Are you interested in stepping up your marketing game and generating more sales and ROI? Consider using SMS marketing to notify customers of new stock arrivals.
You’ll create a sense of urgency or exclusiveness, leverage the FOMO (fear of missing out), and boost conversions. You’ll encourage people to take immediate action and supercharge your sales.
This guide will show you how to create an enticing message, what mistakes to avoid, and when to send text messages to consumers. We’ve prepared templates of new stock arrival messages to send to customers that you can use as-is or for inspiration.
When to send new stock arrival messages to customers?
It’s critical to get the timing right when sending new stock arrival messages to customers. Since most people will read them right away, you might want to send them during working hours. Not everyone likes hearing from businesses too early in the morning, late at night, or during weekends.
Depending on your business, a particular time of day might drive better results.
For instance, grabbing people’s attention when they might be hungry is the best choice if you run a food delivery business. But, people have different eating habits, so how can you ever get the time right?
Well, any time between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. is ideal for lunch offers, while between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. works better for dinner.
If you sell clothes, you can notify customers of new items several days before they arrive. That way, they can plan their online shopping or a visit to your brick-and-mortar store on time.
The same goes for any other products you may offer. Timely notification will give people ample time to organize.
A good rule of thumb is to send promotional texts at least five days before the event. That way, you can have more wiggle room if you’ve just sent a welcome message to new subscribers. You wouldn’t want to overwhelm them.
On the other hand, you can create a sense of urgency by sending a promotional SMS when your new clothes, furniture, home appliances, or other products arrive. That way, people will flock to your store to grab their favorite items before they go out of stock.
Common pitfalls to avoid when sending new stock arrival messages
When utilizing text marketing for new stock arrival messages, don’t make the common mistakes below.
Sending text messages without permission
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulates telemarketing calls, text messages, and faxes to protect consumers from unsolicited advertising.
One rule is to obtain permission before sending text messages to consumers. Once you get it through the opt-in subscription process, you can’t send SMSs from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m (the recipients’ local time).
Failing to comply with the guidelines is a violation that incurs penalties, including an injunction or a fine. Consumers have the right to sue for up to $500 per violation to recover damages.
Using SMS language
The so-called SMS language, a.k.a. textspeak, refers to abbreviations, initials, acronyms, emoticons, and slang words. It doesn’t paint the picture of a professional.
Shortening the URL
If you use a URL shortener, phone carriers may see your messages as spam and block them. That’s because it isn’t clear where a shortened link leads, and it might be to a malicious website.
Don’t include an entire URL because it wouldn’t leave much space for the message copy. Use hyperlinks instead.
Going overboard with messages
Bombarding your subscribers with messages is a surefire way to annoy them and increase unsubscribe rates. “Less is more” is one of the crucial rules for a successful text marketing campaign.
For instance, if you sent a notification for upcoming stock arrivals ten days in advance, you can send a reminder a few days before the items become available. Stick to one message for shorter time frames.
What if you’ve just sent a welcome message to new subscribers? You might want to wait a few days to send another one so as not to overwhelm them and appear too salesy or pushy. That’s why it’s vital to let customers know about an upcoming stock arrival well in advance.
Essential tips for writing a compelling stock arrival message
New stock arrival messages should be exciting and engaging. To capture your subscribers’ attention and drive action, follow these tips:
- Identify your brand - Introduce your brand right away to let your SMS recipients know who is texting them. You can use your text signature for brand identification as well.
- Be clear and concise - Text messages have a 160-character limit, so get straight to the point. Keep it short and simple, with the most relevant information only.
- Personalize the message - Personalization can help you inspire loyalty and drive purchases. When you address every recipient by their name, you’ll make them feel valued and start building a meaningful relationship. Does your new stock arrival include products that particular subscribers had searched for when they were out of stock? Tailor the messages to include that information.
- Include a clear CTA - A clear call to action is paramount for high-converting messages as it prompts your recipients to take action. Use action words like “buy,” “get,” “grab,” and “visit,” and include the relevant link.
- Leverage the FOMO - Create a sense of urgency that makes your offer irresistible. Let’s say your upcoming products are typically selling like hotcakes. In that case, you can mention that they’ll be available for a limited time and advise your recipients to “hurry” and “snatch” one before it goes out of stock again.
Advantages of Utilizing SMS for New Stock Arrival Announcements
Integrating SMS into your marketing strategy for announcing new stock arrivals offers several key benefits:
- Efficient Customer Communication: SMS is a direct and immediate way to keep your customers informed about your latest and upcoming products.
- Enhancing Sales: Well-crafted SMS messages, with clear calls to action and concise content, can significantly boost sales of new arrivals by encouraging prompt customer action.
- Building Customer Loyalty: Regular updates via SMS help in maintaining ongoing engagement with your customer base, fostering brand loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases of new products.
5 Brand Examples of Effective New Stock Arrival SMS Campaigns
Adidas x Gucci: Announced their collaboration with an SMS featuring a concise message and a direct link to "Shop the collection".
e.l.f. Cosmetics: Introduced their new skincare collection via SMS, highlighting the minimalist design and product benefits, along with a note on free shipping.
Apple: Promoted the HomePod mini with a straightforward SMS, underscoring the price and including a CTA for immediate purchase or to learn more.
re_grocery: Their SMS campaign for new arrivals focused on the organic, vegan, and non-GMO attributes, accompanied by a "Shop Now" CTA.
Mr. Porter: Utilized SMS to showcase their new product range, providing succinct product descriptions and a link to "Shop all the latest arrivals".
