AI SMS marketing on the levelpartner.ai platform pairs two things: text campaigns sent to a consented list, and an AI agent that answers every reply. The campaign starts conversations; the agent carries them on, books meetings and records outcomes in the CRM. That is what makes SMS useful for a service firm, where a reply is the point and a promotion blast with no one answering is wasted. This guide covers planning, consent and setup.
Why replies matter more than sends
Text messages are read. That is their strength and their risk. A campaign to 2,000 contacts can generate dozens of replies within minutes, and if nobody answers them, the leads go cold before your team arrives in the morning.
An agent fixes the bottleneck. It reads each reply, answers from your knowledge base, asks one or two questions and offers a time to talk. Your team only sees the conversations where the contact wants a person or has booked.
Consent and texting rules
Marketing texts need prior consent in the US, the UK and most other markets. In the United States, rules on automated marketing texts require clear written consent and honouring opt-outs. In the United Kingdom, electronic marketing rules require consent or an existing customer relationship with a simple opt-out. Take your own advice on how these apply to you. On the platform, record consent on the contact, include opt-out wording and never import a list you did not collect.
Before you start
- An SMS-capable number on your account, registered for business messaging where your carrier or market requires it.
- A list segment of contacts with recorded SMS consent.
- An AI agent connected to SMS, with a knowledge base suited to the campaign.
- A booking calendar and a clear offer: a review call, a valuation, a rate check, a workshop place.
- Opt-out handling switched on so replies such as "stop" unsubscribe the contact.
How to set it up
- Go to Contacts > Smart Lists and click + Add smart list.
- Choose one or more filters from the dropdown.
- Enter the filter details and click Apply.
- Select AND to add another filter.
- Click Create to save the smart list.
- Open your workflow in the workflow builder.
- Add an SMS action or choose an existing one.
- Click Write with AI in the SMS action panel.
- Describe the message's goal and its audience.
- Choose a tone, or leave it neutral.
- Click Generate and review the preview.
- Click Use Message, or Regenerate for a variation.
Campaigns that suit each industry
Agencies can invite past clients to a strategy review. Consultants can offer a place at a small briefing on a regulatory change. Mortgage brokers can contact clients whose fixed rate ends soon. Real estate teams can offer past vendors a fresh valuation. Each campaign gives a specific, time-bound reason to reply, which matters more than clever wording.
Suppose the brokerage has 400 clients whose fixed rates end in the next six months, and a single text offering a rate review draws around 60 replies. The agent would answer questions, book the straightforward review calls and pass complex cases to an adviser. If 35 book and eight need an adviser, most of the work is done overnight, when those 60 replies would otherwise sit waiting for the morning.
Time each campaign takes
Planning, drafting and testing a campaign takes about two hours. The test segment matters most; it is where you find answers the agent gets wrong. After the full send, spend 30 minutes the next day reading hand-offs and opt-outs. A high opt-out rate tells you the list or the offer is off.
The most common mistake is sending a promotion with no question in it. A text that only announces something gets ignored or opted out. Ask the contact to reply with a word, and have the agent ready.
When not to use SMS campaigns
Do not text cold lists, purchased data or people who gave their number for another purpose. Do not run SMS campaigns more than once or twice a month to the same contacts. For one-to-one texting with leads and clients rather than campaigns, see AI text messaging. For chasing stalled deals by text, read AI follow up.
Troubleshooting
Messages are filtered by carriers. The number is unregistered or the content looks like spam. Register the number where required, remove link shorteners and keep the language plain.
The agent answers off-topic. Its instructions do not mention the campaign. Add a line describing the offer before each send.
Opt-outs are not processed. Opt-out keywords are not enabled. Check the SMS settings and test by replying "stop" from a test phone.
Replies arrive outside hours with no answer. The agent is set to office hours only. Allow it to reply at all hours for SMS, with hand-offs queued for the morning.
Frequently asked questions
How is SMS billed?
Text messages are billed as used as usage, on top of your licence. AI replies add a small usage cost per conversation. The licence covers the feature and unlimited contacts.
Can the AI write the campaign text?
Yes. Use Write with AI in a workflow's SMS action to draft versions, then pick and edit one. Keep a person responsible for the final wording.
Can we use WhatsApp instead of SMS?
Yes, where your clients use it. WhatsApp has its own template and consent rules. The same agent can answer replies on both channels. Our guide to conversational AI explains how one agent covers several channels.
What results should we expect?
That depends on your list, your offer and your timing. Measure replies, bookings and opt-outs for each campaign, and compare like with like. The AI sales agent article explains how to qualify responders.