Before sending application-to-person (A2P) text messages over long codes in the US, you must register with The Campaign Registry (TCR), the agency carriers use to vet businesses. To register through Symbo (or directly with TCR), provide information about your company (brand) and use cases (campaigns). Follow these instructions to minimize the possibility of your brand or campaign registrations being rejected.
Symbo passes through a $15 charge per campaign submission regardless of the outcome. This fee is charged by the carriers. Symbo does not mark up this charge. It is important to make sure that your campaign is accurate before submission as each attempt for verification is charged.
Symbo will help to review your application before submission, but can not guarantee that your registration will be approved. Ultimately, meeting the requirements in the registration process is up to you.
Brand Registration
When providing details about your brand, keep in mind the following points:
Company Name and Tax ID: Ensure the values for your company name and tax ID number (EIN) match exactly as they appear on your tax registration document. For example, if your document says Yourbusiness, Inc., do not register as Yourbusiness.
Website: Provide a secure website representing your business. Registrations without a website, with websites lacking an SSL certificate, or displaying boilerplate content are likely to be rejected. Ensure your website includes About Us, Contact Us, Terms & Conditions, and Privacy Policy pages.
Phone Number: Provide a working phone number, preferably the same one listed on your website’s contact or support page. Symbo or TCR may verify its authenticity.
Email Address: Provide a working email address, preferably the same one listed on your website’s contact or support page. Avoid using personal email addresses from providers like Gmail or Yahoo, as these can lead to brand registration rejection.
Unique Contact Information: Provide unique contact information for each registration. TCR prohibits using the same contact details for multiple brands. Violations may result in deactivation by Symbo or TCR.
Campaign Registration
The major wireless carriers have adopted new rules for sending text messages to their customers in the US and Canada. As used here, the term “campaign” can be confusing. Most people are familiar with a campaign as a marketing term but in this context, it covers all text messages sent to wireless customers. You create a campaign to identify what type of messages you plan to send to wireless customers so that the mobile carriers know who is sending the message and what type of content will be sent.
Appropriate Use Cases: Each campaign must align with the brand's activities. For example, a pharmaceutical company should not register a campaign for food delivery messaging. TCR and carriers may reject unrelated or inconsistent campaigns.
Disallowed Use Cases - No campaign in these categories will be approved
Certain use cases are never allowed, including:
Deceptive marketing
Fraud/scams
SHAFT (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco)
Cannabis promotion/sale
Debt relief
High-risk financial services
Third-party lead generation services
Gambling
Campaign Type
Campaigns must be categorized into any of 10 standard campaign types or specified as mixed — a combination of two to five standard use cases.
Type | Details |
2FA | Any two-factor authentication with passcodes used to unlock accounts |
Account Notifications | Notification sent to account holders about changes in accounts |
Customer Care | Customer care interactions by the support and other customer-facing teams |
Delivery Notifications | Updates about the delivery of products and services |
Fraud Alert Messaging | Notifications of suspicious behavior identified the business |
Higher Education | Messages sent by colleges, universities, and other educational institutions |
Marketing | Communications related to time-bound events and sales |
Polling and Voting | Surveys, polling, and voting campaigns used for non-political purposes |
Public Service Announcement | Messages aimed at creating awareness about important topics |
Security Alert | Notifications that alert users about a potential breach of systems |
Campaign Description
For each campaign, provide a detailed description that includes the brand name, use case, and the type of messages you’ll send.
Good Example | Bad Example |
ABC LLC uses this campaign to provide real-time delivery notifications to customers regarding packages they ordered on https://www.abc-llc.com. | “Using for delivery notification” — Lacks brand name and the type of messages going out |
ABC LLC uses this campaign to send follow-up customer care messages to subscribers who have opted in through a web form and want to sell their vehicle. | “Customer outreach campaign” — Lacks brand name and type of messages going out |
Message Flow
Also known as call to action (CTA), the message flow describes how a customer opts in to a campaign, giving consent to the sender to send messages. A compliant CTA should include:
Brand Information: Name of the brand sending these texts
Message Frequency: e.g., “You may receive up to two messages a week” or “Message frequency varies” or “Messages will be sent when a user registers or changes password”
Pricing Disclosure: e.g., “Message and data rates may apply”
Links to Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy: Ensure these pages are comprehensive and up-to-date
Opt-in Consent Mechanism: The method and action taken by the user to subscribe
Opt-in Methods
Web Form: Website visitors submit a form agreeing to receive your texts. The form should include opt-in language, links to your company’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy pages, expected message frequency, pricing, HELP, and OPT-OUT information.
