What is the Text Message ad format?

Picture a screenshot of a text conversation where someone's hyping up a product to a friend—complete with blue and gray bubbles, timestamps, and that "just between us" vibe. The format borrows the visual language of iMessage or WhatsApp to make your ad feel less like an ad and more like a candid recommendation someone couldn't wait to share. It works best when you want to slip past people's ad radar by framing your offer as insider knowledge or a friend doing you a favor.

Medium

Video or Static

Funnel fit

Top to mid funnel

When to use the Text Message format

Concepts framed as a friend recommending a product, or a "did you see this?" style referral dynamic.

Creative mechanic pairings

Formats and mechanics work together — format defines the vessel, mechanic defines the cognitive move inside it. The Text Message format pairs naturally with:

Trojan HorseSocial Witness

See the full creative mechanics library.

20 Recent Text Message Ads on Meta

Top brands running the Text Message format

Ranked by unique ads tagged Text Message in Motion's dataset.

Formats often paired with Text Message

When Text Message appears on a creative in Motion's dataset, these formats show up alongside it most often. Share reflects co-occurrence frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Text Message ad format?

SMS or chat-style mockup styled as private or direct messaging.

Is Text Message a video or static format?

Text Message is a video or static format.

When should I use the Text Message format?

Concepts framed as a friend recommending a product, or a "did you see this?" style referral dynamic

Where does Text Message fit in the paid social funnel?

TOF–MOF — the private messaging aesthetic feels unfiltered and personal, reducing ad recognition

What creative mechanics pair with Text Message?

The Text Message format pairs with Trojan Horse and Social Witness.