SMS Signup Form: What It Should Contain

Overview

An SMS signup form is the primary mechanism through which your customers opt in to receive text messages from your business. Getting this form right is critical — not only does it need to collect the right information, but it must also meet carrier, legal, and industry compliance requirements to complete your 10 DLS Campaign Registration, ensure your messages are delivered and your business is protected.

In bLoyal, your SMS signup form is delivered as a Web Signup Snippet — a configurable web form that can be embedded on your website, hosted on a bLoyal-managed page, or linked from other digital touchpoints. Your Client Success Manager can assist you in setting up and configuring your Web Signup Snippet.

This article describes what your SMS signup form must contain, what is recommended, and what to avoid.

Required Elements

The following elements are mandatory for every SMS signup form. Missing any of these can result in carrier non-compliance, campaign rejection, or legal exposure.

1. Mobile Phone Number Field

The form must collect the customer's mobile phone number. This is the primary data point required for SMS messaging.

Best practices:

Label the field clearly as "Mobile Phone Number" — not just "Phone Number," as customers may enter a landline if the field is not specific

2. Explicit Opt-In Checkbox

An unchecked checkbox must be present for the customer to actively confirm their consent to receive SMS messages. Pre-checked boxes do not constitute valid consent under TCPA, CASL, or GDPR.

The checkbox must be:

Unchecked by default — the customer must actively check it
Separate from any other consent — do not bundle SMS consent with email consent, terms acceptance, or any other agreement in a single checkbox
Required to submit the form if SMS consent is the purpose of the form

3. Consent Disclosure Language

In the form and as part of the opt-in checkbox or close to it — not buried in a distant footer or linked document — you must include clear disclosure language that tells the customer exactly what they are agreeing to. This language must include all of the following:

Your business name — customers must know who will be sending them messages
Description of message types — what kinds of messages they will receive (e.g. promotions, loyalty updates, appointment reminders)
Message frequency — how often they can expect to receive messages (e.g. "up to 4 messages per month" or "message frequency varies")
Message and data rates disclosure — "Message and data rates may apply" is required language
Opt-out instructions — how to stop receiving messages (e.g. "Reply STOP to unsubscribe")
Help instructions — how to get support (e.g. "Reply HELP for help")
Links to your Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy — these must be live, publicly accessible links

Example disclosure language:

By opting in, you agree to receive recurring SMS marketing messages from [Business Name] at the mobile number provided. Message types include promotions, loyalty rewards, and exclusive offers. Message frequency varies — up to 4 messages per month. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe at any time. Reply HELP for help. View our [Terms and Conditions] and [Privacy Policy].

4. Links to Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Your form must include visible, clickable links to both your:

SMS Terms and Conditions — describing your messaging program, frequency, opt-out instructions, and carrier disclaimer
Privacy Policy — explaining how you collect, use, and protect customer data including mobile numbers, and confirming you will not share data with third parties for marketing purposes

These documents must be publicly accessible — no login required to view them. For guidance on what these documents should contain, see our related articles:

5. Submit Button

The form must have a clearly labeled submit button. The label should reflect the action being taken, such as:

"Sign Up"
"Join Now"
"Subscribe"
"Opt In"

Avoid vague labels like "Continue" or "Next" that do not clearly indicate the customer is completing an SMS opt-in.

Recommended Elements

The following elements are not strictly required by law or carriers but are strongly recommended as best practice to improve the customer experience, reduce errors, and build a higher quality subscriber list.

First and Last Name

Collecting the customer's name allows you to personalize future messages and helps match the opt-in record to their loyalty profile in bLoyal.

Email Address

If you also run an email marketing program, collecting the email address at the same time as the SMS opt-in is efficient — but remember to include a separate checkbox for email consent. Do not bundle email and SMS consent into a single checkbox.

Loyalty Account Linking

If the customer is an existing loyalty member, linking their SMS opt-in to their bLoyal loyalty account enables personalized messaging based on their purchase history, points balance, and tier status. Your Client Success Manager can configure this connection in your Web Signup Snippet.

Confirmation Message

After the customer submits the form, display a clear on-screen confirmation message such as:

"Thank you! You have successfully signed up to receive SMS messages from [Business Name]. Watch for a confirmation text shortly."

This reassures the customer that their submission was received and sets expectations for the welcome message they are about to receive.

What to Avoid

The following are common mistakes that create compliance risk or reduce the quality of your subscriber list:

Pre-checked opt-in boxes — invalid under TCPA, CASL, and GDPR
Bundled consent — do not combine SMS consent with email consent, terms acceptance, or any other agreement in a single checkbox
Vague disclosure language — "I agree to receive communications" is not sufficient. The disclosure must specifically describe SMS messages, frequency, and opt-out instructions
Consent as a condition of purchase or loyalty enrollment — customers must be able to complete a transaction or join your loyalty program without being required to opt in to SMS
Missing or broken T&C and Privacy Policy links — these must be live and accessible at the time of opt-in
Collecting landline numbers — SMS cannot be delivered to landlines. Use field labeling and validation to encourage mobile number entry
No confirmation message or welcome text — the absence of immediate confirmation increases the likelihood of customer confusion and complaints

The Welcome Message

Immediately after a customer submits your SMS signup form, your bLoyal configuration should trigger an automatic welcome SMS message. This message:

Confirms the customer has successfully opted in
Identifies your business by name
Sets expectations for the types of messages they will receive
Includes opt-out instructions
Optionally delivers a welcome offer or incentive

Example welcome message:

"Welcome to [Business Name] SMS alerts! You'll receive exclusive offers and loyalty updates. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Reply STOP to unsubscribe or HELP for help."

Your Client Success Manager can configure the welcome message content as part of your Web Signup Snippet setup.

Setting Up Your Web Signup Snippet

Your SMS signup form is configured as a bLoyal Web Signup Snippet within your bLoyal account. The snippet can be:

Embedded on your website — placed on any page such as your homepage, checkout page, or a dedicated sign-up landing page
Hosted as a standalone page — bLoyal can provide a hosted URL you can link to from emails, social media, or in-store signage
Linked via QR code — a QR code pointing to your signup form can be displayed in-store, on receipts, or on marketing materials

To get started or make changes to your Web Signup Snippet, contact your Client Success Manager or submit a support request at support@bloyal.com

Compliance Reminder

Your SMS signup form is the foundation of your consent documentation. Every subscriber who completes the form creates a record of:

The mobile number that was opted in
The date and time of opt-in
The consent language that was displayed at the time of opt-in
The source of the opt-in (your web snippet)

bLoyal captures and stores this information as part of the opt-in record. This documentation is your legal protection in the event of a complaint or regulatory inquiry. Keeping your signup form compliant and your disclosure language current is essential to maintaining that protection.

Need Help?

If you need assistance configuring your SMS signup form, reviewing your consent language, or completing your 10DLC campaign registration, our team is here to help.

Contact your Client Success Manager or submit a support request at support@bloyal.com

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We strongly recommend consulting with qualified legal counsel to ensure your signup form and consent language meet all applicable requirements for your business and the markets you operate in.

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