SMS Marketing Prompts: Copy and Paste Templates That Generate Results

Most marketers waste hours getting mediocre results from AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. You type "write an SMS campaign for my dental practice," get generic garbage that sounds robotic, revise it three times, and end up writing the message yourself anyway. The problem isn't the AI. It's your prompts.

Good SMS marketing prompts tell the AI exactly what you need: your business type, target audience, campaign goal, brand voice, and any specific constraints like character limits or compliance requirements. The difference between "write me an SMS" and a properly structured prompt is the difference between wasting 30 minutes and getting usable copy in 60 seconds.

This article gives you copy-and-paste prompt templates for every common SMS marketing scenario service businesses face. We'll show you exactly what to ask AI tools to generate appointment reminders, promotional campaigns, follow-up sequences, and customer service messages that actually sound like your business. These prompts work with ChatGPT, Claude, or any other AI text tool you're using.

Why most SMS marketing prompts produce terrible results

The typical approach to using AI for SMS marketing fails predictably. You open ChatGPT, type "write an SMS about spring AC maintenance," and get something like: "Hello valued customer! Spring is here! Time to schedule your AC maintenance to ensure optimal performance and efficiency! Reply YES to book your appointment today!"

Nobody texts like that. It's too enthusiastic, too wordy, and sounds exactly like what it is: AI-generated marketing copy. Your customers ignore it because it doesn't sound human, doesn't match your brand voice, and doesn't give them a compelling reason to respond.

Here's what's missing from basic prompts:

Context about your business: AI doesn't know if you're a luxury spa or a budget plumbing service. Without that context, it can't match the appropriate tone and positioning.

Specific campaign goals: "Write an SMS" is too vague. Are you trying to book appointments, get quote requests, confirm existing appointments, or win back churned customers? Different goals need different approaches.

Character count constraints: SMS has hard limits. If you don't specify, AI will write messages that are too long and get truncated or cost you multiple message segments.

Brand voice guidelines: Your business might be professional and formal, casual and friendly, or somewhere in between. AI needs to know which approach matches your brand.

Customer segment details: First-time customers need different messaging than loyal repeat customers. New leads need different approaches than people who've already requested quotes.

A plumbing company spent two weeks trying to use ChatGPT for their SMS campaigns. Every message came out sounding generic and corporate. They almost gave up on AI entirely. Then they started using detailed prompts that included their brand voice (straightforward, no-nonsense, focused on reliability), target audience specifics, and exact character limits. The quality improved instantly, and they cut message writing time by 75%.

The solution isn't better AI tools. It's better prompts that tell AI exactly what you need.

The framework for effective SMS marketing prompts

Every effective SMS marketing prompt needs six core elements. Skip any of these and you'll get generic results that need heavy editing. Include all six and you'll get usable messages that need only minor tweaking.

Element 1: Business type and positioning Tell the AI what kind of business you are and how you position yourself in the market. "I run a mid-range HVAC company focused on reliability and fast service" gives completely different results than "I run a premium HVAC company emphasizing energy efficiency and advanced technology."

Element 2: Target audience specifics Who exactly are you texting? "Residential homeowners who had AC service last spring" produces different messaging than "property managers responsible for multiple commercial buildings." The more specific you are about your audience, the more relevant the message becomes.

Element 3: Campaign goal and desired action What do you want the recipient to do? Book an appointment, request a quote, confirm an existing appointment, provide feedback, or something else? State the goal clearly so AI structures the message appropriately.

Element 4: Brand voice and tone Describe how your business communicates. Professional but approachable? Casual and friendly? Straightforward and no-nonsense? Give AI 2-3 adjectives that describe your communication style.

Element 5: Key details and constraints Include any specific information that must be in the message: pricing, time limits, special offers, compliance requirements. Also specify character count limits (most SMS campaigns should stay under 160 characters to avoid multiple segments).

Element 6: What to avoid Tell AI what not to include. "No exclamation points, no emojis, no overly enthusiastic language" helps AI avoid common pitfalls that make messages sound robotic.

