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Stay AI + Postscript SMS Playbook

Your guide to building smarter subscription experiences—powered by Postscript + Stay AI.

Cecilia Wilbur avatar
Written by Cecilia Wilbur
Updated over 3 weeks ago

🔹 What you’ll get from this playbook

  • Clear use cases to turn SMS into a retention tool

  • Proven flows you can launch with Postscript + Stay AI

  • Messaging tips that drive clicks and conversions

  • Personalization tactics using dynamic variables

  • Guidance on setting up event triggers and journeys

  • A simpler way to boost LTV—without needing a chatbot


🔹 Overview & objective

If you’re using Postscript for SMS, this guide will help you unlock its full potential for your subscription program. Whether it’s helping customers skip an order, reactivating a lapsed subscriber, or boosting AOV with a product add-on, you’ll learn how to do it with minimal setup and maximum impact.

This isn’t about overhauling your strategy. It’s about connecting Postscript’s flexible messaging tools with Stay AI’s quick actions to create intuitive, subscriber-first experiences. No bots, no coding, just streamlined retention workflows.

We’ll walk through real use cases, integration tips, and proven messaging strategies so you can start fast and scale confidently.


🔹 Use cases: What you can build

Each use case pairs a Postscript keyword flow or automation trigger with a Stay AI quick action. Use keywords for inbound SMS (like "SKIP" or "CANCEL") or pair Postscript automations with Stay AI event triggers to launch outbound messages. Just plug in the right trigger, message, and link!


1. Subscription welcome flow

When to use it: Immediately after someone becomes a subscriber.

Trigger: Use the Subscription Started event from Stay AI.

Message: “Welcome! 🎉 Tap here to check your subscription and perks.”

Link: Use the {{login_link}} variable to the Stay AI portal.

Bonus tip: Include a visual of rewards, a punch card, or early access perks.

2. Payment update prompt

When to use it: After a failed payment attempt.

Trigger: Use the Billing Attempt Failed event from Stay AI.

Message: “Heads up—your payment didn’t go through. Tap to update your info.”

Link: Stay AI Update Payment quick action. note: this will be available in June!

Note: Requires billing event syncing from Stay AI → Postscript via Alloy.

3. Skip order flow

When to use it: When a subscriber texts in to skip their next shipment.

Trigger: Keyword-triggered SMS (e.g., SKIP).

Keyword: SKIP

Auto-reply: “Got it! Tap here to skip your next order.”

Link: Stay AI Skip Order quick action.

Note: You can also build this as a reply option in your Upcoming Order Reminder flow, using Stay AI’s Upcoming Order event as the trigger.

4. Add-on campaign

When to use it: When you launch a new product or seasonal flavor.

Trigger: Marketing campaign in Postscript, with a keyword prompt to opt in.

Example flow: “Our new flavor just dropped 🍊 Reply ORANGE to add it to your next box.”

Keyword: ORANGE (or your flavor name)

Auto-reply: “Orange Cream is in! Tap to add it to your next box.”

Link: Stay AI Add Item quick action.

Reminder: Upsell links should only go to subscribers who’ve opted into marketing.

5. Cancel save flow

When to use it: When a subscriber texts in “cancel” or starts the cancellation process.

Trigger: Keyword-triggered flow (CANCEL), or build a proactive message using the Subscription Canceled event.

Keyword: CANCEL

Auto-reply: “We’re sad to see you go. Tap here to manage your subscription.”

Link: Stay AI Cancel quick action.

Bonus: Send a follow-up offer like: “Changed your mind? Text RESTART anytime.”

6. Reactivation flow

When to use it: When re-engaging a lapsed or paused subscriber.

Trigger: Use Stay AI’s Subscription Canceled or Paused event in Postscript to build a reactivation journey.

Keyword (optional): RESTART

Message: “Ready to come back? Tap to restart your subscription.”

Link: Stay AI Reactivation quick action.

Bonus tip: Sweeten the offer with a discount or free gift to boost conversion.


🔹Setting Up: Postscript + Stay AI

Haven’t set it up yet?

Not a problem! Setup takes just a few minutes. Follow the full instructions here:

Here’s a quick summary of how to connect your Stay AI and Postscript accounts:

  1. In Stay AI, go to Settings → Integrations

  2. Select Postscript and click “Integrate with Stay AI”

  3. Paste your Postscript Private API Key

Don’t have one?

  1. In Postscript, go to Settings → API

  2. Click Create Security Key Pair

  3. Copy your Private Key

Then:

Paste the key into Stay AI and click Validate

Once you see ✅, click Finish Installation

🔐 Note: This integration only works with Postscript’s modern automation flows (not legacy).


🔹 Event triggers you can use

Stay AI sends the following events to Postscript:

  • Subscription started

  • Order purchased

  • Billing attempt processed

  • Upcoming order

  • Subscription order canceled

  • Subscription order paused

  • Subscription order skipped

  • Billing attempt failed

  • Item out of stock

Use these to power flows like reactivation, upsells, reminders, and more.


🔹 Personalizing with dynamic variables

Drop in subscriber-specific details to make messages feel personal:

  • {{firstName}}, {{email}}, {{phone}}

  • {{staySubscriptions}}

  • {{nextBillingDate}}, {{orderNumber}}, {{price}}

  • {{city}}, {{province}}, {{country}}

  • {{loginLink}} – Magic login to Stay AI portal

Example message:

“Hi {{firstName}}, your next order ships to {{city}}, {{country}}. Tap here to update: {{loginLink}}”

Best practice: Use 1–2 variables max per message.

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