The welcome text is the one message nearly everyone reads. Someone just gave you their number, placed a first order or started a subscription, and they're waiting to see what you'll do with it. A good welcome confirms they're in the right place, delivers what you promised and gives them one useful next step. A bad one reads like a coupon blast from a stranger.
Below are 24 ready-to-use welcome texts, grouped by situation, with a character count for each and advice on when to send it. There are versions with and without a discount, so you can welcome people without training them to wait for a code.
How to use these templates: words in curly brackets, like {name} and {link}, are placeholders your texting tool fills in. Each count shows the length once they are filled in, and how many message segments that takes. Every template is plain text with no emoji, so one segment holds 160 characters.
The rules every welcome text follows
- Start with your store name: The customer may not have saved your number. "{store}:" at the start tells them who it is, and carriers expect it.
- Include opt-out wording: The first text after someone joins should say how to stop. Every template here that goes to a new text subscriber ends with "Reply STOP to opt out" or similar. The rest include it too, because a welcome is the start of a conversation.
- Deliver the promise right away: If the signup form offered 10% off, the code goes in the first text, not the third.
- One link, one action: Shop the best sellers, track the order or manage the subscription. Not all three.
- Text only people who opted in: A phone number from checkout isn't permission to market. See SMS opt-in language examples.
New text subscribers (signed up on your site)
Send these within a minute of signup. The first one doubles as the opt-in confirmation, so it carries the frequency and rates notice.
| When to send | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Right after a popup signup, with a discount | {store}: Welcome! Here's your 10% off code: {code}. Shop at {link}. Up to 6 msgs/mo. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. | 156 (1 segment) |
| Right after signup, no discount | {store}: Thanks for joining, {name}! You'll hear first about new drops and restocks. Up to 6 msgs/mo. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. | 152 (1 segment) |
| Right after signup, free shipping instead of a discount | {store}: Welcome! Free shipping on your first order with SHIPFREE: {link}. Up to 6 msgs/mo. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. | 160 (1 segment) |
| Day 2, if they haven't ordered | {store}: Not sure where to start? These are the 3 things new customers buy most: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 129 (1 segment) |
| Day 4, code reminder | {store}: Hi {name}, your 10% off code {code} is still waiting. It works on everything: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 135 (1 segment) |
| Day 6, last reminder before the code expires | {store}: Last day to use {code} for 10% off. After tonight it's gone: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 121 (1 segment) |
Keyword and in-store signups
People who text a keyword or sign up at a counter expect an instant answer. Send these as automatic replies to the keyword.
| When to send | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Reply to a keyword such as GREENS | {store}: You're in! Here's 10% off your first order: {code} at {link}. Up to 6 msgs/mo. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. | 159 (1 segment) |
| After an in-store signup | {store}: Thanks for signing up in our shop, {name}! We'll text about new arrivals. Up to 4 msgs/mo. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. | 150 (1 segment) |
| After a package insert QR code | {store}: Thanks for scanning! Get the most from your order: {link}. Up to 6 msgs/mo. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. | 153 (1 segment) |
First order
These go to customers who ordered and opted in to texts. They welcome the customer and keep the first order on track. Send the first one a few minutes after checkout, after the order confirmation email.
| When to send | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes after the first order | {store}: Thanks for your first order, {name}! Order {order} is confirmed. We'll text you when it ships. Reply STOP to opt out. | 124 (1 segment) |
| Minutes after, with a personal touch | {store}: Hi {name}, this is the team at {store}. Thanks for trying us. Questions about your order? Just reply here. Reply STOP to opt out. | 141 (1 segment) |
| The day it arrives | {store}: Your {product} should be with you today. Here's a 1-minute guide to getting started: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 145 (1 segment) |
| 5 to 7 days after delivery | {store}: How are you liking your {product}, {name}? Reply with any questions. We read every text. Reply STOP to opt out. | 123 (1 segment) |
| 2 to 3 weeks after delivery, second-order nudge | {store}: Ready for round two? Customers who loved {product} also pick these: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 128 (1 segment) |
New subscribers
A new subscriber has made a bigger commitment, and their first question is usually "how do I change this?" Answer it before they ask. They pair well with one-click skip and swap links, which work in texts as well as emails.
