Messaging
Set up SMS sending with Textlocal, Twilio or eBulkSMS
Connect an SMS provider in Leadnote, send a test text, understand the 700 character limit and country codes, and turn on delivery reports.
You connect an SMS provider in Campaigns, on the Bulk SMS page, in the Settings tab. After Check & Save succeeds, bulk SMS, greetings and test texts leave from your own provider account.
Only Account Owners and Managers can change these settings. Other users see them read-only.
Pick a provider
Open Campaigns, then Bulk SMS, then Settings. The tiles are:
| Provider | Good for | Badge on the tile |
|---|---|---|
| Textlocal | An approved six-character sender | None |
| Twilio | Global SMS | None |
| eBulkSMS | Nigeria and Africa | None |
| Custom HTTP gateway | Any SMS API over HTTPS | None |
| MSG91 | India, DLT templates | Draft |
| MSpace | East Africa | Draft |
The tile of the provider you have connected shows Connected. A Draft tile has a Draft badge, and its connection form shows the note "This provider is implemented to its documented API but has not been exercised against a live account yet." A tile without the badge is not a guarantee either: whichever provider you pick, send a test SMS first and check it in the message log.
Saving a provider replaces the one you had before.
Fill in the provider form
Each tile shows numbered steps at the top of the form. The fields are:
- Textlocal: Textlocal API key and Sender (6 characters), which must be an approved six-character sender name. Create your message templates in the Textlocal console under Send, Templates and Drafts, and set placeholder lengths large enough for lead details, or messages can fail when a value is too long.
- Twilio: Auth Token, Account SID (starts with AC), Messaging Services ID (starts with MG), Twilio Number in international format, and Mobile number to send test SMS, which must be a number verified in Twilio. All five are required. Alphanumeric sender id is optional and only works where the destination country allows it (up to 11 characters).
- eBulkSMS: Username (account email), eBulkSMS API key and Sender name (up to 11 characters). Default country code is optional.
- Custom HTTP gateway: for any provider with an HTTPS API. You enter the Gateway URL (template), the Method, optional Headers and Query parameters as JSON, and a Body. Use the placeholders {{toDigits}}, {{toE164}} and {{message}} in the templates, and {{secret.apiKey}} where your key goes. Say what a good answer looks like with Success HTTP statuses, Success match or Failure match, so a rejected message is not reported as sent. Message id extraction lets Leadnote read the provider's message id.
Keys must be at least 8 characters. They are saved encrypted and cannot be shown again, so enter them again whenever you update the connection.
Choose Check & Save. Leadnote verifies the credentials with the provider and reports one of: Connected and saved, Saved, but the provider rejected it, or Saved, but not verified.
Send a test SMS
On the Connection tab use Send a test SMS. Enter a To mobile number and a message, then open the result in the message log. A test goes through your own account only. If you have not connected one, the page says to connect your own account first.
Numbers and country codes
Enter numbers with a country code when you can. If a lead's number has none, Leadnote adds the calling code of your organisation's country, or +91 for India when no country is set. A number that already starts with + is never changed. The Bulk SMS settings screen repeats this rule with your actual code.
Write the message
The SMS composer takes up to 700 characters and shows a counter. Insert lead details with the placeholder menu, for example {{lead.firstName}}. The older buttons #LeadName# and #LeadOrganizationName# are still available for SMS. The full list is in message templates and placeholders.
Turn on delivery reports
Providers tell Leadnote when a text is delivered or failed through a webhook. Open the Delivery & sender tab, then the Delivery webhook card, and choose Create webhook URL and secret. Leadnote shows the URL and a secret once, so copy both now. Paste them into your provider's delivery report settings. If you lose the secret, choose Rotate secret. The old one stops working immediately, so update the provider at once.
Twilio, MSG91, Textlocal and the Custom HTTP gateway use this webhook. eBulkSMS and MSpace do not send delivery webhooks, so their texts do not move past Sent. Without the webhook, Delivered and Failed reports from your provider cannot reach the message log.
Other settings
On the Delivery & sender tab you can switch your account off (Use this connection for sending) so Leadnote uses its own sender where available, and choose which purposes use your account: Marketing, Notifications, Reminders and Transactional. Reset removes the connection.
To follow what happens after you press send, read delivery status and the message log. To send your first text to many leads, see create and send a campaign.
Frequently asked questions
How long can an SMS be in Leadnote?
The SMS composer accepts up to 700 characters and shows a live counter. Your provider may split or reject long texts, so keep messages short.
What country code is used when a lead's number has none?
Leadnote adds the calling code of your organisation's country. If no country is set on the organisation it uses India (+91). A number that already starts with + is never changed.
Why do my texts stay at Sent and never show Delivered?
Delivered comes from the provider's delivery report. Create the delivery webhook on the Delivery tab and paste it into your provider. eBulkSMS and MSpace send no delivery reports.