TASK • SMS flows + consent (ship v1 today)

Omnisend SMS Automation Setup

Omnisend SMS Automation Setup is done when: your signup consent is compliant, your “STOP/HELP” logic works, and your first 2–3 SMS flows are published with quiet hours + frequency caps. Keep Shopify/WooCommerce in another tab and follow the steps below.

✓ Time: 30–60 min ✓ Consent + disclosures ✓ Core SMS flows ✓ Test + publish

Start Omnisend Free Jump to steps

Need the bigger picture? See SMS marketing automation.

Setup map showing Connect, Consent, Build flows, Test, and Publish steps for Omnisend SMS Automation Setup — Path: **Connect → Consent → Build flows → Test → Publish** (optimize after 7 days of data).

Omnisend SMS Automation Setup checklist

SMS is powerful because it’s immediate — but that also means consent and frequency control matter. This task keeps you safe and effective: build a clean opt-in, then ship a small set of revenue flows.

Consent: clear checkbox language + disclosure + STOP/HELP instructions.
Segments: SMS opted-in, engaged, VIP (so you don’t spam everyone).
Flows: welcome SMS, abandoned cart SMS (optional), winback SMS.
Controls: quiet hours + frequency caps + testing before publish.

i Quality bar: ship v1 today. Don’t wait for “perfect copy.”

Before you start Omnisend SMS Automation Setup

Prepare these so the setup doesn’t stall:

Omnisend admin access (SMS settings + automations).
Your store connected (Shopify or WooCommerce integration).
A dedicated SMS signup point (popup, footer form, checkout checkbox).
Your brand basics: support email, store URL, sender name.
Decide your sending window (quiet hours) and max messages/day.

Start with the platform. Enable SMS in Omnisend so you can test consent and STOP replies.

Open Omnisend

Common mistakes (that waste hours) when Omnisend SMS Automation Setup

No explicit SMS consent → risk + low trust (people opt out fast).
Too many flows too soon → churn (opt-outs) + poor ROI.
No quiet hours → complaints and spam reports.
Using discounts as default → you train customers to wait for coupons.
One segment for everyone → you can’t control frequency by intent.

! If you’re in the EU, align your consent language with your GDPR policy and keep proof of consent.

Step-by-step (GPS)

1 Scope 2 Enable 3 Consent 4 Signup 5 Segments 6 Flows 7 Controls 8 Test 9 Publish

Step 1/9 — Decide your SMS scope (EU/US) + first use-cases

Goal: focus

Start with 2–3 flows. The best SMS program is controlled, not loud.

Recommended v1 flows

Welcome SMS (after opt-in)
Winback SMS (inactive buyers)
Abandoned cart SMS (only if your cart volume is high)

i Success check: you can describe your v1 in one line: “We send welcome + winback. That’s it.”

Quick budget check (optional)

If you need to estimate credits and cost:

Open SMS calculator • SMS credits

Step 2/9 — Enable SMS in Omnisend and confirm sender settings

Goal: ready-to-send

Turn on SMS and make sure your sender identity is configured (availability depends on country and provider rules).

Do this

In Omnisend: open SMS / Channels settings (name may vary by account).
Confirm your sending region and default sender.
Set brand name and default support contact.
Save and proceed (we test later).

i Success check: SMS channel shows “enabled” and you can preview a message.

Pricing limits (optional)

Check your plan’s SMS allowances before scaling.

Omnisend SMS pricing explained

Step 3/9 — Set consent language (copy/paste) + STOP/HELP keywords

Goal: compliant opt-in

Your consent text should be clear: what they’ll receive, how often, and how to opt out.

Consent disclosure (copy/paste)

Use this as a base and adapt to your policy:

I agree to receive marketing SMS from [Brand]. Msg & data rates may apply. Frequency varies. Reply STOP to unsubscribe, HELP for help. See Privacy Policy: [link] and Terms: [link].

i Success check: a user can understand the cost/frequency + opt-out in 5 seconds.

EU consent reference (FOLLOW)

If you need a consent baseline for EU compliance, use the EDPB consent guidelines:

EDPB Guidelines on consent (GDPR)

Next: put consent on-site and connect it to an SMS segment.

Continue in Omnisend

Step 4/9 — Add an SMS signup point (popup or checkout)

Goal: real opt-ins

Your signup must collect the phone number and show the disclosure near the checkbox/button.

