---
title: "Create a Marketing Campaign (with Text Message Marketing)"
canonical: "https://help.spoton.com/space/SK/5174427929/Create%20a%20Marketing%20Campaign%20(with%20Text%20Message%20Marketing)"
format: markdown
---
SpotOn's Marketing tool lets you create and send campaigns across **Email**, **Facebook**, **Instagram**, **Google Business Profile (GBP)**, and **SMS** from one place. Use this guide to create a campaign, choose your channels and audience, customize the content, and publish when you're ready.

---

## Create a Marketing Campaign

1. Log in to the SpotOn Dashboard at [dashboard.spoton.com](http://dashboard.spoton.com/).
2. In the left navigation, select **Marketing & Loyalty** > **Campaign Studio**.
3. Select **Create Campaign**.

![image-20260723-202749.png](media://f1f06304-4b50-41a5-be12-2d6100852bc4)

After the marketing wizard opens, complete each step below.

### Step 1: Choose the campaign type

Choose the type of campaign you'd like to create:

- **Announcement** — Share important news, updates, events, or new menu items with your customers.
- **Promotion** — Send special offers, discounts, or limited-time deals to drive sales and engagement.

**Note:** Promotions are not supported on Express software.

![image-20260508-172333.png](media://fb90e6b9-d5f0-4da8-a763-a610ef17216b)

### Step 2: Select campaign channels

Select the channels where your customers will see this campaign. You can choose one or more:

- **Email** — Sends a fully customizable email to your opted-in email contacts.
- **Facebook** — Posts your campaign to your connected Facebook page.
- **Instagram** — Posts your campaign to your connected Instagram account.
- **Google Business Profile (GBP)** — Publishes your campaign as an update on your Google Business listing.
- **SMS** — Sends a text message to your opted-in SMS contacts.

Click **Continue** to proceed.

![image-20260508-182547.png](media://1778cff2-df9e-4352-852e-7a837f83561a)

### Step 3: Enter campaign details

Define the content your customers will see.

1. Fill in the following fields:
  - **Campaign Title** — Enter a name for your campaign. This appears as the heading in your email and social posts.
  - **Description** — Write a short description of your campaign, up to 300 characters. This is the message body your customers will read.
  - **Image** — Upload an image for your campaign.
2. Click **Continue** to proceed.

**Note:** This step is skipped for SMS-only campaigns.

![image-20260514-135837.png](media://1d58eefd-2655-4baa-816b-7ecf84eece53)

### Step 4: Add promotion details

If you selected **Promotion**, define your offer and when it runs:

- **Promotion Name** — Give your promotion a name, such as New Deal.
- **Discount Type** — Select **Percentage off** or **Dollar amount off**.
- **Discount Percentage/Amount** — Enter the discount value.
- **Minimum Order Amount** — Optional. Set a minimum order value required to redeem the promotion.
- **Maximum Discount Amount** — Optional. Set a cap on the maximum discount value.
- **Frequency** — Choose **One-Time** for a single-use promotion or **Recurring** for a promotion that repeats on a schedule.
- **Timezone** — Automatically set based on the business's physical address.
- **Start Date & Time** — Set when the promotion begins.
- **End Date & Time** — Set when the promotion expires.
- **Valid All Day** — Check this box if the promotion should be valid for the entire day.
- **Call to Action** — Toggle this on to add a CTA button, then select the button name and enter the website link.

Click **Continue** to proceed.

![image-20260514-140100.png](media://78ec536c-b14e-4e30-a2ef-056d4aec440a)

### Step 5: Choose the audience

Choose who should see your campaign by selecting one or more customer groups.

- **All Customers** — Send the campaign to your entire customer list.
- **Dynamic Groups** — Automatically updated groups based on customer behavior, such as Active, Lapsed, Important, New This Week, Top Spenders, and Best Customers.
- **Manual Groups** — Custom groups you've created manually in your customer list.

The number next to each group shows how many customers are in that group. Once you've selected your audience, click **Go to Editor**.

![image-20260514-140445.png](media://9061fb59-376d-4cac-be53-c742e8e98203)

### Step 6: Customize the email campaign

If you selected **Email**, set the **Email Subject** up to 150 characters and review the email preview. The preview may include the business name, campaign image, description, promotion details, validity dates, and a QR code for redemption.

Use the editor tools in the right panel to customize the email layout:

- **Photos** — Add or change images.
- **Text** — Add or edit text blocks.
- **Button** — Add CTA buttons.
- **Dividers** — Insert visual dividers.
- **Social** — Add social media links.

**Note**: Editor tools apply to email campaigns only. Content for social media and SMS channels is auto-generated from your campaign details.

![image-20260514-171103.png](media://57ff38a9-e1d8-42e1-822d-4a0a8ac325fb)

### Step 7: Review Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business Profile previews

If you selected Facebook, Instagram, or Google Business Profile, review the auto-generated preview. It includes the campaign image, campaign title, campaign description, and call to action button if one was configured.

![image-20260514-140819.png](media://188ceb71-849c-405c-879b-f4c1f9f5a01e)

### Step 8: Review the SMS preview

If you selected **SMS**, review the auto-generated text message. The SMS preview may include the business name, campaign title, discount information, validity dates, and redemption code.

![image-20260514-141903.png](media://297bac0e-30eb-41d1-87c1-41a5dd3ef59c)

### Step 9: Review and publish

When you're satisfied with your campaign content across all selected channels, click **Review & Publish** in the top-right corner.

A summary modal appears showing:

- **Timing** — When the campaign will be sent or posted.
- **Campaign Type** — Announcement or Promotion.
- **Channels** — Which channels are selected.
- **Promotion Details** — Discount, dates, and redemption information for promotion campaigns.
- **Audience** — Who will receive the campaign.

To make last-minute changes, click **Edit** next to the section you want to update. When you're ready, click **Publish**. To return to the editor without publishing, click **Cancel**.

![image-20260514-142430.png](media://a368bdee-2027-41c7-82cc-622a3d5c75c0)

---

## FAQ

### What do I need before I can send text message campaigns?

Before you can send SMS campaigns, Text Message Marketing must be added to your account. Contact Support to request this service. Once approved, SpotOn will set you up with a dedicated text messaging phone number. This typically takes 2 to 4 weeks due to the carrier approval process.

To qualify for approval, your business must have:

- A live, fully functional business website. Placeholder or "Coming Soon" pages are not accepted, and Facebook pages do not qualify.
- A branded business email address. Free email providers like Gmail or Yahoo are not accepted.
- A 21+ age verification gate on your website if your business sells alcohol.

### Can I use my existing contacts to send text campaigns?

No. Existing contact lists cannot be used for SMS campaigns unless each guest opts in specifically to receive text messages from your business. This includes contacts imported from previous providers and phone numbers already in your SpotOn customer list. Every restaurant starts at zero and builds its SMS list through SpotOn opt-in touchpoints:

1. Loyalty sign-in on customer-facing display (CFD)
2. Loyalty signup page or website widget
3. Online ordering checkout
4. Reservation or waitlist booking
5. WiFi signup page