Adding a Send SMS Action
- In the Flow Builder canvas, click the add button (”+”) below any node
- Select “Send SMS” from the action menu
- The SMS composer modal opens
The SMS Composer
Message Body
Write your text message in the message body field. SMS is a concise medium — every character counts. The composer gives you a simple text input with:- Full text editing: Type your message as plain text
- Merge tag support: Click the merge tag icon to insert dynamic fan data
- Character counter: Displays in real time at the bottom of the composer
- Segment counter: Shows how many SMS segments your message will use
Character Count and Segments
SMS messages are split into segments based on character count:| Characters | Segments | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1-160 | 1 segment | 1x |
| 161-320 | 2 segments | 2x |
| 321-480 | 3 segments | 3x |
Tip: Aim for under 160 characters (1 segment) for quick alerts and under 320 characters (2 segments) for messages with a link. Going beyond 2 segments is rarely worth it — the message starts to feel too long for SMS.
Merge Tags
Personalize your text messages with dynamic fan data:{fan_first_name}— “Hey Sarah, the album just dropped!”{artist_name}— “New music from is live”{latest_title}— “Go stream now”{ai_dsp_link}— Smart link to their preferred streaming platform
Important: Merge tags count toward your character limit. {fan_first_name} will be replaced by the actual name, which varies in length. A name like “Sarah” adds 5 characters, but “Christopher” adds 11. Keep a buffer.
Click the merge tag icon in the composer to browse all available tags organized by category. See Merge Tags for the complete reference.
Phone Number
Your SMS messages send from the Telnyx phone number provisioned in your account. You will see the number displayed in the composer as a reminder. If you have not provisioned a phone number yet, the composer will show a prompt directing you to Settings, then Integrations to set one up.Prerequisites
Before you can use the Send SMS action, you need:1. A Provisioned Phone Number
You need at least one phone number from Telnyx connected to your Fanaura account. Set this up in Settings, then Integrations, then SMS/Phone. Fanaura supports two number types:- Toll-free numbers: 1,200 messages per minute. Ideal for campaigns and automations.
- Local numbers: 2 messages per minute. Suitable only for small-volume, personal messaging.
2. Fans with SMS Opt-In
SMS is a permission-based channel. Fanaura only sends text messages to fans who havesms_opt_in = true in their profile. This compliance check happens automatically — you do not need to build it into your flow logic.
If a fan in your flow does not have SMS opt-in, the Send SMS action will silently skip that fan. No error, no workaround — the message simply is not sent to non-opted-in fans.
Delivery and Throughput
How Messages Are Sent
When a Send SMS action executes, Fanaura sends the message through the Telnyx API using your provisioned phone number. The message is delivered to the fan’s phone as a standard text message.Throughput by Number Type
| Number Type | Max Throughput | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Toll-free | 1,200 messages/min | Campaign blasts, automation flows |
| Local (A2P) | 2 messages/min | Personal conversations only |
- Toll-free: All messages sent in ~13 minutes
- Local: All messages sent in ~125 hours (over 5 days)
Campaign Batching
When a flow triggers for many fans simultaneously (like a release day blast), Fanaura automatically batches the messages:- Messages are queued at the toll-free rate limit (1,200/min)
- Each batch is processed, then the next batch starts after a brief interval
- Every message is tracked individually with delivery status
- The flow continues for each fan once their message is sent
SMS Compliance
Fanaura handles SMS compliance automatically, but here is what you should know:Opt-In Required
Fans must explicitly opt in to receive SMS from you. Fanaura checkssms_opt_in before every send. There is no way to bypass this — even manual enrollment will not send SMS to non-opted-in fans.
Opt-Out Handling
Fans can text STOP to your number at any time to opt out. Telnyx handles this at the carrier level, and Fanaura updates the fan’ssms_opt_in to false automatically.
Content Guidelines
- Do not send SMS before 8 AM or after 9 PM in the fan’s timezone (use Time Windows in Flow Settings)
- Always identify yourself — include your artist name in the message
- Include opt-out instructions periodically (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”)
- Do not use URL shorteners that mask the destination (carriers flag these as spam)
Writing Great SMS Messages
SMS is not email. It is personal, immediate, and brief. Here is how to make your texts hit:Be Concise
Sound Like a Friend
One Clear Call to Action
Create Urgency (When Real)
Troubleshooting
Message Not Delivered
- Check opt-in status: Is the fan’s
sms_opt_inset to true? - Check phone number format: Fanaura stores numbers in E.164 format (+16157296291). Invalid formats will fail.
- Check provisioned number: Is your Telnyx number active and healthy?
- Check execution logs: Open the Execution Logs tab to see the error message
Slow Delivery
- Check your number type: Local numbers (2 msg/min) are extremely slow for automations. Switch to toll-free.
- Large batch: If thousands of fans triggered at once, messages are batched. Check the campaign queue progress.
Tips and Best Practices
- Always use toll-free numbers for automation flows — the throughput difference is 600x
- Keep messages under 160 characters when possible (1 segment, lower cost, faster delivery)
- Include your artist name so fans know who is texting
- Set Time Windows to avoid texting fans at 3 AM
- Test with your own number before activating a flow
- Do not over-text: Two to three SMS per week maximum. More than that and fans will opt out.
- Pair with email: Use SMS for urgent, time-sensitive messages and email for longer content