Here's how these elements work together in a complete prompt:

"I run a mid-range dental practice in a suburban area. Write an appointment reminder SMS for existing patients who have routine cleanings scheduled. Goal: Reduce no-shows by getting patients to confirm or reschedule if needed. Brand voice: Friendly but professional, helpful, not pushy. Keep it under 140 characters. Include the appointment time and an easy way to confirm. Avoid: Exclamation points, emojis, overly enthusiastic language."

That prompt produces dramatically better results than "write a dental appointment reminder" because it gives AI the context needed to create something useful.

Appointment reminder prompts for service businesses

Appointment reminders are the highest-volume SMS most service businesses send. Getting them right matters because they directly impact no-show rates and scheduling efficiency. Here are proven prompt templates for different appointment reminder scenarios.

Basic appointment confirmation prompt:

"I run a [business type] serving [customer type]. Write an appointment reminder text for tomorrow's appointment. Include: specific appointment time, customer's service type, simple confirmation method. Brand voice: [your voice description]. Keep it under 140 characters. Avoid exclamation points and emojis. Make it sound human and straightforward."

Example for dental practice: "I run a family dental practice in a suburban area. Write an appointment reminder text for tomorrow's appointment. Include: specific appointment time (2pm), routine cleaning, simple confirmation method. Brand voice: friendly, professional, helpful. Keep it under 140 characters. Avoid exclamation points and emojis. Make it sound human and straightforward."

AI output: "Your dental cleaning is tomorrow at 2pm. Reply YES to confirm or call if you need to reschedule. See you soon."

Same-day appointment reminder prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write a same-day appointment reminder for an appointment happening in [timeframe]. Include: timing urgency, service type, location/arrival instructions if needed. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters. Create a sense of urgency without being pushy."

Example for chiropractic practice: "I run a chiropractic practice. Write a same-day appointment reminder for an appointment happening in 3 hours. Include: timing (2pm today), adjustment appointment, parking reminder. Brand voice: calm, professional, health-focused. Keep it under 160 characters. Create a sense of urgency without being pushy."

AI output: "Reminder: Your chiropractic adjustment is today at 2pm. Free parking available in back lot. Text us if you're running late."

First appointment reminder prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write an appointment reminder for a first-time customer. Include: what to expect, what to bring, arrival timing. Goal: Reduce first-time no-shows by making new customers comfortable. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 280 characters across two messages if needed."

Example for HVAC company: "I run an HVAC company. Write an appointment reminder for a first-time customer scheduled for AC repair estimate. Include: what to expect (free estimate, 30-45 minutes), what we need (access to equipment), arrival window (2-4pm tomorrow). Goal: Reduce first-time no-shows by making new customers comfortable. Brand voice: professional, reassuring, straightforward. Keep it under 280 characters across two messages if needed."

AI output: "Your free AC estimate is tomorrow between 2-4pm. The visit takes 30-45 minutes. We'll need access to your indoor and outdoor units. Our tech will text 30 minutes before arrival. Questions? Call us anytime."

High-value appointment reminder prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write an appointment reminder for a [high-value service] appointment worth $[amount]. Include: service details, what's included, time commitment needed. Goal: Emphasize value and reduce no-shows on expensive appointments. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters for initial reminder."

Example for dental practice: "I run a dental practice. Write an appointment reminder for a dental implant consultation worth $300+. Include: consultation purpose (treatment planning), time needed (90 minutes), what's included (3D imaging, detailed plan). Goal: Emphasize value and reduce no-shows on expensive appointments. Brand voice: professional, detailed, confidence-building. Keep it under 160 characters for initial reminder."

AI output: "Your implant consultation is tomorrow at 10am. Plan for 90 minutes. We'll do 3D imaging and create your detailed treatment plan. Reply to confirm."

A pest control company used these appointment reminder prompts to revamp their entire SMS system. They created specific reminders for routine quarterly service, initial treatments, and emergency calls. Their no-show rate dropped from 14% to 6% within two months because customers received clear, relevant reminders appropriate to their specific appointment type.

Promotional campaign prompts that drive bookings

Promotional campaigns need different approaches than transactional messages like appointment reminders. You're trying to create interest and drive action from customers who aren't already scheduled. These prompts help you generate promotional SMS that converts.

