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Channel

SMS

SMS is the channel for time-sensitive alerts and promotions that need to be read in minutes. Delivery receipts and opt-out handling are built in.

4 min read

What you'll need

  • Contacts with phone numbers in E.164 format (+countrycode…)
  • SMS consent recorded per contact

What you can send

  • Alerts: OTP codes, delivery and appointment reminders.
  • Promotions: short, time-boxed offers with a clear opt-out.
  • Automated steps inside lifecycle flows.

Set it up

  1. 1

    Store numbers in E.164

    Phone numbers must include the country code, e.g. +14155550123. The contact import maps a phone column for you.

  2. 2

    Record consent

    Only message contacts who opted in to SMS; opt-outs are suppressed automatically.

  3. 3

    Send

    Add an SMS step to an automation, create an SMS campaign, or POST /v1/messages with channel "sms".

Delivery & opt-out

Delivery receipts (DLRs) update each message's status. Inbound opt-out keywords add the number to the suppression list so you stay compliant.

Frequently asked questions

What format do phone numbers need?

E.164 — a leading + and the country code, with no spaces or dashes (e.g. +447700900123).

Are unsubscribes handled automatically?

Yes — opt-out replies suppress the number from future SMS sends.

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SMS channel: alerts and promotions — Climails