Set up text message marketing

About setting up text message marketing

Text message marketing allows you to effectively reach your customers. From last-minute announcements and sales to events and coupons, it's one of the perfect ways to grow your business. You can send text messages with marketing information right to your customers using a verified toll-free phone number.

Before you begin

When you sign up for Square Text Message Marketing, your account goes through a phone number verification process. While the average time to verify your phone number is around two to three business days, the process can take up to 14 business days.

While your phone number is in the verification process, any campaigns you create save as drafts. Once your phone number is verified, you can begin sending out campaigns. You can set up automations during the verification process and send them out as soon as your number is verified. 

If you are selling alcohol products, your business website requires age-gating technology to use Square Text Message Marketing. Age-gating prompts your website visitors to confirm they are over 21 years of age to prevent minors from viewing or purchasing alcohol-related products. If your verification is rejected, retry once you implement age-gating technology.

To comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Square requires prior express written consent from every customer who enrolls in your loyalty program. This is done when a customer enters their phone number and click to join your loyalty program after reading the SMS and marketing disclosure provided. Read more about TCPA on the Federal Communications Commission’s website.

Under SHAFT-C, which stands for Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms/Fireworks, Tobacco and Cannabis, network carriers have created a set of rules to determine what content can and cannot be sent via text message. Businesses sending content or messages related to SHAFT-C are either completely banned or faced with extra restrictions. Learn more about SHAFT-C rule requirements.

Sign up and register your phone number

Signing up for Square Text Message Marketing starts the phone number verification process. Square Text Message Marketing also offers a 30-day free trial when you sign up. Your Square Marketing free trial and plan do not begin until your phone number is verified, and you are not charged until your phone number is verified and your free trial ends.

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Select Create Campaign and select Text Message.

3. Review the setup guide and click Next.

4. Enter your sender name. Your sender name is the name that appears at the beginning of texts to your customers. Select Next.

5. Review your audience information and select Next.

6. To get your toll-free phone number, review your business information, including your business name, address, phone number, and business website or social media links. Click Submit.

7. Confirm your payment method and select Next. 

We'll email you once your verification process is complete. While your account is pending verification, your use of Square Text Message Marketing is restricted and you can't send messages.

Set up text message marketing

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Click Create Campaign and select Text Message.

3. Select Get Started and enter the business name.

4. Select and save the details of the coupon that customers get when they opt in.

View and share your text message marketing number

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Customers > Marketing > Settings.

2. View the unique SMS phone number under the Text to Sign-Up menu.

3. Share this phone number in-store, on your social media channels, and/or webpage.

Create a text message campaign

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Click Create Campaign and select Text Message.

3. Edit your message and set the campaign design details.

4. Select your Audience.

5. Review and click Next.

6. Review, and then for a blast campaign, select Send Now or Schedule to Send the text later. For an automated campaign, click Activate Now.

Create and image campaign

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Click Create Campaign and select Text Message > Next.

3. Click Send a custom message.

4. Create the text message and add the image.

5. Add a name for your campaign and select your audience.

6. Click Send Now.

Create and edit an automated text message campaign

Create an automated text message campaign

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Click Create Campaign and select Text Message.

3. Select your campaign objective.

4. Add a customized message and coupon.

5. Review your campaign and select Activate Now to enable this campaign.

These text campaigns will be automatically sent to all customers who meet the campaign criteria.

Edit an automated text message campaign

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Select the Campaign tab and select Automated Text Message.

3. Click on the campaign you'd like to edit > make edits to the text message and to the coupon.

4. Click Continue to review your campaign > Activate Now to enable the campaign.

Cancel an automated text message campaign

1. Sign in to Square Dashboard, then click Marketing & loyalty > Marketing.

2. Select the Campaign tab and select Automated Text Message.

3. Click on the campaign you'd like to cancel > click ••• > Cancel.

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