Building an SMS contact list isn’t just about technically adding phone numbers. It’s a strategic process that requires obtaining informed consent from users and maintaining high-quality communication. In this article, we’ll show you how to do it effectively and in compliance with legal regulations.
1. How to Obtain Consent for SMS Communication?
The foundation of any list is consent – clear, informed, and voluntary. You can collect it in several ways:
Onsite element asking for a phone number and consent (Pop-Up, Weblayer Banner or Slider) - you can create a simple pop-up inviting users to sign up for SMS communication. It works best when you offer something in return – e.g., a discount, free shipping, or access to exclusive offers.
📖 A detailed guide for creating such a pop-up is available here
Form with a phone field and checkbox
Add a field for a phone number and a checkbox for consent in places like: your registration form, checkout or order summary page. In this case, reach out to us via chat or at hello@edrone.me—we’ll make sure the data is correctly integrated.
Dedicated landing page with a form
This works great for campaigns (e.g., sent via email). It requires integration on our side, so just let us know.
This is a great option if you want to promote SMS sign-ups in a campaign (e.g., email). It requires integration on our end – just let us know.
The most effective sign-ups show a clear benefit – e.g., “Sign up and get 10% off your first purchase.” People are more likely to provide their number when they get something right away.
2. How to Get SMS Consent from Existing Email Subscribers?
Have an email list but no phone numbers? No problem – you can run a simple follow-up campaign:
Send an Email Campaign Asking to Update Details
Include a clear CTA in your message, linking to a form or pop-up with a phone number field and SMS consent checkbox.
🔗 Important: The form should also contain an email field – this allows the system to match the data with the existing contact.
Add the Option to Update Info on Your Website
You can allow users to edit their phone number and consent settings in their account or add a separate pop-up.
Let users know they won’t be spammed – only quick and relevant messages. Transparency builds trust.
3. Importing an Existing List of Numbers and SMS Consents
If you’ve previously collected SMS consents – e.g., through another tool, offline forms, or an e-commerce platform – you can import them into edrone.
Possible data sources include:
a previous e-commerce system,
SMS marketing software,
a CRM or CSV file from events,
your own sign-up form on the website.
🔐 Just remember: every consent must be documented – the user must have agreed to receive SMS messages from your brand.
📖 How to do it? The import instructions can be found [here].
After import, you can immediately use the contacts in SMS campaigns, automations, and scenarios.
4. How to Identify Users with Active SMS Consent?
If your database includes phone numbers but not everyone has given consent for SMS, it’s important to:
mark who has active consent and who doesn’t,
regularly update consent statuses,
send SMS only to users with consent,
run reminder or incentive campaigns to encourage giving consent.
The edrone system makes it easy to segment contacts and manage consents.
5. Do You Need Consent for Transactional SMS Messages?
No, if the message concerns:
orders,
payments,
delivery,
login,
complaints.
These messages are part of fulfilling a contract or legitimate interest and don’t require consent (according to Article 6(1)(b) or (f) of the GDPR).
☝️ If you’re unsure whether a message is promotional – it's better to mark it accordingly and keep a clear distinction between transactional and marketing communication.
6. Best Practices – How to Maintain Your SMS List?
Don’t over-send – less is more.
Segment your list – tailor content to specific groups (e.g., by purchase history).
Test message content and send times – see what works best.
Add clear CTAs – help recipients know what to do next.
Do you have any additional questions?
If you have any questions about the SMS functionality, please contact us via chat or at hello@edrone.me.