How “Text to Join” Services & Join by Text Work in 2025 (+ Examples)

So you know you want to use SMS marketing for your business.

You know the power and potential of texting. You know it has high engagement (55% open rate and 100% "view" rate!).

You know that people pay attention to their texts and that it’s an excellent way to boost up sales for your business and stop wasting time and money on your marketing.

You want to use it to help ease your marketing frustrations and help you be more satisfied with your marketing efforts!

But here’s the rub: How can you actually get people to subscribe to your texts? How can you build your text message sign up list?

SMS marketing platforms have many tools to help, and one of those tools is a “text to join” (or “join by text”) option.

LIVE EXAMPLE:

Test the text list sign-up process by texting the word MTADEMO to the number 833-240-6136 to see 'text to join' in action

What are “text to join” services?

"Text to join" services are platforms that allow a way for people to join your text list by sending a text. All they need to do is send a text to a specific number and they’ll be automatically added to your text message sign up list.

You can even designate a particular word for them to text in, which can trigger specific responses to be sent back to the subscriber automatically.

We refer to the “particular word” as a “keyword.” The “keyword” can be essentially any word you’d like, so you can make it generic or specific to your business, according to your preference.

The phone number people need to text into could be either a short code (5-digit number), or a dedicated 10-digit number that belongs to your account.

As soon as people text into your number, they will be added to your text message sign up list.

Their phone number will appear in your database so that you can send them text promotions.

Benefits of using “text to join” services

Offering a "text to join" option provides a few different benefits.

Convenience

Allowing your customers to join by text in order to be added to your text message sign up list gives them (and you!) an easy and convenient way to subscribe.

You want to make the sign-up process as easy and painless as possible, both for your sake and your customer's sake!

Making the subscription process more convenient helps remove barriers for your customers, thus bringing in more subscribers.

Freeing up your time from tedious processes (and bringing in more subscribers for your marketing texts) allows you to focus on things that are more important, such as growing your business.

And the more subscribers who are receiving your marketing texts, the more likely they are to take advantage of your services, bringing in greater revenue for you!

Scalability

Since a "join by text" approach is both easy and convenient all around, it's a scalable way to grow your text subscriber list because once it's set up and in place, there's little effort needed to maintain it.

In other words, once you have a "join by text" service in place, it doesn't matter whether you have 10 responses, 10,000, or even 10 million. It's easy to accommodate as many interested users as you need.

Clear opt-in = engaged audience

With a "join by text" approach, your audience is clearly opting themselves in to receive your messages.

Which means that they are at least mildly interested in what you have to offer (even if they only opted in so they could get some kind of a freebie you were offering!).

Since they're interested in you from the get-go, you'll be much more likely to have a more engaged audience than if you were using an approach that didn't have the opt-in process laid out as clearly.

How to use “text to join” services (use cases)

So what are some actual use cases for this type of service?

Here are few examples.

1. Retail and ecommerce: Encourage customers to join your SMS list by texting a keyword to receive a one-time discount or special offer.
2. Restaurants and cafes: Let customers join a VIP text club for first access to promos.
3. Fitness and wellness: Ask participants to join fitness challenges or contests by texting a keyword.
4. Nonprofits and fundraising: Engage supporters by allowing them to text to donate.
5. Event promotion: Notify subscribers about early access to tickets or event updates.
6. Healthcare: Allow patients to join a list to receive automated reminders for upcoming appointments.
7. Education: Quickly inform parents, students, or faculty about urgent updates.
8. Real estate: Let potential buyers or renters join a list to receive personalized property recommendations.
9. Hospitality: Share reservation confirmations and updates.
10. Political campaigns: Keep supporters updated about about campaign progress.
11. Professional services: Notify clients of limited-time offers or new services.

“Text to join” service features

"Text to join" services come with a lot of features that can be helpful to your SMS efforts.

Here are a few that pertain specifically to the "text to join" capabilities.

1. Custom keywords: You can designate a specific "keyword" for people to text in that will automatically subscribe them to your text list. You can usually modify this custom word at any time.
2. Phone number options: Depending on your budget, you can choose between a 10-digit phone number or a 5-digit short code as the destination that your subscribers must text into in order to subscribe to your text messages.
3. Auto-triggered replies: You can designate an automatic response people will receive upon texting in the chosen keyword to subscribe to your text list.
4. Subscriber segmentation: You can have people be automatically placed into a specific "group" when they send a text to join your SMS list.
5. Data collection: You can include a form in the auto-response that's triggered when people send a text to join your text alerts. This form can allow people to provide whatever data you want to ask for.

Here’s a “text to join” service to try

Interested in giving a "text to join" service a try?

Mobile Text Alerts is a "text to join" service that allows you to create keywords that your audience can use to join by text. When they text in these keywords, they'll be automatically subscribed to your text alert list.

You can try it out now to see for yourself.

Text to Join Via Short Code, or Dedicated 10-Digit Number?

One thing you’ll need to decide when it comes to your “text to join” feature is whether you want to use a short code or dedicated 10-digit number.

Dedicated 10-digit number

Your account on your SMS marketing platform will come with free access to a dedicated 10-digit number that is unique to you. This is the number your mass text messages will be sent through.

You can use this 10-digit number as the opt-in number for your your text list sign-up process, so customers to join by text and get added to your text message sign up list.

One huge upside of using your dedicated number is that you don't need specific "keywords." Your customers can send in a text with any content and they'll be automatically subscribed.

