Writing effective SMS messages is harder than it looks. You've got 160 characters (or thereabouts), zero visual hierarchy, and a reader who's probably glancing at their lock screen. Every word has to earn its place.
We've compiled 50 copy-paste SMS templates across 10 business categories, each with a brief note on when and how to use it. Customise the placeholders (shown in [square brackets]) to match your business, and you're ready to send.
📋 How to use these templates:
• Replace [placeholders] with your actual business name, customer name, dates, times, URLs, and other specifics.
• Always include your business name - it's legally required under the Spam Act 2003 for commercial messages.
• Include "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" in all promotional messages (shown in templates where relevant).
• Keep URLs short with a link shortener - this preserves your character budget.
Jump to a Category
1. Appointment Reminders
Reduce no-shows and late cancellations with timely, friendly reminders that invite confirmation or rescheduling.
~148 chars
01Standard Reminder - 24 Hours
Hi [Name], reminder: your appointment at [Business] is tomorrow [Day] at [Time]. Reply YES to confirm or NO to reschedule. See you soon!
Best sent 24 hours before the appointment. The YES/NO reply mechanism significantly increases confirmation rates and flags no-shows in advance.
~135 chars
0248-Hour Reminder With Cancellation Link
Hi [Name], [Business] reminder: [Service] on [Date] at [Time] with [Practitioner]. Need to change? Book online: [link] or reply CHANGE.
Use 48 hours out to give clients enough notice to reschedule without costing you an empty slot. Include a direct booking link so rescheduling is effortless.
~120 chars
03Same-Day Reminder
[Business]: Your [appointment/session] is TODAY at [Time]. [Address]. Questions? Reply or call [phone]. See you there!
Send 2–3 hours before the appointment. Useful for industries with high day-of cancellations (dental, allied health, personal training).
~155 chars
04Appointment Confirmation (Post-Booking)
Booking confirmed! [Name], your [service] at [Business] is set for [Date] at [Time]. Add to calendar: [link]. To cancel: [link] or Reply STOP.
Send immediately after a booking is made. This builds trust and gives the customer an immediate reference point.
~140 chars
05Reschedule Prompt for Lapsed Clients
Hi [Name], it's been a while! [Business] has openings this week - ready to book your next [service]? Reply BOOK or visit [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Win back lapsed clients. Works well for beauty, health, and wellness businesses where regular repeat visits are expected.
2. Promotional Offers
Drive immediate action with time-sensitive offers. Short, punchy, and benefit-led.
~138 chars
06Flash Sale
[Business]: Flash sale - [X]% off [products/services] TODAY only. Shop now: [link] Use code [CODE] at checkout. Reply STOP to opt out.
Time pressure drives action. Send in the morning and consider a "last chance" follow-up 2 hours before expiry.
~133 chars
07VIP Exclusive Offer
VIP access, [Name]! Get early access to our [sale/launch] - 20% off before it goes public. Expires [Date]: [link] - [Business]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Exclusivity language ("VIP", "early access") significantly boosts open and conversion rates. Segment this to your most loyal customers.
~125 chars
08Seasonal / EOFY Offer
[Business]: EOFY sale ends midnight! Up to [X]% off [category]. Your last chance to save: [link] Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
EOFY (June), Christmas, and EOFY sales resonate strongly with Australian consumers. Deadline messaging performs best on the final day.
~118 chars
09Birthday Offer
Happy birthday [Name]! 🎉 A little gift from us at [Business] - [X]% off your next [purchase/visit]. Valid until [Date]: [link]
Birthday messages feel personal and drive strong conversion. Automate these by storing birthday data and triggering the message on the day or week of.
~140 chars
10Referral Offer
[Name], share [Business] with a friend and you both get [offer]. Share your link: [referral-link] T&Cs: [link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Referral SMS work well post-purchase when satisfaction is highest. Personalised referral links make tracking straightforward.
3. Order Updates
Keep customers informed at every stage of their order - these messages reduce support enquiries and build trust.
~140 chars
11Order Confirmation
[Business]: Order #[ORDER] confirmed! Thanks [Name]. We'll notify you when it ships. View your order: [link]
Send immediately post-purchase. Provides reassurance and reduces "where's my order?" support contacts.
