How to capture phone numbers from an inbound SMS

You can ask customers to SMS into a number to collect info/their mobile number. You can get this to trigger for any SMS, or only if they SMS specific keywords. This is all managed by Inbound SMS rules on the dashboard here.

There are a few typical scenarios below.

I Just Want to Capture Their Mobile Numbers and Export Them

1. Sign into the dashboard
2. Purchase a dedicated number (or a Keyword on our shortcode): If you haven't got a dedicated number, you'll need to purchase one:
   • Go to 'Sender IDs page'
   • Click Purchase button to view list of available numbers
   • Search for a number and click Purchase to avail.
3. The next step is to setup the inbound SMS rule:
   • Go to the top right hand corner and click on your username 'Messaging Setting'->'SMS/MMS'->'Inbound SMS Settings'
   • + Add new rule
   • Choose what you'd like to do with the inbound SMS. For example you can setup an auto-responder. You don't need to choose anything if you don't want anything to happen. By default we email the inbound messages to you, but this can be turned off by deleting the default rule.
4. Export messages. You can export all the inbound messages by going to SMS->history/reporting then click the Export button.

Setup an Auto Responder

Optionally you can setup an automated response message.

Create a Contact - Phone Only

For example, ask your target market to SMS anything to a dedicated number you've purchased. You can setup specific rules to trigger this on a certain keyword for example "SMS 'Car' to 04012".

1. Sign into the dashboard
2. Purchase a dedicated number

• Go to 'Sender IDs page'
• Click Purchase button to view list of available numbers
• Search for a number and click Purchase to avail.

1. The next step is to setup the inbound SMS rule:
   • Go to the top right hand corner and click on your username 'Messaging Settings' -> 'SMS/MMS' -> 'Inbound SMS Settings'
   • + Add new rule
   • Choose the dedicated number you want
   • The rule name is for your reference.
   • Match for 'Any message' (adjust this if you only want to trigger it on a certain keyword)
   • Choose 'CREATE_CONTACT'
   • Choose the contact list that the contacts will be added to.
   • Click 'Save'.
2. All done! Test it out by sending a SMS to your dedicated number and see if a contact is added.

Create a Contact - Phone & Email Address

For example, ask your target market to SMS their email address to a dedicated number you've purchased e.g. "SMS your email address to 04012".

1. Sign into the dashboard
2. Purchase a dedicated number: If you haven't got a dedicated number, you'll need to purchase one:
   • Go to 'Sender IDs page'
   • Click Purchase button to view list of available numbers
   • Search for a number and click Purchase to avail.
3. The next step is to setup the inbound SMS rule:
   • Go to the top right hand corner and click on your username 'Messaging Setting'->'SMS/MMS'->'Inbound SMS Settings
   • + Add new rule
   • Choose the dedicated number you want
   • The rule name is for your reference.
   • Match for 'Any message'
   • Choose 'CREATE_CONTACT_PLUS_EMAIL'
   • Choose the contact list that the contacts will be added to.
   • Click 'Save'.
4. All done! Test it out by sending a SMS with an email address to your dedicated number and see if a contact is added.

Create a Contact - Phone & Name

For example, ask your target market to SMS their name to a dedicated number you've purchased e.g. "SMS your name to 04012".

1. Sign into the dashboard
2. Purchase a dedicated number.
   • Go to 'Sender IDs page'
   • Click Purchase button to view list of available numbers
   • Search for a number and click Purchase to avail.
3. The next step is to setup the inbound SMS rule:
   • Go to the top right hand corner and click on your username 'Messaging Setting'->'SMS/MMS'->'Inbound SMS Settings
   • + Add new rule
   • Choose the dedicated number you want
   • The rule name is for your reference.
   • Match for 'Any message'
   • Choose 'CREATE_CONTACT_PLUS_NAME'
   • Choose the contact list that the contacts will be added to.
   • Click 'Save'.
4. All done! Test it out by sending a SMS with a name to your dedicated number and see if a contact is added.

Create a Contact - Phone, Name & Email

For example, ask your target market to SMS their name and email to a dedicated number you've purchased e.g. "SMS your name and email to 04012". The message must contain the first name, then the email address e.g. 'John john@email.com''

1. Sign into the dashboard
2. Purchase a dedicated number: If you haven't got a dedicated number, you'll need to purchase one:
   • Go to 'Sender IDs page'
   • Click Purchase button to view list of available numbers
   • Search for a number and click Purchase to avail.
3. The next step is to setup the inbound SMS rule:
   • Go to the top right hand corner and click on your username 'Messaging Setting'->'SMS/MMS'->'Inbound SMS Settings
   • + Add new rule
   • Choose the dedicated number you want
   • The rule name is for your reference.
   • Match for 'Any message'
   • Choose 'CREATE_CONTACT_PLUS_NAME_EMAIL'
   • Choose the contact list that the contacts will be added to.
   • Click 'Save'.
4. All done! Test it out by sending a SMS with a name and an email address to your dedicated number and see if a contact is added.