How to launch an effective SMS campaign

Message Crafting Best Practices

• Lead with the Brand: Start the text with your brand name: [BRAND]: Tickets are LIVE!

• The Power of the CTA: Use one clear, branded, and trackable URL like the custom URL link shortener within Cymbal! - Link this to a help doc

• Personalization: Including the recipient's first name increases CTR (Click-Through Rate) by 19%. You can do this with Cymbals dynamic name feature.

Timing: The "Power Hours" for Events

Data shows that event-related texts perform differently than standard retail.

• The "Lunch Break" (12:00 PM – 1:30 PM): High engagement for entertainment and nightlife.

• The "Thursday Night Push" (7:00 PM – 8:30 PM): This is the peak time for weekend planning. Sending a ticket link on a Thursday evening captures the weekend mindset.

• The "Post-Commute" time frame is also a solid time to send SMS blasts. Between 10am-11am is recommended.

• Avoid: Monday mornings (low mood) and Friday afternoons (people are already commuting or offline).

There is no "Perfect SMS Science"

• Always A/B Test your CTA and sending times: Send "Buy Tickets" to 50% and "See the Lineup" to 50% to see which drives more clicks. Make sure to also test which hours work best for you by sending a varied amount of campaigns!