# How to Set Up SMS Marketing in Retainful

### 1. Navigate to SMS settings

To get started:

* Go to your Retainful Dashboard.
* Navigate to Settings → SMS.
* Click on the ‘Get Started’ button.

This will initiate the setup process for enabling SMS in your account.<br>

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXddgdYL3IFJ0EGhENmrnr_icAG9Sj2vN8OGjvrwHmsBWF0HcvSmxD8TJgzWbHAyN-mlkt6OgtVY4vx9EwQj06OeaXExRiaVQg971Xh7GlIkmGwzWiqocHGROe6G8AjAuKvEKr4wzg?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 2. Enter Your Business Information

You'll be prompted to provide accurate and verifiable business details, such as:

* Business Name
* Business Address
* Contact Information
* Website URL

{% hint style="warning" %}
⚠️ I**mportant:** Ensure all information is original and matches your legal business credentials. Any discrepancies may delay the approval process.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf4v0DBEx-oJVprWrb94w1lrhlcQAAI-ZDKolHv0lxoTTvScikoA_XHm1cG-yIWeETTYO-vGRQeJgwMFUn53axHpTF1VbalVxhENKFQ-KJJbwaMLu5f2u5LD09xUz5JcrkzADRsQA?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 3. Upload Proof of Customer Consent

To comply with SMS marketing regulations, we require proof that your customers have opted in to receive promotional text messages.

* A clear screenshot of your signup form or checkout page showing a visible checkbox or consent message where customers agree to receive SMS.
* A Privacy Policy on your website that explicitly states how the customer’s phone number will be used, specifically that it may be used for marketing via SMS.

{% hint style="info" %}
Example: “We collect your phone number for the purpose of sending you marketing messages related to our products and services.” Please rephrase this based on your store’s tone and offerings
{% endhint %}

* You can upload images or documents in common formats (PNG, JPG, PDF).

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfjb0gKZDT9iAAM1J7STYPPVItIqcPfMjn9-SH388kIKx0vb-yvWHL2skJ8CiqeAO55DAqyEQ0gO72nIbNeKXlinV4pnNVtTHzvdKlFKVtE7M_xEmoRyLBldqunSK6XMU3hehc2?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 4. Submit and Await Approval

After reviewing all details:

* Click Submit to send your application for review.
* Our compliance team will manually verify your request.
* You will receive a notification once the application is approved or if any changes are needed.

{% hint style="success" %}
⏳ **Approval Time:** It usually takes 2-3 business days, depending on the accuracy of the submitted information
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdcOfLjZ6aKLx6xdXugHdufFQ6yhjCntPNbhCISXI8JE9uHznNOfiPtZ8yqBhwLYFsc1i9oVhTejLzLjd3zZidg9zTSxovrpTMwWotC8TJJJG-bgV6aKALCzBR5tl5ZymM10rb0IA?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 5. Quiet hours and Daily sending limit

Once your SMS setup is approved, your SMS dashboard will display:

1. **Phone Number** - The registered phone number will be displayed here.

<figure><img src="/files/OI8rhFX5OJufREv8kCKU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

To ensure compliance with SMS marketing regulations and provide a high-quality customer experience, Retainful supports two essential features: **daily sending limits** and **quiet hours**

1. **Quiet Hours**
   * *Quiet hours* prevent marketing messages from being sent during inappropriate times in a recipient's local timezone.
   * Messages sent outside this window will automatically be **queued and delivered later**.
   * For example:
     * In the US, SMS messages must typically be sent between **8 am and 9 pm local time**, with stricter state-level rules in places like Florida or Washington.
     * By default, Retainful sends SMS only from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM based on the recipient's time zone.
2. **Daily Sending limit**
   * The daily sending limit allows you to restrict the **maximum number of SMS messages** sent to each customer per day.
   * By default, this is set to **3 SMS per day**, but you can adjust this limit based on your marketing needs.
   * This helps prevent subscriber fatigue and maintains better engagement rates.
3. **Timezone Awareness**
   * Both features work based on the **recipient's timezone**, so there's no need to manually adjust settings if your audience is global.
   * Messages are delivered according to the local time of each recipient, ensuring compliance across markets.

<figure><img src="/files/z4bjSa9vHCpaww1K4GCA" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
💡 **TIP:** We recommend sending no more than **3 SMS per day** to avoid overwhelming your customers and to comply with best practices.
{% endhint %}

### 7. Add SMS to Automation Workflows

To include SMS messages within your automations:

1. Go to the Automation section in your Retainful dashboard.

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfuTGCzZDNxtYKTMoxTLdOVIhzoO289unCn2oGmbChmrK75bJrha_MmBtofPDL3Dt1DjQY16COuFPOZDbU2oetHhW3xnrM0NCT8Uet7l2J1Mf3UEl9bKOd45WTLxvzxWF0Ip7OqxQ?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Open or create a workflow (e.g., Abandoned Cart, Welcome Series, Order Follow-up).

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdgOkobGKL5Wv84s4RBms61H2seMbPfXI7jsFdXyL6FeQux8omYmQOdthqkcQKjIYG1_D7ngtguH8ITE61ETSpqD395Edd-1idipt4q-DU7UHBtuqy1rWppeKH2FMRSSD203iiyNQ?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Click on the ‘+’ (Add Block) icon in the workflow editor.

<figure><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXddws3EjkZnAJQRRXBUJFOM8p8PBEPGcE_CWWTc9E6XpT2I0Go7lLXFLtwkhP253bkw6qGnxQ7V_HQms3vM-nPh008Si55CaHtvYY1F0iVrp3NegpKFam8GDtHZOagK8HyB4DqcCA?key=mK2jOpFBrGMJLtPUlygu1g" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Select the ‘SMS’ block from the options.

<figure><img src="/files/uA3lSPcD2xFjXRqDDKPd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

5. Enter your message content in the SMS block editor.

<figure><img src="/files/BMVHQv0a40IRMLSF6tNc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Additional Features:

1. Insert Dynamic Coupon Codes: Send personalized, time-limited coupon codes to boost conversions.

<figure><img src="/files/qeUwbSUJvlKUhQHJAOYU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Customize Opt-out Instructions: Add a note like “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” to comply with opt-out regulations.

![](/files/DrySL72iGq9jtZTpLNGM)

{% hint style="warning" %}
⚠️ **SMS Message Guidelines**

* Each SMS message is limited to 160 characters.
* Messages exceeding 160 characters will be split into multiple SMS and charged accordingly (though they will appear as one continuous message to the recipient).
* Only customers in the US and Canada can currently receive SMS messages through Retainful.
  {% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}

### Need Help?

If you need assistance at any step of the process:

* Reach out to our support team via chat or email.
* Or [book a support call](https://zcal.co/retainful/onboarding) with one of our product specialists.

We’re here to help you get the most out of your SMS marketing strategy!
{% endhint %}


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