# Contacts, groups and tags (/guides/sms/contacts)

Keeping your customers as **contacts** lets you personalise messages (`{{first_name}}`) and send to whole **groups** in one click.

## Add a contact [#add-a-contact]

1. Go to **Contacts** and click **Add Contact**.
2. Enter at least a **First Name** and a **Phone** number. Optionally add last name, email, type (Individual, Business, Organisation), status and an external reference (for example your own customer ID).
3. Save.

Contacts need a phone number to receive SMS. When you send to **All Contacts**, only **Active** contacts are included.

## Import from a spreadsheet [#import-from-a-spreadsheet]

1. Go to **Contacts** → **Import**.
2. Click **Download Template**, fill it in, and save it as **CSV**. Up to **500 rows** per import. Recognised columns: `first_name`, `last_name`, `display_name`, `email`, `phone`, `status`, `contact_type`, `external_ref`, `notes`.
3. Upload the file and click **Next: Preview & Map**.
4. Check each column is matched to the right field (or choose **— Skip —**) and look over the **Data Preview**.
5. Under **Import Options** you can set a default status and type, **add everyone to a group** and **assign a tag**.
6. Click **Confirm Import**.

![Contact import — map columns and import options](</_next/static/media/sms-11.1u9egucia-to7.png>)

Phone numbers like `0712345678` are converted to the international format automatically.

## Groups [#groups]

Groups are lists you send to — for example *Parents – Form 1* or *VIP customers*.

- Create one in **Contacts → Groups** → **New Group**.
- Add contacts in bulk from the **Contacts** list: tick contacts (or **select all matching** a filter) and click **Add to Group**.
- Then pick the group on the **Contact Groups** tab in Quick Send.

Groups marked **System** are kept up to date automatically.

## Tags [#tags]

Tags are labels for filtering — for example *nairobi* or *paid-2026*. Create them in **Contacts → Tags**, add them with **Add Tag** from the contacts list, and search by tag when choosing recipients.

![Contacts list with filters and bulk actions](</_next/static/media/sms-12.409kh9osd-tzv.png>)

## Consent [#consent]

Under **Contacts → Consent** (and on each contact's **Consent** tab) you can record when someone agreed to marketing SMS and when they withdrew. Keeping this record helps you meet data protection laws such as Kenya's Data Protection Act and the EU's GDPR. To stop messages to a number, add it to the [opt-out list](./opt-outs.mdx).