9 Texts to Send in May
We wrestled with a few alternate openers to this blog, but some things are inevitable:
It's gonna be May.
May means we're entering one of the better seasonal stretches for ecommerce. The sun is peaking through the clouds more regularly, flowers are blooming in time to be plucked for Mother's Day bouquets, and Memorial Day arrives as relief for brands itching to throw a big sale.
But there are plenty of great reasons to text your list this month that aren't major holidays. Here are a few of them:
May 1: Beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month
It may feel out of place or bold to broach the topic of mental health with your SMS subscribers, but stigmas around discussing it continue to fade—and you can contribute to that trend by sending a positive text to your list. Share some simple methods for improving mood or productivity, remind your customers that they are wonderful just as they are, or encourage them to check in on a friend.
Here's how a few Postscript brands worked the topic into their messaging last year:
May 4 - Star Wars Day
Not sure if your ICP includes Star Wars fandom? Send out an SMS poll to find out who believes the prequels are better than the sequels. Even a simple Star Wars pun makes for a great May check-in. Remember, not every text has to have a discount code or shopping link—you can simply wish your subscribers a Happy May 4th!
Hart Candles (Design Co.)
May 5 - Cinco de Mayo
Feliz Cinco de Mayo! May fifth celebrates the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862—but it has managed to become big party day in the US. So if it suits your brand, share a bit of the holiday's history in your campaign! And by all means, shake up a marg and order chips and guac for the table while you're at it.
May 7 - Teacher's Day
We watched brands ship some generous and creative campaigns for Teacher's Day last year. From prompting subscribers to shop for the teachers in their life, to setting up exclusive gifts and free products for teachers, themselves, brands used SMS to show their appreciation for educators. Teacher's Day (and Teacher Appreciation Week) is a great chance to support a continually undervalued group of heroes. Here's a few examples that inspired us:
May 10 - National Small Business Day
The small businesses using Postscript generate so much SMS creativity and innovation that most of the texts you see here were crafted by them. We love how powerful SMS can be for keeping customers plugged in and loyal to the small businesses they subscribe to. Take a moment to thank your list for their continued support and share your brand's story!
May 12 - Mother's Day
Here's a holiday that your brand should be proactive about. Schedule a series of sends at least two weeks out from Mother's Day to get the gears turning in customers' heads and to account for shipping times.
And while you're scheduling early messages, consider sending an opt-out campaign to subscribers who may not want Mother's Day marketing. It's a thoughtful way to respect people who are grieving or have struggled with a parent relationship.
May 17 - Bike to Work Day
If weather, commute distance, and endurance permit, encourage your list to pull their bikes out of their garages and give em' a spin. Even if the destination isn't the office, nothing elevates somebody's mood like a sunny bike ride! A bike day text can also be used to collect some UGC. Ask for photos of subscribers' two-wheeled whips—you may get some funky ones to feature on socials or in a follow-up campaign.
May 25 - National Wine Day
Unless you carry wine-related products, National Wine Day is a good chance to use SMS as a content channel and share a good read with your list. Have an interesting blog, case study, or piece of research you've been wanting to distribute? Invite your subscribers to sit back, uncork a bottle of vino, and read through! Or throw a sale, of course.
May 27 - Memorial Day
The strange collision of honoring fallen heroes and promoting BOGO sales puzzles many a marketer on Memorial Day. Nonetheless, the holiday has become a sales-day staple for most brands.
Be sure to use severance and respect in your messaging as the country remembers those who sacrificed their lives defending others. And with so many promotions and deals being heaped on consumers, get creative with your send times and spacing—it might help you rise above the noise.
May the force be with you as you build out your May campaigns! We hope they blossom with many returns. As always, if you're interested in more inspiration, be sure to download our SMS Marketing Calendar. It's the best tool for planning all of your SMS sends—and it's free as can be.
Happy Texting!
