Build Your SMS List with Onsite or Embedded Forms

Once you’ve activated Drip SMS, you’re ready to start building your SMS strategy. First things first, you need to start collecting phone numbers. 

In this guide, you’ll learn a couple of ways to collect SMS phone numbers in Drip, starting with creating a form, applying it to a dedicated landing page on your site, and sharing that link across your site, emails, or socials.

Create an Onsite Form Dedicated to SMS Collection

Add an SMS Element to any Multistep Onsite Campaign. Using this element adds an explicit, carrier-approved way to collect consent in a compliant way.

To help get you started, Onsite has an SMS Opt-in Collection template with the SMS Element pre-built into it. Remember, before an SMS number can be collected, we’ll need an email to identify your subscribers, but you’ll find the SMS Element added under step 2 of the Multistep Campaign.

1. Navigate to Forms > Onsite Pop Ups

2. Under Step 1, select SMS Opt-in Collection template

   

3. Though not required, we recommend adding links to your Terms of Service and Privacy Policy within the SMS Element:

   

Drip Embedded Forms, Too

Update your embedded form to include phone number capture as well. We love this example from Drip customer, Baltic Born because they keep it consistent with their popup form. Smart!

Add an SMS phone number field to an existing embedded form:

1. Go to the embedded form you’d like to add an SMS opt-in to
2. Under Fields click + New Field 
3. Under Field Label type Phone Number
4. Under Field Type select Phone Number from the dropdown 
5. You will see two check box fields: Required and Ask for SMS consent 
6. Select both of these options and click Add
7. Copy the HTML code under Settings and Code
8. Paste the HTML code into your site’s codebase where you would like this form to appear on your website. 

Add any styling to the form via CSS on your website, and you’re ready to collect SMS numbers! 

Update your Legacy Drip Popup Forms (if applicable)

If you’re already capturing email addresses in your Legacy Popup forms, update them to include an SMS phone number field and watch the numbers start rolling in.

Make sure subscribers clearly understand your SMS terms. When you collect SMS numbers in Drip forms, we automatically generate consent language that will include links to your terms of service and privacy policy.

Add an SMS phone number field to an existing popup form: 

1. Go to the popup form you’d like to add an SMS opt-in to

2. Under Fields click + New Field 

3. Under Field Label type Phone Number

4. Under Field Type select Phone Number from the dropdown 
   

5. You will see two check box fields: Required and Ask for SMS consent 

   1. Required?: Select this field if you want to prevent users from submitting the form until this field is populated.

   2. Ask for SMS consent: You must select this checkbox to send texts to any phone numbers you collect. Drip automatically adds the required consent language in the form which enables you to send texts to people who submit it. If you do not check this box, we will store the phone number in the Phone Number field, but you will not be able to text that number

6. Select both of these options and click Add

7. Lastly, update or activate your form to start collecting SMS numbers!

SMS Opt-in Landing Pages

Create a dedicated landing page and include a form to capture SMS consent. This will allow you to drive potential subscribers to the page from your social channels, email, and other sources for easy sign-ups.

Before you get started, you’ll need a few things: 

1. A landing page to show your form on. Create this page on your website. 

2. Your Drip JavaScript snippet installed on your website. If your OMS is Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce, or you use Drip’s Shopper Activity API your JavaScript is automatically installed. If your website uses another provider, learn how to install your JavaScript snippet. 

Once you’ve created your landing page, use an Onsite Embedded form or Drip Embedded form dedicated to that landing page. 

For Onsite forms, you will need two settings for your dedicated landing page:

1. In Step 1, set the Position to Embedded (free placement)

2. In Step 3 under Page-level targeting, toggle “Target specific sub-pages” ON and add your landing page

For Embedded Forms, simply copy the code and add any additional styling CSS once pasted to your landing page:

Invite your Email Subscribers

A great way to build your SMS list if you’re just starting out? Ask your brand-loyal email subscribers to sign up for texts! 

Include compelling talking points, like early access to new products, sales, or exclusive discounts to get folks interested in the channel.

Send your SMS opt-in landing page link in a dedicated single email campaign or include it in your Welcome Workflow for new subscribers.

Share On Social

Add your landing page URL to your bio on social platforms like Instagram, include it in your LinkTree, promote it via Facebook lead ads, or share it on TikTok to make sure your loyal social followers have a chance to sign up for texts.

Ugly Drinks makes it easy for their followers to sign up for texts via their LinkTree.

Pro tip: If you have more than 10,000 followers on Instagram, you can use the link sticker feature and promote your SMS program in your stories.