As digital marketing grows more competitive, businesses need faster, more direct ways to connect with their audience. While email still has its place, it’s often overlooked or delayed. That’s why SMS — with its near-instant delivery and impressive open rates — is becoming a go-to tool for real-time engagement.
If you’re using Pardot (now known as Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement), you might be wondering how SMS fits into your existing campaigns.
Can Pardot send SMS messages directly?
The answer isn’t straightforward. While Pardot doesn’t include SMS as a built-in feature, there are ways to enable SMS messaging within your Salesforce ecosystem. In this blog, we’ll break down how Pardot SMS works, how SMS automation can enhance your marketing, and how you can use Salesforce SMS messaging to convert more leads.
Can Pardot Send SMS Messages Natively?
Out of the box, Pardot does not support SMS messaging. It was designed primarily for B2B email marketing, lead scoring, landing pages, and nurture programs.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use SMS with Pardot. Through Salesforce-native automation tools like Flow and Process Builder—and with the help of a Salesforce SMS app—you can enable SMS functionality for Pardot campaigns. This allows you to run multi-channel outreach using both email and SMS.
Why Use SMS in a Pardot Workflow?
Email marketing remains a powerful tool, but SMS offers an unmatched immediacy. With open rates exceeding 90% and response times often under 90 seconds, SMS is one of the most effective channels to engage leads in real time.
When integrated into Pardot campaigns, SMS can:
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Improve follow-up speed for high-intent leads
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Deliver time-sensitive offers or event reminders
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Support multi-channel nurturing
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Reach audiences that prefer text communication
But here’s the catch: Pardot doesn’t support SMS out of the box.
Can You Send SMS from Pardot?
While Pardot doesn’t include native SMS capabilities, Salesforce’s flexibility allows you to incorporate SMS into your marketing automation using a combination of:
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Salesforce Tasks and Process Builder
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Custom automation in Salesforce Flow
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External SMS services connected to Salesforce
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Native Salesforce apps for SMS messaging
Essentially, Pardot can trigger actions within Salesforce that initiate SMS messages, making it possible to create automated SMS campaigns tied to Pardot’s logic.
For example:
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A lead submits a Pardot form ➝ Salesforce creates a task ➝ That task triggers an SMS via a connected messaging app.
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A prospect reaches a certain score ➝ Salesforce flow sends them a personalized SMS follow-up.
The SMS is technically sent from Salesforce, not Pardot—but to the lead, it feels like one seamless, timely experience.
Benefits of Adding SMS to Pardot Campaigns
Once SMS is integrated into your automation workflow, you gain significant advantages:
1. Higher Engagement Rates
SMS messages are typically read within minutes. They cut through inbox clutter and get noticed.
2. Timely Follow-Ups
Automated SMS allows you to respond to lead actions in real time—whether it’s a form submission, demo request, or event signup.
3. Personalized, Human Outreach
SMS doesn’t have to be robotic. With dynamic fields and templates, messages can feel personal, increasing response rates.
4. Better Campaign Performance Tracking
SMS integrations often include link tracking, delivery reports, and conversation history, giving you visibility into campaign effectiveness.
5. Seamless Omnichannel Experience
Combining SMS with email, ads, and nurturing paths creates a complete customer journey—keeping your brand top-of-mind.
Examples of SMS in Pardot Use Cases
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Send a welcome SMS after someone downloads a whitepaper
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Remind registrants via SMS about an upcoming webinar
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Nurture cold leads with a personalized re-engagement text
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Follow up instantly with leads who click a pricing page
These touchpoints are simple but powerful when delivered at the right moment—automatically through your existing Pardot logic.
So, How Can You Enable Pardot SMS Messaging?
To add SMS functionality, you’ll need to connect Salesforce with a messaging tool that supports automation and works natively within the CRM.
📌 One such Salesforce-native app is Message Blink. It allows marketers to send SMS and WhatsApp messages directly from Salesforce and automate them through flows, campaigns, and more—without leaving the platform.
Conclusion
Pardot doesn’t offer built-in SMS functionality—but with Salesforce’s flexibility and the right SMS messaging app, it’s easy to add SMS to your marketing strategy.
By combining Pardot’s email marketing strength with SMS messaging, you can build high-converting, personalized campaigns that engage leads on the channels they prefer. Whether you’re sending bulk SMS messages in Salesforce or setting up drip SMS campaigns, the impact is clear: faster responses, better engagement, and higher ROI.
Want to add SMS to your Pardot campaigns? Start with a Salesforce-native app like Message Blink and see how easy it is to unlock new engagement opportunities.