Texting & deliverability
Why text messages fail, spam labelling, character limits, number hosting and verification.
10 articles
- Do we have to individually verify cell phone numbers to send texts?Verifying patient cell numbers is not required to send texts; the verify option exists only for troubleshooting delivery problems
- Why the Cheapest Texting Option Isn’t Enough for Your PracticeWhat cheap texting apps miss: compliance tracking, patients with balances or no future appointment, and real practice KPIs
- How long does it take to host my office number for texting?Hosting your office number for texting takes 48 hours or more for carrier approval — use the temporary number and expect brief SMS downtime
- Why isn't a patient receiving text or email reminders?
- I changed phone companies. Will this affect texting?Switching phone carriers ports your number and breaks hosted texting — expect 48+ hours of downtime and a temporary texting number
- Why can't we send shortened links (URLs) to our patients?Why bit.ly and other shortened URLs are blocked in patient texts: TCPA rules treat redirects that hide the target site as spam
- Why “unlimited” business texting doesn’t really existWhy carrier rules, 10DLC registration and throttling mean no provider truly offers unlimited texting, and what to ask before switching
- Why is my office phone number showing as "Spam Likely" to patients?Why does our clinic's number come up as spam on patients' phones?
- Text message character limits and why an SMS splits into segmentsWhy do text messages have character restrictions? Why is my SMS message several segments or count as multiple message credits?
- Unable to receive 2FA codes on the office numberOffice phone numbers may not support receiving 2FA (two-factor authentication) codes via SMS. Learn why and what alternatives are available.