How to create an SMS subscribe link

You will learn

Learn how to create and share a link to collect SMS consent through social media campaigns or emails. On mobile devices, the link opens a prefilled message that visitors must send to opt in. On desktop, it opens a subscribe page. If a confirmation message is required, visitors must complete that step to subscribe.

Before you begin

Before generating an SMS subscribe link, turn on SMS in your Klaviyo account. You also need a sending number that can receive messages and an active subscribe keyword connected to a list.

Also, keep the following in mind:

Generate a subscribe link

You can generate an SMS subscribe link from either your text message settings or the Growth tools page.

1. To create an SMS subscribe link, either:
   • Navigate to Audience > Growth tools in the left sidebar.
   • Navigate to Settings > Text message > Subscribe links.
2. In Growth tools, next to Create your first subscribe link, click Create. If you already have a link, click Manage next to Manage subscribe links, then click Create link. In text message settings, click Create link. Klaviyo creates a link and opens its configuration.

If a Missing disclosure prompt appears, click Set up disclosure and complete the setup, then resume creating your link.

1. Expand Link configuration, then enter a descriptive Link name.
2. Select the List you want new subscribers to join. Only lists with an active subscribe keyword are available.
3. Under Text message region, choose the country or group of countries for this link. Countries that use the same sending number appear together.
4. Under Text message keyword, choose the subscribe keyword to use for the selected list.

5. Review or edit the message that will populate in the subscriber’s messaging app. The message field allows up to 160 characters.
6. Click Save to save your configuration changes.

Review the desktop subscribe page

Desktop visitors use the subscribe page for the list you selected. When that list uses default consent pages, Klaviyo creates a list-specific subscribe page with a phone number field and SMS disclosure. Existing custom pages are kept, so review the page before sharing your link.

1. Click Close to leave the link configuration, then navigate to Audience > Lists & segments.
2. Select the list you chose for the link, then select Consent pages.
3. If the list still uses default consent pages, click Customize for this List. This creates a set of consent pages, including preference, subscribe, and unsubscribe pages, for this list.
4. On the Subscribe page card, click Edit Page.
5. Review the subscribe page to make sure it collects SMS consent:
   • If the page does not have a phone number field, drag one onto the page. Select the phone number field and choose Collect Text message consent.
   • Keep the SMS disclosure language above the subscribe button. If it is missing, add an SMS disclosure block.
   • If the page has an email field, hover over it, then click the trashcan icon to delete it.
     • Collecting email and SMS consent separately is best practice for list growth and compliance with wireless carriers.
       

6. Check your disclosure language to make sure it:
   • Mentions your company or SMS program name.
   • Links to both your terms of service and privacy policy.
     

Optional: Set up a custom redirect to send desktop visitors to another page after they submit the form. New custom redirects require a paid email plan. Free accounts can edit an existing redirect. If you do not want a redirect or do not have access to this option, skip to publishing your page.

1. Above the preview, select Confirmation page for a double opt-in list, or Success page for a single opt-in list.

2. Click Custom Redirect in the left sidebar.
3. Check the Skip page and redirect box.
4. In the Redirect URL field, enter the URL where you want to send visitors, such as your home page or a featured collection.
5. Click Publish in the upper right and complete any publish confirmation, then click Exit.

Copy and share your SMS subscribe link

1. Return to either:
   • Audience > Growth tools, then click Manage next to Manage subscribe links.
   • Settings > Text message > Subscribe links.
2. Click the name of the link you created to open it.

3. Click Copy link to use the subscribe link.
4. Copy the SMS disclosure language and include it wherever you post this link.

Outcome

Once you’re done, you can post this link anywhere you want to collect SMS consent, whether that’s in a targeted ad, post on Instagram, or elsewhere.

If the link does not open the messaging app within Instagram, open it in Safari or Chrome and try again.

You can even turn this link into a QR code that you can include in your customers’ packages or on a sign at your store.

Additional resources