SMS That Pays for Itself
Welcome messages, reward alerts, review requests — from $0.10 each. Triggered by real visits, not scheduled blasts. No ongoing effort required.
The Problem With Most Cafe Marketing
You spend time posting, emailing, boosting — and most of it disappears into the void. Here is why it keeps not working.
Email Lands in the Promotions Tab
Cafe email open rates sit around 20%. That means 4 in 5 customers never read it. Even the ones who open it rarely act — there is too much friction between inbox and counter.
Social Posts Go Unseen
Organic reach on Instagram and Facebook is a fraction of what it was. Boosting costs money. Your regulars — the people who actually keep the lights on — are not in an algorithm. They are walking past your window.
The Right Moment Gets Missed
A customer earns their free coffee, but you have no way to tell them. Someone has not visited in three weeks, but you do not know. The moment passes, and so does the visit.
Why SMS Works for Cafes
No algorithm. No design required. No inbox to compete with.
98%
Industry SMS open rate — compare that to ~20% for email
< 3 min
Most messages are read within minutes of delivery
Direct
No algorithm, no spam folder — straight to your customer's messages
When a customer earns a reward at your cafe, they get a text. When they have not visited in a while, they get a nudge. When they reach a milestone, they hear from you. No scheduling, no writing, no forgetting — it all happens automatically while you focus on making good coffee.
The Right Message at the Right Moment
Every SMS is triggered by something real — a visit, a milestone, a lapse. Nothing is scheduled in advance. You just set the templates once, and the system handles the rest.
1. Welcome SMS — When a new customer walks in
AutomaticFires on the first check-in, once per customer. Tells them they are in the loyalty program and what they are working toward. A strong first impression that makes the next visit more likely.
2. Reward Ready — When they have earned a free coffee
AutomaticSent the moment a customer hits your reward threshold — usually 10 visits. It tells them their coffee is ready and how to redeem it. This is the message that brings people back the next day.
3. Status Check — When a customer asks how close they are
Customer-InitiatedCustomer-triggered. When someone wants to know where they stand, they request their status and get a reply showing their visit count and how many more until their reward. Limited to once per day per customer so it never becomes noise.
4. Review Request — When it is time to ask for a Google review
AutomaticBusiness+Sent automatically at configurable visit milestones — by default, the 3rd, 5th, and 10th visit — and again after a reward redemption. Your happiest regulars get asked at exactly the right moment. Available on Business ($169/month) and Enterprise ($350/month) plans.
5. Platform OTP — When a customer logs into their portal
SystemA one-time code sent when a customer signs into their loyalty portal to view their history, manage preferences, or request data deletion. This is a transactional message — it sends regardless of marketing opt-in and does not count toward your credit balance.
6. Privacy Deletion — When a customer removes their data
SystemSent when a customer deletes their account through the self-service portal. Confirms everything has been removed. Customers appreciate the transparency — and so do the Australian Privacy Act and GDPR. Another transactional message that does not use marketing credits.
7. Retention Campaign — When a regular goes quiet
AutomaticSent to customers who have not visited in a while. Reminds them of where they are in their loyalty progress — 3 visits from a free coffee is a much more compelling reason to come back than a generic promotion. Only goes to opted-in customers.
How It Works
SMS is part of the loyalty flow from the start — no extra setup, no separate platform.
Customer Scans Your QR Code
They scan the QR code at your counter — no app, no download, no friction.
Enters Their Number and Opts In
They enter their phone number and name, then choose whether to receive SMS updates. If they opt in, their first visit triggers a Welcome SMS.
Milestones Trigger the Right Message
Each visit is tracked. When they hit a milestone — reward threshold, review timing, or a lapse in visits — the right SMS goes out automatically.
See What Was Sent
Your dashboard shows delivery status, pending messages, and credit usage in real time. You know exactly what went out and when.
Messages go out with a short natural delay so they do not arrive the second someone walks out the door. If you use Staff Confirmed check-ins, SMS is held until a staff member approves the visit — nothing goes out for check-ins that have not been verified.
