Drip SMS campaigns, also known as drip texting, drip marketing, automated SMS campaigns, lifecycle messaging and marketing automation. In each case, the concept is the same: a set of automated marketing text messages are sent out on a schedule or based on triggering events. Generally, a campaign will be created that sends a new message every few days. Based on the customers interaction with the message, different actions can be taken based on a set of predefined rules.
What is a Drip SMS Campaign?
How do you create a Drip Campaign?
- Who will receive your message? – Will it be based on a trigger event (like signing up to a form), manual enrollment or will all your contacts receive your drip message? You need to setup the rules which will define your audience.
- What are the messages that will be sent? – For each of the SMS messages, the text needs to be written. Often created in a template form, where you can have personalized attributes added automatically.
- What are the delays between messages? – This is the time delay between when each message is sent. These are usually defined in days, hours or minute intervals.
- What happens when the contact does something? – Depending on your contacts response, you may want to take different actions. Using a set of rules, you may stop the drip campaign entirely, or send a different set of messages.
Setup a HubSpot Drip SMS Campaign
Step 1
Account Setup
1. HubSpot Account
2. Sakari SMS Account
Sakari is the text messaging service we will use to send and receive the drip texts. You can sign up for a free trial of Sakari here: https://sakari.io/signup/
Step 2
Create a new workflow


Step 3
Workflow Selection
HubSpot workflow selection

Step 4
Workflow Naming
HubSpot Drip Campaign Name

Step 5
Header
HubSpot Enrollment Trigger Options

HubSpot Manual Trigger Option

Step 6
Setup the First Drip SMS Message


Step 7
Configure the Number and Message
Phone Number Selection

Message Creation

Completed SMS Message Template

Step 8
Setup the Drip SMS Campaign Flow
Here is how we’ll structure our HubSpot drip SMS workflow:
- Text message #1 – Send the first text message.
- Delay – Add a delay of whatever duration you desire. This delay can be specified in days, hours or minute increments.
- If/then – Add a conditional if/then statement. This will stop the drip campaign if a contact replies.
- Text message #2 – Send the second text message. Another round of delay and if/then rules will then follow any additional messages.
- Delay – Add a delay of whatever duration you desire. This delay can be specified in days, hours or minute increments.
- If/then – Add a conditional if/then statement. This will stop the drip campaign if a contact replies.
- Text message #3 – Send the second text message. Another round of delay and if/then rules will then follow any additional messages.
Step 9
Adding the Messaging Delay
The delay will be applied between each message so that the messages will not be received simultaneously. We will add a delay measured in a number of days. After the first drip message is sent, the contacts will be queued until this delay has completed.




Step 10
Add If/then Branch


Add If/then Branch

Add If/then Branch


Step 11
Complete HubSpot Drip SMS Workflow
Drip SMS Steps by Day
- Day 1 – contact(s) are added to the workflow and will immediately receive drip text message #1
- Day 5 – A delay of 4 days occurs. Contacts that received the first message will reviewed in the “if/then” statement. If they have responded to the drip message, they will be removed from the workflow and no longer receive any more text messages. If they haven’t responded then they will receive send second drip text message.
- Day 9 – A second delay of 4 days occurs. All contacts that received the second text message will be reviewed. If they responded to the second text message then they will be removed from the workflow and no longer receive any more text messages. If they haven’t responded to any texts, then they will receive the third and final drip message.

Step 12
Turn the workflow on
Review Workflow

Click Workflow On

Step 9
Add Contacts to your Workflow

Manual Workflow Enrollment Options
- Enroll from a list – use a dynamic or static list to enroll contacts in the drip SMS campaign
- Choose contacts – select one or more contacts individually to enroll in a workflow
In our example, we will choose the “Choose contacts” option. This will allow us to manually assign contacts to our workflow.

Adding Drip Messaging Contacts
