How to Build an SMS Chatbot
If someone’s texting your bot, it’s usually because they expect a fast, clear answer, not a drawn-out conversation.
That’s why good SMS bots need to be purpose-built: short flows, real automation, and minimal friction.
We’re going to build a simple AI-powered FAQ chatbot that runs over SMS.
Step 1: Define your use case
Before jumping into platforms, map out what buy bulk sms service your SMS bot needs to do. Unlike chatbots on the web or apps, you have way less room for guesswork, so clarity matters.
Posez-vous la question :
- Who’s texting your bot? Are they existing customers, appointment no-shows, or new leads?
- What’s the goal? Are you reducing support load, sending reminders, and automating onboarding?
- How much context will they give? Will the email search engine users text full sentences or just short keywords?
- What happens when the bot can’t help? Will you hand off to a human or leave it automated?
Even a basic sketch of these answers will If someone’s texting your bot save you time when you start building flows, setting AI behavior, and connecting tools like Twilio.
Step 2: Add bot instructions
Now that you know what your bot is supposed to do, it’s time to tell the AI how to behave.
Head into your chatbot platform (we’ll use Botpress here) and create a new bot project. Once you’re inside the Studio, you’ll see a box labeled Instructions.
This is where you define the bot’s “job.” What kind of messages should it expect, how it should respond, and what tone it should use?
For an SMS bot, brevity is key. You’re not writing essays — you’re helping users get answers fast. A good prompt might look like:
“You are a support assistant for [COMPANY NAME]. Answer incoming SMS questions clearly and concisely. Keep replies short, specific, and helpful. Avoid links unless requested. Focus on the user’s intent.”
Think of it like giving your bot a personality phone database and focus — one that works within the limits of text messaging.
Step 3: Add a Knowledge Base
If your chatbot is going to answer questions If someone’s texting your bot using AI, it needs real information to pull from and not just rely upon what GPT “thinks” sounds right.
That’s where a Knowledge Base comes in. You can add your company’s FAQ, help doc, or internal documentation so the bot responds based on actual content — not hallucinations.
In Botpress, go to the Knowledge tab and upload a document. That might be:
- Your support FAQ
- A clinic’s hours and policies
- Common shipping and return rules
- A services list or pricing sheet
This connects your AI to facts. When someone texts, “What’s your refund policy?” the bot will search your knowledge base, grab the right section, and use that to generate a reply.