Send automated SMS messages using workflows

You can reach out to opted in contacts with marketing or transactional information by sending SMS messages via workflows. You can also set up a workflow to subscribe a contact to SMS messages when they take an action to opt in.

Understand limitations and considerations

• Workflows that send SMS messages will send the messages to the number in the contact's Mobile Phone Number property. If this property is empty, the messages will be sent to the number in the Phone Number property instead. 
• Contacts must be set as marketing contacts to receive automated SMS messages. 

Create an automated SMS message

1. In your HubSpot account, navigate to Marketing > SMS.
2. In the top right, click Create message.
3. In the right panel, enter a name for the message in the SMS name field. 
4. Enter values for any required properties, then click Create message. 
5. In the message editor, edit and configure the SMS message.
6. Click the Sending tab. 
7. In the Sending method section on the left, click the How will you send the message? dropdown menu and select As part of a workflow. 
8. By default, quiet hours are turned on for all SMS messages, including those sent in workflows. Learn more about SMS quiet hours. 
9. In the top right, click Review and publish.
10. In the right panel, review your SMS message details, then click Publish message.

Add an SMS message to a workflow

Once you've published your marketing email, you can create a workflow that enrolls contacts to send SMS messages.

1. In your HubSpot account, navigate to Automation > Workflows.
2. Click the name of an existing workflow, or create a new workflow.
3. In the workflow editor, set enrollment criteria.
4. Click the add plus icon to add a workflow action.
5. In the left panel, click to expand the Communications section and select Send SMS message. 
6. Click the Contact dropdown menu and select Enrolled contact to send an SMS message to the contact enrolled in the workflow. To send messages to related contacts, click the Contact dropdown menu, then select More data. Learn more about using data variables in workflows.
7. Click the Choose a published SMS message dropdown menu and select an SMS message that's been published for automation. 
8. At the top of the left panel, click Save. 
9. Set up and turn on your workflow. 

Use a workflow to set a contact's SMS subscription status

You can use the workflows tool to set a contact's SMS subscription status and provide legal basis for communicating with the contact. This option is only available for workflows that enroll contacts. Learn more about managing consent to contact subscribers with SMS. 

1. In your HubSpot account, navigate to Automation > Workflows.
2. Click the name of an existing workflow, or create a new workflow.
3. In the workflow editor, set enrollment criteria.
4. Click the add plus icon to add a workflow action.
5. In the left panel, click to expand the CRM section and select Manage communication subscriptions. 
6. Click the Contact dropdown menu and select Enrolled contact to manage subscriptions for the contact enrolled in the workflow. To send messages to related contacts, click the Contact dropdown menu, then select More data. Learn more about using data variables in workflows.
7. Click the Messaging Channel dropdown menu and select SMS.
8. Click the Subscription status dropdown menu and select Subscribe.
9. Click the Communications subscription type dropdown menu and select the type of SMS communication the contact has agreed to receive.
10. Click the Legal basis for communicating with contact dropdown menu and select a legal basis option. Learn more about legal basis.
11. In the Explanation for communication consent field, enter a description of how you obtained the contact's consent to communicate with them. This should support the legal basis option you've selected. 
12. At the top of the left panel, click Save. 
13. Set up and turn on your workflow.