Please provide your information below to download our PDF on CDP Readiness Framework
Success! Please click here to open your copy of CDP Readiness Framework
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Close icon

Klaviyo SMS marketing cheat sheet to amplify ROI

Author Profile Picture
The Growth Guru Team
February 22, 2025

Unlock the power of Klaviyo SMS marketing to boost your e-commerce ROI. This comprehensive guide covers setup, best practices, compliance, and advanced strategies for creating targeted, high-converting SMS campaigns. Learn how to integrate SMS with email, optimize performance, and avoid common pitfalls to drive customer engagement and sales.

Three business professional gathering

Klaviyo SMS marketing has become a powerful tool for e-commerce businesses looking to amplify their ROI and engage customers directly. With SMS boasting some of the highest open and conversion rates among marketing channels, it's no wonder brands are leaning into SMS marketing strategies to increase sales and customer loyalty. This cheat sheet will walk you through how to maximize the potential of SMS marketing with Klaviyo, from setting up your campaigns to optimizing them for the highest possible return. Whether you're just starting or looking to improve your existing efforts, this comprehensive guide will provide actionable insights into Klaviyo's features, best practices, and proven strategies.

In today’s digital landscape, a multi-channel approach that combines SMS, email, and other marketing efforts is crucial for driving growth. Klaviyo, a leader in email and SMS marketing, helps e-commerce brands achieve this integration. Alongside Klaviyo, tools like Yotpo can further elevate your marketing strategies, enhancing your ability to collect valuable customer data and create highly targeted campaigns. Let’s dive into why Klaviyo SMS marketing is the perfect fit for your business and how you can leverage it for maximum impact.

Why choose Klaviyo for SMS marketing?

Choosing Klaviyo for SMS marketing provides businesses with a robust, all-in-one platform that combines the power of SMS and email marketing. What sets Klaviyo apart from other SMS tools is its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. This ensures you have a centralized hub for managing both SMS and email communications with your customers.

Moreover, Klaviyo's segmentation and automation features allow businesses to deliver hyper-targeted, personalized messages based on behavior, demographics, and purchase history. With its comprehensive analytics, Klaviyo lets marketers track engagement and ROI for every campaign, providing insights that drive data-backed decisions. Finally, Klaviyo takes compliance seriously, helping businesses stay aligned with legal requirements for opt-ins and data protection.

Top Klaviyo SMS features

Understanding Klaviyo's SMS marketing features

Klaviyo's SMS marketing features are built to offer flexibility and scalability for businesses of all sizes. Let’s break down some of the most powerful functionalities.

SMS automation workflows

Klaviyo's SMS automation workflows allow you to create targeted, trigger-based campaigns that send the right message to the right customer at the right time. With a simple drag-and-drop interface, you can build workflows for welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, post-purchase follow-ups, and more, ensuring a seamless, personalized experience for your subscribers.

Segmentation capabilities

Advanced segmentation capabilities enable you to create highly targeted Klaviyo SMS campaigns based on customer data, behavior, and preferences. By segmenting your audience based on factors like purchase history, engagement levels, and demographics, you can deliver more relevant, effective messages that drive higher conversion rates and customer loyalty.

Integration with email marketing

One of the key advantages of using Klaviyo for SMS marketing is its seamless integration with email campaigns. By syncing your Klaviyo SMS campaigns and email efforts, you can create a cohesive, multi-channel experience that engages customers across touchpoints, improving overall performance and ROI.

Analytics and reporting tools

Klaviyo provides robust analytics and reporting tools that help you track the performance of your SMS campaigns, measure key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and revenue, and identify opportunities for optimization. With detailed insights into your SMS marketing performance, you can make data-driven decisions to refine your strategy and maximize your results.

Compliance and opt-in management

Ensuring compliance with SMS marketing regulations is crucial for avoiding legal issues and maintaining customer trust. Klaviyo offers built-in compliance tools and opt-in management features that help you stay compliant with TCPA, GDPR, and other regulations, while providing a smooth, user-friendly opt-in process for your subscribers.

Getting started with Klaviyo SMS marketing

Starting with Klaviyo SMS marketing is straightforward, thanks to the platform’s intuitive interface and comprehensive features.

Setting up SMS in Klaviyo

To begin, simply enable SMS in your Klaviyo account. Navigate to the SMS settings, and follow the prompts to activate the feature. Once enabled, you'll be able to create campaigns, automate workflows, and sync SMS with your existing email efforts.

Step-by-step guide to enabling SMS in Klaviyo

  1. Sign in to your Klaviyo account.
  2. Navigate to the “SMS” section under “Channels.”
  3. Follow the prompts to enable SMS and set your default sender number.
  4. Add the necessary opt-in forms on your website to start collecting phone numbers.
  5. Create your first SMS campaign by navigating to “Campaigns” and selecting “New Campaign.”
  6. Personalize your message, choose your segment, and hit send!

