Quick Summary

Following up by text is one of the fastest, most effective ways to boost your sales. This post gives you 29 proven follow-up SMS templates for every stage of the sales process. You’ll learn how to write follow-up text s that sound human (not robotic), get replies, and close more deals.

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It's likely your business already follows-up with leads every day via email.

You probably send dozens, if not hundreds, of emails for this one purpose. And if you're like the vast majority of brands right now, those emails are barely opened—much less responded to.

But, your lead nurture process doesn’t have to end here. And the “fix” can really be as simple as following up with leads the right way… 

...By using text messages. 

Business texting lets you market to your customers via conversation. It’s the perfect way to meet your customers where they’re at, and hit them with the right message, at the right time.

In this post, we’ll give you 29 text messages you can use to follow up with your leads, urge them to take action, and build a stronger connection with your brand.

Why Your Business Needs to Use Follow-Up SMS Messages

Text message marketing is one of the most powerful tools for reaching out to clients to keep your business at the top of their minds. 

Here's why texting works:

1. It's estimated that 98% of texts get read, so your leads are almost guaranteed to see them. Compare that to emails that get lost in inboxes.
2. Texting feels personal. Most of us text our loved ones daily. This makes texting a more natural and intimate means of communication.
3. It shows you care. Texting is great for simple reminders, follow-ups, and highly personalized offers.
4. You get instant feedback. Texts are more likely to get fast responses, compared to trying to get leads to respond to emails.

Plus, you’ll make more sales. The more you message, the more you make. 

This doesn’t mean it’s time to bombard your leads with text messages with questions, offers, and pitches. Instead, it’s a great way to improve your relationship, while sending highly relevant offers.

Let's talk about how to do that. To get the party started - here are our top three follow-up SMS messages we use here at Salesmsg for better conversations.

Salesmsg' Top Three Follow-ups (Swipe These🔥)

Message #1

Hey James, Sarah here! I just received your request and would love to set up a quick 15-minute chat. Do you have some availability this week?

Message #2

Hey John, I noticed you just booked a call. What do you hope to get out of it?‍

Message #3

Hi Anthony, it’s Mary from Acme Inc. I’d love to schedule a quick call to see how I can help you. You can click the link to book a time that works for you: (link)

Why These Messages Work

When a website visitor fills out a form or gives your business a call, you want to get in touch with them as soon as possible.

There’s an old sales adage that goes, “time kills deals.” You have potential customers wanting to learn more, so you want to take advantage of this.

Make your text message concise, but offer relevant information that helps further the conversation. The goal of these messages is simply to open the door and start the conversation. 

For most businesses, this can be setting up a time to chat or booking a demo.

Live Event & Webinar Follow-ups 💻

Message #4

Hey Jan! Want to learn more about what we talked about at the event? Check out our event recap blog posts with exclusive resources: (link)

Message #5

Thanks for attending our event! We hope you found it valuable. Have any questions or feedback? Just send us a quick text and let us know.

Message #6

We really appreciate your support at our event! Use code THANK YOU10 for 10% off your next order.

Message #7

Thanks for attending our webinar! Want to dive deeper into the topics we covered? You might really love this online course we just put together. Check it out here: (link).

Message #8

Did you miss our latest webinar? No worries! You can catch the replay here (link).

Why These Messages Work

Whether it’s a networking event, local group you host, or webinar you just ran, you have a big opportunity to follow up with your leads after an event. 

The messages above focus on gratitude and making a connection. You don’t want to push for the sale, but simply gauge interest.

Those who attended your sales presentation, like a webinar, will be more receptive to your products and services. In follow-up texts, you can highlight what you offer.

Turning Cold Leads Into Warm Leads 🌡️

Message #9

Hey, it's been a while since we last spoke about our platform. Are you still considering it? Let me know if you need any more information.

Message #10

Hey there, it's been a few weeks since we last talked about our solution. I wanted to check in and see if you're still interested or if there's anything I can do to help.

Message #11

Hi Rick, I wanted to check in and see if anything is holding you back from moving forward with our lawn care service. Let me know if I can address any concerns.

