Overview
Cobalt only texts people who agreed to receive your messages. This guide lists every way to bring subscribers in, in the order most businesses set them up, and names the guide that covers each one.
Get Started
Step 1: Import the subscribers you already have
If you collected subscribers before Cobalt, go to Subscribers and click Import Subscribers to upload them as a CSV file. Subscribers with no opted in date are added as Pending and cannot receive messages until they opt in.
Step 2: Add a web form to your website
A web form collects a phone number on your website, then texts a 6-digit code to confirm the signup. You can embed the form in a page or share a page Cobalt hosts for you. Go to Web Forms and click Create Web Form.
Step 3: Let people text to join
Anyone who texts JOIN to your number becomes a subscriber. Under Tools, a Tap-to-Join link or a QR code opens a text to your number with the keyword already typed in, so people only tap send. Keywords you create yourself send an auto response and add people to segments, but they do not subscribe anyone.
Step 4: Connect your other tools
Your own systems can add subscribers through the Cobalt API, included with the Pro and Enterprise plans. With Klaviyo connected, you can also add a Klaviyo form under Forms on the Klaviyo page in Integrations. Cobalt texts new people from either source and asks them to reply Y. They subscribe when they reply Y or YES.
Guides: Add Subscribers with the API, Set Up Your Klaviyo Integration
Helpful Information
Each subscriber's profile shows an Opt-in source, such as Import, Web Form, Keyword, API or Integration.
Uploading a CSV into a manual segment adds new phone numbers as Pending. They cannot receive messages until they opt in.
Klaviyo lists and segments you sync into Cobalt only include people who are already your subscribers. They do not add new ones.
In addition, Shopify stores have a few additional ways to collect subscribers:
Popups: A signup window on your storefront. It shows once the Cobalt app embed is on in your theme. Guides: Create a Popup, Turn On the Cobalt App Embed in Shopify.
Checkout: Stores on Shopify Plus can add the Cobalt SMS Opt-In block to their checkout during account setup.
Shopify SMS subscribers: People who subscribe to SMS marketing in Shopify are added to Cobalt while Sync your Shopify SMS subscribers to Cobalt is on. It is on by default. Guide: Set Up Your Shopify Integration.
Get support
Questions? Please message our team via Live Chat on the bottom right or send us a text message at: 321-318-9777