| name | cart-recovery-sms |
| description | Writes SMS cart recovery messages with timing, personalization tokens, and compliance disclaimers. Use when you need to recover abandoned carts via text message. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Cart Recovery SMS
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Write SMS messages that recover abandoned shopping carts
- Design a timed SMS sequence triggered by cart abandonment
- Include personalization tokens and dynamic product references
- Ensure compliance with SMS marketing regulations (TCPA, GDPR)
DO NOT use this skill for email cart recovery, general SMS marketing campaigns, or transactional order updates. This is specifically for SMS-based cart abandonment recovery.
Core Principle
SMS IS PERSONAL TERRITORY — EVERY MESSAGE MUST FEEL LIKE A HELPFUL NUDGE FROM A BRAND THEY TRUST, NOT AN INTRUSION INTO THEIR PHONE.
Phase 1: Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Product type | "What do you sell? (physical, digital, service)" | No default — must be provided |
| Average cart value | "What's the typical abandoned cart value?" | $50-100 |
| Incentive available | "Can you offer a discount or free shipping to recover?" | 10% discount code |
| Brand voice | "Casual, professional, playful?" | Friendly and casual |
| SMS platform | "What SMS tool are you using?" | Platform-agnostic |
| Opt-in method | "How did customers consent to SMS?" | Checkout opt-in checkbox |
GATE: Confirm the brief before writing messages.
Phase 2: Message Sequence Design
Timing Framework
## Cart Recovery SMS Sequence
Message 1 — 30 minutes after abandonment
Purpose: Gentle reminder, no incentive
Tone: Helpful
Message 2 — 4 hours after abandonment
Purpose: Address common objection or add social proof
Tone: Conversational
Message 3 — 24 hours after abandonment
Purpose: Offer incentive (discount or bonus)
Tone: Generous
Message 4 (optional) — 48 hours after abandonment
Purpose: Last chance, urgency on expiring incentive
Tone: Direct
Exit Conditions
- Customer completes purchase → stop all messages immediately
- Customer replies STOP → remove from sequence and all SMS marketing
- No response after Message 3/4 → end sequence, do not add to future cart recovery
GATE: Approve the sequence timing before writing messages.
Phase 3: Write Messages
SMS Writing Rules
- 160 characters or less per message (avoid multi-part messages)
- Include brand name in the first message so they know who it's from
- One link per message — shortened URL to their cart
- Personalization tokens: {first_name}, {product_name}, {cart_url}
- Opt-out instructions in the first message: "Reply STOP to opt out"
Message Templates
Message 1 (30 min):
Hey {first_name}! You left something in your cart at [Brand]. Still interested? Complete your order here: {cart_url} Reply STOP to opt out
Message 2 (4 hours):
{first_name}, your {product_name} is still waiting. Hundreds of happy customers love theirs. Grab it before it's gone: {cart_url}
Message 3 (24 hours):
Still thinking it over? Here's 10% off your cart at [Brand]. Use code SAVE10 at checkout: {cart_url} Expires in 24hrs.
Message 4 (48 hours):
Last chance, {first_name}. Your 10% off code expires tonight. Complete your order: {cart_url}
Phase 4: Polish
1. Compliance Checklist
2. Platform Setup Notes
- Link shortener configuration for tracking
- Personalization token mapping from cart data
- Purchase event trigger to stop sequence
- Quiet hours configuration by timezone
3. Performance Benchmarks
- SMS cart recovery rate: 10-15% (vs. 3-5% for email alone)
- Click-through rate: 20-30%
- Opt-out rate per message: under 2% (above this, reduce frequency)
- Revenue per message sent
Anti-Patterns
- Sending SMS without explicit consent — this violates TCPA and can result in $500-$1,500 per message in fines.
- Messages over 160 characters — multi-part messages feel spammy and cost more.
- No opt-out option — legally required and must be honored immediately.
- Sending at 2am — respect quiet hours. Most platforms enforce 8am-9pm local time.
- Four messages with no incentive — if you are not willing to offer a discount, limit to 2 messages.
- Generic messages — "You forgot something!" without the product name or brand feels like spam.
Recovery
- No incentive available: Remove Messages 3-4. Use only the reminder and social proof messages. Two messages max.
- User unsure about compliance: Provide a compliance overview but recommend consulting a legal professional for their specific market (US/TCPA, EU/GDPR, CA/CASL).
- High opt-out rate: Reduce to 2 messages, extend timing (1 hour and 24 hours), and soften the tone.
- Low cart value (under $20): Single SMS message at 1 hour is sufficient. The cost of multiple messages may not justify the recovery value.