Seasonal service promotion prompt:

"I run a [business type] in [location/climate]. Write a promotional SMS for [seasonal service] targeting existing customers. Include: specific offer, deadline, easy booking method. Emphasize: [primary benefit]. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 140 characters. Make the value clear immediately."

Example for HVAC company: "I run an HVAC company in Texas. Write a promotional SMS for spring AC tune-up targeting existing customers. Include: $79 service price (normally $129), expires this Friday, text YES to book. Emphasize: avoiding summer breakdowns and expensive emergency repairs. Brand voice: practical, benefit-focused, straightforward. Keep it under 140 characters. Make the value clear immediately."

AI output: "Spring AC tune-up: $79 (save $50). Avoid summer breakdowns and emergency repair bills. Expires Friday. Text YES to schedule yours."

Time-sensitive offer prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write an urgent promotional SMS about [limited availability/time-sensitive offer]. Include: what's limited, deadline, immediate action needed. Goal: Fill [specific gaps/availability]. Brand voice: [your voice]. Create urgency without sounding pushy or desperate. Keep it under 140 characters."

Example for dental practice: "I run a dental practice. Write an urgent promotional SMS about unexpected openings this week due to cancellations. Include: this week only, cleaning appointments, normal 2-week wait, immediate booking needed. Goal: Fill 8 unexpected openings. Brand voice: helpful, opportunity-focused, professional. Create urgency without sounding pushy or desperate. Keep it under 140 characters."

AI output: "Unexpected openings this week for cleanings (normally 2-week wait). Text YES with your preferred day and we'll get you in."

New service launch prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write a promotional SMS announcing [new service] to existing customers. Include: what's new, why it matters to them, special launch offer. Goal: Generate interest and bookings for new service line. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters. Focus on customer benefit, not just what's new."

Example for plumbing company: "I run a plumbing company. Write a promotional SMS announcing video pipe inspections to existing customers who've had drain issues before. Include: new camera technology, find problems before they become emergencies, $99 inspection special. Goal: Generate interest and bookings for new service line. Brand voice: practical, problem-solving focused, straightforward. Keep it under 160 characters. Focus on customer benefit, not just what's new."

AI output: "New: Video pipe inspections. See exactly what's happening in your drains before small clogs become expensive emergencies. $99 inspection special. Reply for details."

Win-back campaign prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write a win-back SMS for customers who haven't used our service in [timeframe]. Include: acknowledge the gap, special offer, easy return path. Goal: Re-engage lapsed customers without sounding desperate. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters. Make them feel welcomed back, not guilty for leaving."

Example for cleaning service: "I run a cleaning service. Write a win-back SMS for customers who haven't booked in 6+ months. Include: we miss working with them, special returning customer rate (20% off first cleaning back), easy scheduling. Goal: Re-engage lapsed customers without sounding desperate. Brand voice: friendly, welcoming, no-pressure. Keep it under 160 characters. Make them feel welcomed back, not guilty for leaving."

AI output: "We'd love to help with your home again. Returning customer special: 20% off your first cleaning. Text YES if you're ready to get back on schedule."

A hotel used these promotional prompts to create targeted campaigns for different guest segments. Business traveler promotions emphasized WiFi and workspace. Family campaigns focused on pool and activities. Weekend visitors received special package deals. Their SMS campaign conversion rates jumped from 2.1% to 7.8% by using segment-specific prompts instead of generic promotional messaging.

Follow-up and engagement prompts

Follow-up messages keep customers engaged between appointments and help convert prospects who haven't booked yet. These prompts generate follow-up sequences that feel helpful rather than pushy.

Post-service satisfaction prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write a post-service follow-up text sent [timeframe] after [service completed]. Goals: Check satisfaction, identify any issues, encourage reviews for happy customers. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 140 characters. Make it feel like genuine care, not a review grab."

Example for HVAC company: "I run an HVAC company. Write a post-service follow-up text sent 24 hours after AC repair completion. Goals: Check if everything is working well, identify any issues early, encourage reviews for happy customers. Brand voice: straightforward, service-focused, genuinely helpful. Keep it under 140 characters. Make it feel like genuine care, not a review grab."