Message #12

Hi Patricia, just wanted to follow up and see if you're still interested in our estimate. If so, let's set up a time to chat and go over the details.

Why These Messages Work

Maybe they were too busy, forgot, or it just wasn’t the right time. 

People drop off for a variety of reasons. Don’t take things personally, instead use this as a way to bring them back into your world.

These messages gently open up dialogue with your prospects, while trying to pinpoint any concerns that stopped them the first time. 

The key here is to be gentle and think of it as a subtle reminder. But, remain persistent without being pushy or aggressive. 

Follow-up messages also work great as part of an automated texting sequence. Automated sequences go out after a set period of time and follow-up with cold leads, which saves your team a ton of time.

Demo & Free Trial Follow-ups 🎟️

Message #13

I wanted to follow up on our demo last week. Are there any features or functionalities you'd like me to go over again? I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Message #14

Hey Jessica, I wanted to let you know about a new feature we just added to our platform that I think you'll find useful. Let me know if you're interested in learning more.

Message #15

Hi Daniel, just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to try out our product. If you're interested, we're offering a free consultation with one of our experts to help you get the most out of our platform. Let me know if you're interested.

Message #16

Good morning Emily, just a friendly reminder that your free trial will be ending soon. If you want to continue using our product, let me know and I can help you with the next steps.

Message #17

I hope you're enjoying our product! If you're interested, we're offering a special discount for new customers right now. Let me know if you're interested and I can send you more details.

Why These Messages Work

When customers are using a free trial or just finished demoing your product they are red hot.

Now, it’s time to check in and help to address any issues they might have. Your goal isn’t to make the sale today, but to address their objections and concerns.

The messages above also sweeten the pot a bit by offering discounts, a free expert consultation, and highlighting features that impact their business.

You want your text messages to feel personal, so think about what you can offer that feels unique to them at that moment.

Missed Meeting Follow-ups 🗓️

Message #18

Hey Ron, sorry we didn’t get to connect today. Would you be open for next Tuesday instead?

Message #19

Hi Laura. I noticed you missed our meeting today. Is everything okay? Let's reschedule for a time that works better for you.

Message #20

John, I missed you today! Feel free to reschedule for a time that works best for you: (calendar link)

Why These Messages Work

With our packed schedules, missed meetings happen.

Instead of taking this personally, you can use this to bond deeper with your customer.

By being flexible and putting empathy first you can build more trust with your prospect for when your meeting finally does happen.

If you want to avoid clients missing meetings in the first place, consider sending appointment text reminders. These reminders act as a gentle nudge to your customer and help avoid cancellations and no-shows in the first place.

After The Meeting Follow-ups 📞

Message #21

Hey Sharon, I appreciate the meeting today! If you have any questions, you can reach me here. It’s my personal number. Steve

Message #22

Good morning :) Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today. I'm excited about the possibility of working together! Let me know if you're interested in moving forward and we can discuss next steps.

Message #23

Hey Martin, I'm glad we were able to connect today. I think our service would be a great fit for your business. If you're interested, I can send you more information and answer any questions you may have.

Message #24

Thanks for the kickoff call today! Are you free to discuss the next steps? You can book an appointment here at your convenience: (link)

Why These Messages Work

Once you’ve had a great meeting you want to keep the momentum going.

These messages are simple in that they thank the customer for their time and move toward the next step. This could be another call in the future, a follow-up with additional resources, or a simple link with notes from your call. 

The important thing here is to stay at the top of your prospect's mind. Show gratitude, express interest, and explore possibilities for collaboration. 

You’ll also notice these messages avoid overwhelming the prospect with too much information. Instead, they’re focused on building a solid relationship.

After The Purchase Follow-ups (Goooonnnnng! 🔔)

Message #25

Hey Karen! Just wanted to give you a shoutout and say thanks for choosing us. We're excited to have you on board and we're committed to making your experience epic!

