To use SMS in SleekFlow, you’ll need to purchase a phone number, complete business verification, and verify the number with carriers. This ensures high deliverability and compliance with US messaging regulations.

In this article, we’ll guide you through purchasing and verifying your SMS phone number, explain the different verification statuses, and outline what you can do if your number is not yet verified.

Purchasing your SMS phone number

You can purchase a phone number directly in SleekFlow to enable SMS messaging. Follow these steps to purchase a phone number for SMS:

1. Click on the icon on the left navigation bar to go to the “Channels” page
2. Click on “SMS” on the left-sided panel
   
    
3. You will be redirected to the “SMS channel” page
4. If you already have an SMS number, click Buy phone number in the top right corner
   
    
5. You will be redirected to the “Choose phone number” page, where you can see a list of phone numbers to pick from
   
    
6. On this page, you can:
   1. Filter by country (currently only the United States is supported).
   2. Filter by capabilities (SMS, MMS).
   3. Click “Refresh numbers” to load a new set of options.
7. Select your preferred phone number from the list and click “Buy”
8. A pop-up modal will appear. Confirm the details and click “Pay US$ 1.25”
   
9. Once you have successfully purchased your SMS phone number, you will be redirected to the success page, where you are prompted to verify your business information and phone number
   

Toll-free phone number verification

Upon purchasing your phone number, you will be required to verify your business details and phone numbers. All toll-free numbers must be verified before you can send SMS or MMS. If your number is not verified, all outbound messages will be blocked by carriers.

Information required for toll-free verification

Before you start, prepare the following details. Providing accurate and complete information speeds up approval.

Consent and opt-in requirements

Carriers require clear proof of user consent before approving a toll-free number. The consent process must:

• Clearly inform users that they will receive SMS messages.
• Include your business name, purpose of communication, and an opt-out option.
• Be visible at the point of opt-in (e.g. on your website or form).

Compliant example:

“By providing your phone number, you agree to receive SMS updates from [Business Name]. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”

Verifying your toll-free phone number

You can follow the steps below to start the verification process:

1. There are 2 entry points to verify your toll-free phone number:
   1. After purchasing your toll-free phone number, in the “Purchase complete” page, click on “Verify”
       
   2. In the “SMS channel” page, you’ll see a list of toll-free phone numbers you purchase. Click on “Verify now” In the “SMS channel” page, you’ll see a list of toll-free phone numbers you purchase. Click on “Verify now” 
      
       
   3. You will be redirected to the “Verify your information” page
   4. Follow the instructions and complete the verification form
      
       
   5. Once you have completed the verification process, you will be redirected to the “Review details” page that indicates you have submitted your verification successfully

Viewing verification status

Once you’ve submitted your toll-free number for verification, you can track its status in the SMS channel page. Each number will display whether it’s ready to send SMS/MMS or if further action is required.

Each toll-free number in SleekFlow has a verification status. This lets you know whether the number is ready to send SMS/MMS or if further action is required.

What to do if your verification gets rejected

If your toll-free verification is rejected, you’ll receive an email notification. You must correct the details and resubmit before your number can send messages.

Common reasons for rejection

Business or form-related:

• Business name or registration does not match official records.
• Website or online presence missing.
• Use case description too vague or inconsistent with provided examples.

Consent-related:

• Opt-in process not clearly shown.
• Missing link to privacy policy or terms of service.
• Sample messages don’t match described purpose.
• Sender identity unclear or inconsistent with business name.

You can also refer to this documentation and view the list of rejected reasons.

Next steps

1. Review the rejection note shown in your email 
2. Correct the business or use case details.
3. Delete your verification by following the steps here
4. Follow the steps here to submit your verification form again

Best practices for successful verification

• Use your official business name and provide a valid website or social media page that clearly represents your organization.
• Write a clear, accurate use case that matches your actual messaging purpose.
• Include example messages that reflect your tone and purpose consistently.
• Ensure your opt-in and opt-out wording is visible, easy to understand, and included wherever users provide consent.
• Avoid restricted or high-risk content categories such as adult services, tobacco, firearms, CBD, or gambling.
• Double-check that your business and contact details are complete and up to date before submitting the form.