Great SMS marketing starts with great messaging. But staring at a blank screen wondering what to write is a terrible use of your time. This comprehensive collection of 25 proven SMS templates covers every major use case — from welcome messages to cart recovery to re-engagement campaigns. Copy, customize, and start converting.
Welcome Series Templates
1. E-Commerce Welcome with Discount
Hey {{FirstName}}! 👋 Welcome to {{BrandName}}. Here's 15% off your first order. Use code WELCOME15 at checkout: {{Link}}
Reply STOP to unsubscribe
Pro tip: Send within 2 minutes of signup for maximum impact. Include the discount code in the message itself so they don't have to click to see it.
2. Service Business Welcome
Welcome to {{BusinessName}}, {{FirstName}}! We're excited to have you. Reply to this text anytime with questions or to schedule your first appointment. We're here to help! 🙌
3. Restaurant Welcome
Thanks for joining {{RestaurantName}} VIP club! 🎉 Enjoy this $10 off your next visit. Show this text to your server. See you soon! {{Link}}
Abandoned Cart Recovery
4. Gentle Cart Reminder (30 min)
Hey {{FirstName}}! You left the {{ProductName}} in your cart. Still want it? Complete your order here: {{CartLink}}
Questions? Just reply!
When to send: 30-60 minutes after cart abandonment. Keep it casual and helpful, not pushy.
5. Social Proof Cart Recovery (24h)
Still thinking about the {{ProductName}}? ⭐ It's rated 4.8/5 by 1,200+ customers. Here's what they're saying: "Best purchase I've made this year." Complete your order: {{CartLink}}
6. Discount Cart Recovery (48h)
Last chance, {{FirstName}}! We saved your {{ProductName}} and here's 10% off to seal the deal. Use code COMEBACK10 at checkout. Expires tonight: {{CartLink}}
Promotional Campaigns
7. Flash Sale Announcement
⚡ FLASH SALE ⚡ 24 hours only! Take 30% off everything with code FLASH30. Shop now before it's gone: {{Link}}
8. New Product Launch
You're the first to know! 🎉 Our new {{ProductName}} just dropped. Early access for VIP members only. Shop before it sells out: {{Link}}
9. Weekend Special
Happy Friday! 🎊 Kick off your weekend with 20% off {{Category}}. Use code WEEKEND20. Offer ends Sunday: {{Link}}
10. Seasonal Promotion
{{Season}} Sale is here! 🍂 Our biggest discounts of the year on everything you love. Save up to 40%. Shop now: {{Link}}
Order & Shipping Updates
11. Order Confirmation
Order confirmed! 📦 Your {{ProductName}} is being prepared. Order #{{OrderNum}}. Track your order: {{TrackingLink}}
12. Shipping Notification
Your order has shipped! 🚚 Track it here: {{TrackingLink}}
Expected delivery: {{DeliveryDate}}. Questions? Reply to this text!
13. Delivery Confirmation
Package delivered! 📬 Your {{ProductName}} should be at your door. Enjoy! Any issues? Let us know: {{SupportLink}}
Engagement & Loyalty
14. Birthday Message
Happy Birthday, {{FirstName}}! 🎂🎉 Here's a special gift from us: $15 off your next order. Use code BIRTHDAY15. Enjoy your day! {{Link}}
15. Anniversary Message
It's been 1 year since you joined {{BrandName}}! 🎊 Thank you for being amazing. Here's 20% off to celebrate: {{Link}}
16. Milestone Achievement
Wow! You just hit your {{MilestoneNum}}th purchase. 🏆 You're officially a {{BrandName}} VIP. Enjoy exclusive early access to new arrivals: {{Link}}
17. Referral Request
Love {{BrandName}}? Share the love! Refer a friend and you both get $20 off. Share your link: {{ReferralLink}}
Re-Engagement & Win-Back
18. We Miss You (30 days)
Hey {{FirstName}}, we miss you! 💙 It's been a while since your last visit. Come back and get 15% off your next order: {{Link}}
19. Win-Back with Incentive (60 days)
{{FirstName}}, we want you back! Here's 25% off to welcome you home. No catch, just happy to see you again. Shop now: {{Link}}
20. Final Win-Back (90 days)
This is it, {{FirstName}}. 30% off your entire order + free shipping. We'd love to have you back: {{Link}}
Reply STOP if you'd prefer not to hear from us.
Review & Feedback
21. Review Request (Simple)
Hi {{FirstName}}! How's your {{ProductName}}? We'd love your feedback. Leave a quick review: {{ReviewLink}}
Thanks for being awesome! 🙌
22. Review Request (Incentivized)
Quick favor? Share your thoughts on your recent purchase and get 10% off your next order. Review here: {{ReviewLink}}
Event & Appointment
23. Appointment Reminder
Reminder: You have an appointment with {{ProviderName}} tomorrow at {{Time}}. Reply 1 to confirm or 2 to reschedule. See you soon!
24. Event Invitation
You're invited! 🎉 {{EventName}} is {{Date}} at {{Location}}. RSVP here: {{RSVPLink}}
Spots are limited. Hope to see you there!
Replenishment & Reorder
25. Replenishment Reminder
Time to restock? 📦 You usually reorder {{ProductName}} around now. Reorder with one tap: {{ReorderLink}}
P.S. Subscribe and save 20%!
Pro tip: Calculate the average time between purchases for consumable products and trigger this message automatically.
Best Practices for Using These Templates
Personalize beyond the name. The {{FirstName}} merge tag is just the beginning. Reference their actual purchase, browsing history, or location to make messages feel truly personal.
Keep it concise. SMS has a 160-character soft limit. Go over that and carriers split it into multiple messages. Aim for 120-140 characters when possible.
Include a clear CTA. Every message should have one clear next step. Don't make people guess what you want them to do.
Test everything. These templates are starting points, not gospel. A/B test different variations to see what resonates with your specific audience.
Match your brand voice. Adapt the tone to fit your brand. A luxury brand should sound different from a streetwear brand, even if they're using the same template structure.
Always include opt-out language. TCPA compliance requires every marketing message to include a way to opt out. "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" is standard.
Use emojis strategically. Emojis can increase engagement, but use them sparingly and appropriately for your audience. When in doubt, A/B test with and without.
Shorten your links. Long URLs are ugly and eat character count. Use a link shortener (most SMS platforms do this automatically) and consider custom branded short domains.
Template Customization Checklist
Before sending any template-based message, run through this checklist:
- Replace all {{MergeTags}} with actual dynamic fields from your platform
- Adjust tone to match your brand voice
- Verify all links work and go to the right place
- Check character count (aim for under 160 characters)
- Test message on actual devices (iOS and Android)
- Confirm opt-out language is included
- Set up appropriate timing/triggers in your platform
Measuring Template Performance
Track these metrics for every template you use: delivery rate (should be 98%+), open rate (SMS is typically 98% but varies by send time), click-through rate (30-45% is good for most messages), conversion rate (8-15% for e-commerce), and revenue per message (varies widely by industry and offer).
Use this data to continuously refine your templates. The best SMS marketers are always testing, learning, and optimizing.
Want to automate these templates?
TextUp includes all 25 templates as ready-to-use automation flows. Just connect your data and launch.
Start Your Free Trial