How to Use SMS Marketing to Launch Your Course

Launching an online course is exciting—but getting people to actually sign up?

That’s the real challenge. While email marketing and social media play their part, SMS marketing is one of the most underrated tools for boosting course enrollments and maximizing revenue.

In this post, we’ll break down how to use SMS marketing for a course launch, step by step. You'll walk away with practical strategies to grow your list, increase engagement, and convert more leads into paying students—all using text messages.

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Why SMS Marketing Works for Online Course Creators

SMS boasts a 98% open rate and most texts are read within 5 minutes.

That’s far higher than email or social media reach.

Here’s why SMS is a powerful tool for course creators:

Instant communication: Unlike email, people check texts immediately
High engagement: Your message doesn’t get buried under dozens of others
Personalization: You can address subscribers by name and tailor content
Direct sales channel: Perfect for flash sales or closing cart notifications
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Whether you’re launching your first course or your tenth, leveraging SMS for course marketing can dramatically improve your conversion rates.

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Step 1: Grow Your SMS List Before the Launch

Your SMS marketing campaign is only as strong as your list. Start building your text message list at least 4 weeks before your course launch.

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How to Grow Your SMS List:

Add an SMS opt-in to your website: Use a pop-up or sticky bar with a lead magnet like “Free Mini Course” or “Course Launch Checklist”
Create a keyword opt-in: Let people text a keyword like “LAUNCH” to join your list
Promote your SMS list on social: Use Instagram Stories, Facebook posts, and TikTok to offer a freebie in exchange for a phone number
Run a giveaway: Offer a free course seat to those who join your text list
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Pro tip: Use a compliant SMS marketing platform like SuperPhone to handle opt-ins and follow regulations.

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Step 2: Build Pre-Launch Hype via Text

Now that you’ve grown your list, it’s time to warm up your audience. Your goal in this stage is to create curiosity, educate, and tease your upcoming course.

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What to Send During Pre-Launch:

🧠 Educational content: “Here’s a 2-minute tip to grow your coaching business…”
🔥 Behind-the-scenes content: “Sneak peek of Module 1 from my new course 👀”
🎁 Early bird waitlist access: “My course drops next week. Want early access?”
🎬 Launch countdown reminders: “Only 3 days until we open enrollment!”
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Bonus strategy: Use a drip campaign where subscribers automatically receive a series of 3-5 messages after opting in. This helps increase anticipation.

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Step 3: Launch With SMS + Email + Social (The Trifecta)

When your course goes live, don’t rely on just one platform. The SMS + Email + Social trifecta maximizes your reach and urgency.
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What to Send on Launch Day:

🚨 “Enrollment is OPEN! Secure your seat before it fills up: [Link]”
🎯 “Join 100+ creators already inside. Enrollment closes Friday!”
💬 “Got questions about the course? Text me back and I’ll answer!”
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Use SMS to send concise, punchy messages with a clear CTA (call to action). Texts should not be too long—1 to 2 short sentences with a link is ideal.

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Step 4: Use SMS for Cart Abandonment & Urgency

If someone clicks your course page but doesn’t buy, you can trigger an abandoned cart SMS reminder (if you have their number).

You can also use urgency-driven messages like:

“Enrollment closes in 12 hours. Still thinking about it?”
“Get in before the price increases tonight!”
“Last chance to join [Course Name] before doors close🚪”
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These types of texts work because they hit three psychological triggers: scarcity, urgency, and fear of missing out (FOMO).

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Step 5: Nurture Students After They Enroll

Your SMS marketing shouldn’t end after someone buys your course. Use it to keep students engaged and boost completion rates.

Here’s what to send post-purchase:

✅ “Welcome to [Course Name]! Log in here: [Link]”
🧠 “Tip for Lesson 1: Don’t skip the intro—your roadmap starts there.”
⏰ “Reminder: Live Q&A starts in 30 mins! Join here: [Zoom Link]”
🎉 “Congrats! You finished Module 2. Let me know if you have questions!”
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Happy students = positive reviews + referrals. And texts are a great way to maintain connection.
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Start your free 14-day trial with SuperPhone
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Real-Life Example: How One Creator Used SMS to 5x Course Sales

Case Study:
Jess, a life coach, used SMS marketing during her last course launch and saw 5x more conversions than with email alone.

Here’s what she did:

Offered a free “Launch Checklist” in exchange for phone numbers
Used a 5-day SMS countdown to build launch hype
Sent a personal “doors closing” text on the last day
Followed up with students weekly post-purchase
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Results: 38% of her course sales came directly from SMS links.

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Quick Tips for Successful SMS Course Marketing

✔️ Always get permission before texting—use double opt-in if needed
✔️ Keep texts short and value-packed—don’t overwhelm people
✔️ Send during high-engagement times, like 12 PM or 6 PM
✔️ Test your links before sending anything out
✔️ Use segmentation—tag people based on interest, engagement, or buyer status

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SMS Marketing Tools for Course Creators

Looking for the right platform? SuperPhone makes it easy to run SMS campaigns.

Choose a tool that fits your tech stack and budget. Make sure it’s TCPA compliant to avoid legal issues.

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Final Thoughts: Text Your Way to a Sold-Out Course

If you’re not using SMS marketing in your course launch strategy, you’re leaving money (and enrollments) on the table.

With the right messaging and timing, texts can:
✔️ Build anticipation
✔️ Boost conversion rates
✔️ Improve course engagement
✔️ Drive real results without breaking the bank

Start small—test one or two campaigns. Watch your list and engagement grow.

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SMS isn’t the future. It’s the now. Use it to make your next course launch your best yet.