SMS Marketing Examples: 50+ Templates by Industry and Goal
SMS marketing examples to copy: 53 templates for retail, clinics, real estate, Ramadan and Eid and more, each checked against the 160 and 70 character limits.
By OmniChannels.ai Editorial Team · Reviewed by BroadNet Messaging Solutions Team
Marketing
Short answer
Good SMS marketing examples name the sender, make one offer, give one link or action and end with opt-out wording, all within one segment: 160 characters in GSM-7 or 70 in Unicode such as Arabic. Below are 53 copy-paste templates for retail, restaurants, clinics, real estate, banking, education, events, re-engagement, Ramadan and Eid, each with its character count at realistic variable lengths.
On this page
Key takeaways
- One SMS segment holds 160 GSM-7 characters or 70 Unicode characters (153 and 67 once a message is split), and a single Arabic letter, emoji or curly quote switches the whole message to Unicode.
- Every promotional template should identify the brand, make one offer, include one link or reply action and carry opt-out wording such as STOP or ايقاف.
- All 53 templates here fit one segment when variables are replaced by the lengths stated in the guide; longer names or links will push some over, so always test with your longest data.
- Promotional quiet hours exist in several markets, for example 21:00 to 07:00 in the UAE and 22:00 to 09:00 in Saudi Arabia, so schedule by the recipient's local time.
- Reminders and confirmations are service messages only if they carry no promotion; adding an offer makes them promotional.
This guide is for marketers, shop owners and CRM teams who want SMS campaigns they can copy and send today. It gives 53 templates grouped by industry and goal, shows how each was counted against the SMS character limit, and explains the opt-out wording, sender ID and timing rules that go with them. Templates are starting points, not legal advice.
What is an SMS marketing message?
An SMS marketing message, also called a promotional SMS, is a text sent to promote a product, offer or event to people who agreed to receive it. It differs from a service or transactional SMS, such as an OTP or delivery update, which confirms something the customer asked for. See the glossary entries for promotional SMS and transactional SMS.
The difference matters because promotional messages need consent, opt-out wording and, in some markets, sending-hour limits and a dedicated sender ID. A reminder that also pushes an offer counts as promotional.
How long can an SMS be?
One SMS holds 160 characters in the GSM-7 alphabet or 70 in Unicode (UCS-2). Longer texts are split into segments of 153 or 67 characters, and each segment is usually billed. These limits come from 3GPP TS 23.038 and TS 23.040.
| Encoding | Used for | One segment | Per segment when split |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 | Basic Latin text, digits, common punctuation | 160 | 153 |
| UCS-2 (Unicode) | Arabic, emoji, curly quotes, most accented letters | 70 | 67 |
A single Arabic letter, emoji, curly quotation mark or en dash switches the whole message to Unicode. Characters such as the euro sign, brackets and tilde count as two in GSM-7. Our full guide to SMS character limits explains the mechanism, and the SMS character counter shows the encoding and segment count as you type.
How the templates below were counted
We replaced every variable with a fixed length before counting, so each template shows the worst realistic length: {name} and {brand} 10 characters, {link} 20, {code} 8, {date} 6, {time} 5, {pct} 2, {pts} 4. Each count includes the opt-out wording where the template has it. If your customers have longer names, or your short link is longer than 20 characters, recount. All 53 templates are within the limit for their encoding.
53 SMS marketing templates to copy
Replace the variables in braces and keep the opt-out line. Use a short link on your own domain so customers can see who sent it.
