See How to Get Started

This video will show you how to get started with business texting in BellesLink by a toll-free texting number to an account and completing the business texting registration process.

Understanding Business Texting Requirements

Mobile carriers have implemented a new registration requirement to help verify SMS text messaging traffic from business phone numbers. This requirement is designed to prevent fraud and spam traffic.

Your business is required to register your toll-free texting numbers with The Campaign Registry (TCR), a third-party industry group, for verification and approval. Once verified your business can send text messages without restrictions. Carriers will block some or all texts sent from unregistered businesses with unverified numbers.

Business texting registration process

The process begins by adding a text-enabled toll-free number to your BellesLink account, then completing the registration form. If you’ve gathered your information the form should only take 10-15 minutes to complete.

We’ve create a step-by-step guide for business texting registration and a guide to text opt-in methods. Refer these guides as you prepare to complete the registration form.

Getting Started

To get started with business texting, first add a text-enabled toll-free number to your BellesLink account.

  1. Add a new number to your account
  2. Choose Add a Text-Enabled Toll-Free Number
  3. Choose your toll-free number
  4. Complete the business texting registration form.

Step one: Add a new number

On the main menu, go to Setup, then Numbers. Use the the Add a Number button.

Step two: Add a text-enabled toll-free number

Carrier regulations require businesses to use toll-free numbers for texting. Each BellesLink user account can only have one text-enabled toll-free number.

Use the green Add button to add a Text-Enable Toll-Free number.

Using an Existing Toll Free Number

If you already have a toll-free number in your account that you would like to register for texting, you can do that. On the main menu go to Setup, then Text Messages. Pick your existing toll-free number from the list and use the Request button.

Step three: Choose your toll-free number

Choose your preferred toll-free number. If you already have more than the quantity of phone numbers allowed in your account, you will be charged a monthly fee for the toll-free number you’re adding.

Step four: Complete the business texting registration form.

We’ve create a step-by-step guide for business texting registration and a guide to text opt-in methods. Refer these guides as you prepare to complete the registration form.

Business texting verification

Once you’ve submitted your registration form, BellesLink will review it for completeness before submitting to The Campaign Registry (TCR) for verification and approval.

You can check your approval status in your account. On the main menu go to Setup, then choose Text Messaging.

  1. Complete and submit the business texting registration form.
  2. BellesLink will review your submission and contact you if additional information is needed.
  3. Your registration will be submitted to The Campaign Registry for verification.
  4. You will be notified by email when you number is approved.

When you can start texting

You can start texting from your BellesLink account once you’ve received an email notification from BellesLink customer service that your registration is approved. We will contact you if we have any questions during our review.

Business texting compliance

Business text messaging is regulated by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the CTIA. The FCC adopts what CTIA sets as regulations as valid policies. CTIA publishes Best Practices and Principles for Messaging every quarter.

Refer to the CTIA’s Best Practices Guide for SMS Marketing and Communications and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to understand your legal obligations when using SMS text messaging in your business.

Opt-ins and user consent

Before sending a text message to any number your business must have express written consent to do so. The person must opt-in to receive texts from your business. This is the key difference between business text messages and personal text messages. Read our tutorial on how business texting is different to learn more.

To be verified for business texting, you’ll need to be collecting text opt-ins from your customers. The best ways to get an opt-in from a contact are to ask for an opt-in while on a phone call or to publish your texting number with opt-in instructions on your website. Checkout our Text Opt-in Methods Guide to learn more.

Texting with BellesLink

Upgrade to a Pro or Business plan to have access to all our phone and texting features.

 

Texting Guides

Checkout our tutorials and guides on business text messaging, registration requirements, and toll-free number verification.

 

Additional policies, regulations, and laws may exist beyond those listed here. This is not legal advice. It is strongly recommended you consult your own legal advisor for help understanding legal obligations you may have, given the kind of messaging you wish to send.