Customize SMS template in STOQ

STOQ lets you customize the SMS template that is sent to customers when a product they signed up for is back in stock. The SMS template editor gives you control over the message body, Liquid variables for dynamic content, link destination, and purchase link branding. A live preview on the right side of the editor updates in real time as you type, so you can see exactly how the message will appear on a customer's phone before saving.

Important: SMS alerts incur additional charges that vary by country. Review the pricing details before enabling SMS.

Why Customize Your SMS Template

Customizing your SMS template helps you send more effective, branded restock alerts.

Match your brand voice. Write the message in your store's tone -- friendly, professional, or casual -- instead of using the generic default text.
Increase conversions. A well-crafted message with a clear call to action and a direct purchase link drives more clicks and sales.
Control the customer experience. Choose whether the purchase link takes customers to checkout or the product page, depending on your sales strategy.
Build trust with branded links. Use your own store domain in the SMS link so customers recognize and trust the URL instead of seeing a generic short link.
Personalize with dynamic data. Insert the customer's name, product title, and store name using Liquid variables to make each message feel personal.
Manage costs. Keep the message under 140 characters to avoid splitting into multiple segments, which incurs additional charges per segment.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure the following are in place.

A paid plan is required to enable and customize SMS alerts.
SMS alerts must be turned on (the SMS alerts toggle must be enabled).
If using the STOQ provider, your store must pass carrier verification before SMS messages can be delivered.
Review the SMS charges article to understand per-country pricing before enabling SMS.

How to Customize Your SMS Template

Follow these steps to open the SMS template editor and customize your message.

Open the STOQ app from your Shopify admin.
Click Back in stock alerts in the left menu.
Click the Settings tab.
In the Notifications section, click the notification you want to edit (e.g., Back In Stock - Notification).
Click Customize SMS. This opens the template editor with the SMS template tab selected.
In the left panel, you will see the SMS drawer with:

SMS alerts toggle at the top
Send SMS through -- choose your SMS provider
Content -- edit the SMS message body

Edit SMS Message Content

The Content section is where you write and customize the actual text message.

From the SMS drawer, click Content.
Edit the SMS Body text field to write your message.
Use Liquid variables to insert dynamic product and customer information (see the variables reference below).
Monitor the character count displayed below the text field. Keep it under 140 characters to avoid sending multiple text segments.
A live preview of your SMS appears on the right side of the screen as you type (available when using the STOQ provider).
Click Save changes in the top right when done.

Tip: Keep your message under 140 characters. Messages that exceed this limit are split into multiple segments, and each segment incurs a separate charge. See the SMS charges article for details on how split messages affect cost.

Default SMS Template

The default message is:

{{product.title_incl_variant}} is back in stock at {{shop.name}}! Buy yours now - {{product.purchase_link}}

Liquid Variables Reference

Use these variables in your SMS body. They are replaced with actual values when the message is sent.

Variable	Description	Required
`{{product.title_incl_variant}}`	Full product name including variant (e.g., "Floral Shirt - Medium")	No
`{{product.title}}`	Product name without variant	No
`{{product.vendor}}`	Vendor name	No
`{{product.purchase_link}}`	Link to purchase the product	Yes
`{{shop.name}}`	Your store name	Yes
`{{customer.name}}`	Customer's name	No

Note: The SMS body must include both {{product.purchase_link}} and at least one product title variable ({{product.title_incl_variant}}, {{product.title}}, or {{product.variant_title}}). An error message appears if these required variables are missing.

Click Variables next to the SMS Body label.
A modal opens listing all available Liquid variables with descriptions.
Click Add to field next to any variable to append it to the SMS body.

Test with a Sample Product Name

You can preview how your SMS will look with different product names.

In the Content section, look for the sample product name input below the SMS body.
Enter a product name (e.g., "Summer Dress - Large").
The live preview on the right updates to show how the SMS will appear with that product name.

Change the Link Destination

The link in your SMS can point to either the checkout page or the product page.

From the Content section, scroll to Link destination.
Choose where the Link takes customer to:

Checkout -- Takes the customer directly to checkout with the product added to cart (default).
Product page -- Takes the customer to the product page on your store.

Use a Branded Purchase Link

By default, SMS links use the STOQ short domain (e.g., https://m.stoqapp.com/abcd3f). You can use your store domain instead.

In the Content section, scroll to Purchase link.
Check the box Use store domain in purchase link.
The link preview updates to show your store domain (e.g., https://yourstore.com/a/restock/abcd3f).
If needed, select the SMS link suffix that matches your app proxy settings in Shopify admin.

Important: If you change the link suffix in STOQ, you must also update it in the app proxy settings of your Shopify admin. Otherwise, the link will not work.

A paid plan is required to enable branded links.