~138 chars
12Order Shipped
Great news [Name]! Your [Business] order #[ORDER] has shipped. Track it here: [tracking-link] Estimated delivery: [Date].
One of the most-appreciated messages in e-commerce. Include a real tracking link - not a generic "check your email" redirect.
~120 chars
13Out for Delivery
[Business]: Your order is out for delivery today! Track in real time: [link] Someone will need to be home to sign. - [Business]
Day-of delivery notifications reduce failed deliveries and the re-delivery costs associated with them.
~115 chars
14Order Delivered
[Name], your [Business] order #[ORDER] has been delivered. Enjoy! Questions? Reply or visit [link]. - [Business]
A post-delivery message is a natural segue to a review request or upsell message (send separately, not bundled).
~148 chars
15Order Delay Notification
[Name], we're sorry - your [Business] order #[ORDER] has been delayed. New estimated delivery: [Date]. Sorry for the inconvenience. Questions? [link]
Proactively communicate delays before customers reach out. Honesty here builds far more trust than silence.
4. Payment Reminders
Friendly, professional payment reminders that improve cash flow without damaging customer relationships.
~145 chars
16Invoice Due in 3 Days
Hi [Name], a friendly reminder that invoice #[INV] for $[amount] from [Business] is due on [Date]. Pay online: [link] Questions? Reply anytime.
Send 3 days before the due date. Friendly and helpful in tone - most late payments are forgetfulness, not avoidance.
~140 chars
17Due Today
[Business]: Invoice #[INV] ($[amount]) is due today. Pay now: [link] Need more time? Reply to discuss. - [Business]
Day-of reminders convert well because the urgency is genuine. The offer to discuss shows flexibility and reduces avoidance.
~138 chars
18Overdue - First Notice
Hi [Name], invoice #[INV] ($[amount]) from [Business] is now overdue. Please pay at your earliest convenience: [link] or reply to chat.
Calm and professional - no aggressive language. Give the customer an easy path to pay or communicate. Most overdue accounts respond at this stage.
~142 chars
19Payment Plan Offer
Hi [Name], we understand things can get tight. [Business] can arrange a payment plan for invoice #[INV]. Reply PAY to arrange - we're happy to help.
Proactively offering a payment plan often recovers more revenue than escalating to a collection process. Use after the second overdue notice.
~128 chars
20Payment Received Confirmation
[Business]: Payment of $[amount] received - thank you, [Name]! Your receipt: [link] We appreciate your business.
Always confirm receipt. It closes the loop, reduces follow-up queries, and is a moment to reinforce goodwill.
5. Customer Feedback
Collect feedback at peak satisfaction moments - right after a visit or purchase. SMS dramatically outperforms email for survey response rates.
~138 chars
21Post-Purchase Review Request
Hi [Name], hope you're loving your [product] from [Business]! Mind leaving us a quick review? It really helps: [Google/Trustpilot link]
Send 3–7 days post-delivery - enough time for the customer to use the product. Direct links to Google or Trustpilot remove friction.
~118 chars
22Simple NPS Survey
[Business]: How likely are you to recommend us to a friend? Reply with a number 1 (unlikely) to 10 (definitely). Takes 5 seconds!
NPS via SMS produces response rates of 30–50%. Segment low scores (1–6) for follow-up recovery conversations.
~135 chars
23Post-Appointment Satisfaction
Hi [Name], thanks for visiting [Business] today! How was your experience? Reply 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) - your feedback helps us improve.
Send within an hour of the appointment ending - while the experience is fresh. Low scores should trigger an immediate follow-up from a manager.
~130 chars
24Recovery Follow-Up (After Poor Feedback)
Hi [Name], we're really sorry to hear your recent experience with [Business] wasn't great. Can we make it right? Reply and we'll sort it out.
Responding personally to negative feedback retains more customers than any discount. Shows you're listening.
~140 chars
25Survey With Incentive
[Business]: Tell us what you think! Complete our 2-min survey and go in the draw for a $[X] voucher: [link] Thanks for your time, [Name]!
Incentivised surveys boost response rates. Keep the survey genuinely short - 2 minutes maximum to honour the promise in the message.
6. Event Invitations
Drive attendance and build anticipation with timely event SMS at invitation, reminder, and day-of stages.
