Write the follow-up text, count the segments
Name your business, say why you are writing and ask one easy question.
Follow-up text generator
firmkit.co/tools/follow-up-text-generator/ · Oct 19, 2026
Example numbers, not yours.
Your calculation, step by step
- Short115 characters, 1 segment
- Standard199 characters, 2 segments
- Detailed233 characters, 2 segments
- Rule160 characters in one text, 153 per part when a text is split
- 200 x 2texts a month x segments each
- = 400segments billed
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Your three texts and the segment counts stay free above.
- A five-step sequence with the days to send each one
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- A copy-all block and a printable copy
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Your table and printable plan
This report uses the example numbers.
A planning aid, not accounting or legal advice.
Made with firmkit.co/tools/follow-up-text-generator/. A planning aid, not accounting or legal advice.
How the numbers are worked out
The formula, in words
Texts using the GSM-7 alphabet hold 160 characters in one message. Once split, each part holds 153.
A single character outside GSM-7, such as a curly quote or an emoji, switches the whole message to UCS-2. That holds 70 in one message and 67 per part.
Segments = 1 if the length fits one message, otherwise the length divided by the per-part size, rounded up.
Billed segments a month = texts a month x segments in the standard version.
A few GSM-7 characters count twice, including { } [ ] ~ ^ | \ and the euro sign. The counter handles that. The templates are plain wording we wrote. Edit them freely.
What the tool cannot know
- Whether a person agreed to be texted. You must have that.
- Your carrier's own filtering and your registration status.
- What your provider charges per segment, which differs by provider and by carrier fees.
- Whether a text lands well. Read each one aloud first.
Every assumption, and who set it
| Assumption | Value | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Message wording | Our plain templates | Firmkit, you edit it |
| Business name, your name, the service | Your details | You |
| Texts a month | 200 as an example | You |
| Price per segment | Not set | Your provider |
| Opt-out line | On | You |
Sources
- Segment rule: the 3GPP SMS standards (TS 23.038 and TS 23.040), which set 160 characters in GSM-7 and 70 in UCS-2, with 153 and 67 per joined part.
- Cadence for an estimate: our own post, How to follow up on an estimate. It is a sample, not a rule.
- Registration: A2P 10DLC for contractors (Firmkit blog). A planning aid, not legal advice.
Source check
- 3GPP text sizes (160, 70, 153, 67). Not yet checked against the 3GPP original. Widely reported, so shown as a rule of thumb
Questions people ask
What should I say in an estimate follow-up text?
Say who you are, name the job and ask one easy question. Offer help, such as walking through the options or holding a day on the schedule. Do not only ask whether they decided. Only mention an opening if it is real, because made-up urgency costs trust. Keep the text short.
How soon should I text after a missed call?
Within minutes, while the caller is still looking for someone. A short text that says sorry we missed you and asks what they need keeps the conversation alive until you can call back. Send it from the same number the caller dialed, and call back the same day if you can.
How many follow-up texts are too many?
For an estimate, about five touches over two weeks is a fair rhythm, then stop with a polite closing note. Stop at once if the customer replies, says no or asks to stop. More nudges past that point cost goodwill. An urgent repair deserves a faster rhythm, within hours.
Do I need permission to text a customer?
Yes. Text people who contacted you or agreed to texts, and keep a record. Say who you are, include opt-out wording and honor STOP right away. A business texting from a standard 10-digit number also needs A2P 10DLC registration. Ask a lawyer about your own case, since rules vary.
How long can one text be?
One message holds 160 characters in the standard GSM-7 alphabet, or 70 if any character falls outside it. Longer texts are joined from parts of 153 or 67 characters, and many providers bill each part. Straight quotes keep you in GSM-7, while curly quotes and emoji do not.
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