Message #26

Hey Jamie! We wanted to give you a virtual high-five for your recent purchase. We hope you're enjoying our product and don't hesitate to reach out if you need any help. You can always explore our resource library here (link) to get the most out of your product.

Message #27

I just wanted to check in and see how you're liking our product. If you're interested in taking things to the next level, we recommend checking out product #2. It's a game-changer!

Message #28

Hey there Jason, we wanted to thank you for your recent purchase and recommend our (similar product). It pairs perfectly with what you bought and we think you'll love it! Interested?

Message #29

Hi Justin, we wanted to say thanks for your recent purchase and recommend our (other product). It's the perfect pairing to what you bought and we're happy to offer it to you at a special discount! Reply with YES for a special discount.

Why These Messages Work

Your post-purchase messages can mean the difference between a single transaction and a customer for life. 

Once a customer makes a purchase you have a few options available.

First, you’ll want to thank your customer for buying and open the door to any questions or feedback.

Next, you can upsell or cross-sell certain products that’ll complement their purchase. This can increase your customer's lifetime value right away.

15 Best Practices for Creating Follow-Up Messages

Crafting effective follow up text messages can make all the difference in your sales process. Whether you're engaging with potential clients after an initial phone call, reconnecting after a missed meeting, or nurturing cold leads, these best practices will help you create more personalized, high-converting follow up texts.

1. Be human – Avoid robotic or generic language. Keep it conversational, like you’re texting a friend.

2. Personalize when possible – Use names, specific details from the initial interaction, or reference the previous message to build connection.

3. Be concise – Stick to one key point per text follow up to avoid confusion or information overload.

4. Follow up quickly – Don’t let time kill deals. Reach out shortly after the initial contact, product demo, or event.

5. Use automations – Streamline your communication with automated follow up sms messages that are triggered by lead behavior.

6. Always use clear, simple language – Don’t confuse your audience with long, hard-to-understand texts. Instead, be simple, clear and concise always.

7. Add value – Whether it’s a link to resources, a discount, or further assistance, make every message helpful.

8. Segment your messages – Tailor follow up text message examples to each stage of the funnel or lead type.

9. Create Open Loops – Ask open-ended questions that encourage a response and keep the conversation going.

10. Keep a friendly tone – Be professional, but warm. Texting is personal—match that tone to boost customer engagement.

11. Include a clear call-to-action (CTA) – Whether it’s to schedule a meeting or reply YES for a discount, include a clear call in every message.

12. Don’t overwhelm – Too many messages can feel spammy. Stick to 3-5 texts a month or based on expressed interest.

13. Respect opt-out rules – Always give recipients a way to unsubscribe. This protects your brand and is required by law.

14. Track your responses – Monitor response rates to see which follow up messages work and which ones need tweaking.

15. Use timing wisely – Send messages during standard business hours to increase response rates.

Now It's Your Turn

Lead follow-up doesn’t have to be a hassle. Which ones are you going to use?

All it takes is a few simple messages to bring potential clients deeper into your world. You can use these business text message samples to qualify more leads, speed up your sales cycle, and close more deals.

You can also use dedicated texting platforms like Salesmsg to create, personalize and automate your sales text messages and streamline your SMS marketing strategy. 

It’s the perfect texting solution for any business, so why not sign up for a 14-day trial and get started today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good follow-up text message?

A strong follow-up message is short, timely, and personalized, includes a clear call to action, and builds on the last message or initial phone conversation.

Can I automate follow-up SMS messages?

Absolutely. Platforms like Salesmsg let you automate follow up texts based on triggers like a missed appointment, a networking event, or lack of reply.

How often should I follow up with a lead?

1-2 times per week is a good rhythm. Adjust based on engagement, urgency, or how recently the initial contact occurred.

Can I send follow-up texts to cold leads?

Yes! As long as that lead has opted-in for your text messages in the past,  you can send a follow-up text to reignite their interest. Reference the initial interaction and offer further assistance or ask if they’d like to reconnect.

Is it legal to text leads?

Yes—as long as leads have opted in and you follow TCPA guidelines. Always include an opt-out option in your SMS marketing messages.