AI output: "How's your AC running after yesterday's repair? Any issues at all, text us immediately. If everything's great, we'd appreciate a quick review."

Quote follow-up prompt (first touch):

"I run a [business type]. Write a follow-up text to someone who requested a quote [timeframe] ago but hasn't booked. This is the first follow-up. Goals: Check if they have questions, offer to explain the quote, make booking easy. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters. Be helpful, not pushy."

Example for plumbing company: "I run a plumbing company. Write a follow-up text to someone who received a drain cleaning quote 2 days ago but hasn't booked. This is the first follow-up. Goals: Check if they have questions about the pricing or process, offer to explain, make booking easy. Brand voice: professional, helpful, patient. Keep it under 160 characters. Be helpful, not pushy."

AI output: "Following up on your drain cleaning quote from Wednesday. Any questions about the pricing or what's included? We can start as soon as tomorrow. Text or call anytime."

Quote follow-up prompt (second touch):

"I run a [business type]. Write a second follow-up to someone who got a quote [timeframe] ago and hasn't responded to first follow-up. Include: social proof or reassurance, easy booking method, acknowledgment that they might be busy. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters. Stay professional, don't sound desperate."

Example for pest control company: "I run a pest control company. Write a second follow-up to someone who got a quarterly service quote 5 days ago and hasn't responded to first follow-up. Include: mention we serve 3,000+ local homes, easy booking, acknowledgment that they might be deciding. Brand voice: confident, patient, service-focused. Keep it under 160 characters. Stay professional, don't sound desperate."

AI output: "Still thinking about quarterly pest control? We protect 3,000+ homes in the area. Text YES whenever you're ready to start, or call with questions."

Seasonal reminder prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write a seasonal reminder to existing customers about [seasonal service need]. Include: why this timing matters, what happens if they wait, easy scheduling. Goal: Proactive service scheduling before problems occur. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 160 characters. Be informative without fear-mongering."

Example for HVAC company: "I run an HVAC company. Write a seasonal reminder to existing customers about fall furnace maintenance before winter. Include: why pre-season service matters (reliability during cold weather), what happens if they wait (potential breakdown in winter), easy scheduling. Goal: Proactive service scheduling before problems occur. Brand voice: practical, planning-focused, straightforward. Keep it under 160 characters. Be informative without fear-mongering."

AI output: "Time for fall furnace maintenance before winter hits. Pre-season service prevents middle-of-winter breakdowns. Text YES to get on the schedule."

Educational content prompt:

"I run a [business type]. Write an educational SMS that provides value to customers about [topic] without directly selling. Include: helpful tip or insight, practical action they can take, subtle mention that we can help if needed. Brand voice: [your voice]. Keep it under 200 characters. Focus 80% on value, 20% on availability."

Example for dental practice: "I run a dental practice. Write an educational SMS about gum health that provides value without directly selling. Include: one specific sign to watch for (bleeding when flossing), what it means, that we can check during their next visit. Brand voice: informative, health-focused, caring. Keep it under 200 characters. Focus 80% on value, 20% on availability."

AI output: "Quick dental tip: Bleeding when you floss isn't normal. It's often early gum disease, which is reversible if caught soon. We'll check your gums at your next cleaning. Need to schedule? Text YES."

An accounting firm used follow-up prompts to re-engage clients who requested tax planning consultations but never scheduled. Their first follow-up offered to answer questions. Second follow-up included a deadline reminder for optimal tax planning timing. Third follow-up mentioned limited availability. The systematic approach converted 31% of initial non-responders compared to 8% with their old random follow-up approach.

Industry-specific prompt templates

Different industries need different messaging approaches. These templates are customized for Sakari's key verticals with specific language and focuses that work for each industry.

Home services prompts (HVAC, plumbing, pest control):

"I run a [specific home service business] serving [residential/commercial/both]. Write an SMS about [service need] targeting [customer type]. Emphasize: [reliability/emergency availability/preventive value]. Include: [specific offer or timing], [clear call-to-action]. Brand voice: Practical, trustworthy, no-nonsense. Keep it under 140 characters. Avoid hype, focus on solving their problem."

