10DLC Registration Recommendations

What is 10DLC?

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is the carrier-approved framework for businesses sending SMS messages over standard local phone numbers in the United States.

Before sending SMS through Kixie, businesses must register:

• A Brand (your business identity)
• A Campaign (how you send messages and how recipients opt in)

Carriers carefully review campaign registrations and frequently reject submissions that contain vague descriptions, missing opt-in details, bundled consent, or incomplete compliance documentation.

This guide explains exactly what carriers expect and provides examples of approved submissions.

Before Submitting 10DLC Registration to Kixie

US carriers have implemented increasingly strict requirements for registering your brand for a 10DLC Campaign. The only way we can guarantee that your 10DLC Registration will be approved is if you follow these exact guidelines. The following are steps you must take before submitting your 10DLC Registration to Kixie.

The Basic Requirements for 10DLC Registration:

• Legal business name
• EIN / Tax ID
• Business address
• Authorized contact
• Your Company Website
• Your company email address with a domain matching the company website's
• 10DLC Compliant Public Privacy Policy URL hosted on your company website
• 10DLC Compliant Public Terms & Conditions URL hosted on your company website
  • Both URLs (Privacy Policy and Terms) must be publicly accessible without requiring a login.
• Your business type that is not excluded by the 10DLC Campaign Registry

If you do not meet the above conditions, you will not be eligible to register for 10DLC with The Campaign Registry.

Important: The examples in this guide are intended to demonstrate compliant submissions. Do not copy them word-for-word. Your campaign description, messages, and consent language must accurately reflect your business and messaging practices.

10DLC-Excluded Business Types

The 10DLC Campaign Registry (TCR) prohibits the following business types from registering for 10DLC:
❌ High-risk financial services
❌ Real Estate
❌ Third-party lead generation
❌ Debt collection and forgiveness
❌ “Get rich quick” schemes or Multi-level marketing
❌ S.H.A.F.T. (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco) sales
❌ Illegal substances (including cannabis)
❌ Gambling

1. Campaign Description:

Describe:

• Who receives messages
• Why messages are sent
• What types of messages recipients can expect
• How frequently messages are sent

Your campaign description must align with your sample messages.

Example

"Kixie Online, Inc. uses this campaign to send SMS messages to customers and trial users who have separately and voluntarily opted in to receive text messages. Messages include onboarding assistance, customer support follow-ups, account notifications, appointment coordination, and other business communications related to the customer's use of Kixie. Message frequency varies. SMS consent is not required to purchase or use Kixie services."

Common Rejection Reasons

• Description is too vague
• Description does not match sample messages
• Marketing and support use cases are mixed without explanation
• No mention of recipient consent

2. Sample Messages:

Provide at least two realistic examples of messages you plan to send.

Each message should:

• Include your business name
• Reflect actual campaign usage
• Match your campaign description
• Include STOP and HELP instructions

Example Messages

1. Kixie Online, Inc.: Hi Sarah, this is Andrew from Kixie. I saw you started a Kixie trial and wanted to help with setup. Reply STOP to stop, HELP for help.
2. Kixie Online, Inc.: Hi Alex, your onboarding call is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:00 PM PT. Reply STOP to stop, HELP for help.
3. Kixie Online, Inc.: Hi Maria, following up on your support request. Reply STOP to stop, HELP for help.

Best Practices

• Use actual business scenarios
• Avoid generic placeholder messages
• Ensure examples clearly align with your campaign purpose

3. How End Users Consent to Receive Messages:

This is the most heavily reviewed section of your registration.

You must clearly explain every method used to obtain SMS consent.

3a. Fastest Approval Method: Verbal Opt-In

Verbal consent is often the easiest method to get approved.

Example Workflow

"Agent (verbal, by phone or in person): "As part of our service, we can send you text message updates, including customer care and marketing messages. Message frequency varies. Message & data rates may apply, depending on your mobile plan. At any time you can reply HELP for assistance or STOP to unsubscribe. Your contact number will not be shared with third parties for their marketing or other purposes. Would you like to opt in? We'll also send a confirmation text that you can reply START to." 

Customer: "Yes, please opt me in." (and provides their phone number) 

Brand (confirmation text): Kixie Online Inc: This text is to confirm your subscription. If you would like to receive customer care and marketing messages, please reply START. Reply STOP to unsubscribe, and HELP for any assistance. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. 

Customer: "START" 

Brand (welcome text): Kixie Online Inc: Welcome! You are now successfully subscribed and will receive periodic updates. Message frequency may vary. Msg & data rates apply. Text HELP for assistance. Text STOP to unsubscribe."