Retail and e-commerce
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend promotion | {brand}: {pct}% off this weekend with code {code}. Shop: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 101 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Flash sale | FLASH SALE: {pct}% off until {time} today. Shop now: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 91 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| New arrivals | Hi {name}, new arrivals just landed at {brand}. See them first: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 113 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Abandoned cart | Hi {name}, you left items in your cart. Finish your order: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 105 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Back in stock | Good news {name}: your item is back in stock. Grab it before it sells out: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 121 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Loyalty points expiring | Hi {name}, you have {pts} points that expire on {date}. Use them: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 111 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Birthday offer | Happy birthday {name}! Enjoy a gift from {brand} this week. Show this SMS in store. Reply STOP to opt out | 112 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Review request | How was your order, {name}? Rate it in 30 seconds: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 97 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| VIP early access | {name}, VIP early access to our sale starts today at {time}. Shop first: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 118 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Restaurants, cafes and food delivery
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Happy hour | {brand}: happy hour is on until {time} today. Show this SMS for a free side. Reply STOP to opt out | 100 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| New menu | Our new menu is here! Book your table at {brand}: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 95 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Loyalty reward | {name}, one more visit and your next coffee is on us. See you soon at {brand}. Reply STOP to opt out | 107 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Reservation reminder | Reminder: your table at {brand} is booked for {time} on {date}. Reply 1 to confirm, 2 to cancel. | 98 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Delivery promo | Hungry, {name}? Free delivery on orders placed before {time} today. Order: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 120 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Clinics, salons and appointments
These are service messages when they only remind or confirm. A recall that suggests a new treatment is marketing, so keep the opt-out line.
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment reminder | Hi {name}, reminder: your appointment at {brand} is on {date} at {time}. Reply 1 to confirm, 2 to rebook. | 111 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Reschedule offer | We have a free slot on {date} at {time}. Reply YES to take it, or book: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 113 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Six-month recall | Hi {name}, it has been 6 months since your last visit. Book your check-up: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 121 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Missed appointment | We missed you today, {name}. Rebook in one tap: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 94 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Seasonal campaign | Flu season is here. Book your vaccination at {brand}: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 99 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Feedback request | Thank you for visiting {brand}, {name}. Tell us how we did: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 109 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Real estate
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| New listing | New in {brand}: a 2-bed apartment matching your search. See photos: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 113 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Open house | Open house this Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00. Reply YES and we will send the address. Reply STOP to opt out | 107 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Viewing reminder | Hi {name}, your viewing is booked for {date} at {time}. Reply 1 to confirm, 2 to move it. | 92 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Price reduced | Price reduced on a property you saved. Take another look: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 100 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Lead follow-up | Hi {name}, thanks for your enquiry. Reply with a good time to call and an agent will ring you. Reply STOP to opt out | 120 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Banking, insurance and payments
Payment reminders and statements are usually transactional. Keep marketing text out of them, or they become promotional.
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Payment due | Reminder: your payment is due on {date}. Pay securely in the app. {brand} will never ask for your PIN. | 105 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Statement ready | Your {brand} statement is ready. View it in the app. We never ask for your PIN or OTP. | 89 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Card offer | {name}, earn extra rewards on dining this month with your {brand} card. Details: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 130 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Policy renewal | Hi {name}, your policy renews on {date}. Review and renew online: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 112 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Education and training
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment open | Enrolment for the next intake at {brand} is open until {date}. Apply: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 115 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Open day | Join our open day on {date} at {time}. Meet the teachers and tour the campus. RSVP: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 125 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Course reminder | Your course starts on {date} at {time}. Check the joining details here: {link} | 91 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Events and webinars
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Event invitation | You are invited: {brand} event on {date}, {time}. Reserve your seat: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 113 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Last chance tickets | Last chance: only a few seats left for {date}. Register now: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 103 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Day-before reminder | Tomorrow at {time}: our event with {brand}. Your entry pass: {link} | 83 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Thank you | Thanks for joining us, {name}! Slides and recording: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 99 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Re-engagement and retention
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Win-back | We miss you, {name}. Here is {pct}% off your next order with code {code}. Reply STOP to opt out | 98 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Lapsed subscriber | Still interested in {brand}? Reply YES to keep getting offers, or STOP to unsubscribe. | 89 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Subscription expiring | Hi {name}, your plan ends on {date}. Renew in 1 minute: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 102 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Preference check | Quick question, {name}: which offers do you want? Choose here: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 109 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Referral | Give a friend {pct}% off and get a reward when they buy. Share code {code}: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 117 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Ramadan and Eid (English)
Check promotional sending hours: they change in Ramadan in some countries.
