---
title: Best Practices for Mastering SMS
description: SMS marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to engage with their customers effectively. With an astonishing 98% open rate and a 45% click-through rate, SMS offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with customers.
---

[Skip to content](https://support.cityhive.net/mastering-sms-for-city-hive-merchants#main-content)

[Contact Us](https://support.cityhive.net/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Customer portal](https://support.cityhive.net/tickets-view?hsLang=en)

![City Hive Logo-2.png\]](https://support.cityhive.net/hs-fs/hubfs/City%20Hive%20Logo-2.png?width=62&height=60&name=City%20Hive%20Logo-2.png)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Contact Us](https://support.cityhive.net/kb-tickets/new)
- [Customer portal](https://support.cityhive.net/tickets-view)

 We're here to help!

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [City Hive Support](https://support.cityhive.net/?hsLang=en)
2. [Marketing & Customer Engagement](https://support.cityhive.net/marketing-customer-engagement?hsLang=en)
3. [Email, Push & SMS Marketing](https://support.cityhive.net/marketing-customer-engagement?hsLang=en#email-push-sms-marketing)

# Best Practices for Mastering SMS

## SMS marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to engage with their customers effectively. With an astonishing 98% open rate and a 45% click-through rate, SMS offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with customers.

Did you know that more than 90% of people read a text message within the first three minutes of receiving it?  This highlights the immediacy and effectiveness of SMS marketing! 

#### Tastings/Events Invite subscribers to exclusive events such as wine tastings with personalized messages to encourage RSVPs. **Ex: "Join us for an exclusive wine tasting event this Sat at 5PM with Your Liquor Store! Limited spots. RSVP now: \[Link\]"**

#### Personalized Recommendations Utilize customer data to offer personalized recommendations tailored to individual preferences. **Ex: "We thought you might enjoy our NEW Argentinian Malbec. Buy now at a special intro price for you from Your Liquor Store: \[Link\]"**

#### Exclusive Promotions Offer exclusive discounts or promotions to SMS subscribers to foster a sense of exclusivity and loyalty. **Ex: "Just in for SMS club members: 20% off our new craft beer collection until Sun from Your Liquor Store! Shop now: \[Link\]"**

#### Flash Sales Create a sense of urgency by announcing flash sales with limited-time offers. **Ex: "Today Only: 20% off flavored vodkas until 8PM at Your Liquor Store! Stock up now: \[Link\]"**

#### Birthday Discounts Celebrate customers' birthdays with special discounts or offers to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. **Ex: "Happy Birthday, \_\_\_! Celebrate with 25% off your next purchase this month at Your Liquor Store: \[Link\]"**

#### Maximizing Message Engagement

1. Keep it Short: Stick to \<160 characters to ensure concise and impactful messages.
2. Timing Matters: Send messages between 9am-8pm to respect recipients' schedules.
3. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Provide a specific and immediate action for recipients to take.
4. Message Frequency: Limit sends to 1-2 per week to avoid overwhelming subscribers and high unsubscribe rates.
5. Clear Language Use: Maintain message clarity by avoiding text-speak and excessive abbreviations.
6. Segment Your Audience: Tailor messages based on customer preferences to enhance relevance and engagement.

Please note that there is an additional cost for SMS campaigns.  Each SMS message sent incurs a charge of 1.8 cents, which will be billed to your account.

By implementing these best practices and creative strategies, City Hive merchants can harness the full potential of SMS marketing to engage customers, drive sales, and build lasting relationships! 

**Feel free to schedule a time with your account manager [here](https://merchants.cityhive.net/#!/ffffff/?city-hive-help-menu) for further information. **

- [Get Set Up](https://support.cityhive.net/get-set-up?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Create Your Merchant Account](https://support.cityhive.net/get-set-up?hsLang=en#create-your-merchant-account)
    - [Configure Your Settings](https://support.cityhive.net/get-set-up?hsLang=en#configure-your-settings)
    - [Launch Your Website and App](https://support.cityhive.net/get-set-up?hsLang=en#launch-your-website-and-app)
    - [Marketplace Integrations](https://support.cityhive.net/get-set-up?hsLang=en#marketplace-integrations)
- [Orders - Need Help?](https://support.cityhive.net/orders-need-help?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Shipping](https://support.cityhive.net/orders-need-help?hsLang=en#shipping)
    - [Delivery Optimization](https://support.cityhive.net/orders-need-help?hsLang=en#delivery-optimization)
    - [Digital Gift Cards](https://support.cityhive.net/orders-need-help?hsLang=en#digital-gift-cards)
- [Inventory Management](https://support.cityhive.net/inventory-management?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [City Hive POS](https://support.cityhive.net/inventory-management?hsLang=en#city-hive-pos)
    - [Set Up and Sync](https://support.cityhive.net/inventory-management?hsLang=en#set-up-and-sync)
    - [Update Product Information](https://support.cityhive.net/inventory-management?hsLang=en#update-product-information)
    - [Standard Inventory Management](https://support.cityhive.net/inventory-management?hsLang=en#standard-inventory-management)
- [Customize Your Website & App](https://support.cityhive.net/customize-your-website-app?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Creating and Editing Pages](https://support.cityhive.net/customize-your-website-app?hsLang=en#creating-and-editing-pages)
    - [Graphics & Design](https://support.cityhive.net/customize-your-website-app?hsLang=en#graphics-design)
    - [Content Organization](https://support.cityhive.net/customize-your-website-app?hsLang=en#content-organization)
- [Promotions](https://support.cityhive.net/promotions?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Promotions](https://support.cityhive.net/promotions?hsLang=en#promotions)
- [Wine Clubs](https://support.cityhive.net/wine-clubs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Wine Club](https://support.cityhive.net/wine-clubs?hsLang=en#wine-club)
- [Marketing & Customer Engagement](https://support.cityhive.net/marketing-customer-engagement?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Email, Push & SMS Marketing](https://support.cityhive.net/marketing-customer-engagement?hsLang=en#email-push-sms-marketing)
    - [Customer Acquisition & Management](https://support.cityhive.net/marketing-customer-engagement?hsLang=en#customer-acquisition-management)
- [Autopilot](https://support.cityhive.net/autopilot?hsLang=en)
- [Events](https://support.cityhive.net/events?hsLang=en)
- [Overview & Reports](https://support.cityhive.net/overview-reports?hsLang=en)
- [Payments & Billing](https://support.cityhive.net/payments-billing?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Transactions](https://support.cityhive.net/payments-billing?hsLang=en#transactions)
    - [Payments](https://support.cityhive.net/payments-billing?hsLang=en#payments)
    - [Disbursements](https://support.cityhive.net/payments-billing?hsLang=en#disbursements)
    - [Chargebacks](https://support.cityhive.net/payments-billing?hsLang=en#chargebacks)
- [Ads & Analytics](https://support.cityhive.net/ads-analytics?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Analytics](https://support.cityhive.net/ads-analytics?hsLang=en#analytics)
    - [Ads](https://support.cityhive.net/ads-analytics?hsLang=en#ads)
- [FAQs](https://support.cityhive.net/faqs?hsLang=en)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://support.cityhive.net/hs-fs/hubfs/serviceorg-normal.png?width=26&height=24&name=serviceorg-normal.png "Chill listening crop-3")](http://cityhive.net)

City Hive Help Center

Copyright © 2026, City Hive, Inc.