Migrating From Another SMS Provider to SlickText

Moving your text marketing program to SlickText doesn't have to be complicated. With a little preparation and planning, you can make the transition smooth while keeping your messaging program running and maintaining compliance with applicable requirements.

There are a few important things to consider along the way, from transferring your contacts and setting up your sending number to recreating your campaigns and workflows. Following the steps in this article can help you avoid common migration problems and make your move to SlickText as seamless as possible.

In this article:

Planning Your Migration
Preparing Your Contacts for Migration
Setting Up Your Sending Number
Setting Up Your Campaigns and Workflows
Setting Up Your Inbox
Updating Your Subscriber Signup Methods
Complete Your Migration

Planning Your Migration

Before starting your migration, review your current text messaging platform and identify what you'll need to move to SlickText and make sure you have access to any additional apps you want to connect to SlickText via integration.

Here are some things to consider:

• Contacts and subscriber information: Review your contacts, noticing subscription statuses, lists, tags, custom fields or other groupings. Identify any groupings you'll want to recreate in SlickText and make sure your exported contact information includes the data needed to organize them accordingly.
• Sending number: Determine whether you want to keep your existing sending number or use a new number provided by SlickText.
• Campaigns and workflows: Review your recurring campaigns, automated messages, and other communications you want to continue using.
• Signup methods: Identify any keywords, web forms, popups, QR codes, or other tools currently used to collect subscribers.
• Integrations: Develop a plan for any websites, ecommerce platforms, applications, or other systems connected to your existing SMS provider.
• Historical data: Identify any past campaign reports, message history, or other information you may want to retain.

You should also consider your upcoming campaign schedule and choose a time to migrate that won't interfere with important communications.

 
Prepare Your Contacts for Migration 

Successfully transferring your contacts and their corresponding lists is the most crucial part of your migration. Before importing contacts into SlickText, take some time to ensure your contact information is accurate, organized, and up to date.

Start by exporting your contacts from your existing SMS platform. Most platforms offer an export or download option to save a copy of your contacts as a CSV file. If you need help with exporting your contacts, contact your provider’s support team.

When preparing to migrate your contacts, pay particular attention to:

• Subscriber consent: You can migrate all your contacts, but make sure each contact's SMS subscription status is accurately reflected in your CSV file before importing it into SlickText. Many customers prefer to keep their Subscribed and Unsubscribed contacts separate when exporting to ensure statuses are assigned properly when uploading to SlickText.
• Contact information: Make sure all of the subscriber information you want to transfer to SlickText is included in your CSV export. If you need to create additional fields in SlickText, see Create and Edit Custom Fields for Your Contacts.
• Lists: Review how you've organized your subscribers and identify any lists you'll want to recreate in SlickText.
• List quality: Review your contacts for invalid or outdated mobile numbers. SlickText will also reject any duplicate contacts if a number is uploaded multiple times.
• Consent records: Preserve available records showing how and when subscribers provided consent to receive your text messages.

Once your contacts are ready, you can import them into SlickText. For instructions on importing your contacts, see Importing Contacts in Bulk or Creating Them One at a Time.

Set Up Your Sending Number 

Before sending text messages through SlickText, you'll need a registered sending number.

SlickText supports several sending number types, including toll-free numbers, short codes, and 10-digit long codes (10DLC).

If you would like to keep your existing sending number, SlickText may be able to port it from your current SMS provider.

Use a New Sending Number

If you decide not to port your current sending number, you can obtain a new number through SlickText.

SlickText provides a toll-free sending number with your account and facilitates the registration process. Local 10DLC numbers and short codes are available for an additional fee.

Keep in mind that if you change your sending number, you'll also need to update any materials that reference your old number, including keywords, website content, signage, and other subscriber-facing communications.

For additional information, see Obtaining and Registering a Sending Number.

Keep Your Existing Sending Number

If you want to continue using your current sending number, contact SlickText Support or your SlickText representative to discuss the available transfer options.

The transfer process may vary depending on the number type, your existing provider, and carrier requirements. Some transfers may require additional documentation or coordination between providers.

 
Set Up Your Campaigns and Workflows 

Review any campaigns and automated messages you currently send through your existing provider.

Create campaigns in SlickText for any recurring or scheduled campaigns that will no longer be sent through your previous provider. Past campaigns cannot be migrated into SlickText as historical campaigns. For instructions on creating and sending campaigns, click here.

Create workflows in SlickText to set up any automated text journeys, surveys, drip campaigns, or automate tasks related to your contacts. SlickText’s Workflow builder offers an extensive template library along with the ability to build automations from scratch. See Getting Started with Workflows for more information.

Set Up Your Inbox 

If you use your existing SMS provider to have one-on-one conversations with customers, you'll want to configure the SlickText Inbox before completing your migration.

The SlickText Inbox allows you and your team to manage incoming messages, respond to contacts, and organize conversations.

When preparing your Inbox, consider the following:

• Team access: Set the appropriate level of Inbox access for each team member. Team members can be set up as Inbox users or managers. You can also hide the Inbox from them entirely when selecting their access permissions.
• Conversation management: Review how conversations are assigned, tagged, and managed by your team.
• Auto-responses: Set up any automated replies you want to send when conversations are opened, which can include separate messages for conversations opened during or outside of specified business hours.
• Conversation history: Export any historical conversations from your previous provider that you may need for future reference.

For more information, see Navigating the SlickText Inbox and Configure Inbox Settings.

 
Update Your Subscriber Signup Methods

If you're currently using audience growth tools to collect new SMS subscribers, you'll want to make sure those signup methods continue working after your migration. See Audience Growth Tools.

Review any existing:

• Keywords: Words that customers text to your sending number to subscribe or initiate an interaction.
• Web forms and popups: Tools that collect mobile numbers and subscriber consent through your website.
• QR codes and tap-to-join links: Tools that easily direct customers to subscribe to your SMS program.
• Other signup methods: Any additional tools or integrations that add subscribers to your contact lists.

You’ll want to recreate these signup methods in SlickText and replace references to your previous provider where necessary.

If you're switching to a new sending number, make sure your advertisements, website, and other marketing materials reflect the new number and any updated keywords.

For more information, see the articles covering Keywords, Website Popups and Web Forms.

 
Complete Your Migration

Before launching your SMS program in SlickText, test each sign up tool, automation, and verify that all of your contacts have been imported properly.

Here are a few things to verify before cancelling your previous SMS platform:

• Your sending number is registered and ready for messaging.
• Your contacts and subscription statuses were imported correctly.
• Your contacts contain the expected information, including data stored in custom fields.
• Your lists are populated correctly to target their intended contacts.
• Your automated workflows function as expected.
• Your signup methods successfully collect new subscribers.
• Any integrations you’ve connected are working correctly.
• Your opt-out and help response functionality is operating properly.
• You have disabled any remaining campaigns and workflows in your previous platform.
• Exported any historical reporting or other information you may need to reference in the future.

It's also a good idea to test sending and receiving messages with different types of mobile devices if possible to ensure consistent behavior across various device types.