Read these instructions thoroughly before starting. We want to help you avoid unnecessary delays. Approval can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. It is best to start immediately.

1. Go to Hello (Name)! > Settings and find Telephony in the gray list on the left hand side. (these are in alphabetical order)

2. IFPG users choose ‘Register my own brand’. If you are not affiliated with IFPG please do not concern yourself with this step.

3. If you do not have an EIN, fill out the customer profile (should be self-explanatory but note the instructions for the phone number on step 5 below). Before you submit your brand and campaign, check with your CSP or email support@clienttether for help with these steps. We may need to submit your campaign in the Twilio platform rather than the telephony tab, so be sure to involve us to avoid unnecessary delays.

4. If you have an EIN, be sure to activate the green switch to indicate Yes, then fill out your business details. Your legal business name must match the business name that matches the EIN you have with the IRS.

5. Fill in your business address. This must be your current business address.

6. Fill out your contact information, Save & then STOP. When entering the phone number, be sure to enter it in this format: +18888888888. 1 is the country code for the United States.

7. STOP HERE. Before Registering your brand and campaign, your website must be compliant:

• Every form on your website must tell people that by filling it out they are opting in to texting and how to opt out, as well as a link to your privacy policy.
• Your website must have a privacy policy that states mobile information will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes, and gives information on how to opt out of automatic texting.
• Note that you must abide by your privacy policy and information given on your website.

8. Once your website is compliant and your registration is approved, come back to the telephony tab and submit your brand – only submit it once, and wait for approval.

9. Once your brand is approved, click the I accept box to check it, then choose a phone number and submit your campaign. 

10. If you are denied, review these steps and if there is nothing on your end to fix, reach out to support@clienttether.com

11. Note that phone numbers are bought through a third party vendor, Twilio, and there are government regulations. The registration, brand and campaign approvals are verified by a third party, not Twilio. There are instances where the registration, brand and campaign are not approved and we have to work through Twilio to resolve it. You may be included in this communication, so watch for emails from Twilio and from the folks at ClientTether who are working to help you get these approvals.

12. Approval can take several weeks, even if everything is compliant. We will do our best to help you.

13. For more information about requirements, please view this pdf: https://support.clienttether.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SMS-Registration-Compliance.pdf

As of January 2025, the FCC’s new lead generation requirements will mandate significant changes in how businesses handle consumer consent. The key update is the requirement for express written consent on a seller-by-seller basis, ensuring that each interaction is directly linked to the consumer’s specific inquiry. This move away from batch consents underscores the importance of clear and conspicuous disclosures in all communications.

What This Means for Your Business

1. Tailored Consent: Moving forward, businesses must obtain consent that is specific to each seller, rather than relying on blanket consents. This ensures that each interaction is traceable to a clear consumer inquiry, improving transparency and reducing the risk of non-compliance.
2. Clear Disclosure: All communications with consumers must include clear and conspicuous disclosures that explicitly state the purpose of the contact and the entity involved. This helps consumers make informed decisions and strengthens the legitimacy of your outreach efforts.
3. Record Keeping: Meticulous documentation of all consent records is now more critical than ever. Businesses must implement robust systems for managing and storing consent documentation, ensuring that it is easily accessible for compliance audits and consumer inquiries.
4. Vendor Scrutiny: Evaluate your current vendors and partners to ensure they are compliant with the new regulations. This may involve renegotiating contracts, updating service agreements, and ensuring that all third-party activities align with the FCC’s new standards.

Action Steps for ClientTether Users

• Audit Your Processes: Begin by conducting a thorough review of your current lead generation and consent practices. Identify areas where changes are needed to comply with the new regulations.
• Update Consent Forms: Modify your consent forms to ensure they meet the new seller-specific requirements. Clearly outline the nature of the consent being given and the specific entity it pertains to.
• Train Your Team: Ensure that all team members understand the new requirements and their implications. Provide training on how to obtain and document consent in a compliant manner.
• Monitor Compliance: Regularly monitor and review your lead generation activities to ensure ongoing compliance. Consider implementing automated tools within ClientTether to help manage consent records and streamline the compliance process.