3b. Recommended Method: Web Form Opt-In

If using a web form:

• SMS consent must have its own checkbox
• Checkbox must be optional
• Checkbox must be unchecked by default
• SMS consent cannot be bundled with:
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Email marketing consent
  • Voice calling consent
  • AI calling consent

Example SMS Checkbox

☐ SMS Consent (Optional)

By checking this box, I agree to receive recurring text messages from [Business Name] regarding my account, support requests, onboarding, and related business communications. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to stop or HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

Separate Terms Checkbox

☐ I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Common Rejection Reason

Bundling SMS consent with Terms or Privacy acceptance is one of the most common reasons campaigns are rejected.

3c. Alternate Method: Text-to-Join (Keyword Opt-In)

If recipients subscribe by texting a keyword:

Example Call-to-Action

"Text START to (555) 555-5555 to receive account updates and support notifications from Example Company. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel. By subscribing, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy."

Example Auto-Reply

"Example Company: You're now subscribed to text updates. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to unsubscribe."

Your keyword, opt-in message, and public call-to-action must all match.

4. Privacy Policy Requirements

Your public Privacy Policy URL hosted on your company website must:

• Be publicly accessible
• Include SMS-specific language
• Explain how SMS information is used
• State that SMS consent is not sold or shared for marketing purposes

Example Language

SMS Messaging Privacy

"We do not sell, rent, or share SMS opt-in consent with third parties for marketing purposes. Information collected through our SMS program may be shared only with service providers that help us deliver messaging services."

Common Rejection Reason

Missing language regarding SMS consent sharing and data usage.

5. Terms & Conditions Requirements

Your public Terms & Conditions URL hosted on your company website must contain an SMS section that includes:

• Program description
• Message frequency disclosure
• Message and data rate disclosure
• STOP instructions
• HELP instructions
• Support contact information

Example Language

SMS Terms of Service

"By opting into our SMS program, you agree to receive service-related and account-related text messages. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. Reply HELP for assistance or contact support@example.com.

By opting in, you confirm you are the authorized user of the mobile number provided."

Common Rejection Reason

Missing HELP instructions, STOP instructions, or support contact information.

6. Consent Record Retention

Maintain records of all opt-ins.

At minimum, store:

• Phone number
• Date and time
• Source of consent
• URL or form used
• Exact consent language shown

Carriers may request proof of consent during audits or investigations.

7. Registering for 10DLC in the Kixie Dashboard: 

Please navigate to the Kixie Dashboard -> Manage -> 10DLC to register for 10DLC.

Before You Submit

Verify the following:

• Legal business information is accurate
• Campaign description clearly matches your use case
• At least two sample messages are included
• Opt-in process is fully described
• SMS consent is separate and optional
• Privacy Policy includes SMS-specific language
• Terms & Conditions include SMS disclosures
• Consent records are stored and retrievable

Following these recommendations will significantly improve the likelihood of campaign approval and reduce carrier rejections.

What Happens Once I Submit my Registration?

When you submit your 10DLC registration, you will receive an email alert like this one:

Hello,

Your 10DLC Registration, submitted on 02/22/202X, is currently being reviewed by the Campaign Registry.

You will receive an automatic email update in about 1-2 weeks when your campaign is either approved or rejected.

If rejected, we will provide the rejection reason given by the Campaign Registry so you can re-register accordingly.

Thank you!
- The Kixie Support Team

You will then receive automatic emails from us whenever your 10DLC Registration campaign status is updated by the Campaign Registry (either failed or approved!)

How Quickly Can I Use SMS Once My Campaign is Approved?

When the Campaign Registry approves your registration, and you have an active 10DLC campaign, Kixie automatically kicks off the linking of all phone numbers that you currently have assigned as SMS numbers (i.e., they are assigned as an agent's SMS number, or assigned to a Team SMS inbox). Keep in mind that number linking is a carrier-level process that can take up to 2 hours, so apologies in advance for this modern inconvenience!

We will send an SMS alert message to your number(s) the instant 10DLC-linking begins, as well as the instant when linking completes, so you know exactly when your numbers are ready to SMS. 

Going forward, if you ever create or reassign a number as an agent SMS number or team SMS inbox number, this triggers the number to be automatically linked to your 10DLC campaign.

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no visual indicator in the Kixie dashboard or otherwise that a number is finally linked - only the SMS alert that we send to the number.