~148 chars
26Event Invitation
You're invited, [Name]! [Business] is hosting [Event Name] on [Date] at [Venue]. [X] spots left - RSVP now: [link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Scarcity ("X spots left") encourages immediate action. Send 2–3 weeks out for planning events, 3–5 days for casual gatherings.
~130 chars
27Event Reminder - 48 Hours
[Business]: Just 2 days to go! [Event Name] is on [Day] at [Time], [Venue]. Your ticket/confirmation: [link] See you there!
Anticipation messaging reduces day-of dropoffs. Include practical details: address, parking, what to bring.
~128 chars
28Day-of Event Reminder
[Business]: Today's the day! [Event Name] starts at [Time] at [Venue, Address]. Doors open [X] mins early. Questions? Reply anytime.
Send morning-of. Include the exact address - don't assume people have memorised it.
~125 chars
29Last Few Tickets
[Business]: [Event Name] is almost sold out - only [X] tickets left! Grab yours before they're gone: [link] Reply STOP to opt out.
FOMO messaging for genuine scarcity converts well. Don't manufacture artificial scarcity - it erodes trust.
~120 chars
30Post-Event Thank You
Thanks for joining us at [Event Name], [Name]! Hope you had a great time. [Resources/photos/recap]: [link] See you at the next one - [Business].
Post-event messages keep the relationship warm and set up the next event invitation.
7. Real Estate
Real estate is built on speed and relationships - SMS helps agents stay top-of-mind and respond to leads before competitors do. Need to grow your buyer database? See our recommended platforms for sourcing property leads.
~148 chars
31New Listing Alert
Hi [Name], new listing matching your criteria: [Address] - [beds]bd [bath]ba, $[price]. Inspection [Date] at [Time]. Details: [link] - [Agent], [Agency].
Send to pre-qualified buyers on your list. Personalise with search criteria stored in your CRM - "matching your criteria" converts far better than generic blasts.
~135 chars
32Open Home Reminder
[Agent], [Agency]: Reminder - open home at [Address] is THIS [Sat/Sun] [Time]–[Time]. Register: [link] See you there!
Send 24 hours before the open. Registration links enable agent follow-up after the inspection.
~130 chars
33Auction Day Reminder
Auction day! [Address] goes under the hammer at [Time] today. Bidder registration: [link] Good luck - call me anytime. [Agent], [Agency].
Send morning of auction. A personal message from the agent's name builds relationship and keeps bidders engaged.
~140 chars
34Price Reduction Alert
Price update! [Address] has been reduced to $[new price] (was $[old]). Still available - inspection by appointment: [link] - [Agent], [Agency].
Alert buyers who showed interest in the original listing. Timely price reduction notifications often close deals that stalled at the higher price.
~130 chars
35Market Appraisal Offer
Hi [Name], homes in [Suburb] are selling fast - [Agency] can tell you what your property is worth right now. Free appraisal: [link] or reply APPRAISE.
Targeting homeowners in high-demand suburbs with appraisal offers is an effective lead generation tactic for listing agents.
8. Healthcare
Healthcare SMS must balance warmth, clarity, and privacy. These templates avoid unnecessary personal health detail in the message body.
~145 chars
36Appointment Reminder - Medical
Hi [Name], a reminder of your appointment at [Practice] with [Dr/Practitioner Name] on [Date] at [Time]. Please arrive 5 mins early. Call us: [phone].
Avoid including health information in the SMS body - it may be read by anyone. Simply confirm the appointment time and practice details.
~140 chars
37Prescription Ready
Hi [Name], your prescription is ready for collection at [Pharmacy Name], [Address]. Open until [time] today. Questions? Call [phone].
Prescription-ready SMS reduces missed pick-ups and second-visit phone calls. Keep it brief with no medication details.
~130 chars
38Health Check-Up Reminder
Hi [Name], it's time for your regular check-up at [Practice]. Book now to secure your preferred time: [link] or call [phone]. - [Practice]
Recall messaging for regular check-ups (dental, GP, optometry) is one of the highest-ROI uses of healthcare SMS. Automate based on last visit date.
~125 chars
39Telehealth Appointment Link
[Practice]: Your telehealth appointment with [Dr Name] starts in 15 mins. Join here: [link] Need help? Call [phone].
