Why SMS Should Be Your Franchise’s Go-To for Black Friday
For consumer services franchises, Black Friday is more than a big sales day—it’s a prime opportunity to engage, convert, and build lasting customer loyalty. While email and social media each have their place, SMS marketing offers a unique, immediate, and personal touch that makes all the difference during peak shopping periods. With open rates nearing 98%, SMS ensures that your Black Friday marketing reaches customers directly and creates an easy path to purchase or booking.
The scalability of SMS also makes it an ideal tool for franchises, allowing both corporate and individual locations to engage customers with targeted, hyper-relevant text messages. Whether you’re attracting new customers or rewarding loyal ones, SMS marketing can deliver impressive results. Here’s how to get the most from SMS this Black Friday.
1. Build Awareness of Your Black Friday Deals with Strategic SMS Campaigns
Planning the right timing is essential for a successful Black Friday campaign. Amid the seasonal flood of marketing, SMS acts as your direct line to customers, cutting through the noise and reaching them instantly.
SMS drip campaigns—sending multiple, well-timed text messages leading up to Black Friday—are a proven way to keep customers engaged and excited without overwhelming them. For maximum impact, start slow and build frequency as Black Friday approaches.
Effective Drip Campaign Strategies for Franchises
To maximize Black Friday engagement, a well-timed SMS drip campaign is essential. Here’s how to plan your SMS timeline for peak impact:
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Early November Teasers
Send a weekly SMS beginning in early November to hint at Black Friday specials, encourage early interest, or offer “VIP pre-sale” opportunities.
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The Black Friday Countdown
Increase SMS frequency the week of Black Friday. Mid-week reminders and a morning SMS on Black Friday can help drive urgency and engagement.
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Don’t Forget Cyber Monday
After Black Friday, a follow-up SMS on Cyber Monday can remind customers of ongoing deals or new offers—especially for franchises with online or booking-based services.
Example SMS: ”✨ Black Friday starts early for VIPs! Book a facial and bring a friend free. Limited spots—act now! [Book Here]”
By carefully pacing your drip campaign, you can create excitement while keeping your franchise top-of-mind as customers plan their holiday spending.
2. Personalize SMS Messages to Increase Engagement and Sales
While generic SMS messages may receive eyeballs, personalization is what truly drives results. Franchise brands can leverage customer data to tailorBlack Friday text messages that cater to individual preferences, specific locations, and loyalty status—resulting in higher engagement, stronger conversions, and deeper customer loyalty.
How to Personalize Black Friday SMS Marketing for Franchise Success
- Loyalty Members vs. New Customers - Reward your most loyal customers with early access or exclusive perks while crafting a welcoming offer for new customers to entice their first visit or purchase.
- Localized Offers - Tailor messages to align with regional trends or seasonal needs. For example, franchises in colder climates could promote holiday grooming packages, while those in warmer areas could focus on vacation prep services.
Text Example for Loyal Customers: “🎉 Hey [Customer Name], thank you for your loyalty! Enjoy VIP early access to our Black Friday deals—get 30% off your next grooming appointment for [insert pet’s name]. [Book Now]”
Whether it’s Black Friday or just an average Tuesday, personalization transforms an SMS from a simple marketing notification into a meaningful connection, enhancing engagement, and building a relationship with customers.
3. Grow Your Subscriber List with Black Friday Promotions
With the heightened excitement around Black Friday deals, there’s no better time to expand your SMS subscriber list. The season’s strong interest in discounts and exclusive offers gives you a perfect opportunity to capture customer contact information, establishing a direct, ongoing connection with future buyers. Offering enticing perks to new subscribers helps you maximize this potential, turning holiday shoppers into long-term SMS contacts.
SMS Subscriber Growth Tactics for Franchises to Promote Around Black Friday
- VIP Early Access - Promote “VIP access” to Black Friday deals exclusively for SMS subscribers, allowing them early access to popular, limited-time offers. This added benefit creates a sense of exclusivity, encouraging customers to sign up.
- Additional Savings - Entice subscribers with an extra discount reserved for SMS contacts. Offering an additional 10-15% off for subscribers can make signing up a simple choice, ensuring you capture their contact for future promotions.