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan offer | Ramadan Kareem from {brand}. Special offers all month: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 100 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Iftar booking | Book your Iftar table at {brand} for {date}. Limited seats: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 105 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Eid greeting | Eid Mubarak from all of us at {brand}! Enjoy {pct}% off with code {code}. Reply STOP to opt out | 97 of 160 (GSM-7) |
| Eid sale | Eid sale starts now: up to {pct}% off at {brand}. Ends {date}. Shop: {link} Reply STOP to opt out | 111 of 160 (GSM-7) |
Arabic templates (Unicode, 70 characters per single SMS)
Arabic always sends as Unicode, so these are tighter. ايقاف is the Arabic opt-out keyword used in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
| Use | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend promotion AR | خصم {pct}% نهاية الأسبوع. تسوق: {link} ايقاف للإلغاء | 63 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Flash sale AR | خصم {pct}% حتى {time} اليوم فقط. {link} ايقاف للإلغاء | 63 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Abandoned cart AR | سلتك بانتظارك. أكمل طلبك: {link} ايقاف للإلغاء | 60 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Appointment reminder AR | موعدك في {brand} يوم {date} الساعة {time}. للتأكيد أرسل 1 | 59 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Ramadan AR | رمضان كريم! عروض الشهر: {link} ايقاف للإلغاء | 58 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Eid AR | عيد مبارك من {brand}! خصم {pct}% بالرمز {code}. للإلغاء ايقاف | 63 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Win-back AR | اشتقنا لك {name}! خصم {pct}% بالرمز {code}. للإلغاء ايقاف | 60 of 70 (UCS-2) |
| Event AR | ندعوك لفعاليتنا يوم {date}. سجل: {link} ايقاف للإلغاء | 67 of 70 (UCS-2) |
How do you adapt a template without breaking the limit?
Change the offer, not the structure.
- Keep the order: sender, offer, action, opt-out.
- Replace variables with your longest realistic values.
- Paste into the counter, not a word processor, so no curly quotes or dashes sneak in, and check the encoding.
- Preview on a real handset in each language, and recount after every edit.
Worked example: one curly quote, three segments
A synthetic retailer drafts a weekend sale: "Don’t miss out, {name}! 🎉 Our weekend sale at {brand} is on – up to {pct}% off. Shop now: {link} Reply STOP to opt out". With the usual variable lengths it is 137 characters, but the curly apostrophe, emoji and en dash make it Unicode, so one segment holds only 70 and the message needs three segments. After replacing the apostrophe and dash with straight characters and dropping the emoji, it is 133 characters in GSM-7 and fits one segment, so the cost per message is a third of the first draft.
What opt-out wording and sender ID should you use?
Put STOP, and ايقاف for Arabic readers, at the end of every promotion. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar require STOP or ايقاف on promotional SMS, and the opt-out is honoured across the network. Our templates use "Reply STOP to opt out" in English and ايقاف للإلغاء in Arabic.
Sender ID rules differ by country:
- UAE: promotional sender IDs must start with the AD- prefix, for example AD-ACME, while transactional senders do not use it. See AD- prefix and the UAE sender ID guide.
- Saudi Arabia: one sender ID per legal entity per use case, approved by CST and the operators. See Saudi Arabia and SMS sender ID registration for the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- India: the header and every message template must be registered on DLT before sending, so copy must match the registered text. See India.
Use the sender ID checker to see the rules for your country. We prepare and file sender ID registrations with you through our registration service; approval decisions stay with regulators and operators.
When can you send marketing SMS?
Send during the recipient's local daytime, and respect any published window. These come from the regulators' published rules; the tables in our SMS marketing rules by country guide have the sources.
| Market | Published promotional window |
|---|---|
| UAE | Marketing texts barred 21:00 to 07:00 GST |
| Saudi Arabia | Promotions barred 22:00 to 09:00, and 01:00 to 12:00 in Ramadan |
| Qatar | Direct marketing barred 21:00 to 09:00 |
| Nigeria | Promotions restricted 20:00 to 08:00 WAT |
| Kenya | Promotions allowed only 07:00 to 19:00 |
| India | Outside 10:00 to 21:00 IST off by default for promotions; recipients may block more bands |
Other markets publish no clock times; agree hours with the operator. Plan with the send-time planner and read Ramadan messaging campaigns for the shifted hours.