It will also create a consistent experience for your customers, since they’ll be subscribing to the same number that they’ll be receiving messages from.

The downside of a dedicated number is that since it’s a long 10-digit number, it can be a bit clunky for people to type in the number and send the message.

Dedicated short code

A second option would be a dedicated short code.

A dedicated short code allows you to send your messages through a dedicated 5-digit number that is unique to your account.

It has the same benefits as the dedicated 10-digit number: consistency and the ability to use any keyword you'd like. And it has the added benefit of being short and easy to type in.

The reason why dedicated short codes are not as commonly used is because they cost more to lease and utilize, and they also can take several weeks to get set up. But feel free to contact us if you have any interest in using a dedicated short code for your business!

Text to join via QR code

Another “text to join” option worth mentioning is QR codes.

QR codes are becoming more and more popular - Some sources say that since the pandemic began, the use of QR codes has increased by as much as 10% in America.

So why not use them as a part of your SMS marketing strategy to get people to subscribe to your text message sign up list?

Here’s how it works.

Step 1: download your “text to join” QR Code from your SMS marketing platform

Your QR code allowing people to join by text will be automatically set up in your SMS marketing platform, so you can customize and download it from there.

Step 2: advertise tour “text to join” QR code

Once your QR code is on your device, you can share it on social media and email campaigns, or print it out for your physical mailings or on-site locations.

Step 3: your customers can scan the QR code and text to join

When your customers scan your QR code, their phone will automatically compose a new text message to your account’s dedicated toll-free text number. (It will pre-fill some content for the text.)

All your customers need to do is hit “Send” on their phones, sending the text with the pre-filled content. Their phone number will then be automatically added to your text message sign up list.

How collecting email address via “text to join services” works

With a "join by text" option, your audience can not only subscribe to your text messages but they can also provide additional data, such as their email address.

Here's how it works:

1. The user texts in the keyword you designate.
2. The user is automatically added to your texting database.
3. The user receives an auto-response text message asking them for additional information (such as email address). Alternatively, the user receives a link to a form that they can fill out to provide more information.
4. The user replies with their email address or other data point, which then comes back to you.

“Text to join” examples

So what does a "text to join" option look like in action?

Here are some examples.

General examples

Toll-free number

“

Text WINNER to 877-xxx-xxxx to be added to our coupon text alerts and be entered into our drawing for a $250 gift card!

“

Text DOZEN to 877-xxx-xxxx to receive exclusive discounts via text and get a FREE dozen donuts on your next visit!

Dedicated short code

“

Don’t miss out on any updates! Sign up for our texts by sending the word ALERTS to our number xxxxx.

“

Get a free month’s subscription! Just text FREE to our number xxxxx to join our text club.

QR code

“

50% off? Yes, please! Scan the code below to see how.

“

Buy one pair of jeans or leggings, get the second FREE if you sign up for our texts TODAY! Just scan the code here.

Examples by Industry

• Retail and ecommerce: "Text TEXTDEALS to 12345 to join our VIP list and get 20% off your first purchase!"
• Restaurants: "Hungry for deals? Text BURGERLOVE to 12345 to get a free appetizer with your next visit!"
• Fitness Centers and gyms: "Text FITPASS to 12345 for a free one-week trial at our gym. Let’s get moving!"
• Nonprofits: "Support the cause! Text DONATE to 12345 to make a contribution and stay updated on our mission."
• Events: "Be the first to know! Text CONCERTNOW to 12345 for presale tickets and event updates."
• Healthcare: "Text HEALTHNOW to 12345 for appointment reminders."
• Real estate: "Looking for your dream home? Text HOMEDEALS to 12345 to receive exclusive property listings."
• Political campaigns: "Text VOTEFORCHANGE to 12345 to stay updated on campaign events and ways to support."
• Hospitality: "Text STAYCATION to 12345 for exclusive hotel deals and packages!"

How to get “text to join” implemented for your text list sign-up process

After deciding which method you’d like to use to allow your customers to join by text, all that’s left to do is to get it implemented!

Step 1 (optional): select your keyword

If you want to designate a particular word for people to text in, you can start by setting up the “keyword” you’d like to use.

Here are some tips on how to select a keyword:

• Select something short and easy to remember
• Select something that is easy to spell (to help avoid both user spelling mistakes and potential issues with auto-correct)
• If possible, select something that is only one word (no spaces are allowed)
• Don’t be too worried about selecting the perfect keyword - you can always change it later!

Step 2: share your opt-in instructions

To get people to sign up for your texts, you’ll obviously need to share your opt-in instructions (whether that’s telling people to text into your dedicated number, or scan your QR code).

Use any means at your disposal:

• Social media posts
• Email campaigns
• Newsletters
• Online advertising campaigns
• Mail advertising campaigns
• Blog posts
• Materials within your physical location (if applicable)

The best way to get someone to join your text message sign up list is by offering some clear and tangible incentives for subscribing.

This could be anything from a free item to a discount to an entry into a free giveaway.

Grow your text list sign-up process using "text to join"

So now you know the power and process of a text to join feature for your text alerts.

What next?

It’s time to get out there and get texting!

Try out text alerts for your own business and let your customers text to join - Free up your time, energy, and frustration by using "text to join" to yield greater subscription rates and greater satisfaction in your marketing efforts.

Watch your subscription rates rise and your marketing efforts thrive!

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