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      How to Create an SMS Marketing List in the CRM

      In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up an SMS marketing list in the CRM—a crucial step if you plan to send promotional or informational text messages to your contacts.

      An SMS marketing list is a group of contacts who have explicitly agreed to receive text messages from you. With the CRM's SMS campaign builder, you can:

      • Personalize your messages

      • Add shortened links

      • Include images (for U.S. recipients)

      • Schedule messages for later

      It’s not just a contact list—it also helps you manage communication permissions and ensure compliance with SMS marketing rules.

      Before You Begin

      Before you can create and use an SMS marketing list, make sure the following requirements are met:

      • SMS Add-On Required: You need to purchase the SMS add-on from ActiveCampaign.

      • Registered Phone Number: You must have a registered U.K. or U.S. phone number in ActiveCampaign to send SMS broadcasts.

      • Explicit Consent: Only contacts who have clearly opted in can be added to your SMS list.

      • A2P 10DLC Registration (U.S. only): If you’re sending texts to U.S. numbers, you must register for A2P 10DLC, a messaging regulation standard.

      • MMS Support: Multimedia messaging (MMS) is only available in the U.S. The U.K. does not support MMS.

      Step 1: Create an SMS Marketing List

      1. In your ActiveCampaign account, go to Contacts > Lists on the left menu.

      2. Click "Add a list."

      3. A popup window will appear. Fill in the following details:

        • Name: Choose a short, clear name for your list. Example: “VIP SMS Subscribers”. Keep in mind, your contacts will see this name.

        • Description: Write a description for internal use so your team knows what the list is for. This is not visible to contacts.

      4. Under Marketing Channel, click the dropdown and select “SMS.” Image 4-8-25 at 4.00 AM

      5. Click "Save" to create your SMS list.

      Step 2: Add Contacts to Your SMS List

      There are several ways to add contacts to your SMS list, depending on how you collect data or organize your contacts. Here are your options:

      Option 1: Use a Subscription Form

      Create a form that allows people to subscribe directly to your SMS list. This ensures clear consent and makes it easy for people to sign up.

      Option 2: Import Contacts via CSV

      If you already have contacts in a spreadsheet:

      • Use the Import feature in ActiveCampaign.

      • On the "Select Fields to Map" screen, go to the “Select Lists” section.

      • Choose your SMS list.
        🛑 Note: You must create the SMS list first before importing contacts.

      Option 3: Bulk Edit Contacts

      If you want to add multiple existing contacts to the SMS list:

      1. Use the Bulk Editor tool.

      2. Choose “Add to a list” in the “Action” section.

      3. Select your SMS list.
        🔔 Reminder: You must create the list beforehand.

      Option 4: Add Individual Contacts

      You can also add contacts one-by-one using the Contact Management page: Image 4-8-25 at 3.57 AM

      1. Go to Contacts.

      2. Click on the contact you want to edit.

      3. Scroll to the “Lists” section.

      4. Click “Add.”

      5. Select the SMS list.

      6. Click “Okay.”

      Quick Example

      Imagine you're preparing for a holiday sale.
      You want to send a special discount via text to your most engaged customers. You:

      • Create a list called “Holiday VIP SMS”

      • Use a signup form to let people opt in

      • Import past purchasers from a CSV and add them to the list

      • Send a scheduled SMS blast with a link to your holiday shop

      Boom—your campaign is ready to go, and you’re reaching the right audience via text!