How to import and grow your SMS subscriber list

To start building your SMS subscriber list in Klaviyo, you can:

  1. Import existing subscribers from a CSV file or another marketing platform.
  2. Add SMS opt-in forms to your website, landing pages, and checkout process.
  3. Encourage email subscribers to opt-in to SMS through cross-channel campaigns.
  4. Run social media campaigns and ads promoting SMS opt-in incentives.
  5. Collect SMS opt-ins at in-store or event touchpoints.

Compliance and SMS marketing laws

Before you launch any campaign, it's essential to understand the legal landscape.

Understanding TCPA, GDPR, and other regulations

  • TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act): Requires express written consent for sending marketing SMS messages to U.S. consumers
  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): Governs the collection, use, and storage of personal data for EU citizens
  • CASL (Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation): Regulates commercial electronic messages, including SMS, sent to Canadian recipients

Keep in mind that this list is not all-inclusive, so be sure to check compliances for other regions as needed.

Key tips to ensure legal compliance

  • Obtain express written consent before sending marketing SMS messages
  • Provide clear disclosure of your identity, purpose, and opt-out instructions
  • Honor opt-out requests promptly and maintain records of consent
  • Consult with legal professionals to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations

Syncing SMS with email campaigns

For best results, sync your SMS and email campaigns to create a cohesive, multi-channel marketing strategy.

How to create cross-channel flows for better engagement

Klaviyo allows you to create integrated workflows that sync SMS and email campaigns for a seamless customer experience. Some examples include:

  • Welcome series: Send a series of coordinated SMS and email messages to greet new subscribers and introduce your brand
  • Abandoned cart reminders: Use SMS and email to remind customers of items left in their cart and encourage completion
  • Post-purchase follow-ups: Engage customers after a purchase with SMS and email messages that provide order updates, request feedback, and suggest related products

The importance of syncing SMS with email for multi-channel optimization

By syncing your SMS and email campaigns, you can:

  • Provide a consistent, cohesive brand experience across channels
  • Increase overall engagement and conversion rates by reaching customers on their preferred channels
  • Optimize send times and frequency to avoid oversaturation and improve deliverability
  • Leverage customer data and behavior across channels for more targeted, personalized messaging

Stat comparison between email and SMS open rate

Why SMS marketing is crucial

In today’s crowded digital space, SMS marketing stands out as a must-have tool for e-commerce brands.

The power of SMS vs. other channels

SMS marketing offers several unique advantages over other channels, making it a powerful tool for driving engagement and conversions:

Higher open rates

SMS messages have an average open rate of 98%, compared to just 21% for email, ensuring your content is seen by a larger portion of your audience.

Increased conversions

The immediate, direct nature of SMS leads to higher conversion rates, with 45% of SMS marketing campaigns generating a successful ROI.

Immediate engagement = higher conversions

SMS marketing enables instant communication with your audience, making it ideal for:

Flash sales and limited-time offers

Send SMS alerts for time-sensitive promotions, creating a sense of urgency and driving immediate action.

Real-time updates and reminders

Use SMS to keep customers informed about order status, shipping updates, and upcoming events or deadlines.

Advanced tips for optimizing SMS ROI with Klaviyo

To truly maximize the ROI of your SMS campaigns, follow these advanced tips.

Segmenting your SMS audience for better targeting

Maximize the effectiveness of your SMS campaigns by segmenting your audience based on:

  • Behavior: Engagement levels, purchase frequency, and browsing history
  • Purchase history: Product categories, average order value, and loyalty status
  • Demographics: Age, gender, location, and preferences
  • Engagement: SMS open and click-through rates, opt-in source, and more

By creating targeted segments, you can deliver more relevant, personalized messages that resonate with each group, improving overall ROI.

Using SMS with A/B testing for continuous improvement

Optimize your SMS performance by conducting A/B tests on:

  • Message content: Test different copy, offers, and calls-to-action to determine what resonates best with your audience
  • Send times: Experiment with different send times to identify the optimal engagement window for your subscribers
  • Offers and incentives: Compare the performance of various offers, such as percentage discounts, free shipping, or loyalty rewards

Klaviyo's built-in A/B testing tools make it easy to split-test your SMS campaigns, track results, and identify winning variations to improve open rates and conversions.

Best timing and frequency for SMS campaigns

To maximize SMS campaign performance, consider:

  • Optimal send times: According to data, the best times to send SMS marketing messages are between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., or between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays
  • Frequency recommendations: Aim to send 2-4 SMS messages per month to maintain consistent engagement without overwhelming subscribers

Integrating SMS with Klaviyo's email workflows

Build integrated workflows that sync SMS with email for a seamless customer experience:

  • Welcome series: Greet new subscribers with a series of SMS and email messages that introduce your brand and set expectations
  • Abandoned cart reminders: Send coordinated SMS and email reminders to recover lost sales and encourage completion
  • Cross-sell and upsell campaigns: Use SMS and email to suggest complementary products or upgrades based on purchase history
  • Post-purchase follow-ups: Engage customers after a purchase with SMS and email messages that provide order updates, request feedback, and nurture loyalty

By leveraging multi-channel workflows, you can create a more cohesive, impactful customer journey that drives better results than stand-alone SMS or email campaigns.

