Opt-In And Opt-Out Methods: How a customer's number gets added or removed from lists

There are several different ways of getting a mobile number opted into a keyword.  Some are actions that are taken by the mobile user and others are actions that you can take on behalf of the mobile user ("customer actions").

1. Mobile-user Actions:
   1. The most straightforward method is for the mobile user to text that keyword from their cell phone to the short code that you are using (in many cases that is one of TextPower's shared short codes such as 85700 or 81888).  This mobile-originated ("MO") message generates a response from our system called a "UserReply" that is configurable through the customer portal.  This same user reply is sent whenever the keyword is included in the first two words of an MO sent to the short code.  You can also activate an option to send a "Auto-Welcome" message that will be sent only the first time that someone texts the keyword into the system.
   2. The mobile user can opt-in by entering their mobile number into our web signup widget or signup page.  TextPower provides the code to embed that widget or link to the signup page into any of your web pages.  When the user does that a passcode will be sent to the mobile number that must then be entered into a field that will appear on the web page where they first entered their number.  This prevents spamming.  
2. Customer Actions:
   1. Use our web-based AlertManager app to import numbers by going to the "List Management" tab and entering a number in the box labeled "Search for Number/Email",  click the "Opt In Number/Email" button below that box. The system will look up the number and determine whether it is a mobile number; any that are not will be rejected and you will see a status (because they are not mobile numbers or because they have previously opted out). Likewise, you can enter a phone number and select the button to opt that number out.
   2. Upload a file with that number on it by using our FileUploader app and Automated List Processing.  Including phone numbers in a file upload will opt the numbers in and pre-pending a phone number with a '-' in a file upload will opt the number out.
   3. Use an API call to automate the opt-in. 

There are additional things that you can do when importing numbers such as assigning numbers to "tags" or "groups" - we suggest you read the other FAQs about opt-ins and working with lists for various tips and helpful suggestions.