Example output for plumbing: "Drain backing up? We can be there in 2 hours. $99 service call includes diagnosis and minor fixes. Text your address to get started."

Healthcare prompts (dental, chiropractic, medical):

"I run a [healthcare practice type] in [area]. Write an SMS about [appointment type/health topic] for [patient segment]. Emphasize: [health benefit/preventive care/patient comfort]. Include: [specific timing or offer], [easy response method]. Brand voice: Professional, caring, health-focused. Keep it under 160 characters. Avoid sales language, focus on health outcomes and patient care."

Example output for dental: "Regular cleanings prevent serious problems like gum disease and tooth decay. It's been 7 months since your last visit. Text YES to schedule your next cleaning."

Hospitality prompts (hotels, restaurants):

"I run a [hotel/restaurant/venue] in [location]. Write an SMS about [booking opportunity/experience] targeting [guest type]. Emphasize: [experience quality/convenience/special occasion value]. Include: [specific offer or availability], [booking method]. Brand voice: [Welcoming, experience-focused, hospitality-minded]. Keep it under 160 characters. Focus on the experience, not just the transaction."

Example output for hotel: "Weekend escape special: Deluxe rooms 30% off Friday-Sunday stays. Pool, spa, farm-to-table restaurant. Text YES for availability this month."

Professional services prompts (accounting, law, consulting):

"I run a [professional service] firm serving [client type]. Write an SMS about [service/deadline/opportunity] for [specific client segment]. Emphasize: [expertise/results/timing importance]. Include: [specific offer or deadline], [consultation/meeting invitation]. Brand voice: Professional, results-focused, consultative. Keep it under 160 characters. Sound like a trusted advisor, not a salesperson."

Example output for accounting: "Tax planning deadline: Schedule your Q4 review by Nov 30 to maximize 2025 deductions. 30-minute strategy call available this week. Text YES to book."

B2B services prompts:

"I run a [B2B service] company serving [industry/company type]. Write an SMS about [solution/offer] targeting [decision-maker role]. Emphasize: [ROI/efficiency/competitive advantage]. Include: [specific value proposition], [next step for qualified prospects]. Brand voice: Professional, ROI-focused, consultative. Keep it under 160 characters. Focus on business impact, not features."

Example output for B2B software: "See how we helped similar logistics companies cut delivery costs 18%. 15-minute demo shows ROI calculator and implementation timeline. Text YES for this week."

A cleaning service company used industry-specific prompts to create different campaigns for residential versus commercial clients. Residential campaigns emphasized home comfort and trustworthiness. Commercial campaigns focused on reliability, scheduling flexibility, and professional results. The targeted approach increased campaign response rates by 42% compared to their previous one-size-fits-all messaging.

Refining prompts for better results (the iterative approach)

The first AI-generated message is rarely perfect. The key to consistently good results is knowing how to refine your prompts based on what AI produces. Here's the systematic approach that works.

Step 1: Generate three variations at once

Instead of asking for one message, ask for three variations in your initial prompt:

"[Your full prompt]. Generate 3 different versions: one focused on value/savings, one focused on convenience/ease, and one focused on problem-solving/prevention."

This gives you options to compare and helps you see which angle works best for your needs. A dental practice discovered their patients responded better to problem-prevention messaging than convenience messaging by testing variations generated from one prompt.

Step 2: Specify what you didn't like

When AI produces something that's close but not quite right, tell it specifically what to change:

"That's close, but too formal. Make it more conversational, like talking to a neighbor. Also remove the phrase 'valued customer' and make the call-to-action more direct."

Step 3: Provide an example of your best work

If AI isn't matching your voice, show it an example:

"Here's an SMS we sent that got great results: [your example]. Write 3 new messages for [new campaign] using a similar tone and style."

Step 4: Test different lengths

Try the same prompt with different character limits:

"Write this in three versions: ultra-short (under 100 characters), standard (under 140 characters), and detailed (under 200 characters). I'll test which length performs best."

Step 5: Add constraints you discovered

As you learn what doesn't work, add those constraints to future prompts:

"Avoid these words/phrases that haven't worked for us: amazing, incredible, limited time only, act now, don't miss out. Also avoid exclamation points."

