The customer who bought from you two years ago, or asked for a quote last spring and went quiet, is far more likely to buy than a stranger seeing your ad. They already trust you. Most businesses never contact them again.
One well-timed message a season fixes that. It is often the cheapest revenue of the year: no ads, no new leads, just a reminder that you exist and have room in the calendar.
How to use it
- Export two lists from your CRM, accounting tool or phone: past customers, and leads who never bought.
- Pick a real reason to write: the season (spring maintenance, winter prep), an opening in your schedule, or something new you offer.
- Run the prompt, then send the text to those with mobile numbers and the email to the rest. Small batches let you answer replies personally.
win-back.txt
Write a seasonal win-back message for my business. Business: [name], [what we do] in [city] Who it goes to: [A: past customers / B: old leads who asked for a quote but did not buy] Reason to write now: [e.g. spring maintenance season, two openings in May, new service] Offer (only if real): [details or "none"] Our voice: [e.g. friendly, first names] Sender: [name] Write for each audience (A and B): 1. A text message under 300 characters: personal, mentions the season or reason, ends with an easy yes/no question. Include "Reply STOP to opt out". 2. An email: subject line under 45 characters, body under 100 words, one call to action, and an unsubscribe line at the bottom. 3. One follow-up text for 5 days later if they have not replied, under 200 characters. Use [first name] and, for past customers, [last service] as merge fields. Sound like a person who remembers them, not a mass campaign. No fake urgency. Canadian English.
Do it properly
- Get consent right. Under Canada's anti-spam law (CASL), you can usually message people you did business with in the last two years, or who enquired in the last six months. Beyond that, you need their permission. Always include a way to opt out.
- One message, one follow-up, then stop. Persistence is good; pestering is not.
- Reply fast. These replies are warm leads; answer the same day.
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. If you are unsure about consent for part of your list, leave those contacts out.