| When to send | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Right after the subscription starts | {store}: Welcome to your {product} subscription, {name}! Your first order ships soon. Reply here any time to skip or change it. Reply STOP to opt out. | 153 (1 segment) |
| Right after, with portal link | {store}: You're subscribed! Manage deliveries, swap flavors or skip anytime at {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 127 (1 segment) |
| 3 days before the second order | {store}: Your next {product} ships {date}. Need it sooner, later or different? Reply here and we'll change it. Reply STOP to opt out. | 139 (1 segment) |
| After the second order ships | {store}: Order 2 is on its way! Thanks for sticking with us, {name}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 91 (1 segment) |
Loyalty and VIP welcomes
| When to send | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| When they join your rewards program | {store}: Welcome to Brightleaf Rewards, {name}! You have {points} points to start. See what they get you: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 146 (1 segment) |
| When they reach VIP | {store}: You made VIP, {name}! Early access to drops and free shipping on every order from now on. Reply STOP to opt out. | 121 (1 segment) |
Returning customers and win-backs
For customers who already opted in and haven't ordered in a while, or who canceled and came back. Keep them short and warm.
| When to send | Template | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| When a past customer orders again | {store}: Welcome back, {name}! Good to see you again. Order {order} is confirmed. Reply STOP to opt out. | 102 (1 segment) |
| When a subscriber reactivates | {store}: Your {product} subscription is back on, {name}. First delivery ships {date}. Reply here to change anything. Reply STOP to opt out. | 142 (1 segment) |
| 60 to 90 days with no order | {store}: Hi {name}, it's been a while. Here's 15% off if you'd like to come back: {code} at {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 140 (1 segment) |
| 60 to 90 days, no discount | {store}: New since your last visit: 3 new flavors and our best seller is back in stock. Take a look: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. | 149 (1 segment) |
Discount or no discount?
A welcome discount gets more first orders, but it also teaches some customers to wait for codes. A few ways to decide:
- Offer what the form promised: If the popup said 10% off, send 10% off. Changing the offer after signup breaks trust.
- Try value instead of price: Free shipping, a free sample or early access often work as well as a percentage and cost less.
- Test it: Send half of new subscribers the discount version and half the no-discount version for a month, then compare first-order rates and second-order rates, not just the first.
- Don't repeat it: One welcome code per customer. Later offers should reward something, like a second order or a referral.
When to send each one
| Moment | Timing | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Signup confirmation | Within a minute | They're still on your site and expect the code |
| Code reminders | Day 2 to day 6, two at most | Soon enough that the offer is fresh; more than two feels pushy |
| First order thanks | A few minutes after checkout | After the confirmation email, so the text isn't a duplicate |
| Delivery day | Morning of the expected delivery | Helps them use the product right away |
| Check-in | 5 to 7 days after delivery | Long enough to try it, soon enough to fix a problem |
| Subscriber reminder | 3 days before the next order | Time to skip or swap before the charge |
Send during the day in the customer's own time zone, and respect quiet hours. Federal rules limit telemarketing to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time, and some states, such as Florida and Oklahoma, are stricter. A signup at 11 p.m. can get its confirmation right away, because the customer just asked for it; a day-2 reminder should wait for morning.
Keep them inside one segment
- Most of these templates fit in 160 characters with a short store name and a link on your own domain.
- A long store name, a long product name or a long link can push a text into two segments. Check the count after placeholders are filled.
- One emoji drops the limit to 70 characters per segment. If you love emoji, budget for it.
- Skip "Hi there!" openers. Your store name and the customer's first name do the same job in fewer characters.
Send welcome texts automatically with Chargezen
- Welcome automations: SmartyTap automations send welcome, thank-you and win-back messages by text and email, started by a signup, a purchase or a date.
- Signup forms that collect permission: Popups and page forms save permission and where it came from to the customer record.
- Checks before every text: SmartyTap texts check opt-ins, opt-outs, quiet hours and preferences before each one goes out. Campaign texts to US numbers can add your store name and "Reply STOP to opt out" for you.
- Replies answered: When a new customer replies with a question, Concierge answers by text and can change their order or subscription. See text messages.
SmartyTap Starter is $20 a month with 250 SMS credits; Pro is $199 a month with 2,500. See pricing.
Glossary: SMS flow, SMS opt-in, SMS segment and SMS list growth. More templates: shipping update texts, review request texts and subscription reminder texts.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I send a welcome text?
Within a minute of signup. The customer is still on your site, and the confirmation is also the record that they opted in.
How many welcome texts should I send?
For new text subscribers who haven't ordered, three is plenty: the welcome and up to two reminders in the first week. After that, move them to your regular campaigns.
Do I need "Reply STOP to opt out" in every text?
The first text after someone opts in should include it, and including it in automated marketing texts is the safe habit carriers expect. In a back-and-forth conversation the customer started, you don't need it in every reply.
Should welcome texts come from a person or the brand?
Either works. A text that sounds like a person ("this is the team at...") gets more replies, so only use that tone if someone, or an agent, will answer them.
