Sometimes, the timing doesn’t always seem right to send a text message, despite your desire. You can’t tell if it might be too late to send it at night or if sending it a few days later would be more appropriate. On the other hand, if you wait too long in this dilemma, you might forget about it. So, in this article, we will discuss how to schedule a text message on an iPhone and Android.
What Are Scheduled Texts?
Scheduled texts are messages you can program beforehand to be sent automatically whenever you like, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This is a fantastic way to send a text message reminder at a specific time or after taking a specific action. They don’t require you to be on your phone at that particular moment, and you can send them to one or many people.
These messages can frequently engage your customers without manual input for business or non-personal needs. They act as automated reminders for things like payments, appointments, and promotions. Even after a purchase, feedback or surveys can be requested via an automatic text message in reaction to an action.
How To Schedule a Text Message
Text message scheduling is arranging timed messages that can be delivered automatically at a future date or time. By scheduling a text, you save yourself the inconvenience of manually sending the message on a specific day or time. Since it helps them stay organized and boost efficiency, many business owners are implementing scheduling SMS messages to improve client interaction, communication, and operations.
The Importance of Scheduling a Text Message
The following justifications support the importance of scheduling text messages:
#1. To Convey Time-Sensitive Information
Suppose you must remind one of your patients to take a particular prescription at a certain time. Even though your workday ends at 5 p.m., the medication must be taken at 8 p.m. Simply send a text message reminder to go out before 8 p.m. to remind the patient to take their medication.
#2. To Increase Engagement
Companies may utilize scheduled texts in many ways to increase engagement. A well-planned customer communication strategy can also help you increase conversions, reviews, and other metrics.
#3. To Save Time
Scheduled SMS can be your best friend if you have a lot on your plate and struggle to manage your time. Your messages can be written ahead of time and sent out later. By doing this, you can lessen your workload and make sure that nothing is overlooked.
When To Schedule a Text Message
Use these scenarios for the text message schedule:
#1. Appointment Confirmations and Reminders
Using the SMS scheduling tool, you can give your clients confirmations and reminders of their appointments.
#2. Payment Confirmations and Reminders
You may follow up with your clients regarding completed or pending payments by scheduling text messages.
#3. Marketing Campaigns
Scheduling SMS is a terrific way to increase customer interaction by sending them offers or exclusive discounts via bulk messages.
#4. Notifications and Updates
Any essential updates can be shared with clients and the internal staff by scheduling text messages.
#5. Communicating Across Time Zones
Scheduling SMS is handy if your client is from a foreign country and you want to send messages according to their timing.
#6. Sending Greetings
Sending birthday and holiday SMS when you have them scheduled is preferable.
Texts with survey and feedback requests can be scheduled after a consumer has received service to ask for their comments and to push them to complete survey forms.
#7. Review Requests and Follow-Ups
You may ask for client reviews and plan to text them later.
You can either employ a workaround or arrange an SMS message.
How to Schedule Text Messages on iPhone
There are a few ways to get around the restriction that messages cannot be scheduled straight from iMessage.
#1. Automate with Shortcuts
You can construct many practical automations using the Shortcuts app, such as text message scheduling. If you have iOS 13 or later, you already have this option preinstalled, but it does need some fiddling.
It should be completed after downloading the free Shortcuts app from the App Store if you are using a prior version of iOS.
Start by launching the Shortcuts app
If the app isn’t available, pull down on the home screen and type “Shortcuts” into the search field.
Tap the Automation
Tab at the screen’s bottom. If this is your first time establishing automation, select Create Personal Automation. If you’ve previously made automations, you’ll see them here and need to hit the plus sign in the top-right corner to add more. Tap Create Personal Automation after that.
Setup Your Automation
A scheduled message can be automated by choosing the time of day. Set a time for when you wish to send your message after that.
Write Your Message
After creating your automation, pick Send Message by tapping Add Action. In the Message section, enter your text after selecting the recipient. Next, select Next.