Spam Act Compliant — By Design
Customers trust businesses that respect their inbox. The platform is built to keep that trust intact — and to protect you legally while doing it.
Australian Spam Act 2003
Every marketing SMS requires explicit customer opt-in. Customers give consent when they first check in, and they can withdraw it at any time. You cannot accidentally send to someone who has not opted in — the platform simply will not let it happen.
Consent Enforced End-to-End
Opt-in preference is checked at every point where an SMS could be sent — check-ins, reward alerts, Google Review requests, retention messages. Transactional messages like login codes and data deletion confirmations are exempt because they are not marketing.
No Over-Messaging
Each message type can only be sent once per customer per 24 hours. So even if something triggers repeatedly, your customers do not get bombarded. The system keeps a lid on frequency without you having to think about it.
Easy Opt-Out for Customers
Customers can update their SMS preferences, download their data, or delete their account entirely through the self-service portal — no need to call the cafe or send an email. That kind of transparency builds the trust that keeps them coming back.
SMS vs Email for Cafes
| Factor | SMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Open Rate | ~98% | ~20% |
| Read Speed | Within minutes | Hours to days |
| Spam Filter Risk | None | High (promotional tab / spam folder) |
| Setup Complexity | Built into loyalty flow | Separate platform needed |
| Design Required | No (text-based) | Yes (HTML templates, images) |
| Customer Data Needed | Phone number only | Email address (harder to collect) |
| Best For Cafes | Yes — direct and fast | Low engagement |
My Cafe Loyalty does not include email marketing. SMS is the primary customer channel because it is faster, simpler, and the numbers speak for themselves in a cafe context.
What SMS Costs
Credits are included in your monthly plan. Top up when you need more. Nothing expires.
From $0.10 per SMS
Flat rate per message across all types — welcome, reward, review, retention.
Starter
0
SMS credits/month
$49/month
Professional
150
SMS credits/month
$89/month
Business
400
SMS credits/month
$169/month
Enterprise
1,000
SMS credits/month
$350/month
Prepaid SMS Bundles
500 SMS
$56
1,000 SMS
$112
2,500 SMS
$280
5,000 SMS
$560
Your monthly plan credits are used first. Prepaid credits kick in after that. Both roll over indefinitely — you never lose what you have paid for.
Common Questions
How much does SMS cost?
From $0.10 per message (AUD). Your plan includes a monthly credit allocation — 150 on Professional ($89/month), 400 on Business ($169/month), 1,000 on Enterprise ($350/month). If you use them all, you can top up with prepaid bundles. Credits never expire and roll over each month.
Is SMS marketing legal for Australian cafes?
Yes. The platform is built around the Australian Spam Act 2003 — every marketing SMS requires explicit opt-in, and customers can withdraw that consent at any time through the self-service portal. System messages like login codes and data deletion confirmations are transactional and exempt from marketing consent requirements under Australian law.
Do customers have to opt in to receive SMS?
Yes. Customers choose to opt in when they first check in. No opt-in, no marketing SMS — it is enforced at the system level, not just as a setting someone could forget to check. They can update their preference at any time through the customer portal.
Can I customise the messages?
Yes. There is a template editor with live preview for each of the 7 SMS types. Templates include your cafe name, the customer's name, their visit count, and reward details automatically. You write the voice — the platform fills in the details.
What happens when a customer opts out?
Marketing messages stop immediately — welcome, reward alerts, retention messages, and review requests. They still receive transactional messages like login codes and data deletion confirmations, because those are tied to account function, not marketing, and are exempt under Australian law.
Your Customers Want to Hear From You
SMS is available on Professional plans and above. Start free with up to 30 customers — no card required, no time limit.
What you get on Professional and above:
- 7 automated message types, all triggered by real visits
- Template editor with live preview for every message type
- 150–1,000 SMS credits included monthly (plan-dependent)
- Spam Act compliant with enforced opt-in at every step
- Integrated with loyalty check-ins and Google Reviews automation