Why Send Automated Text Messages

Text messages have significantly higher open rates than email and are typically read within minutes of delivery. By adding a text message step to an Easy Automation, you can automatically send a personalized follow-up, appointment reminder, or promotional message to a contact the moment a trigger event occurs — without any manual effort. Easy Automations handle the opt-in process automatically so you can focus on writing the message rather than managing compliance setup.

How to Add a Text Message Step to an Easy Automation

1. In the left-hand navigation, click Automation and then click Easy to open the Easy Automations page.

   

   The left-hand navigation displays the Automation section with the Easy option listed beneath it. Clicking Easy opens the Easy Automations page where existing automations are listed and new ones can be created.

2. On the Easy Automations page, click the Create an automation button and select Easy Automation from the options that appear.

   

   The Create an automation button is located on the Easy Automations page. Clicking it opens a dropdown menu with the Easy Automation option. Selecting Easy Automation opens the automation builder.

3. Enter a name for your automation in the name field. Then configure the When event that will trigger the automation — for example, when a tag is applied, when a form is submitted, or when an appointment is completed. For detailed instructions on setting up a When event, see how to create an Easy Automation.

4. After configuring the When event, click Then to add the action that the automation will perform.

   

   The automation builder displays the configured When event at the top and the Then button below it. Clicking Then opens the action selection panel.

5. In the action selection panel, click Send a text to add a text message step to the automation.

   

   The action selection panel displays the available action types. The Send a text option is listed in the panel. Clicking Send a text opens the text message configuration step.

6. In the text message configuration step, select an existing text message template from the template list, or click Start with a blank message to write a new message from scratch.

   

   The text message configuration step displays existing templates in a list and the Start with a blank message option below the list. Select a template to use it as the starting point for your message, or select Start with a blank message to write the text from scratch.

7. Enter a name for the text message in the name field — this name is for your internal reference only and is not shown to the contact. Then type the message content in the message body field.

   

   The text message editor displays the name field at the top and the message body field below it. The name field is for internal reference only. The message body field contains the text the contact will receive.

8. Click Next to proceed to the send timing step.

   

9. On the send timing step, set whether the text message should be sent immediately after the When event fires, or after a delay. If you select a delay, configure the delay duration before proceeding.

   

   The send timing step displays two options: send the text immediately after the When event, or send it after a configured delay. Select the timing that fits your automation goal and configure the delay duration if applicable.

10. Click Next to return to the automation builder canvas.

    

11. On the automation builder canvas, continue adding additional Then actions or Stop conditions to the automation as needed to complete the full sequence.

12. Click Preview to review the full automation before publishing.

    

    The Preview button is located at the top right of the automation builder canvas. Clicking Preview opens the automation summary so you can confirm all steps are configured correctly before activating the automation.

13. Click Publish to activate the automation. After publishing, the automation will begin triggering for contacts who meet the configured When event condition.

Opt-In Requirements for Automated Text Messages

Keap's text message automation automatically handles most opt-in requirements, including the double opt-in process. The first time you send a text message to a phone number through an automation, Keap will send the contact an opt-in request asking whether they want to receive messages from your business. The contact must respond to confirm before receiving your marketing text message.

While Keap manages the technical opt-in flow, you are responsible for understanding and complying with the laws and regulations that apply to text message marketing and consent in your area.

Benefits of the opt-in process: You only send messages to contacts who have confirmed they want to receive them. Keap tracks opt-in and opt-out status on a per phone number basis — so even if multiple contact records share the same phone number, you can always see which contacts are opted in and which are opted out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Text Message Opt-In

Does every contact receive an opt-in message?

No. Opt-in messages are only sent to contacts with no previous opt-in history on their phone number. If a contact has already opted in on a previous occasion, the opt-in message will not be sent again — the automation will proceed directly to the marketing text message.

I already collected consent from my contacts in another system. Can I skip the opt-in?

No. To help you stay compliant with text message marketing regulations, Keap requires contacts to complete the opt-in process through Keap's tools even if you collected consent through a different system. Consent obtained outside of Keap cannot be imported or applied to skip the opt-in step.

Can I customize the opt-in message my contacts receive?

Yes, with limitations. Your opt-in message must include your business name to comply with legal requirements. You can personalize additional parts of the message beyond the required elements. Any legally required language — such as opt-out instructions — will be automatically added to your opt-in message by Keap.

Can I collect text message opt-in through a form instead of a text message?

Yes. You can add a text opt-in checkbox to a public form. When a contact completes the form with the opt-in checkbox checked and later receives an automated text message, Keap will skip the opt-in text and send the marketing message directly — because the contact already opted in through the form.

How to Preview the Opt-In Message Your Contacts Will See

When writing an automated text message in the Easy Automation builder, you can preview what the opt-in message looks like before publishing the automation.

1. In the text message editor, click Show opt-in message to display a preview of the opt-in message that will be sent to contacts before they receive your marketing text.

   

   The text message editor displays the Show opt-in message link below the message body field. Clicking it expands a preview of the opt-in message text.

2. The preview shows the double opt-in flow. The first message asks the contact whether they want to receive messages from your business. The contact must reply to confirm before the next message is sent.

   

   The mobile preview shows the opt-in message conversation as it appears on the contact's phone. The first message from your business asks the contact to confirm they want to receive messages. After the contact replies to confirm, the opt-in is recorded and the automation proceeds to send the marketing text message.

3. Once the contact opts in, Keap sends a confirmation message and then delivers the marketing text message you configured in the automation.

   

   The mobile preview shows the complete conversation after opt-in. The opt-in confirmation message appears first, followed by the marketing text message created in the automation. This is the full sequence of messages the contact will receive when they are new to your texting list.