Step 6: Ask for specific improvements

When a message is 80% there, request targeted refinements:

"This is good but needs work on: 1) Make the value clearer upfront, 2) Add specific pricing, 3) Make the call-to-action easier (just text YES instead of replying with times)."

An HVAC company used this iterative approach to develop their seasonal maintenance campaign. First attempt was too corporate. They asked for more conversational language. Second version was better but too long. They requested a 120-character version. Third version had good length and tone but unclear value. They specified the exact benefits to emphasize. Final version performed 34% better than their previous year's campaign.

The key is treating AI as a collaborative tool, not a magic button. You provide direction, AI provides options, you refine based on results. After 5-10 rounds of this with different campaigns, you'll develop prompt templates that consistently produce good results for your specific business.

Common mistakes that make prompts fail

Even experienced marketers make these prompt mistakes that waste time and produce poor results. Avoid these and you'll get better AI-generated content faster.

Mistake 1: Being too vague about business positioning

Bad prompt: "Write an SMS for my dental practice about cleanings."

Why it fails: AI doesn't know if you're a luxury cosmetic practice, a family dentist, or a budget clinic. The positioning completely changes the appropriate messaging.

Fix: "Write an SMS for my mid-range family dental practice about routine cleanings for existing patients. We emphasize preventive care and family-friendly service."

Mistake 2: Not specifying the customer segment

Bad prompt: "Write a promotional text about pest control."

Why it fails: First-time prospects need different messaging than existing customers. Residential versus commercial customers need different approaches. Geographic location matters for seasonal pests.

Fix: "Write a promotional text about quarterly pest control for residential homeowners in Florida who had service from us last year. Focus on preventing summer pests."

Mistake 3: Forgetting character count limits

Bad prompt: "Write an appointment reminder for tomorrow."

Why it fails: AI often produces messages that are too long, requiring multiple SMS segments and increasing costs. Without guidance, you get 250-character messages when you need 140.

Fix: "Write an appointment reminder for tomorrow. Keep it under 140 characters. Include time, service type, and confirmation method."

Mistake 4: No brand voice guidance

Bad prompt: "Write a follow-up to someone who requested a quote."

Why it fails: AI defaults to generic corporate-speak that doesn't match your actual business personality. The result sounds nothing like how you'd actually communicate.

Fix: "Write a follow-up to someone who requested a quote. Brand voice: friendly, straightforward, no-nonsense. Sound like a helpful neighbor, not a corporation."

Mistake 5: Unclear call-to-action

Bad prompt: "Write a promotional SMS about our spring special."

Why it fails: AI doesn't know what action you want. Do they book immediately, request a quote, call for information, or just reply YES? Unclear actions produce unclear messages.

Fix: "Write a promotional SMS about our spring special. Call-to-action: Text YES to book an appointment. Make booking sound easy and immediate."

Mistake 6: Not testing multiple approaches

Bad prompt: "Write an SMS about AC maintenance."

Why it fails: You get one message with one angle. You don't know if a value-focused message would outperform a convenience-focused message or a problem-prevention message.

Fix: "Write 3 SMS messages about AC maintenance, each emphasizing a different angle: 1) Cost savings and efficiency, 2) Preventing expensive breakdowns, 3) Convenience and speed. All under 140 characters."

Mistake 7: Expecting perfection on the first try

Bad approach: Generate one message, decide it's not good enough, give up on AI entirely.

Why it fails: AI generates starting points, not finished products. The first output gives you something to refine, not necessarily use as-is.

Fix: Generate options, provide feedback on what to change, iterate 2-3 times. This still saves massive time compared to writing from scratch.

A plumbing company made all these mistakes when they first tried using AI for SMS campaigns. They'd type vague prompts like "write a text about drain cleaning," get generic results, get frustrated, and rewrite manually. After learning to write detailed prompts with business context, customer segments, character limits, and brand voice, their AI-generated messages needed only minor tweaking and saved them 12+ hours weekly.

