SimpleGoals
The text message program
How the SimpleGoals text service works, step by step.
Program overview
SimpleGoals is a daily goal-accountability service delivered by text message. You can sign up by texting START to the dedicated SimpleGoals number, or by signing up at simplegoals.net. Signing up on the website requires an SMS one-time code to verify your phone number. At your chosen reminder time each day, we text you your goal and ask you to reply Y (yes) or N (no) to confirm whether you achieved it. Message frequency is user-configurable and starts at no more than 5 messages per day. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
The Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply to the program.
All message flows
Inbound SMS to the dedicated number
Known sender?
No
Under the daily unknown-sender limit?
No
Ignored, no reply
Yes
Text is START?
No
Ignored, no reply
Yes
SMS onboarding (new user)
Ask: What goal would you like to set?
User replies with a goal
Send timezone options 1-7
User picks a timezone
Opt-in confirmation: goal, time, timezone + disclosures
Enrollment complete
Daily reminders begin
Yes
Opted out?
Yes
No messages until START
START resumes · HELP still answered
No
Command?
START→Restart confirmation, or a prompt if the goal or timezone is missing
HELP→Help message with the website, UNSUBSCRIBE, and END
CHANGE <new goal>→Goal updated confirmation
UNSUBSCRIBE / STOP→Opt-out confirmation; no messages until START
END→Two-step confirmation, then account and data deletion
Y / N / YES / NO→Daily result recorded and acknowledged
Any other text→Reply HELP for options, or START to restart
Daily reminder and check-in
Daily reminder at the user's chosen time
Reminder: {goal}. Did you achieve it? Reply Y or N.
Y or N reply
Recorded as that day's result
Acknowledgment sent
No reply
Nothing recorded
Website opt-in
simplegoals.net/login
Consent checkbox (unchecked by default) + phone number
One-time code sent by SMS
Code verified; user created
Reminder setup: message, time, timezone
Setup complete
Daily reminders begin
Flow summary
| Flow | Trigger | Response |
|---|---|---|
| SMS onboarding | Text START (new user) | Goal prompt, then timezone options, then opt-in confirmation with disclosures; daily reminders begin |
| SMS restart | Text START (existing user) | Re-activates the task and confirms the current goal and schedule |
| Daily reminder and check-in | Scheduler at the user's reminder time | Reminder with a Y/N prompt; the reply is recorded as that day's result and acknowledged; no reply is unrecorded |
| Change goal | CHANGE <new goal> | Goal updated confirmation |
| Help | HELP, INFO, SUPPORT | Help message with the website and UNSUBSCRIBE/END instructions |
| Unsubscribe | UNSUBSCRIBE or STOP | Opt-out confirmation; no messages until START |
| Delete account | END twice | Confirmation prompt, then account and data deletion |
| Unknown sender | Any message from an unknown number | Ignored unless it is START; rate-limited per day |