Good Example | Bad Example |
ABC LLC: Customers opt in by subscribing to our weekly newsletter from our website, https://abc-llc.com, where they indicate that they would like to receive texts about upcoming shows. Instructions about how to opt out are sent alongside the text messages. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for assistance. Terms & Conditions: <link> Privacy Policy: <link> | “Customers opt in by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, where they indicate that they would like to receive texts about upcoming shows” — Missing brand name, opt-in consent mechanism, links to Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, message frequency, and pricing disclosure, HELP and OPT-OUT information |
Keyword: Customers text a keyword or phrase to join your message list. Include the opt-in keyword, number, how the number is advertised, and a link to an image of the advertisement.
Good Example | Bad Example |
ABC LLC: Consumers opt in by texting START to (202) 555-3456, as mentioned on our website’s Contact Us information at https://abc-llc.com/contact. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for assistance. Terms & Conditions: <link> Privacy Policy: <link> | “Consumers opt-in by text and provide consent to receive these messages” — Missing brand name, text keyword and number, how the number is advertised for subscribers, links to Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, message frequency, pricing disclosure, HELP and OPT-OUT information |
Paper Form: Consumers provide phone numbers and express consent on a paper form. Put a copy of the paper form on a web page and include a link to that page in the CTA.
Good Example | Bad Example |
ABC LLC: Upon hire, employees sign an employment contract wherein they provide consent to receive scheduling messages as a part of their contract. <link to image of paper form> Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for assistance. Terms & Conditions: <link> Privacy Policy: <link> | “ABC LLC: Upon hire, employees sign an employment contract wherein they provide consent to receive scheduling messages as a part of their contract” — Missing links to a copy of the paper form, Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, message frequency, pricing disclosure, HELP and OPT OUT information |
Verbal: Customers provide verbal consent to receive texts. The phone number, timestamp, and voice record of consent need to be stored on a recorded line. Double opt-in is recommended for additional consent.
Good Example | Bad Example |
ABC Clinic: Consumers opt in by calling us at (202) 555-3456 to book an appointment. During this call, our staff seeks consent to send appointment reminders via text. An initial SMS is then sent notifying subscribers that they will receive appointment reminders by SMS with opt-out instructions (double opt-in). Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for assistance. Terms & Conditions: <link> Privacy Policy: <link> | “Consumers opt in by booking an appointment” — Missing brand name, channel, and details of opt-in flow, links to Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, message frequency, pricing disclosure, HELP and OPT-OUT information |
Mixed: A combination of two or more opt-in methods - web forms, keywords, verbal, paper forms. Example:
Good Example | Bad Example |
ABC School: Subscribers opt in by visiting our website and registering for a dance class by clicking on “Book” and submitting the enrollment form at https://abcschool.com/enroll.jspx with their name, address, and contact details. Alternatively, they can opt in at our studio, where they sign a paper copy of our online enrollment form. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for assistance. Terms & Conditions: <link> Privacy Policy: <link> | “Subscribers enroll for a dance class and provide consent to receive text notifications” — Missing brand name, opt-in mechanism, links to Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, message frequency, pricing disclosure, HELP and OPT-OUT information |
Sample Message
Provide sample messages indicative of the actual messages you’re sending. They should adhere to A2P best practices and must contain your brand name and opt-out instructions.
Good Example | Bad Example |
Hi {FirstName}, this is ABC Dental. Your scheduled visit with us is coming up on 10/01 at 9:00 a.m. Text C to confirm. Text STOP to stop receiving messages. | “Your scheduled visit with us is in 3 days” — Lacks brand name and opt-out information |
Hey {FirstName}, check out the new fall collection at ABC Boutique https://abc-llc.com/boutique. Get 35% off all items. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. | “ABC Boutique sale - get 35% off all items” — Lacks opt-out language and URL“ |
Your ABCMed verification code is 123456. | Access code: 247304” — Lacks brand |