Choose an SMS Provider

STOQ supports multiple SMS providers. You can select your provider from the Send SMS through section.

From the SMS drawer, click Send SMS through.
Choose your SMS platform:

STOQ -- SMS alerts are sent through STOQ's built-in messaging service. You can customize the template directly in the editor. Additional charges apply and vary by country.
Klaviyo -- SMS alerts are sent through your Klaviyo account using flows. Requires a paid plan and Klaviyo integration setup.
Postscript -- Coming soon.

Note: When using Klaviyo or Postscript, the SMS content is managed in those platforms, not in STOQ. The live preview in STOQ is only available when using the STOQ provider.

Customize Reminder Notification SMS

You can customize SMS templates for reminder notifications separately from the primary notification.

Go to Back in stock alerts > Settings > Notifications.
Select a reminder notification (e.g., Back In Stock - Reminder Notification 1).
Click Customize SMS.
Edit the SMS body and settings the same way as the primary notification.

Each reminder notification has its own SMS template that can be customized independently.

Translate SMS Templates

You can translate your SMS template into multiple languages.

Open the SMS template editor for any notification.
In the Content section, click Languages in the top right corner.
This opens the template translator where you can add translations for all supported languages.

SMS Charges

SMS alerts incur additional charges that vary by country. Each SMS segment sent is billed separately. Messages exceeding 140 characters are split into multiple segments, increasing the cost. Review the SMS charges article for the full pricing breakdown before enabling SMS alerts.

Known Limitations

Keep these points in mind when customizing your SMS template.

A paid plan is required for SMS alerts and template customization.
When using the STOQ provider, your store must be verified by network carriers before SMS messages can be delivered. This process may take time.
Messages over 140 characters are split into multiple text segments, each charged separately.
STOQ automatically appends unsubscribe text to every SMS for compliance. This text cannot be removed and counts toward the character limit.
When you change your SMS template, it may need to be reviewed and approved to meet anti-spam regulations. This can take up to 24 hours. Contact support for faster approval.
Some countries may be blocked from receiving SMS due to local regulations. Blocked country codes are displayed in the provider settings.
The SMS preview panel is only available when using the STOQ provider. Klaviyo and Postscript previews must be done in those platforms.

Troubleshooting

If your SMS template is not working as expected, use this table to find a fix.

Problem	Solution
SMS body shows a validation error	Make sure the SMS body includes `{{product.purchase_link}}` and at least one product title variable (`{{product.title}}` or `{{product.title_incl_variant}}`).
Character count exceeds 140	Shorten your message or use shorter variables like `{{product.title}}` instead of `{{product.title_incl_variant}}`.
Changes not saving	Make sure you click Save changes in the top right of the template editor. Check for validation errors in the SMS body.
Live preview not updating	The live preview is only available when the STOQ provider is selected. If using Klaviyo, preview your template in the Klaviyo dashboard.
SMS not being delivered	Check that carrier verification is complete. Go to Send SMS through > STOQ and look for the verification banner. Also confirm SMS alerts are toggled on.
Branded link not working	If you enabled Use store domain in purchase link, make sure the SMS link suffix matches the app proxy settings in your Shopify admin.

FAQs

Q. Does customizing the SMS template cost extra?

A. Customizing the template itself is free, but sending SMS alerts incurs charges that vary by country. Each text segment is billed separately. Review the SMS charges article for pricing details.

Q. Can I use emojis in my SMS template?

A. Yes, but emojis use a different character encoding (UCS-2) that reduces the per-segment character limit. A single emoji can significantly reduce the number of characters available per segment, increasing the number of segments sent and the cost.

Q. Can I customize SMS templates for each notification separately?

A. Yes. Each notification in the notification sequence (primary notification, Reminder 1, Reminder 2) has its own SMS template. Select the notification you want to edit from the Notifications section and click Customize SMS.

Q. What happens if I remove required variables from the SMS body?

A. An error message appears below the SMS body field if {{product.purchase_link}} or a product title variable is missing. You must include these variables for the template to be valid.

Q. How long does template review take?

A. Template review can take up to 24 hours. During this time, SMS alerts use your previous template. Contact support if you need faster approval.

Q. Can I preview SMS with different product names?

A. Yes. In the Content section, enter a sample product name in the test input field. The live preview updates in real time to show how the SMS will look with that product name.

Q. Does changing the SMS provider affect my template?

A. If you switch to Klaviyo, the SMS content is managed in Klaviyo using flows, not in the STOQ template editor. Your STOQ template is preserved but not used while Klaviyo is the active provider. Switching back to STOQ restores your original template.

Q. How much does SMS cost?

A. SMS charges vary by country and are billed per segment. Messages over 140 characters are split into multiple segments. Review the SMS charges article for the full pricing breakdown.

Updated on: 09/04/2026

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!