The Message Composer
The composer sits at the bottom of the center panel when you have a conversation open. It adapts to whichever channel you select, showing the appropriate fields, character limits, and formatting options for that channel. At the top of the composer you’ll see tabs for each available channel:- SMS — Send a text message to the lead’s mobile number
- Email — Send a formatted email to the lead’s email address
- Facebook — Reply through Facebook Messenger (available when the lead originated from Facebook or has an associated Messenger contact)
Sending an SMS
SMS is the highest-response channel for most dealerships. Keep your texts conversational, clear, and concise.1
Select the SMS tab
In the message composer, click the SMS tab. The composer shows a plain text input field.
2
Type your message
Enter your message in the text field. A character counter in the bottom-right of the composer tracks your message length and shows you how many segments your message will consume (see the segment note below).
3
Add an emoji (optional)
Click the emoji picker icon to browse and insert an emoji. Emojis are delivered as part of the SMS and are counted toward your character limit.
4
Attach media (optional)
To send an image, GIF, or short video as an MMS message, click the paperclip or image icon and select a file from your device. Supported formats include JPG, PNG, GIF, and MP4 (file size limits apply per carrier guidelines).
5
Send
Click Send to deliver the message immediately, or use the scheduling option (described below) to queue it for a future time.
If your dealership has double opt-in enabled, a lead must reply YES to an opt-in confirmation message before they can receive any automated messages from your funnels. Manual messages sent directly by an agent are not blocked by the opt-in requirement, but automated sequences will not run until the lead confirms. Check the lead’s opt-in status in the lead detail panel before assuming automated follow-up is active.
Sending an Email
Email is ideal for longer, more detailed communications — sending a vehicle brochure, a trade-in valuation summary, a financing overview, or a formal appointment confirmation.1
Select the Email tab
Click the Email tab in the message composer. The composer expands to show a Subject field and a rich text editor body.
2
Enter a subject line
Type a clear, specific subject line. Avoid generic subjects like “Following Up” — use something that references the lead’s interest, such as “Your 2024 F-150 Quote from [Dealership Name].”
3
Compose your message
Use the rich text editor to format your email. The toolbar includes bold, italic, bullet lists, numbered lists, hyperlinks, and text alignment options. You can also paste formatted content from another source.
4
Attach files (optional)
Click the attachment icon to upload files from your device — PDFs, images, and documents are all supported. Attachments are sent as standard email attachments that the lead can download from their inbox.
5
Send
Click Send to deliver the email immediately, or schedule it for a future time using the clock icon.
Sending a Facebook Reply
When a lead arrives from a Facebook Lead Ad or initiates contact through your dealership’s Facebook Page, their conversation is linked to their Messenger account. You can reply directly through Facebook Messenger without leaving Dealer Funnel.1
Select the Facebook tab
Click the Facebook tab in the composer. This tab is only active if the lead has an associated Facebook Messenger contact. If the tab is grayed out, the lead did not originate from Facebook.
2
Type your reply
Enter your message as plain text. Facebook Messenger does not support the same rich formatting as email, so keep your message clean and conversational.
3
Send
Click Send. Your message is delivered to the lead’s Facebook Messenger inbox and a copy appears in the Dealer Funnel thread.
Facebook’s Messaging Policy limits how long after the lead’s last message you can send certain types of replies through Messenger. If a lead has not messaged your Page in more than 24 hours, some message types may be restricted by Facebook’s platform rules. Dealer Funnel will display a warning in the composer if this restriction applies.
Scheduling a Message
Sometimes the best time to send a message isn’t right now — maybe you want to follow up tomorrow morning, or time a message to arrive just before a weekend appointment.1
Compose your message
Write your SMS, email, or Facebook reply in the composer as you normally would.
2
Click the clock icon
Instead of clicking Send, click the clock icon next to the Send button to open the scheduler.
3
Pick a date and time
Use the date and time picker to select when you want the message to be delivered. The time shown is in your dealership’s configured time zone.
4
Confirm the schedule
Click Schedule. The message is queued and will appear in the conversation thread with a clock indicator and a timestamp showing when it is set to send.
5
Edit or cancel a scheduled message
To modify or cancel a scheduled message before it sends, click the scheduled message in the thread and select Edit or Cancel Schedule.
AI-Assisted Replies with Carly
Carly is Dealer Funnel’s built-in AI assistant. She reads the context of your conversation thread and generates a relevant suggested reply, saving your agents time and helping less experienced team members craft professional responses.1
Click the Carly button
In the message composer, click the Carly button (look for the AI or sparkle icon). Carly analyzes the most recent messages in the thread and generates a suggested reply in the composer.
2
Review the suggestion
Read the suggested reply carefully. Carly’s suggestions are a starting point, not a final draft — always review for accuracy, tone, and dealership-specific details before sending.
3
Edit as needed
Click anywhere in the composer to edit the suggestion. Adjust pricing, vehicle details, names, or phrasing to make the message sound natural and accurate.
4
Send
When you’re satisfied with the message, click Send or Schedule as you normally would.
Saved Replies (Templates)
Saved replies let you store and reuse frequently sent messages — greetings, appointment confirmations, trade-in inquiries, financing prompts, and any other message your team sends regularly. Using templates keeps your messaging consistent and dramatically reduces response time.1
Open the saved reply search
In the message composer, type a forward slash ( / ) to trigger the saved reply search bar.
2
Search for a template
Start typing a keyword — for example, “appt” to find appointment-related templates, or “trade” to find trade-in message templates. Results filter in real time as you type.
3
Select a template
Click the template you want to use. The template text is inserted into the composer instantly. Dynamic fields (such as or ) are auto-filled where your account has the relevant data.
4
Review and send
Always review the inserted text before sending — especially any dynamic fields — to confirm they resolved correctly. Then send or schedule as needed.
Inbound Message Notifications
When a lead replies to your team, Dealer Funnel alerts agents through multiple channels so no inbound message goes unnoticed.- Browser notifications — A desktop push notification appears in the corner of your screen with the lead’s name and a preview of their message. Click it to jump directly to the conversation.
- Mobile push notifications — If you have the Dealer Funnel mobile app installed and notifications enabled, your phone buzzes with the incoming message even when you’re away from your desk.
- Email alerts — Dealer Funnel can send an email notification to the assigned agent when their lead replies. This is configurable per user in Settings > Notifications.