Discounts and special offers are a powerful way to convert shoppers—especially when combined with personalized, well-timed messages. But not all offers are created equal. Use too little, and customers may not act. Use too much, too early, and you leave margin on the table.
Here’s how to think about strategic discounting, offer escalation, and optimizing your text-to-buy flows for maximum ROI.
Your first offer doesn’t need to be the deepest one. A modest discount or perk—especially when delivered personally and at the right time—can convert without cutting too deep into margin.
Entry-point offers we recommend:
10% off (especially for new customers or welcome flows)
Free shipping (a low-cost incentive that feels generous)
$5 or $10 off for cart recovery or time-sensitive campaigns
Exclusive “VIP access” without a discount (for high-engagement segments)
These lightweight offers build urgency without conditioning shoppers to expect discounts every time.
If a shopper doesn’t convert after the first message, that’s your moment to escalate the offer. With OneText, you can automatically increase the discount—or add a sweetener—if the shopper hasn’t responded within 24 hours.
Example escalation path:
Message 1: “Hey, we saved your cart—here’s 10% off”
Message 2 (24h later): “Heads up: Your cart is still available. VIPs like you now get free shipping + 10% off”
Message 3 (final nudge): “Last chance: 20% off expires tonight!”
This creates urgency and rewards decisive customers who convert early—without requiring you to lead with your best offer.
Free shipping is one of the highest-converting offers in SMS—but it’s also one of the most cost-effective for you.
Use it when:
You’re recovering carts that are close to free shipping thresholds
You want to add value without lowering product price
You’re targeting first-time customers and want to reduce friction
You want to stack it with a discount for higher-tier incentives
OneText allows you to override shipping costs dynamically in Product Choice and Purchase Offer steps—so you can offer free shipping without needing to adjust product settings.
Not all customers should see the same discount. With segments and conditional logic, you can personalize your offers by shopper type:
First-time customers: 10% off or free shipping
Returning buyers: 15% off or an exclusive bundle
VIPs / high-LTV: Early access or stackable perks
Cold or lapsed shoppers: Deeper discount + urgency copy (“Your deal expires in 2 hours”)
Don’t lead with your best offer—you lose room to escalate
Don’t offer a discount every time a customer abandons cart (they’ll learn to wait)
Don’t use the same language every time—change up the tone, format, or incentive
Do use timers, scarcity, and personalization to boost perceived value
The best offer is the one that converts—at the lowest cost to you. Start light, escalate smartly, and tailor your incentives based on customer behavior and intent with A/B testing. OneText gives you the tools to execute that strategy automatically, at scale.