Updated 19 October 2026 · 8 min read
Every template fits in a single SMS of 160 characters or less, using only standard characters. Swap the highlighted words for your own details, then check the length in our SMS character counter.
- Start with your business name. Bulk SMS usually arrives from a number, so the name tells people who it's from.
- Marketing templates end with Reply STOP to opt out. Keep that line in.
- Send marketing on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00 or Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00.
- Appointments and bookings
- Payments and accounts
- Specials and promotions
- Orders and deliveries
- Schools
- Churches and community groups
- Staff and teams
- Security codes
Appointments and bookings
Reminders and confirmations for practices, salons and anyone who books time.
Day-before reminder
Smile Dental: Your appointment is tomorrow at 10:00 with Dr Naidoo. Reply YES to confirm or call 021 123 4567 to move it.
Booking confirmation
Lounge Hair Studio: You're booked for a cut and colour on Friday 4 June at 14:00. Reply C to cancel.
Same-day reminder
Smile Dental: See you today at 15:30. Please arrive 10 minutes early to fill in your forms.
Missed appointment
Smile Dental: We missed you at your 10:00 appointment today. Call 021 123 4567 to book a new time.
Open slot
Smile Dental: A slot opened up tomorrow at 09:00. Reply YES in the next hour and it's yours. Reply STOP to opt out.
Rebooking needed
Smile Dental: Dr Naidoo is ill today, so we need to move your 11:00 appointment. Please call 021 123 4567 to rebook.
Payments and accounts
Polite reminders and confirmations that get people paying on time.
Payment due
Oak Court Rentals: Your rent of R6,500 is due on the 1st. Please use Flat 4 as your payment reference.
Payment received
Main Street Gym: Thank you, we've received your payment of R450. Your membership is paid up until 30 June.
Overdue account
Hillview Primary: Our records show R1,200 in school fees is overdue. Please pay by Friday or call 011 123 4567.
Invoice sent
Coastal Plumbing: Invoice INV-2041 for R2,350 is in your email. Please pay by EFT with the invoice number as reference.
Debit order notice
Main Street Gym: Your debit order of R450 goes off on 1 July. Please make sure the funds are available.
Quote follow-up
Coastal Plumbing: Your quote Q-118 for R4,800 is valid until Friday. Reply YES to book the job or call 082 123 4567.
Specials and promotions
Marketing messages, so each ends with the opt-out line. Send them on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00 or Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00.
Weekend special
Main Street Butchery: Braai packs 20% off this Friday and Saturday. Show this SMS at the till. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Payday offer
Corner Cafe: Payday special! 2 burgers and 2 cooldrinks for R149 until Sunday. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
New stock
Bloom Boutique: New winter stock is in, sizes 8 to 22. Come and see it before the weekend. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Birthday offer
Bloom Boutique: Happy birthday, Anele! Enjoy 15% off one item this week. Show this SMS in store. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Last chance
Bloom Boutique: Last day of our sale! Up to 50% off until 17:00 today. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Loyalty reward
Corner Cafe: You've earned a free coffee, Sam! Show this SMS on your next visit before 30 June. Info: 021 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Orders and deliveries
Service messages that keep customers informed from checkout to the front door.
Order confirmed
Bloom Boutique: Thanks for your order 10482. We'll SMS you as soon as it ships.
Order shipped
Bloom Boutique: Order 10482 has shipped and should arrive in 2 to 3 working days.
Out for delivery
Bloom Boutique: Your parcel is out for delivery today between 12:00 and 15:00. Please keep your phone nearby.
Ready to collect
Corner Cafe: Hi Sam, your order is ready for collection at the counter. Thank you!
Delivery PIN
Bloom Boutique: Your delivery PIN is 4829. Only give it to the driver once you have your parcel.
Missed delivery
Bloom Boutique: Sorry we missed you today. Reply 1 to redeliver tomorrow or 2 to collect from our depot.
Schools
Notices for parents. Start with the school's name, because bulk SMS usually arrives from a number.
Early closure
Hillview Primary: Due to the water outage, school closes at 11:00 today. Please collect your child from the main gate.
Fee reminder
Hillview Primary: A reminder that November school fees are due this Friday. Thank you to everyone who has paid.
Event notice
Hillview Primary: Parents' evening is on Wednesday at 18:00 in the hall. Report cards will be handed out.
Sports change
Hillview Primary: Saturday's netball match moves to 09:00. Players meet at the school at 08:15.
Absence alert
Hillview Primary: Lerato was marked absent today. Please call the office on 011 123 4567 if you didn't expect this.
Bus running late
Hillview Primary: The Bus 2 route is running about 20 minutes late this afternoon. Thank you for your patience.
Churches and community groups
Notices for members and volunteers. A donation request counts as marketing, so it ends with the opt-out line.
Service times
Grace Community Church: This Sunday's service starts at 09:30. Holy Communion will be served. Bring a friend!
Meeting moved
Grace Community Church: Prayer meeting moves to Wednesday at 18:30 this week, in the small hall. All welcome.
Volunteer roster
Hope Food Garden: You're on the roster for Saturday 08:00 to 11:00. Reply NO if you can't make it.
Community meeting
Ward 12 Forum: Community meeting about the water outages on Thursday at 18:00 at the community hall.
Donation request
Hope Food Garden: Our winter soup drive needs your help. Donate any amount by EFT, ref SOUP. Info: 012 123 4567. Reply STOP to opt out.
Event for members
Grace Community Church: Join us for the family fun day on Saturday from 10:00 at the church grounds. Everyone welcome!
Staff and teams
Quick messages to your own people, about shifts, meetings and changes.
Shift reminder
Main Street Butchery: Reminder, you're working Saturday 07:00 to 14:00. Reply NO if you can't make it.
Staff meeting
Coastal Homes: Staff meeting on Monday at 08:00 in the boardroom. Please bring your listing reports.
Change of hours
Main Street Pharmacy: The store opens at 10:00 tomorrow for the stocktake. Please arrive at 09:00.
Salaries paid
Main Street Butchery: Salaries have been paid. Please check your account and tell Thandi if anything is wrong.
Training
Lounge Hair Studio: Colour training is on Tuesday from 18:00 to 20:00 at the salon. Reply YES if you're coming.
Stay safe
Main Street Pharmacy: Roads near the store are flooded this morning. Only come in once it's safe, and reply OK when you arrive.
Security codes
One-time PINs and alerts. Put the code first and keep promotions out.
Login code
482913 is your Main Street Gym login code. It expires in 5 minutes. Never share it.
Order confirmation
Main Street Butchery: Use 7310 to confirm your R1,250.00 online order. Ignore this SMS if you didn't place it.
Password reset
551204 is your Main Street Gym password reset code. If you didn't ask for it, ignore this SMS.
New sign-in
Main Street Gym: A new phone signed in to your account at 14:32. If this wasn't you, call us on 021 123 4567.
Visitor code
Oak Court: Your visitor code for Saturday is 7720. Give it to the guard at the gate.
Account locked
Your Main Street Gym account was locked after 3 wrong passwords. Call 021 123 4567 to unlock it.
Questions
Can I use these templates for free?
Yes. Copy them, change them and use them in any SMS system.
Will my edited message still fit in one SMS?
If your details are a similar length, it should. Paste it into the SMS character counter to check before you send.
Why do some templates end with Reply STOP to opt out?
POPIA requires every marketing message to give people a way to opt out. Service messages, like reminders and order updates, don't need the line.