Customize and Send SMS Welcome Messages

  • Updated

When a contact opts in to SMS, Act-On can send them an automatic Welcome Message to confirm it. The Welcome Message is a single configurable SMS that goes out to every new opt-in - from a Form or a mapped Marketing List - so long as you have Credits available. This article covers how to customise it and how to turn it on or off per source.

Who does this: Act-On Administrators
Time needed: 10-15 minutes to draft and enable; a few seconds to toggle after that
Why this matters: A Welcome Message closes the loop on consent. The contact just ticked a box or gave you their number - the confirmation SMS proves the channel works and sets expectations for what they will receive. A missing or generic Welcome Message is a missed trust-building moment and can raise opt-out rates down the line.
In plain English: Write the Welcome Message once, then enable it on each Form and Marketing List that feeds the Opt-In List. Every new opt-in from those sources gets it automatically.

Before you start

Customise the SMS Welcome Message

Go to SMS > Opt-Ins. In the Welcome Message section, click Edit Message.

You can start from a template and use the standard composer tools to preview the message, add a short URL, insert personalization, and add opt-out language.

Note: The Welcome Message can only be added once you have collected at least one opt-in.

Editing the Welcome Message

Enable or disable the Welcome Message

The Welcome Message sends automatically only to new opt-ins from Lists and Forms where it is enabled. Disable it on a source if you would rather send the confirmation from an automated program instead.

For a Marketing List

When you first map a list as an Opt-In source, you choose whether the Welcome Message is on.

Welcome Message choice at list mapping

To change it later, go to SMS > Opt-Ins, find the list under Source Lists, and tick or untick the Welcome Message box.

Welcome Message checkbox on an existing source list

For Form opt-ins

The Welcome Message sends automatically when a contact submits a Form that includes the SMS Opt-In section and the Welcome Message is enabled on that section.

To change the setting for an existing Form, go to Content > Forms, open the Form, edit the SMS Opt-In section, toggle the Welcome Message, and save.

Welcome Message toggle on the SMS Opt-In section

Next steps

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