Send 15 minutes before a telehealth session. The direct join link removes the most common point of friction.
~138 chars
40Test Results Ready
Hi [Name], your results from [Practice] are ready. Please call us on [phone] or book a follow-up: [link] to discuss with [Dr Name].
Never include actual test results in an SMS. Direct the patient to call or book a follow-up - this is both a privacy and a clinical care best practice.
9. Hospitality
From reservation confirmations to table-ready notifications, SMS keeps guests informed and excited.
~140 chars
41Reservation Confirmation
[Restaurant]: Reservation confirmed for [Name] - [Date], [Time], party of [#]. [Address]. To amend: [link] or call [phone]. See you soon!
Send immediately after booking. Include address even if the venue is well-known - guests often forward this message to friends.
~125 chars
42Reservation Reminder - Day Before
[Restaurant]: See you tomorrow! [Name] - [Date] at [Time], party of [#]. Reply YES to confirm or call [phone] to change.
No-shows are extremely costly for restaurants. A reminder with a confirmation mechanism recovers empty tables well in advance.
~115 chars
43Table Ready Notification
[Restaurant]: Your table is ready, [Name]! Please head to the host stand now. We're excited to see you. 🍽️
Table-ready SMS reduces walkouts for waitlisted guests. Works well alongside a virtual queue system.
~130 chars
44Post-Dining Review Request
Hi [Name], thanks for dining at [Restaurant] tonight! We'd love to hear what you thought: [Google review link] It means the world to us 🙏
Send within 2 hours of the dining experience. Sentiment is highest immediately after a positive experience - capture it.
~135 chars
45Loyalty / Return Offer
We miss you, [Name]! It's been a while since your last visit to [Restaurant]. Come back and enjoy [offer] this week: [link] Reply STOP to opt out.
Re-engagement offers for diners who haven't visited in 60–90 days. Works well timed around a menu change or seasonal event.
10. General Business
Versatile templates that work across industries - welcome messages, staff communications, onboarding, and more.
~140 chars
46Welcome Message - New Customer
Welcome to [Business], [Name]! 🎉 We're glad you're here. Here's [discount/free resource/next step]: [link] Questions? Just reply - we're here.
Send immediately after sign-up or first purchase. The welcome message sets the tone for the entire customer relationship.
~128 chars
47Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
[Business] security code: [CODE]. Expires in 10 minutes. Never share this code with anyone. If you didn't request this, contact us immediately.
2FA codes must be time-limited and include a security warning. Never send codes via email in a follow-up - keep the channel separate.
~130 chars
48Staff Shift Notification
Hi [Name], your shift at [Business] is confirmed: [Date], [Start]–[End] at [Location]. Questions? Reply or call [Manager Name] on [phone].
Internal staff SMS for shift confirmation reduces no-shows and miscommunication. Keep a clear audit trail of sent messages.
~130 chars
49Business Hours / Holiday Notice
[Business]: Just a heads-up - we'll be closed [Date(s)] for [holiday/break]. Reopening [Date]. For urgent matters: [email/link]. Happy [holiday]!
Proactive closure notices reduce frustrated calls and emails during closures. Send 2–3 days before the closure.
~138 chars
50Abandoned Cart Recovery
Hi [Name], you left something behind! Your cart at [Business] is waiting: [link] Complete your order before stock runs out. Reply STOP to opt out.
Send 1–2 hours after cart abandonment. SMS abandoned cart recovery consistently outperforms email, with click rates 4–6× higher.
Tips for Using These Templates Effectively
Templates are a starting point - not a final destination. The most effective SMS messages are personalised with real customer data, sent at the right moment in the customer lifecycle, and tested against alternatives to see what resonates with your specific audience.
A few final reminders:
- Always include your business name - it's legally required and builds trust
- Include "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" in all promotional messages
- Test your message length - keep promotional messages under 160 characters where possible to avoid split messages
- Send at appropriate times - not before 9am or after 8pm local time
- Track performance - delivery rate, click-through rate, and unsubscribe rate tell you what's working
If you're looking for a platform to manage campaigns, automate lifecycle messages, and handle two-way conversations - all with Australian compliance built in - Monster SMS is worth exploring. Start with the free plan and have your first campaign live in under an hour.
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