Setting up your prompt library for consistent results

The real efficiency comes from building a library of proven prompts you can reuse. Instead of starting from scratch each time, you copy a template that already works and adjust the details. Here's how to build your prompt library systematically.

Step 1: Create category folders

Organize prompts by message type:

• Appointment reminders (new patients, existing patients, same-day, confirmations)
• Promotional campaigns (seasonal, new service, special offers, urgency-based)
• Follow-ups (quote follow-ups, post-service, re-engagement, satisfaction checks)
• Customer service (running late, scheduling changes, service updates)
• Seasonal campaigns (specific to your industry's busy seasons)

Step 2: Document what works

For each successful campaign, save:

• The exact prompt you used
• The AI-generated message (or your refined version)
• Performance metrics (open rate, response rate, conversion rate)
• Notes on what made it work

Step 3: Create fill-in-the-blank templates

Convert successful prompts into templates with bracketed placeholders:

"I run a [BUSINESS TYPE] in [LOCATION]. Write [MESSAGE TYPE] for [TARGET AUDIENCE] about [SERVICE/TOPIC]. Include: [SPECIFIC DETAILS]. Emphasize: [KEY BENEFIT]. Brand voice: [VOICE DESCRIPTION]. Keep it under [CHARACTER COUNT]. [SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS]."

Step 4: Note seasonal variations

Many service businesses have seasonal patterns. Document which prompts work best for different times of year:

• Spring: HVAC cooling preparation, pest control prevention, outdoor services
• Summer: Emergency service availability, vacation/travel services, heat-related needs
• Fall: Heating preparation, seasonal maintenance, winter prep services
• Winter: Emergency service, indoor services, planning for spring

Step 5: Tag prompts by performance

Mark your prompts with simple performance indicators:

• "High performer" for prompts that consistently produce messages with above-average response rates
• "Needs work" for prompts that require lots of revision
• "Seasonal" for time-specific campaigns
• "Industry-specific" for prompts that only work in certain contexts

Step 6: Share across your team

If multiple people create SMS campaigns, maintain a shared prompt library so everyone benefits from proven templates. Include notes on when to use each prompt and examples of successful messages generated from them.

A pest control company built a comprehensive prompt library over three months. They created templates for:

• Initial service promotions (new customers)
• Quarterly service reminders (existing customers)
• Emergency service availability
• Seasonal pest warnings (specific pests by season)
• Re-engagement campaigns (lapsed customers)
• Post-service satisfaction checks
• Referral requests

Their marketing team went from spending 8-10 hours weekly on SMS copywriting to spending 2-3 hours selecting and customizing templates. More importantly, message quality became consistent because they were using proven prompt templates instead of starting fresh each time.

Getting started: Your first five prompts to implement today

Stop reading and start doing. Here are five copy-and-paste prompts you can use right now to generate SMS campaigns for common service business scenarios. Customize the bracketed sections for your business.

Prompt 1: Basic appointment reminder

"I run a [your business type] serving [your customer type]. Write an appointment reminder text for tomorrow's appointment at [time]. Include: service type [what they're getting], simple confirmation method (reply YES), and helpful tone. Brand voice: [professional/friendly/straightforward - pick one]. Keep it under 140 characters. No exclamation points or emojis. Make it sound human."

Prompt 2: Seasonal promotional campaign

"I run a [your business type] in [your location]. Write a promotional SMS for [seasonal service] targeting existing customers who used this service before. Include: specific offer [$amount or discount], deadline [date/timeframe], text YES to book. Emphasize: [main benefit they care about]. Brand voice: [your style]. Keep it under 140 characters. Make the value immediately clear."

Prompt 3: First quote follow-up

"I run a [your business type]. Write a friendly follow-up text to someone who received a service quote [2-3] days ago but hasn't responded. Goals: Check if they have questions, offer to clarify anything, make booking easy. Brand voice: helpful and patient, not pushy. Keep it under 160 characters. Sound like a real person checking in, not an automated marketing message."

Prompt 4: Post-service satisfaction check

"I run a [your business type]. Write a text to send [24-48] hours after completing [service type]. Goals: Check if customer is satisfied, catch any issues early, request review if they're happy. Brand voice: genuinely helpful, service-focused. Keep it under 140 characters. This should feel like you truly care about their satisfaction, not just fishing for reviews."

