Best SMS Marketing Agencies for DTC Brands (And How to Vet Them)

1) Why SMS is now a core revenue channel

For modern Shopify brands, SMS is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s where speed, visibility, and first-party data meet. Texts reach customers at the precise moment decisions are made—and when orchestrated with email, loyalty, and subscriptions, SMS becomes a lever for repeatable revenue.

Done well, SMS collapses friction: shorter messages, clear next steps, and direct lines to checkout. Done poorly, it’s spam. The difference is strategy—and the right partner.

To see how we architect retention ecosystems around owned channels, explore our Services and browse our Case Studies.

2) In-house vs. agency: the real tradeoffs

In-house teams are closest to the brand. Agencies ship more learning, faster. When SMS becomes a primary revenue driver, most brands hit the same in-house ceiling: compliance complexity, creative bandwidth, slow testing cadence, and underbuilt automation. Agencies that live and breathe SMS solve for all four—without adding headcount.

  • Compliance & deliverability: channel-safe opt-in flows, 10DLC registration, frequency governance.
  • Lifecycle architecture: flows that earn revenue while campaigns tell the story.
  • Creative systems: modular templates + message frameworks that scale.
  • Velocity: more tests → more insight → more compounding returns.

For a deeper dive into why strategy—not volume—wins, read: The Case for a Full-Stack Retention Agency.

3) What to look for in an SMS agency

Here’s how to separate true partners from “we send texts” vendors.

3.1 Proof they build systems, not one-offs

  • Documented lifecycle map (welcome, browse/cart, post-purchase, win-back, VIP, redemption).
  • Channel arbitration: how SMS, email, and site messages share the stage without colliding.
  • Governance: send caps, suppression rules, and recovery logic.
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3.2 Creative + testing maturity

  • A written testing ladder (from tactical subject-line equivalents to narrative/value tests).
  • Design patterns for short-form persuasion (hooks, micro-stories, tap-to-buy types).
  • Closed-loop documentation so wins in campaigns feed back into flows.

See how we operationalize this in Email & SMS Creative Testing.

3.3 Compliance, consent, and deliverability discipline

  • List growth with clear value exchange and compliant language.
  • Automated opt-out handling + preference centers.
  • Regional rules built into templates; escalation playbooks when issues arise.

3.4 Measurement that maps to P&L

  • Revenue per recipient (RPR) and Click-to-Conversion Rate (CCR).
  • Flow-vs-campaign revenue mix and repeat purchase rate at 30/60/90 days.
  • Attribution sanity: channel overlap tracked; holdouts used where viable.

3.5 Platform and stack fluency

Your agency should be confident in your exact stack (Shopify + Klaviyo/Yotpo/Attentive; loyalty; subscriptions). For martech readiness, use our retention-first checklist: Prep Your Shopify Tech Stack for BFCM.

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4) Red flags to avoid

  • Broadcast-only mindset: blasts to everyone, all the time.
  • No calendar arbitration: SMS and email competing instead of coordinating.
  • Thin reporting: open/click rates without revenue, cohort retention, or attribution guardrails.
  • Unclear compliance posture: fuzzy on opt-ins, throttle, and 10DLC registration.
  • Design without strategy: pretty templates that don’t move behavior.

5) Flows first, campaigns second

High-performing programs earn most of their SMS revenue from always-on automations. Campaigns create momentum; flows capture it.

Priority SMS flows

  • Welcome & List Growth: immediate value, next best step, cross-channel consent.
  • Browse & Cart: objection handling, social proof, helpful reminders.
  • Post-Purchase: setup, care, “what to expect,” and review/UGC prompts.
  • Replenishment & Win-Back: timing intelligence + empathy-led reactivation.
  • VIP/Loyalty & Redemption: perks, early access, points-to-purchase nudges.

For lifecycle philosophy that pairs with SMS, read our take on campaign architecture: High-Converting Campaigns.

6) Testing culture & creative systems

Testing is a habit, not a one-off. The best agencies ship small experiments every week—timing, tone, offer framing, and segmentation—then promote wins from campaigns into flows. That’s how learning compounds.

Our view on design-meets-behavior is outlined here: Email Design Practices and Design Practices We Use for Brands Like MUD\WTR.

7) Measurement that actually matters

Open rate is a diagnostic, not a destination. Decision-grade metrics include:

  • Revenue per Recipient (RPR) and orders per thousand.
  • Flow contribution as a % of total SMS revenue (trending up).
  • Repeat purchase rate at 30/60/90 days by cohort.
  • Consent health: list growth, opt-out rate, complaint rate.
  • Attribution sanity: holdouts where possible; channel overlap tracked.

How we translate measurement into strategy: Retention vs. Acquisition.

8) Copy-paste vetting checklist

Drop these into your next agency intro call or RFP. If answers are vague, keep looking.

  • Lifecycle: “Show us your default SMS flow architecture for Shopify (welcome, cart, post-purchase, win-back, VIP).”
  • Governance: “How do you set send caps, suppressions, and email/SMS arbitration?”
  • Compliance: “Walk us through 10DLC, opt-in language, and opt-out handling.”
  • Testing: “What’s your weekly testing ladder? How do wins move from campaigns into flows?”
  • Measurement: “Which KPIs will we review monthly, and how do you calculate RPR?”
  • Creative: “Share three SMS frameworks (launch, abandon, loyalty redemption) with examples.”
  • Stack: “How will you integrate with our Shopify, Klaviyo/Yotpo/Attentive, loyalty, and subscriptions?”
  • Ops: “Who’s on our team (strategy, design, QA)? What are your SLAs?”

9) 5-minute RFP starter

Steal this structure.

  1. Context: brand, AOV, categories, core SKUs, growth targets.
  2. Current SMS state: list size, flows live, revenue mix, compliance posture.
  3. Goals: revenue targets, list health targets, testing cadence.
  4. Scope: flows to build/repair, campaign calendar, reporting cadence.
  5. Decision criteria: lifecycle expertise, testing engine, measurement, cultural fit.

When you’re ready for a partner brief, meet our team: Contact Sticky Digital.

10) Case studies & further reading

11) Next steps & how to engage

SMS becomes a top revenue channel when it’s treated as part of a retention system, not a solo act. If you want a partner who will build calm, repeatable wins—not just send louder messages—start here:

Sticky Digital is a retention-first Shopify agency specializing in email, SMS, loyalty, and subscriptions. Learn more about us.

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