What makes an SMS campaign convert?
Relevance and timing matter more than clever wording, and avoiding the usual failures (no consent record, missing opt-out, hidden Unicode, wrong local time, long links, unregistered sender ID) matters as much. Segment by behaviour, keep one message to one action, say who you are in the first words, give a reason to act now only if it is true, use two-way replies for confirmations and cap frequency per person across SMS, WhatsApp and email. For list hygiene see bulk SMS best practices and opt-in and consent across channels; to pick a channel see WhatsApp vs SMS vs RCS and appointment reminders.
How OmniChannels.ai helps
OmniChannels.ai sends SMS campaigns in English and Arabic through BroadNet's direct operator connectivity, with quick send, bulk, personalised and scheduled modes. You can upload Excel or CSV files, preview messages, filter duplicates and track delivery in summary and advanced reports. Replies work through two-way SMS into the shared inbox, and channel fallback can try WhatsApp before SMS. We prepare sender ID registrations with you. See campaigns or book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good SMS marketing message?
A good SMS marketing message states who is sending it, makes one clear offer, gives one next step such as a short link or a reply keyword, and includes opt-out wording. It fits in one segment, 160 characters in GSM-7 or 70 in Unicode, and is sent at a sensible local time to people who agreed to receive it.
How long should an SMS marketing message be?
Aim for one segment: up to 160 characters if every character is in the GSM-7 alphabet, or up to 70 if the message contains Arabic, emoji or other Unicode characters. Messages split into segments of 153 or 67 characters and are usually billed per segment, so shorter copy costs less and is easier to read.
Do I have to include opt-out wording in every SMS?
For promotional SMS, treat it as mandatory. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar require STOP or ايقاف on promotional messages, and most other markets expect a working opt-out. Put it at the end of every promotion. Pure service messages such as OTPs and appointment reminders normally do not need it, provided they contain no marketing.
Can I use emoji in marketing SMS?
You can, but one emoji switches the whole message to Unicode and cuts the single-segment limit from 160 to 70 characters, which often doubles the number of segments. Use emoji only when the extra segment is worth it, and check how the message renders on real handsets.
What time should I send marketing SMS?
Use the recipient's local daytime and respect any regulator window. For example, the UAE bars marketing texts from 21:00 to 07:00, Saudi Arabia from 22:00 to 09:00 and from 01:00 to 12:00 during Ramadan, and Kenya allows promotions only between 07:00 and 19:00. Where no window is published, agree sending hours with the operator.
Do these templates work in every country?
They are starting points. Some markets require registered sender IDs, and India requires every message template to be registered on the DLT platform, so wording must match what is registered. Check consent, sender ID, opt-out and hours for each country in our SMS marketing rules guide before you send.
Sources
- 3GPP TS 23.038: Alphabets and language-specific information
- 3GPP TS 23.040: Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS)
- TDRA spam policy, UAE
- CST Regulations for Curbing SPAM Messages and Calls, Saudi Arabia
- CRA Spam Regulation, Qatar
- Communications Authority of Kenya: Consumer Protection Guidelines and Customer Care Standards
Keep reading
More guidesMarketing
SMS Marketing for Small Business: A Plain-Language Starter Guide
SMS marketing for small business made simple: what you need, building an opt-in list, 10 campaign ideas, budgeting by message count, a 30-day plan.
10 min read
Marketing
SMS vs Email Marketing: Differences, Costs and When to Use Each
SMS vs email marketing compared: reach, speed, content length, cost model, consent rules and deliverability, plus how to combine both in one customer journey.
10 min read
SMS & OTP
Bulk SMS in the USA: TCPA, 10DLC and Business Texting Guide
Bulk SMS USA guide: TCPA consent, 8am to 9pm window, 10DLC vs toll-free vs short code, CTIA opt-out rules, carriers and SMS length with tested examples.
10 min read