- Loyalty Program Perks - Use SMS to reward loyalty by promoting point boosts or special rewards available only to SMS subscribers on Black Friday. These exclusive rewards enhance your loyalty program while drawing in new SMS sign-ups.
Example Promotional Strategy: Place a QR code at registers and counters for customers to sign up for SMS instantly and receive an immediate discount, like 15% off their Black Friday purchase. Include a reminder that SMS subscribers gain access to future exclusive offers.
This approach builds a high-value subscriber base that can be engaged well beyond Black Friday. Each new subscriber represents a future opportunity, letting you continue the momentum through future promotions, seasonal campaigns, and loyalty perks.
4. Streamline Black Friday Customer Service with SMS
Black Friday brings an influx of customer questions, ranging from store hours to deal details and product availability. Managing these inquiries quickly and efficiently is key to a successful sales day, yet traditional channels can be overwhelming and time-consuming for staff. SMS-based customer service offers a faster, more effective way to manage Black Friday demand, allowing franchise locations to keep pace with customer needs without straining their teams.
By implementing SMS customer service, franchises can handle common questions instantly, freeing up staff to focus on high-priority tasks and in-store interactions. For customers, the convenience of SMS support allows them to quickly get the answers they need, enhancing their experience and moving them closer to making a purchase.
Setting Up SMS Customer Service for Franchise Locations
- Automated Responses for Frequently Asked Questions - Preparing automated SMS replies for common questions ensures customers receive immediate answers, even during peak Black Friday hours. For instance, automated responses for questions about store hours, appointment availability, or general promotion details can resolve a significant portion of inquiries without human intervention.
- Human Support for Complex Queries - While automation handles the bulk of questions, having team members step in for more detailed or unique inquiries adds a personal touch. By allowing staff to handle complex cases via SMS, you can provide high-quality customer support without requiring additional resources. This mix of automated and human support creates a seamless experience that balances efficiency with care.
SMS Customer Service Example: A spa franchise might automate responses to questions like, “What time do you open on Black Friday?” or “Can I combine my loyalty points with Black Friday discounts?” This setup allows staff to focus on in-person customers while still offering a helpful, responsive experience to those reaching out online.
For more insights into how to leverage SMS for 2-way engagement, read SMS Customer Support - How to Do it Right.
Additional Benefits of SMS-Based Customer Service
- 24/7 Availability - Automated SMS responses remain available around the clock, allowing customers to receive answers even if they’re shopping late at night or early in the morning. This non-stop support can help capture sales and create a frictionless experience during off-hours.
- Reduced Phone Line and In-Store Traffic - By directing routine questions to SMS, franchises can reduce congestion on phone lines and at customer service counters, creating a smoother in-store experience for staff and shoppers alike.
- Enhanced Customer Satisfaction - Quick responses via SMS meet the expectation for instant information, improving the customer journey and helping customers feel valued. This proactive approach can positively influence their likelihood to purchase and recommend your brand.
Implementing SMS-based customer service not only meets the high demand of Black Friday but also strengthens the customer experience, making it faster, more accessible, and more effective. The ease of SMS support transforms the shopping experience, helping franchises meet customer needs efficiently while building loyalty and trust in the process.
5. Black Friday SMS Templates for Consumer Services Franchises
Creating compelling SMS messages doesn’t need to be complex—especially on Black Friday, when clear, enticing offers are key. Here are targeted, industry-specific text templates designed to grab attention and drive immediate bookings. Each message focuses on urgency, value, and personalization to help franchises connect with customers and make Black Friday marketing a success.
