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SMS Setup

How to set up and manage your phone numbers for SMS messaging.

👩‍💻 At a Glance

Integrate SMS directly into your campaigns to keep registrants updated, share reminders, and encourage action at the right moments.


To set up your organisation's SMS account in Social Sync, you'll need to add a minimum of £50 in credit. Social Sync will then provide a phone number for free.
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You have the option to enable auto top up, which means your payment card will be charged automatically when your credit runs low. This ensures your SMS campaigns continue without interruption.
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Before you get started

Important things to be aware of when setting up SMS:

  • Character limits:

    • Standard SMS: 160 characters = 5p per SMS

    • SMS with emoji: 70 characters = 15p per SMS

  • Opt-out: You can add opt-out wording at the end of your messages, this text counts toward the 160 character limit. Supporters who reply to opt out will not incur a charge.
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  • 2-way SMS: 2-way messaging allows supporters to reply. Replies will be charged and can be managed in the Stewardship Centre within Social Sync. If you'd like to enable 2-way SMS, let a member of the team know.

For more information on SMS character limits and pricing, see Twilio’s article.
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Setting up your organisation's SMS account

To send SMS, you’ll need to set up an SMS account on Social Sync:

  1. Manage Integration – Click "Manage Integration" in the SMS section.
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  2. Set up your account – When you add £50 credit when setting up your SMS account, Social Sync will give you your first phone number for free.
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  3. Manage your credit – Your organisation's credit balance will display at the top of the pop out, below is the cost to send and receive a standard SMS. You can add more credit at any time, the minimum top up amount is £10 and the maximum is £2,000.
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  4. Auto top up – If enabled, your card will be charged automatically when your credit runs low. If auto top up is not enabled, scheduled SMS messages will stop when your credit runs out and more credit will need to be added manually before SMS messages can be sent again.
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  5. Get in touch to complete the set up – Once the above steps have been completed, reach out to a member of the Social Sync team and they will ensure your SMS integration is set up properly.

Managing your organisation's SMS account

Once your organisation's SMS account has been set up on Social Sync, you can continue to manage it within the SMS integrations section. You have the option to:

  • Check remaining credit

  • Add credit

  • Check the cost to send and receive an SMS

  • Enable auto top up

  • Manage or buy new phone numbers for your account
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