Examine and Complete the Automation
Verify the date, time, recipient, and message to ensure accuracy. Look at the Ask Before Running option after that. If you want the automation to run automatically without requesting your approval, you can tap the toggle to turn it off, which is the default setting. To complete the automation, select Done at the end.
Remind Yourself to Remove the Automated
If you wish to send a one-time message or only require a repeating message for a short period, set a reminder to delete the automation once you finish it.
#2. Use an external App
You can schedule text messages using various third-party apps on the App Store, such as Scheduled or Text Delay. Some apps are free, while others charge a fee for more sophisticated features. A couple of alternatives also prompt you to send the text message at the designated time rather than the one you’ve booked.
#3. Use the iPhone Reminders App
If you’d prefer not to download anything new, consider using the Reminders app that comes pre-installed on your iPhone as a workaround. Although you can write down your SMS message in advance, the Reminders app won’t send it at the time you specify. You can then configure a notification to send the message yourself.
- Start by launching the Reminders app. If the app isn’t available, pull down on the home screen and type “Reminders” into the search field.
- Include a list. In the bottom-right corner, click Add List. (Alternatively, you can tap +New Reminder in the bottom-left corner, give the reminder a title, and then move on to Step 5 if you want to add it to an existing list.)
- Submit your information. Choose a colour for your list and a title (such as “text messages”).
- Include a reminder. Enter a reminder title (“text Zach”) and click + New Reminder in the bottom-left corner.
- Write up your text and pick a time and date to send it. To add a day and time to get your notification, tap the details icon (the “i” surrounded in a circle) on the label to the right of the label. Enter it in the Notes box to write your text now rather than later.
- Click Done. Alternatively, you can select to send yourself a reminder today, tomorrow, or over the weekend by tapping on the calendar icon that displays directly over the keyboard (it has a clock icon).
How to Schedule Text Messages on Android
The only thing you’ll need for this to function is an Android phone with a data plan (for texting). There are no additional apps to download because the capability is part of Android Messages, which comes pre-installed on all Android smartphones. It’s all there and ready to use.
#1. Unlock it and Launch Messages
Unlock your Android device and launch the Messages app.
#2. Open a Conversation
You have two options: opening an already-opened chat or starting a new one (by tapping the Start chat icon). As soon as you start a new chat, choose the recipient as usual.
#3. Type in Your Message
Write the message you want to send in the resulting window.
#4. Launch the Planner
Long-press the Send button (the right-pointing arrow at the bottom right of the screen) once you have finished composing the message.
Choose later today (5:00 PM), tonight (9:00 PM), tomorrow (8:00 AM), or a custom time from the ensuing popup.
#5. Pick a Certain Time
Select Pick date and time if you want to choose a custom time. You should choose the date in the following box, press Next, and enter the time.
#6. Save Your Preferred Time
Verify the time and date in the final window of the custom time wizard, and then tap Save. When you’ve finished, the text and time will appear at the bottom of the window.
How to Schedule Text Messages on Samsung
- Don’t send the text message you just wrote.
- Press the arrow next to the text area on the left.
- Click the plus button to reveal more options.
- Select “Schedule message” from the menu that appears.
- Then click Done after setting the message’s time and date.
- To send the message at the designated time, tap the Send button.
How do You Send a scheduled Text message on your iPhone?
- Get your iPhone’s Shortcuts app open.
- Select the bottom-most Automation tab.
- In the center, select Create Personal Automation.
- Choose the choice for the time of day.
- Click Add Action.
- Select a recipient for your message and write it.
Is there an App to Send a Delayed Text Message?
Advance SMS is a text messaging app on Android devices that supports SMS and MMS. You can set a date or time for each text message to be sent, much like many other apps on our list.
Conclusion
Text message scheduling is quite convenient.
It is practical to schedule text messages to be sent to clients, team members, or employees. Businesses can create a message in advance and plan it to be sent later via scheduling rather than manually sending communications one at a time.
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