Conclusion

The upcoming changes to lead generation requirements are designed to enhance consumer protection and transparency. By taking proactive steps now, businesses can ensure they are fully prepared to meet these new standards, thereby reducing the risk of non-compliance and building stronger, more trustworthy relationships with their customers.

Let’s dive into how SMS messaging works with ClientTether, focusing on GSM vs. Non-GSM characters. Understanding this will help you manage your messages more effectively and enhance the experience for your recipients.

GSM Characters in ClientTether For most of your messaging needs within ClientTether, sticking with GSM characters is your best bet. Here’s why:

• A single SMS can hold up to 150 characters. If your message exceeds this limit, it’s split into chunks of 150 characters each. For instance, a message with 161 characters would be sent as one segment of 150 characters and another with just 11 characters.
• The SMS segments are counted in increments of about 150 characters:
  • Up to 150 characters = 1 SMS Segment
  • Up to 300 characters = 2 SMS Segments
  • Up to 450 characters = 3 SMS Segments
  • …and so on.
• Curious about which characters are GSM? Check out this list of GSM characters!

Non-GSM Characters in ClientTether Non-GSM characters are a bit trickier but still supported:

• The character limit per SMS segment drops to 65 characters. Not all devices or networks handle these well, and they might appear as separate messages.
• Here’s how SMS credits tally up with Non-GSM characters:
  • 65 characters = 1 SMS Segment
  • 150 characters = 2 SMS Segments
  • 195 characters = 3 SMS Segments
  • …and so on.
• To help you avoid unintentionally using Non-GSM characters, here’s a tool to identify them.

Detecting Non-GSM Characters Great news! ClientTether automatically alerts you if there are Non-GSM characters in your message. If Non-GSM characters are detected, the outline of the text box turns red, the character count adjusts, and an info bubble pops up next to the Message Label with a quick explanation.

If you want to double-check your message for Non-GSM characters before sending, try this recommended Non-GSM Detector and Segment Calculator.

Just so you know, the character counts mentioned include space for headers that specify the encoding system used. Our reporting on character splits gives you a conservative estimate to help you plan your SMS segments effectively.

Happy messaging!

Important registration requirement for A2P 10DLC messaging, which is essential for ensuring the continued delivery of your application-to-person (A2P) text messages.  As you may already be aware, A2P 10DLC is a messaging framework introduced by major mobile carriers in the United States to enhance the reliability and deliverability of application-to-person SMS messages.

This is also part of the FCC’s recent initiative to limit texts from illegitimate numbers which have been exploding over the past few years.

To comply with the new requirements, it is imperative that you complete the registration quickly. Beginning  Sept 1, 2023, carriers have the right to block messages that come from unregistered phone numbers.

Watch this video on Registering for A2P 10DLC with ClientTether:

In order to successfully complete the registration, it is vital that you have your Business Employer Identification Number (EIN) documents readily available. These documents are a mandatory requirement for registration and will help validate your business and messaging traffic.

Your CSM will assist you in placing the necessary information in the registration form, including:

1. Business Profile Details: Please provide accurate and up-to-date information about your company, including contact details.
2. Brand Registration: Identify and register the brand(s) you intend to use for sending A2P messages. This includes providing brand names, business categories, and any relevant brand documentation.
3. Campaign Registration: If you have specific campaigns planned, your CSM will guide you through the registration process. Be prepared to share campaign details, such as purpose, start and end dates, message content, and expected volume.

We understand that this may seem like a complex process, but we assure you that our CSMs are here to provide dedicated support and ensure that your registration is completed in a timely manner.  Failure to complete the registration before the Sept 1 deadline may result in immediate disruptions to your A2P messaging services.

Should you have any questions, concerns, or require further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact your CSM. We are committed to assisting you every step of the way to ensure a seamless transition to the A2P 10DLC framework.  Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and look forward to continuing to support your messaging needs.