Create an SMS number list in Tessitura

Bryan Garcia

Import SMS numbers from Tessitura directly into WordFly. We will review where this data is in Tessitura and how to pull it into a list. This article is a general guide. If you need help with SMS list or output set criteria, please reach out to Tessitura support.

Collecting mobile numbers

You should be collecting SMS opt-ins just as you would email opt-ins, if you plan on marketing with SMS. The SMS opt-in checkbox should never be pre-checked.

All SMS numbers must start with a supported country code
For example: 44 (UK), 61 (AU) or 1 (US/CAN)
All SMS numbers must 15 digits or less
Spaces, dashes, and plus signs are OK. When numbers are imported into WordFly, we remove all non-numeric characters.

A few examples of valid formats

+44 7xxx xxxxxx / +447xxxxxxxxx / 447xxxxxxxxx

+61 4yy yxx xxx / +614yyyxxxxx / 614yyyxxxxx

+1 xxx xxx xxxx / +1xxxxxxxxxx / 1 xxx-xxx-xxxx

Using TNEW?
Set up an SMS opt-in form in TNEW

Mobile numbers in Tessitura

You may need to create a new SMS phone type to distinguish this number from Phone 1 and Phone 2 on the Tessitura constituent record, if you cannot use one of those existing phone types for the SMS mobile number.

New phone types can be configured directly in your Tessitura System Tables.

Go to TR_PHONE_TYPE and set up a new type, ID, and description for your mobile number.

Example

SMS opt-in check on subscriber record

On the subscriber record in Tessitura, mobile information appears in the General tab.

In this example, the mobile phone is labeled 'Cell phone', but it would be called whatever was set up under TR_Phone_Type and selected here.

Create list criteria that pulls subscribers with mobile numbers

Tessitura Extractions (v15), Segmentation Sets (v16), and List Manager lists can be used for SMS campaigns in WordFly.

Extraction SMS suppression segment example

Extraction SMS criteria segment example. This segment will pull every SMS subscriber that has a mobile number beginning with a proper country code.

Create an output set that pulls subscriber’s mobile numbers

In Tessitura, every list must have an output set than defines the unique data that is pulled with the list. To create a new output set, go to the Output set builder under Tools. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select New. Then start pulling in criteria from the left side to create an output set that contains your mobile number phone type.

Sample output set

Do you need to create a new output set element for your unique mobile phone?

You may consider setting up a new mobile phone number output set element in Tessitura System Tables TR_QUERY_ELEMENT. You only need to do this if you do not have your mobile phone type available to pull from the default output set criteria options.

Here is some sample setup guidance for creating a new output set element for mobile number in TR_QUERY_ELEMENT:

Description - Mobile Phone No
Category – Address
Data Select – !.phone
Data From – (select a.customer_no, MAX(a.phone) as phone from [dbo].[t_phone] a where [type] = 5 group by a.customer_no)
Data Where – NULL
Single Row – Y

Import your SMS Tessitura list into WordFly

Learn how to import your SMS mobile number list from Tessitura directly into WordFly by reviewing this article: Send an SMS campaign