Email & SMS

Setting up SMS / text message marketing

Configure GHL to send and receive text messages for lead follow-up, appointment reminders, and campaigns.

📋 6 steps ⏱ ~18 min 📅 Updated 2026-04-07 English

What you will learn

This GoHighLevel tutorial walks you through setting up sms / text message marketing with clear, numbered steps. Whether you are new to GoHighLevel or looking to configure email & sms correctly, this guide covers everything you need. You will learn: purchase a phone number, complete a2p 10dlc registration, set up your number in a workflow, create an sms campaign, and more. All steps work inside a standard GoHighLevel account — start a free 14-day trial if you do not have one yet.

Step-by-step guide

1

Purchase a phone number

Go to Settings → Phone Numbers → + Add Number. Choose a local number in your area code or a toll-free number. Note: toll-free numbers require additional verification for A2P.

2

Complete A2P 10DLC registration

For US numbers, you must register your brand and campaign with carriers via A2P 10DLC. Go to Settings → Phone Numbers → A2P Registration. This is required to send SMS at volume.

3

Set up your number in a workflow

Once you have a number, add Send SMS actions to your workflows. Always include your business name and an opt-out instruction (Reply STOP to unsubscribe).

4

Create an SMS campaign

Go to Marketing → SMS and create a new campaign for broadcast SMS messages to your list.

5

Configure two-way SMS

GHL's unified inbox allows two-way SMS conversations. Replies to your SMS number appear in the Conversations tab, ready to respond.

6

Respect compliance rules

Never send SMS to contacts who haven't opted in. Maintain an opt-out list and always honor STOP requests. Violating TCPA regulations carries significant fines.

💡 Once this is set up, GoHighLevel handles the rest automatically. Start your free trial →

Frequently asked questions

How do I purchase a phone number in GoHighLevel?

Go to Settings → Phone Numbers → + Add Number. Choose a local number in your area code or a toll-free number. Note: toll-free numbers require additional verification for A2P.

What is the first step to setting up sms / text message marketing?

The first step is to purchase a phone number. Go to Settings → Phone Numbers → + Add Number. Choose a local number in your area code or a toll-free number. Note: toll-free numbers require additional verification for A2P.

Do I need a GoHighLevel account to follow this tutorial?

Yes. This guide requires an active GoHighLevel account. You can start a free 14-day trial at gohighlevel.com — no credit card is required.

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