Prompt 5: Last-minute availability

"I run a [your business type]. Write an SMS about unexpected availability [today/this week/specific timeframe] for [service type]. Include: limited spots, specific availability, easy booking (text YES). Create urgency but don't sound desperate. Brand voice: [your style]. Keep it under 140 characters. Make this feel like an opportunity they're lucky to have, not something you're desperate to fill."

Use these five prompts this week. Generate messages, refine them based on your specific needs, send them, and track the results. You'll quickly see which prompts produce messages that work for your business and which need adjustment.

Once you've tested these basics, expand to more sophisticated campaigns using the frameworks and templates throughout this article. Most service businesses find that 10-15 well-crafted prompts cover 80% of their SMS marketing needs.

Using AI message composition tools versus manual prompts

You can write prompts in ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI tool and copy the results into your SMS platform. That works fine and costs nothing beyond your AI subscription. But dedicated AI message composition tools built for SMS marketing offer advantages worth considering.

Sakari AI text composer integrates AI message generation directly into your SMS platform. Instead of bouncing between ChatGPT and your texting system, you generate messages right where you need them. The AI understands SMS-specific constraints like character limits and can pull customer data from your system to personalize messages automatically.

The workflow difference is significant. Manual approach: open ChatGPT, write prompt, copy result, paste into SMS platform, check character count, adjust if needed, repeat for variations. Integrated approach: click AI generate button, review options, select best version, send. You're saving 5-10 steps per campaign.

Sakari's AI composer also learns from your message performance over time. It sees which messages get better response rates and adjusts future suggestions accordingly. Manual AI tools don't have access to your campaign results, so they can't improve based on what actually works for your customers.

The tradeoff is cost and flexibility. Manual prompts in ChatGPT or Claude let you work with any AI model and adjust your approach easily. You pay nothing beyond your AI subscription. Integrated tools like Sakari AI cost more but save time and learn from your specific results.

For most service businesses, the right approach is both. Use manual prompts to develop and test new message approaches. Once you find what works, implement those proven templates in your SMS platform with AI assistance for faster execution. This combines the creative flexibility of manual prompting with the efficiency of integrated tools.

A dental practice uses this hybrid approach. They experiment with new campaign ideas in ChatGPT using detailed prompts. Once they identify a winning message approach through testing, they add it to their Sakari SMS campaigns where AI helps generate variations quickly for different patient segments. This gives them creative control and operational efficiency.

Next steps: Building your prompt writing skills

You now have prompt templates for most common SMS marketing scenarios. The next step is developing your skill at writing prompts that produce exactly what your business needs. Here's your 30-day development plan.

Week 1: Master the basics

• Use the five starter prompts provided earlier
• Generate messages for this week's campaigns
• Track what edits you need to make to AI output
• Note which prompts produce best first-draft quality

Week 2: Refine your voice

• Add detailed brand voice descriptions to your prompts
• Test 3-5 voice descriptions to see which produces messages that sound most like your business
• Create a standard voice description to use in all future prompts
• Save examples of AI-generated messages that perfectly match your voice

Week 3: Expand your library

• Create prompts for 3-5 new message types you haven't tried yet
• Generate multiple variations and A/B test them
• Document which prompts produce messages with best performance
• Start building your reusable prompt template library

Week 4: Optimize and systematize

• Review your best-performing messages from the month
• Identify common elements in prompts that produced them
• Create fill-in-the-blank templates for your most frequent campaigns
• Train other team members on using your prompt library

By the end of 30 days, you should have a working prompt library that covers most of your SMS marketing needs and a systematic approach to creating new prompts when needed.

The key metric: time savings. Most service businesses cut SMS copywriting time by 60-75% within their first month of using well-crafted AI prompts. You're not trying to eliminate human judgment; you're trying to eliminate the blank-page problem and reduce revision cycles.

Ready to implement AI-powered SMS marketing with better prompts and systematic testing? Start your free trial with Sakari to combine effective prompts with a platform built for service business text messaging. You'll have professional SMS campaigns running faster than you thought possible.