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Send SMS

2 min read · By Stefan Köhn

Sends a text message to the record’s phone number. This is the step for the point where email stops working: someone who ignored three emails will ignore the fourth: a text lands in a different inbox and is almost always read.

An empty recipient means the record's phone number. Below the text it says how many messages it turns into, and when it becomes two.
An empty recipient means the record's phone number. Below the text it says how many messages it turns into, and when it becomes two.

Step by step

  1. Once: Settings → Account → SMS. Pick a provider, enter credentials and the sender ID, send a test message. Until then the step cannot be picked from the catalogue.
  2. In the flow: write the text. Variables such as '{{ record.last_name }}' work just like in email.
  3. Leave the recipient empty to use the record’s phone field. For a different number, type it in.
  4. The character counter below the text field shows how many messages your text becomes.

What does a text message cost?

Your provider bills it, not us: you supply your own account and pay there. The log records how many segments each message used; providers bill segments, not messages.

Why does my text suddenly become twice as many messages?

A single special character decides that. Without accented characters, 160 fit into one message; with an umlaut, a euro sign or an emoji, only 70: for the whole text, not just that character. The counter shows it as you type.

How must the phone number be stored?

However the contact typed it. 0170…, 0049…, +49 (0)170… are all normalised before sending. Anything that cannot be read as a number is skipped with a note instead of stopping the run.

Are messages sent at night?

No. Between 8 pm and 8 am the step waits until morning: an email at 3 am sits in the inbox, a text message wakes someone. You can switch the window off on the step.

What happens if the record has no phone number?

The step is skipped and the run continues: a missing number is a gap in the data, not an error. If the message is essential, put a condition in front of it.

Can I use a provider other than Twilio?

Twilio is built in today. Further providers are a small extension each: the platform is built so that switching changes nothing about your automations. Talk to us if you need a particular one.

Is there a limit?

Yes, 200 messages per account per day, adjustable on the account. A loop in an automation is embarrassing with email and an invoice with SMS.