Effective SMS Strategies for Announcing Back-in-Stock Products
Create a Sense of Urgency: Communicate that restocked items might sell out again. Example from Andie Swim: "THEY'RE BACK! Our best-selling styles are back in stock. Get your fave before it's gone!" [URL]
Play to the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Highlight the product's popularity. Example from Dormify: "With a 4k person waitlist, it's the restock we've all been waiting for. Shop now." [URL]
Announce the Restock: Build hype by announcing the restock beforehand. Example from FENTY: "Fenty Eau De Parfum is coming back! Set your alarms." [URL]
Add an Incentive: Offer an incentive to generate more sales. Example from Beyond Yoga: "Get moving with 20% OFF! Biker shorts & leggings are back in stock." [URL]
Make it Exclusive: Make customers feel special with exclusive offers. Example from Hint Water: "Peach Raspberry sensation is FINALLY back. Get 15% off bundles + FREE shipping." [URL]
Keep it Simple: Sometimes, a straightforward message is all you need. Example from Frank & Eileen: "Our best-selling Mary in Famous Denim is back in stock! Shop now." [URL]
Add Some Humor: Maintain a playful and friendly tone. Example from Chubbies: "EVERYWEAR SHORTS ARE BACK. Yes, that's all I have to say." [URL]
Remind Them of Why the Product's Great: Remind customers why they liked the product. Example from Parks Project: "Your favorite national park scented candles are back." [URL]
Include a Clear CTA (Call to Action): Ensure your restock alerts include a clear CTA. Example from M.GEMI: "Restocked! Our InStyle-approved, no-clomp clog - Get it now." [URL]
Allow Customers to Reserve the Restocked Item: Allow customers to pre-order or reserve. Example from The Inside: "Our Throw Pillows are BACK! Pre-order yours now." [URL]
Present Restocked Items as Gift Ideas: Suggest restocked products as gift ideas. Example from Coach: "Order your gifts now. The bestselling Shay Crossbody is back in stock." [URL]
Warn Customers Something's About to Sell Out: Alert customers when something is about to sell out. Example from Great Jones: "Heads up - bakeware is moving fast!" [URL]
Create a New Version: Introduce a new or improved version of the product. Example from M.GEMI: "Your favorite clog is back in new fall-ready hues." [URL]
These examples and strategies demonstrate how effective, well-thought-out SMS messaging can increase interest and sales for back-in-stock products.
10 templates of new stock arrival messages to send to customers
If you’re looking to send new stock arrival message templates to customers, the samples below will undoubtedly inspire you.
Promotional SMS sample for a clothing store
Hey, [First Name]! Our denim jackets are back in stock! Grab yours before it’s gone again! Come by our store today or shop online at [URL].
New arrivals sample for a furniture store
[First Name], our new beds are finally here! Check them out at [URL]! Stop by anytime to test the comfy mattresses and see what it’s like to sleep on a cloud!
New collection SMS sample
New season, new arrivals! [First Name], we believe our new Summer Collection is your dream come true! Check it out in our [URL] store today!
SMS sample for a cafe
Hi [First Name]. [Name] from [Cafe] here. We’ve added new tasty treats that go perfectly with your [regular coffee order]. Hurry up to get one free!
SMS sample for a restaurant
Hey [First Name], feeling hungry? How about a [dish name] or a [dish name]? We’ll be serving them for the next week only! Book your table on time! [Restaurant]
Message sample for a new skincare line
[First Name], the upcoming winter calls for a new skincare regimen. Discover our new [product] line at [URL]! Limited-time offer: buy 2, get 1 free!
Discount message sample
Hey [First Name]! Our new [product] drops this Friday! Get 20% off before [Date]! We hope to see you soon! [Business Name]
Text message sample for an outdoor gear store
Hi [First Name], dreaming about the great outdoors? Grab our new [product] and pick accessories at [URL] for a perfect hiking adventure! Hurry up! The stock is limited!
Promotional SMS sample for a pet store
[First Name], your four-legged friend’s favorite [product] is back in stock! Get it today at [Store] or shop online at [URL] for free delivery!
Sample welcome message
[First Name], thank you for taking an interest in [Business Name]! Get your personalized gift from our new [product] selection at [URL] today!
How to send new stock arrival messages with Instasent
Sending stock arrival messages is a breeze with Instasent. Thanks to the platform’s intuitive interface, you can send quick or bulk messages in record time.
You don’t have to download anything since Instasent is a cloud-based tool that you can access on any device. You can schedule messages to plan your campaigns according to the planned movements in your stock, get delivery reports to see which of your potential buyers have opened the sms, and enjoy insightful, real-time analytics to measure your campaigns’ effectiveness.
The best part? Instasent doesn’t limit you to 160 characters. Thanks to concatenation, it lets you send up to nine individual yet linked messages that recombine into a single sock arrival message on the recipient’s end. That’s perfect for including more information in your messages (if needed).
Here’s how to send new stock arrival messages to customers with Instasent:
STEP 1
Click on Send SMS on the panel’s sidebar and select Send Bulk SMS.
Create a campaign title (for example, “Stock arrival notification for sneakers model A”), select the target country, and add contacts with phone numbers. You can copy them from spreadsheets, pick them from the database, or upload them from a CSV, TSV, or TXT file.
STEP 2
Type your shop or e-commerce brand name in the From box (11-character limit) and write your message.
STEP 3
Use the Preview of the Campaign option to double-check everything for typos and other errors before hitting “Send.”
One of the best things about Instasent is that you pay only for what you need. You can specify the maximum amount of money for a particular campaign or the maximum number of messages. There are no sign-up or monthly fees either, and the payments are seamless and secure.
How much does it cost?
Conclusion
Text marketing is a brilliant way to connect with customers and drive more sales if you avoid the common pitfalls. By following our tips above and using our templates for inspiration, you’ll make your efforts count and achieve all your goals.