send exclusive deals and order updates, boosting sales and loyalty. Healthcare providers deliver appointment reminders and health tips, reducing no-shows. Estate agents share property listings and market updates. Hospitality sends confirmations and promotions. Independent home services confirm appointments and request feedback. Any industry that thrives on timely, direct communication benefits from SMS marketing.
Yes, through our SMS API or email-to-SMS services. Marketing texts have stricter rules in every country; UK regulations protect consumers effectively. Each country maintains specific rules, and we provide guidance to ensure compliance. Mention your international interest during setup and we'll detail pricing and country-specific guidelines for global campaign expansion.

Related insights

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SMS Marketing Done Right: Lessons from 1,200 Consumers

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Automated SMS in E-Commerce: Why Triggered Messages Generate 26% of All SMS Orders

Automated SMS messages generate 26% of all SMS orders from just 13% of sends. Abandoned cart texts, order confirmations, and post-purchase follow-ups dramatically outperform broadcast campaigns.

read article →

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Ready to start with SMS marketing?

Join thousands of UK businesses reaching customers instantly with Faretext.

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25 free credits to test. No contract. UK-based support.

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