Recommended placements

Popup (low friction, high volume)
Checkout checkbox (high intent, cleaner consent)
Footer form (low volume but “always on”)

i Success check: you can submit your own number and see it in Omnisend as “SMS opted-in.”

Checkbox label (short)

Yes, send me SMS updates and offers from [Brand]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Step 5/9 — Build SMS segments (so you can control frequency)

Goal: targeting

Segments prevent spam. You’ll send different messages to “new opt-ins” vs “VIP buyers.”

Minimum segments (v1)

SMS opted-in (the base segment)
Engaged last 30 days (clicked/opened/bought recently)
VIP / Repeat buyers (high value)

i Success check: you can exclude “unengaged” from campaigns by default.

Frequency cap rule (copy)

Default cap: max 1 SMS/day per contact (v1).
VIP segment can receive up to 2 SMS/week if value is high.

Step 6/9 — Build your first SMS flows (templates inside)

Goal: revenue

Keep SMS short: one benefit + one CTA. Link to a clean landing page or the cart.

Welcome SMS (send 1–5 min after opt-in)

Welcome to [Brand] 👋 You’re in.
Here’s what to expect: drops, restocks, and best-sellers (1–2 msgs/week).
Browse now: [link]

i Success check: your own number receives it and the link opens correctly on mobile.

Abandoned cart SMS (optional, send ~1–2h after)

Still thinking it over? Your cart is waiting 🛒
Finish checkout here: [link]
Reply STOP to opt out.

Post-purchase SMS (send 3–7 days after delivery)

How’s it going with your [product]? Want a quick tip or a matching add-on?
See picks: [link]

Winback SMS (send after 45–90 days inactive)

We saved you a spot, [Name] 🙂
See what’s new at [Brand]: [link]
(If you’re not interested, reply STOP.)

Step 7/9 — Add quiet hours + frequency caps

Goal: control

Quiet hours and caps protect your list. This is the difference between “SMS that prints” and “SMS that burns trust.”

Recommended quiet hours (copy)

Quiet hours (v1):
Do not send 20:00–08:00 local time.
Avoid weekends unless it’s a time-sensitive alert.

Hard rule

Never send SMS to non-consented contacts.
Exclude “opted out” everywhere by default.
Campaigns should target engaged segments first.

Step 8/9 — Test end-to-end (consent → flow → STOP)

Goal: verified

Testing is not optional. You must confirm opt-in status, delivery, link tracking, and opt-out behavior.

Test checklist

Opt in using your own number (real form).
Confirm contact shows SMS subscribed in Omnisend.
Trigger Welcome SMS and open the link on mobile.
Reply STOP to confirm opt-out works.
Try a second message to ensure suppressed contacts don’t receive SMS.

i Success check: once you reply STOP, your contact is excluded everywhere automatically.

UTM template (optional copy)

?utm_source=omnisend&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign={{campaign_name}}

Step 9/9 — Publish v1 and monitor opt-outs (optimize after 7 days)

Goal: live

Publish with control. Then watch opt-out rate and revenue-per-message before adding more flows.

What to watch (first 7 days)

Opt-out rate (by flow)
Revenue per SMS (or per send)
Clicks per message
Time-of-day performance (adjust quiet hours carefully)

i Quality bar: change one variable at a time (timing OR copy OR segment).

Ready to scale?

Start with your plan limits and credits.

See pricing limits

Omnisend SMS Automation Setup Flow diagram (consent → flows → controls)

Use this to confirm the order: consent first, then flows, then quiet hours + caps.

Flow diagram showing consent capture, segmentation, and three core SMS automations for Omnisend SMS Automation Setup

i If you need EU-specific wording examples, use: Omnisend GDPR SMS EU guide.

Omnisend SMS Automation Setup Done checklist (you’re finished when…)

SMS signup consent text is visible and clear (frequency + STOP/HELP included).
Your own number can opt in and appears as SMS subscribed in Omnisend.
Welcome SMS is published and delivers correctly.
At least one additional flow is live (winback or abandoned cart).
Quiet hours and frequency caps are set (v1).
STOP opt-out is verified (you cannot message opted-out contacts).
You have a 7-day optimization plan (one variable at a time).

i Want to “save this”? Copy your consent text + flow timing into a private doc — but publish first.

Publish your first compliant SMS flows today

You now have a clean consent setup, a v1 flow set, and the controls that protect your list. Open Omnisend, test your own number, publish, and optimize after 7 days of real data.

Start Omnisend Free

No credit card required • Cancel anytime • Consent first, frequency second

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