Best practices for writing effective SMS campaigns

The way you craft your SMS messages plays a critical role in their effectiveness.

Crafting short, compelling copy

To create effective SMS copy that drives action:

  • Keep messages concise, with a maximum of 160 characters (Note that emojis and special characters cut the character length of an SMS message down to 70)
  • Use clear, direct language that communicates your offer or message quickly
  • Include a strong call-to-action that creates urgency and encourages clicks

Using emojis and rich media

Enhance your SMS campaigns with:

  • Emojis: Use emojis sparingly to add personality and visual interest to your messages, but avoid overusing them, which can appear unprofessional
  • MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service): Incorporate images, GIFs, or short videos to make your SMS campaigns more engaging and memorable

Incorporating personalization in SMS

Personalize your SMS campaigns to build stronger connections with subscribers:

  • Use dynamic tags to include first names, product recommendations, or other customer-specific information
  • Tailor offers and messages based on customer data, such as purchase history, preferences, or location

Klaviyo SMS marketing analytics: tracking performance and ROI

To optimize your campaigns, you must track the right metrics.

Key SMS metrics to monitor

Track the following metrics to gauge the success of your SMS campaigns:

  • Open rates: The percentage of subscribers who open your SMS messages
  • Click-through rates (CTR): The percentage of subscribers who click on links in your SMS messages
  • Conversion rates: The percentage of subscribers who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, after clicking an SMS link
  • SMS opt-out rates: The percentage of subscribers who choose to unsubscribe from your SMS list, which can indicate issues with message frequency or relevance
  • Customer lifetime value (CLV): The total revenue generated by a customer over their entire relationship with your brand, which can be influenced by SMS engagement

How to track SMS marketing ROI

Measure the ROI of your SMS campaigns by:

  • Calculating revenue per message and campaign: Divide the total revenue generated by an SMS campaign by the number of messages sent to determine the average revenue per message
  • Using Klaviyo's attribution tools: Leverage Klaviyo's built-in attribution features to track the revenue directly generated by your SMS campaigns

Refining campaigns based on data

Use Klaviyo's analytics dashboard to:

  • Monitor key SMS performance metrics and identify trends over time
  • Compare the performance of different SMS campaigns, segments, and offers
  • Make data-driven decisions to optimize your SMS strategy, such as adjusting send times, refining segmentation, or testing new offers

Integrating SMS with other marketing channels

Maximize the impact of your SMS marketing by integrating it with other channels:

  • Email marketing: Coordinate SMS and email campaigns to create a seamless, multi-channel experience that engages customers across touchpoints
  • Social media: Promote SMS opt-ins through social media posts, ads, and bio links to grow your subscriber list and drive cross-channel engagement
  • Customer service: Use SMS for real-time customer support, order updates, and feedback collection to improve the overall customer experience
  • Loyalty programs: Incorporate SMS into your loyalty program to send personalized rewards, exclusive offers, and program updates that drive retention and advocacy

Common mistakes to avoid in Klaviyo SMS marketing

Over-sending SMS campaigns

Avoid sending too many SMS messages, which can lead to high unsubscribe rates and damage your reputation. Stick to a maximum of 2-4 messages per month and ensure each message provides clear value to subscribers.

Neglecting compliance

Failing to comply with e-commerce SMS marketing regulations like TCPA and GDPR can result in legal penalties and harm your brand's trustworthiness. Always obtain express written consent, provide clear opt-out instructions, and honor unsubscribe requests promptly.

Lack of personalization

Generic, impersonal SMS campaigns can lead to reduced engagement and higher opt-out rates. Use Klaviyo's segmentation and personalization features to tailor your messages based on customer data and preferences.

Ignoring A/B testing

Without A/B testing, you may miss opportunities to optimize your SMS performance and ROI. Regularly test different elements of your campaigns, such as copy, send times, and offers, to identify what works best for your audience.

Final thoughts

Klaviyo SMS marketing is a powerful tool for e-commerce businesses looking to amplify their ROI and drive customer engagement. By following the strategies and best practices outlined in this cheat sheet, you can create effective SMS campaigns that deliver personalized, timely messages to your subscribers, building stronger relationships and increasing conversions.

Remember to continually monitor your SMS performance using Klaviyo's analytics tools, and make data-driven optimizations to refine your strategy over time. By staying compliant, avoiding common mistakes, and integrating SMS with other marketing channels, you can maximize the impact of your Klaviyo text messaging efforts and unlock new growth opportunities for your business.

At Growth Gurus, our team of e-commerce marketing experts is dedicated to helping businesses like yours succeed with Klaviyo SMS marketing. From strategy development to campaign management and optimization, we provide the guidance and support you need to achieve your goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you amplify your e-commerce SMS marketing ROI and take your business’s growth to the next level.

Discover the key advantages of CDP
Download our CDP Readiness Framework!
Download Now

Ready to grow your business?

If you want your business to experience more sales and faster growth, all you need to do is book a meeting with us today.

Schedule a call to grow your e-commerce business?