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November 2024 GoHighLevel

Advanced GoHighLevel SMS Automation Strategies That Convert

Master SMS automation in GoHighLevel with proven strategies that achieve 40%+ open rates and drive real business results.

Why SMS Automation is Critical

SMS has a 98% open rate compared to email's 20%. In GoHighLevel, SMS automation can be your secret weapon for:

  • Instant lead engagement (respond within 5 minutes = 10x conversion)
  • Appointment confirmations and reminders
  • Re-engaging cold prospects
  • Delivering time-sensitive offers

High-Converting SMS Automation Workflows

1. The Lightning Lead Response

Trigger: New lead submission
Timing: Immediate (within 60 seconds)

Message 1 (Immediate):
"Hi [First Name]! Thanks for your interest in [Service]. I'm [Your Name] from [Company]. When's the best time to chat about your [specific need]? 📞"

Message 2 (If no response in 2 hours):
"Quick question [First Name] - are you still looking to [solve their problem]? I have a few ideas that might help 💡"

Message 3 (Next day if no response):
"[First Name], I know you're busy. Here's a quick video showing exactly how we helped [similar client]. Worth 2 minutes? [video link]"

2. The Appointment Confirmation Sequence

Timing: Confirmation → 24hr reminder → 2hr reminder → Post-meeting follow-up

Confirmation (Immediate):
"Perfect! Your [meeting type] is confirmed for [date] at [time]. I'll call you at [phone]. Looking forward to it! 🎯"

24-Hour Reminder:
"Hi [Name]! Looking forward to our call tomorrow at [time]. Quick prep: have your [relevant info] handy. See you then! 📋"

2-Hour Reminder:
"Just a friendly reminder - we're chatting in 2 hours at [time]. I'll call [phone number]. Ready to dive in! 🚀"

3. The Re-engagement Campaign

For leads that have gone cold (30+ days no contact)

Message 1:
"Hi [Name], it's been a while! I just helped [similar business] increase their [metric] by 40%. Reminded me of our conversation. Still interested? 📈"

Message 2 (3 days later):
"[Name], I'm running a limited [offer/assessment] this month. Only 5 spots left. Want to grab one? [link] ⏰"

GoHighLevel SMS Best Practices

Technical Setup

  • Use Local Numbers: Higher delivery rates than toll-free
  • Compliance: Always include opt-out instructions
  • Contact Limits: Max 1 SMS per day to avoid spam flags
  • Time Zones: Use GHL's timezone automation

Message Optimization

  • Length: Keep under 160 characters when possible
  • Personalization: Use custom fields beyond just [First Name]
  • CTAs: One clear action per message
  • Emojis: Use sparingly but effectively (📞💡🎯)

Advanced SMS Automation Triggers

Behavioral Triggers

  • Website Revisit: "Saw you checking out [page] again. Questions? 🤔"
  • Email Open (No Click): "Quick question about that email I sent..."
  • Calendar Page Visit: "Ready to schedule? I have [time slots] open this week 📅"

Pipeline Stage Triggers

  • Proposal Sent: "Proposal delivered! Questions? I'm here 📋"
  • Contract Signed: "Welcome to the team! Here's what happens next... 🎉"
  • Payment Overdue: "Quick reminder about your invoice. Need to discuss payment options? 💳"

Measuring SMS Success in GHL

Key Metrics to Track:

  • Delivery Rate: Should be 95%+ (if lower, check number reputation)
  • Response Rate: Aim for 15-25% for cold leads, 40%+ for warm
  • Conversion Rate: Track from SMS click to desired action
  • Opt-out Rate: Keep under 2% (higher indicates poor targeting/messaging)

Pro Tip: Use GHL's conversation AI to automatically qualify SMS responses before routing to your team, ensuring you only handle high-intent conversations.