Getting started: SMS marketing setup checklist

Ready to add SMS to your marketing mix? Here's everything you need to work through, in the order that'll set you up for success. Each phase builds on the last, so don't skip ahead.

Phase 1: Get your account SMS ready

⚠️ SMS is a separate add-on. It's billed apart from your core Marsello plan and the Marketing add-on, on its own credit-based pricing. Confirm you have an active SMS subscription before you get started — see how Marsello charges for SMS credits for plan details

🏷️ SMS features vary by Marsello plan

- Loyalty Launch + SMS add-on: Unlocks loyalty automations via SMS and SMS campaigns
- Loyalty Accelerate + SMS add-on: Unlocks advanced automations via SMS and SMS campaigns

SMS won't send at all until your TFN is approved and verified — verification can take some time. Be sure to pad time into your marketing calendar for the verification process to take place.

Read the SMS Marketing Compliance Introduction — covers consent, message frequency, and content rules you'll be asked to confirm before your first send.
Understand the toll-free verification policy for business registration numbers — check your business registration meets the requirements.
Complete the TFN (Toll-Free Number) application process — required before you can send any SMS campaign or automation.

📍 Sending to customers in Texas?
Texas has its own text messaging law with additional requirements. Read the Texas text messaging law update before you send to make sure you're compliant.

Phase 2: Send your first campaign

⚽ Heads up on approval: on top of TFN verification, your first SMS campaign or automation goes on hold for a one-time Support team compliance review before it can send — this is automatic and applies to every new account. Build in a few extra days before your intended send date so it doesn't catch you out.

Here's what to do once you're ready to start send sending.

Create an SMS campaign — the full walkthrough for building and sending.

Phase 3: Set up your SMS automations

Now that your campaigns are sending, it's time to set up automations that reach customers automatically, without any extra work on your end.

Explore the SMS automation template library — see every SMS automation template available and turn one on.

📖 Learn more

More information about SMS campaigns and automations can be found here:

SMS campaign and automation: common questions