Two-way SMS lets clients text your clinic and get replies in the same thread — appointment questions, running-late messages, confirmations. This article shows you how to set it up.
Step 1: Open the SMS Channel Settings
In Engage, click the Settings cog in the icon rail and choose SMS from the channel list. The panel shows three tabs — Numbers, Sender names and Countries — plus an Add sender button.
Step 2: Choose Numbers or a Sender Name
There are two ways to send SMS, and they behave differently:
- A number — full two-way texting: clients can reply, and their replies land in your inbox. Numbers carry a monthly fee and are billed per message segment.
- A sender name — your clinic’s name appears as the sender (where the destination country allows it). It looks polished but clients cannot reply to it.
Click Buy your first SMS number (or Add sender → sender name) and follow the flow: pick the country, choose a number, and confirm — the exact monthly price is always shown before you commit.
NOTE: The Countries tab shows what is available per destination country — some countries allow alphanumeric sender names, others require a local number. Check it before deciding which route to take.
Step 3: Check the Inbox
Once a number is active, SMS appears in the inbox sidebar with your number nested beneath it, and the composer’s (no reply) warning disappears from SMS conversations. Send yourself a test text to see the round trip.
IMPORTANT: Texting US clients from a US number requires A2P 10DLC registration — see our What is A2P 10DLC? article before buying a US number.
Related Articles
We suggest reading our How to Send and Receive SMS in Engage article next, and our SMS Pricing and Sending Limits in Engage article for how billing works.
For more guides, refer to related articles below, select additional guides, or use the search bar at the top of the page. These guides will help you get the most out of your Pabau account.
Additionally, to help you fully utilize and understand your Pabau account, we recommend exploring additional guides and resources offered at the Pabau Academy.