SMS add-on

The SMS add-on sends text messages to leads from automation rules, with quiet hours, STOP and START handling, and delivery tracking. It needs AcquisitionSuite Pro 3.7.0 or later with an active license. See Add-ons for installing it.

What it adds

A Send SMS action in the automation rule builder, and two triggers, SMS: Message Received and SMS: Message Failed.

Providers

• Twilio
• Termii, including the do-not-disturb route (Nigeria and Africa, with a registered sender ID)
• Africa’s Talking, with its sandbox (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and more, with sender IDs)
• Vonage
• Webhook, to hand the text to any other tool. Each text is posted as JSON with the lead ID, phone, message and site.

Set it up

1. Open AcquisitionSuite → Add-ons → SMS and choose a provider.
2. Enter the provider’s details (for Twilio: Account SID, Auth token and a From number or Messaging Service SID).
3. Set the default country calling code, so a number typed as 0803 123 4567 becomes +234 803 123 4567.
4. Choose Send test message, with your own number.

Write the right text

• Use merge tags such as {full_name} or {order_number}. A counter in the rule builder shows how many characters and billed parts the message is.
• One part is 160 characters (70 if the text has an emoji or special character). Every part is billed, so a message that would be cut into more parts than your limit is refused.
• If a rule names no phone field, the number the lead left in a form is used.
• Mark a text transactional (a receipt or an order update) to send it even to someone on the do-not-text list, and during quiet hours.

Look after your contacts

• A person who replies STOP is not texted again; START turns texts back on. You can also add numbers to the do-not-text list by hand.
• Quiet hours: promotional texts are held until the morning, or skipped, in your site’s timezone.
• Choose whether to text anyone with a number, or only people who agreed to marketing.
• Failures are explained in plain words (landline, blocked by the carrier, low balance, sender ID not approved).

Hear back

With Twilio, replies run your rules through the Message Received trigger. A reply from a known lead adds the tag sms-replied. In the Twilio console, paste the callback address shown on the add-on’s page as the “A message comes in” webhook, with the POST method. Delivery is tracked on each text in the Activity list as delivered or failed, and a failed delivery runs your Message Failed rules.

Good to know

• Only text people who agreed to hear from you, and follow your provider’s and your country’s rules for sender IDs and promotional messages.
• Lead Funnels can send a text as one of their actions. See Funnel actions.