Health & Wellness Services
- Spa: “🎁 Black Friday Exclusive! [Insert name], treat yourself (or a friend) to a holiday glow-up. Buy one, get one free on all facials. Limited spots—book now to secure yours! [Book Now]”
- Gym: “💪 This Black Friday, commit to your goals, [insert name]! 30% off all new memberships today only. Start strong and save big—don’t miss out! [Join Now]”
Pet Care Services
- Grooming: “🐶 Give [Pet’s Name] the VIP treatment! Black Friday only: book a grooming session and enjoy 20% off. Make your pet holiday-ready with ease! [Schedule Now]”
- Veterinary: “🐾 Put your pet’s health first this holiday! Book a wellness check on Black Friday and receive a free goodie basket for your pet. [Reserve Here]”
Home & Cleaning Services
- House Cleaning: “✨ Prep your home for the holidays! Black Friday exclusive: Free power washing with every full-home cleaning package. Spots are limited—book today! [Book Now]”
- Car Detailing: “🚗 Black Friday Deal—keep your [insert car model] in pristine shape! Complimentary interior detailing with any full package booked today only. [Schedule Now]”
Why These Black Friday SMS Templates Work
Each of these text messaging templates is crafted to drive urgency, offering an exclusive Black Friday perk that’s hard to resist. By personalizing with elements like the customer’s pet name or by emphasizing limited availability, you encourage fast action. With these messages, customers receive a clear and compelling offer, sparking immediate bookings and bringing more traffic to your franchise.
Using these SMS templates as a foundation, you can add specific local details or personalize further to make your Black Friday campaigns even more engaging and effective.
6. Supercharge Your SMS Strategy with Franchise-Specific Tools
Running an impactful SMS marketing campaign for Black Friday across multiple franchise locations takes more than standard messaging tools. Franchise brands need consistency, personalized outreach, and local relevance to connect with customers effectively. A platform built for multi-location management can streamline campaign execution, ensure compliance, and empower each location to engage with customers in a meaningful way.
Voxie is designed to meet these franchise-specific needs, offering tools that simplify campaign management while enhancing customer engagement. Its features empower franchises to deliver high-impact SMS campaigns that align with corporate goals while supporting local connections at each franchise location.
Essential SMS Features for Franchise Success with Voxie
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Automated Segmentation for Targeted Messaging
Voxie’s automated segmentation groups contacts based on factors like location, loyalty status, and booking history. This targeting capability allows franchises to deliver Black Friday messages that speak directly to customers’ preferences. For example, a pet care franchise can identify clients who previously booked grooming services and send them an exclusive Black Friday discount.
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Two-Way SMS Intelligence for Real-Time Engagement
Black Friday often means an influx of questions and high engagement. Voxie’s two-way SMS intelligence enables franchises to interact with customers in real time, handling inquiries efficiently and providing personalized responses on the spot. Customers can ask about store hours, promotions, or availability, and your team can reply instantly—offering a personalized experience that scales with demand.
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User Permissions for Seamless Access Control
Managing an SMS strategy across multiple locations requires a careful balance between corporate oversight and local flexibility. Voxie’s user permissions feature enables corporate teams to control access levels and maintain brand consistency, while allowing franchisees the freedom to engage with their local customers and tailor messages for local promotions or events.
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Multi-Message Drip Campaigns to Build Anticipation and Drive Sales
Drip campaigns keep customers engaged throughout the Black Friday period. Voxie’s multi-message drip capabilities allow franchises to build momentum by scheduling a series of messages across all locations—setting the stage before Black Friday, driving urgency on the day itself, and keeping interest alive through Cyber Monday. This structured approach supports a consistent customer journey, boosting engagement and maximizing holiday sales.
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Versatile Software Integration
Chances are, Voxie will be one of many tools you’ll include in your franchise-friendly marketing tech stack. To ensure real-time data sharing and cohesive processes, our Customer Success team will set up tool integrations on your behalf.
Why Voxie is Built for Franchise Brands
Voxie’s platform is engineered with franchise brands in mind, providing tools that streamline campaign execution, offer advanced analytics for location-specific insights, and handle high-volume messaging. With a powerful blend of automation and personalization, Voxie enables franchises to deliver the right message at the right time, driving meaningful connections with customers and improving conversion rates.
Ready to Take Your Black Friday SMS Strategy to the Next Level?
Black Friday is a powerful marketing opportunity for franchise brands to connect with customers and drive lasting loyalty. With franchise-focused features like automated segmentation, real-time engagement, and multi-location support, Voxie makes it easy to create efficient, high-impact Black Friday SMS campaigns.
Ready to elevate your SMS strategy this Black Friday? Request a Demo with Voxie to explore the tools that can transform your holiday success. Voxie is your partner in creating effective, personalized campaigns that resonate with customers across every franchise location.