Growing your audience is harder than ever. Algorithms change. Organic reach drops. Even your most loyal followers might never see your content. In a world where you’re constantly renting space on someone else’s platform, the smartest move you can make is to build an audience you own.
That’s where SMS and Subtext come in. With SMS, you're not fighting for visibility in a crowded feed or hoping your message makes it past a spam filter. You're delivering content directly to people’s phones, where 98% of messages are read, and engagement is personal and immediate.
Subtext helps you go beyond notifications. It gives you a direct line to your audience—no middlemen, no algorithms, just a platform designed for real connection. And because subscribers opt in, you're building a list of people who want to hear from you. That means you own the relationship, not a third-party platform.
In this guide, we’ll explore creative, actionable ways to use SMS marketing to expand your reach by growing your list, driving referrals, deepening engagement, and turning casual followers into loyal community sms members.
People are more likely to subscribe to something that feels exclusive. Offering SMS-only content is a great way to build your list while giving your audience real value. This could include behind-the-scenes updates, VIP access, subscriber-only deals, or industry insights they won’t find elsewhere.
How to Make It Work:
Real Life: Locked On Podcasts uses SMS as an entry point to deliver exclusive content that goes beyond the mic, giving superfans insider updates, bonus takes, and direct access to their favorite hosts. This direct connection deepened listener loyalty and helped expand their podcast audience through word-of-mouth and consistent engagement.
Social media is great for visibility, but your audience doesn’t truly belong to you—it belongs to the platform. Driving followers to your SMS list gives you direct access to your audience without being at the mercy of an algorithm.
How to Make It Work:
Real Life: Artist Perrie tapped into her Instagram following to promote her “No Tears Hotline,” inviting fans to call in for a unique, emotional connection. By blending vulnerability with creativity, she turned social engagement into a powerful, personal experience while using Subtext to build a deeper relationship with fans and grow her audience beyond the feed.
If you already have an engaged email list, website traffic, or app users, make sure they know about your SMS list. People who engage with your brand in one place are likely to want access in another, especially if SMS offers unique benefits they won’t get elsewhere.
How to Make It Work:
Real Life: American City Business Journals leveraged its email newsletter to drive sign-ups for its SMS channel by highlighting the benefits of real-time news alerts and exclusive local business insights. By promoting the immediacy and convenience of text updates, it seamlessly converted engaged email readers into SMS subscribers.
Giveaways and contests are proven ways to attract attention and attract new subscribers. By tying entry to SMS opt-ins, you can turn one-time interest into long-term engagement.
How to Make It Work:
Real Life: A Gen Alpha influencer recently sent out a survey to her followers via SMS marketing, offering a chance to win an Apple product just for participating. The giveaway drove high engagement and provided valuable feedback from her audience. Contests like this are a smart way to boost SMS member opt-ins while creating meaningful two-way interactions.
Polls and surveys are simple, interactive ways to keep subscribers engaged—and give them a reason to respond or share. They also give you valuable insights you can use to shape your content, offers, or future campaigns.
How to Make It Work:
Check out how our new survey feature works!
Expanding your reach with SMS marketing isn’t just about growing your list—it’s about building an engaged audience that actively wants to hear from you. By offering exclusive content, launching referral programs, running contests, and leveraging interactive experiences like polls and Q&As, you can use SMS to grow your audience in a meaningful way.
Want to see how SMS can help you grow your audience? Book a demo today to learn how our platform can help you maximize engagement and build a thriving subscriber base.