You can automate SMS messages directly from folk by connecting it with Twilio (to send the SMS) and Zapier (to orchestrate the automation).
This guide walks you through the full setup.
What you need
A folk account
A Zapier account
A Twilio account with an active phone number
→ SMS usually cost less than $0.01 per message in Twilio
1. Prepare your custom field in folk
To trigger SMS campaigns, you’ll need a dedicated custom field in folk.
Go to a Group
Create a custom select-field (e.g., Automation)
Add a value such as Send SMS
This value will act as the trigger for your Zap.
2. Create your Zap in Zapier
Step 1 — Trigger: Person Updated in folk
In Zapier, create a new Zap.
Choose folk → Person Updated (or Person Custom Field Updated if available).
Add a filter:
Group = Clients and Prospects (or the group you use in folk)
Custom field Automation = Send SMS
Now, whenever you update a contact with this field value, the Zap will start.
You can also apply this change in bulk in folk to send a campaign to multiple contacts at once.
3. Retrieve the contact’s phone number
Step 2 — Action: Get a Person (folk)
Add another step:
Choose folk → Get a Person.
Use the Person ID from the trigger.
This step retrieves the full contact details, including their phone number, which Twilio needs.
4. Send the SMS with Twilio
Step 3 — Action: Send SMS (Twilio)
Choose Twilio → Send an SMS.
Connect your Twilio account.
Select your Twilio phone number (you can purchase one directly from Twilio if needed).
In To, map the phone number retrieved from the “Get a Person” step.
Write your SMS message (e.g., “Hey Laurie, welcome to folk 👋”).
You can test this step:
Zapier will send a real SMS to confirm everything works.
Optional — Add a reminder SMS
If you want to send a follow-up message automatically:
Step 4 — Delay
Add Delay → Delay For
Enter the number of days (e.g., 3 days)
Step 5 — Second SMS
Duplicate the Twilio SMS step and customize the message.