You are sending SMS campaigns or transactional SMS to the United States and/or Canada, and while creating your SMS campaign, you realize that you have to register for a toll-free number but don't know how to fill out the form? We created this article to help you out!
🤨 Why should I register for a toll-free number?
The United States and Canada impose strict SMS marketing regulations that are mandatory to follow to prevent your SMS from being blocked by mobile carriers:
- Include an organization prefix and specific unsubscribe intructions
To learn more, check our dedicated article Comply with the United States SMS marketing regulations with our compliance feature. - Register for a toll-free number
💡 Good to knowIf you are based in the United States and registered for a toll-free number via Telenyx, you will be able to add an image into your SMS campaign (MMS)!
If you do not comply with these regulations, your campaign will not be sent and will be suspended. To learn more about compliance with the United States SMS marketing regulations and our compliance feature, check our dedicated article.
📞 What is a toll-free number?
A toll-free number is a telephone number with a distinct three-digit code that can be dialed or contacted by text from landlines or cell phones without charge for the caller. Toll-free numbers are usually used by businesses and customer services and make it easy for customers to connect with businesses all around the world as they are not charged for a long-distance call or SMS.
👆 Access the toll-free number registration form
To access the form, go to the SMS campaign builder page or Transactional SMS real time page, and click the link under this form in the information colored box:
| SMS campaign builder | Transactional SMS real time |
📝 Fill out the toll-free number registration form
To register for a toll-free number, you have to fill in the form provided by Brevo during the creation of an SMS campaign. All the fields marked with a * are mandatory.
The toll-free number registration form is divided into 3 parts:
In this part, check that the Brevo Account Email field is filled in with the correct email address, and enter your business URL, name, and address.
In this part, enter the information about the person who will be your company's point of contact for toll-free registration.
This part is dedicated to your SMS content and opt-in process for SMS messages:
-
Message volume per month
Select the estimated number of SMS messages sent by your business each month. -
Use case category
Choose the categories that best describe your SMS message content. -
Use case summary
Provide a detailed explanation for each of your SMS categories. The maximum character limit is 1,000 characters. -
Sample message content
Paste a sample of SMS content for each selected category. The maximum character limit is of 500 characters. -
Opt-in workflow description
Provide a detailed explanation of how your consumers agree to receive your SMS messages. The maximum character limit is 1,000 characters. -
Screenshot of the opt-in
Upload a screenshot or scan (PNG or JPEG format) of your opt-in process as proof of your workflow description.
Here are some examples of screenshots you can upload as proof for each type of opt-in:
Your consumers opt-in to your SMS messages by entering their phone number and checking a box on a sign-up form available on your website:Your consumers have to text a keyword (e.g. JOIN) to opt-in to your SMS messages. It can either be online, by text, or in-store for example:Your consumers provide their consent by writing their phone number and checking a box on a paper form:Your consumers provide their consent via interactive voice response. You retrieve transcripts of their voice, check an opt-in box in their CRM, and enter their opt-in date: -
(Optional) Additional supporting documentation
Add any other relevant information on your registration or opt-in process. The maximum character limit is 500 characters. -
Submit the registration
After completing and verifying your answers to the form, click Submit the registration to submit your form.
Your toll-free number registration will be reviewed by the toll-free provider which can take up to 4-6 weeks. You will receive updates on your registration status directly in your Brevo notification center and by email.
🤯 Troubleshoot error messages
If, after clicking the Submit the registration button, you get an error message similar to the one below, contact our support team by creating a ticket and providing them the error message number (e.g. Toll-free number - error 2) and a screenshot of your form.
🤔 Have a question?
If you have a question, feel free to contact our support team by creating a ticket from your account. If you don't have an account yet, you can contact us here.
If you’re looking for help with a project using Brevo, we can match you with the right certified Brevo expert partner.