Settings → Texting lets your shop text customers from its own business number instead of SalesThumb's shared texting number. You fill in your business details once and pick a number. SalesThumb handles the carrier registration (the US "10DLC" approval every business texting from a regular phone number needs) and pays the setup fees. Texting from your number turns on by itself once every step is approved.
Who can set it up
Only owners and admins. The Texting tile sits in the Marketing & Communication section of Settings, and other roles don't see it.
Texting setup isn't available in the Test Drive. You need your own shop.
Before you start
Have your IRS EIN letter handy (CP 575 or 147C). Type your business name and address exactly as they appear on it: punctuation, "LLC", suite numbers and all. Carriers reject registrations that don't match.
Step 1: Business details
Go to Settings → Texting. The form has three parts.
Your business
- Legal business name: exactly as on your EIN letter.
- EIN: your 9-digit EIN. It's sent to the carriers once, then deleted from SalesThumb. After that the field only shows the last four digits ("Saved (ends in …). Leave blank to keep it.").
- Business type: Limited liability company (LLC), Corporation, Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Co-operative or Non-profit.
- Website: optional. No website? Leave it blank and SalesThumb hosts your texting terms page for you.
Legal address: Street, Suite (optional), City, State (two letters) and ZIP. Use the address on your EIN letter.
Person the carriers can contact: usually the owner. First name, Last name, Job title, Email and Mobile phone. Use an email at your business's own domain (like you@yourshop.com). Carriers can reject free addresses like Gmail or Yahoo.
Click Continue.
Step 2: Which number should customers see?
Pick one of two options.
Get a new number: a new local number just for texting, included free.
- Type an area code.
- Click Find numbers.
- Click a number in the list (each shows its city and state).
If nothing comes back you'll see "No numbers free in that area code. Try a nearby one." The number you pick is bought for you once the carriers approve your business.
Keep my current number: customers text the number they already know. Calls keep ringing where they do today. Only texting moves to SalesThumb, and it takes a few days.
- Enter Your business number. Mobile numbers can't be used.
- Turn off texting with your current phone provider first (for example Zoom, RingCentral, Google Voice or your carrier). If they still handle texts for that number, the move fails. Calls aren't affected.
- Tick Texting is off with my current provider.
Click Submit for approval. SalesThumb emails you as each step is approved.
Keeping your number: the verification call
If you're keeping your current number, the Texting page shows "Prove you own" your number, with a short code.
- Stand by that phone. SalesThumb calls it and asks you to key in the code. Press Call me now if you need the call again.
- Sign the authorization letter emailed to the contact email from step 1.
Phone tree or receptionist in the way? Forward the line to a desk phone for a few minutes, then press Call me now.
Reading the status rows
After you submit, the Texting page shows four rows. Each one has a status: Waiting, In review, Approved or Needs a fix.
- Business review: your business details.
- Carrier registration: your brand with the U.S. phone carriers.
- Texting approval: what you'll text customers about. It starts after carrier registration. SalesThumb writes this description for you.
- Number: the number you picked (bought once the carriers approve your brand), or, if you're keeping your number, the move of texting to SalesThumb (usually 2–5 days).
The shop's owners get an email every time a step changes. Each carrier review usually takes 1–3 business days, and the page refreshes on its own while you wait. When everything is approved, a green banner says Texting is live and shows the number customers now get texts from.
While your registration is with the carriers, you can't edit it. You can only change details if the carriers ask for a fix.
When a step is rejected
If the problem is something you can fix, that row shows Needs a fix with a red box. The box says what went wrong and what to change. Click Fix business details or Fix number to reopen the form, correct it, and click Submit for approval again. Contact support is right there too.
Common fixes:
- Name and EIN don't match: type the legal name and EIN exactly as printed on your IRS letter ("&" vs "and", "LLC" vs "L.L.C.").
- Business type doesn't match IRS records: pick the type on your IRS letter.
- Free email address: change the contact email to one at your business's own domain.
- The carrier wouldn't move texting for your number: turn off texting with your current provider, and make sure it's a landline or business line, not a mobile number.
- Couldn't verify you own the number: answer the verification call on that line and key in the code. Press Call me now to try again.
- Your number needs attention: check that texting is off with your current provider and that you signed the emailed authorization letter.
Some problems aren't yours to fix: a temporary error on the carriers' side, or a change needed to the texting description SalesThumb writes. Those rows stay In review while SalesThumb retries or corrects them. If a rejection can't be fixed by resubmitting, SalesThumb support reviews it and contacts you.
Free trial and paid plans
You can finish setup during your free trial. Texting customers starts once you're on a paid plan. Add a payment method under Settings → Plans & Billing, or contact support to turn texting on sooner.
Who pays
SalesThumb handles the carrier registration and pays the setup fees. A new number picked from the list is included free.
Related
- 10DLC registration walkthrough
- Connecting your own Twilio or texting carrier
- Texting rules: consent, STOP and quiet hours
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who pays the carrier registration fees?
A: SalesThumb does. SalesThumb handles the registration and pays the setup fees, and a new number picked from the list is included free.
Q: Can I set this up during my free trial?
A: Yes. You can finish the whole setup during the trial. Texting customers starts once you're on a paid plan.
Q: If I keep my current number, will my calls change?
A: No. Calls keep ringing where they do today. Only texting moves to SalesThumb. Turn off texting with your current provider before you submit.
Q: What does "Needs a fix" mean on a status row?
A: The carriers rejected that step for something you can correct. The red box says what to change. Click Fix business details or Fix number, correct it, and submit again.
Q: Why don't I see Texting in Settings?
A: Only owners and admins can set up texting, so the tile is hidden for other roles. Ask your shop owner or an admin.