Getting started with SMS (United Kingdom & Australia)

Hi. It’s Kevin. I’m going to show you how you could easily get started with TextMagic from getting your number to sending your first text or email all in just a few minutes. Signing up is quick.

No credit card needed, no commitments. You even get free texting credits and a virtual number for the first month so you can start right away. Before we jump in, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, TextMagic is built for business communication, not personal texting.

Also, you should only message contacts who have opted in and always respect your customer’s privacy. Being open and considerate with your audience keeps your messages trusted, your reputation strong, and your delivery rates high. Once you log in, you land here. This is your setup checklist.

Your first TextMagic number is automatically assigned and free for the first month allowing you to start sending messages right away. You can keep this number after the trial or buy additional ones at any time if you need separate lines for different teams, regions, or campaigns. You’ll see three main options for SMS. First, you can use your assigned virtual number for two way messaging.

You can get a sender ID to send branded text that appear from your company name instead of a phone number. Or if you already use a provider like Twilio, Cinch, or Vonage, you can connect your number directly to TextMagic and manage everything in one place. If you wanna apply for a sender ID, click choose sender ID. Next, enter your sender ID, for example, your business name and keep in mind that there are a maximum of eleven characters and you must have at least one text character.

Now explain your use case for how you’ll be using your sender ID. For example, I’ll be sending notifications to my clients about upcoming events. Then click apply now and you’ll receive an email confirmation once approved which usually takes just a few minutes. The sender ID has a small monthly cost so be sure to top up your account to cover it.

To change your default sender settings, go to settings, SMS and voice, and then sender settings. Here you can edit your country and choose your default sender. We recommend using a dedicated sender ID for one way branded messages and a virtual local number for two way chats where customers can’t reply. If you wanna send email messages alongside SMS, you can connect your email domain.

The process for connecting and verifying your email domain is incredibly straightforward. Just keep in mind that free domains such as Gmail and Yahoo can’t be used for bulk emails. And that’s it. You’re all set up.

Now before you send your first campaign, take a few minutes to organize your contacts and lists. You can also create SMS and email templates for quick use. Then just click compose to send your first campaign in just a few clicks. When you’re ready to go beyond the free trial, just add credit to your account.

Incoming messages are always free and everything is fully prepaid whether you’re on pay as you go or a monthly plan. Start small and top up anytime and if you ever miscalculate, no worries. You can buy more or even get a refund if you overpaid. For frequent texters, the monthly plan is a great choice with a free number and volume discounts.

And of course, you stay in full control of your billing through your Stripe account. That’s it. You’re all set to start messaging with TextMagic. Use the compose screen for campaigns or jump into the messenger for simple one on one chats.

It’s simple, fast, and built for real communication.