Broken Signups? This SMS Opt-In Feature Fixes That

Pop-ups not syncing. Confirmation texts never arriving. Forms that break on mobile or lose people halfway.

If you've tried growing your SMS list with tools like Privy or Mailchimp, you've likely run into one (or all) of those issues.

Welcome to our new Opt-In Forms—a flexible, built-in feature inside Mobile Text Alerts that lets you create SMS-first pop-ups and landing pages that actually work with no need for extra integrations.

Our new Opt-In Forms make your opt-in process smoother so that you can grow your list with as little friction as possible (both for you and for your subscribers).

Plus, they're fully customizable so you can tailor them exactly to your needs.

In this guide, you'll get:

• A quick look at why traditional pop-up tools fall short

• A walkthrough of what you can create with Opt-In Forms

• Step-by-step help to launch your first form

• Tips to turn more visitors into subscribers (without annoying them)

A quick look at why traditional pop-up tools fall short

Marketers don't abandon pop-up tools because they're short on features. They leave because the tools break trust, break the user flow, and ultimately break the connection between brand and buyer.

Here's what we've found — and you've likely experienced yourself:

1) Form submissions that never sync to your SMS list.

2) Confirmation messages that don't send.

3) Drop-offs during double opt-in because users are confused or don't receive the messages.

4) Pop-ups that dominate mobile screens or won't close.

5) Compliance questions no one on your team has time to figure out.

On paper, these are "minor issues." In reality, they cost you the one thing that matters most in SMS: a clean, growing, high-converting list.

The cracks in traditional tools show up in four key areas:

1. Technical Failures

Broken pop-ups, carrier issues, or unverified sender IDs can prevent confirmation texts from reaching users, sometimes without your team realizing. One marketer lost over 50 potential subscribers this way before switching tools.

2. Poor User Experience

When users feel interrupted, overwhelmed, or confused, they bounce. That's exactly what happens when pop-ups are too aggressive, hard to close, or glitchy on mobile. People abandon sign-ups not because they're not because they are uninterested, but because the tool got in the way.

3. Compliance and List Quality Gaps

SMS is a permission-based channel, which means consent is non-negotiable. Without built-in safeguards like proper SMS-specific language, you risk collecting fake numbers, triggering spam complaints, or missing legal standards.

4. Fragmented Data and Processes

Using separate tools means managing contacts in silos, which makes segmentation harder, syncing slower, and analysis unreliable. It also adds manual work, more scripts, and more room for error.

For marketers juggling campaigns, workflows, and list health, these issues add up fast. To counter this, Opt-In Forms is a native feature you can access on your Mobile Text Alerts dashboard, and it combines multiple opt-in tools into one.

It provides real-time syncing with your Mobile Text Alerts contact list, built-in customizable opt-in and SMS compliance defaults, easy mobile customization so forms look clean everywhere, A/B testing options baked in and can also double as a landing page for people to sign up to be added to your text list!

We've made it so that you don't have to patch together three tools just to collect a phone number.

What you can create with Opt-In Forms

The new Opt-In Forms feature gives you three flexible ways to collect phone numbers with each one designed specifically for SMS list growth. They are built to match your campaign goals, regardless of what is, and meet your audience where they are.

Every form type is:

• Fully customizable
• Mobile-optimized
• Easy to deploy
• Connected directly to your Mobile Text Alerts account

With these features, here's what you can build:

Pop-Up SMS Opt-In Forms

Pop-ups are designed to capture intent in the moment. You decide exactly when they appear: on scroll, exit, delay, or interaction. So you can engage visitors while they're still warm.

Best used when:

1. You are running a limited-time promo or sitewide discount

2. You want to recover abandoning visitors

3. You're driving traffic to high-intent product pages

Picture this: someone's browsing your product page, hovering but undecided. Just as they move to leave, a clean pop-up slides in offering 10% off if they subscribe via text.

That's momentum in real time.

And unlike traditional pop-ups that might collect an email and call it a day, SMS opt-in forms like these bring the conversation to their phone where they're far more likely to act.

Landing Pages for SMS Signups

Not every subscriber comes from your website.

Sometimes they find you through a social link. Other times, it's a QR code at your booth or a call to action in an email, saying, "Get 15% off sign up here."

That's where landing page opt-in forms shine.

Each one generates a hosted, mobile-optimized page. You can brand it, link to it, or share a QR code that links to it. It becomes a standalone sign-up experience that lives anywhere your audience does.

Best used when:

1. You're promoting via email or social and want a smooth SMS sign-up path.

2. You're running an offline campaign that needs a quick entry point.

3. You want to test different offers or list segments without touching your main site.

Gamified SMS Opt-In Forms (Coming Soon)

Spin-to-Win is Mobile Text Alerts' take on interactive list-building. It will be a virtual prize wheel that turns a simple opt-in into a moment of surprise and reward.

Here's how it'll work: visitors enter their phone number, spin the wheel, and unlock a discount, perk, or freebie right then and there.

Best used when:

1. You're launching a product or seasonal campaign.

2. You want to boost first-time subscriber engagement.

3. You're capturing leads at scale (think: giveaways, event traffic, or ad promos.

It's frictionless, and because it's built as a true SMS opt-in form (not a marketing gimmick), you still get verified, compliant, ready-to-convert subscribers.

How to set up your first SMS opt-in form (step-by-step)

Getting your first SMS opt-in form live takes barely 5 minutes.

If you don't already have a Mobile Text Alerts account, start your 14 day free trial here. You'll need one to access the Opt-In Forms builder.

When that's done, here's how to launch your form in 7 quick steps:

Step 1: Head to the Opt-In Forms section

From your dashboard, click on the "Growth" tab and select "Opt-In Forms."

This is your control center where you'll build, manage, and customize every opt-in form you create.

Step 2: Click "Add Form"

Tap the "Add Form" button.

Step 3: Set a template

Select your preferred layout style.

All templates are customizable later, but this gives you a head start with design and format.

Step 4: Configure your form

Start with the basics.

Give your form a name for internal tracking and set a slug (a customizable part of the direct link to your form) if you plan to share it directly.

Want to test two versions?

Add a variant, assign a name, and set what percentage of visitors should see each one.

Now choose how to distribute your form:

• QR code for physical signage or events
• Direct link for emails, SMS, or bios
• Embed code to show the form as a popup on your website

Don't forget to click the "verify" link if you're wanting to embed the form on your site as a popup.

Once done, click "Save & Continue."

Step 5: Customize your form design

This is where your form starts to look and feel like your brand.

Inside the builder, you can control:

• When the form appears (on entry, exit, after time, or scroll),
• Corner style, background color, and optional background image,
• Drag-and-drop blocks to structure your form,
• Specific elements like text, fields, and button.

Everything's editable.

Which means, you're never stuck with default.

Click "Save & Continue" when you're happy with the layout.

Step 6: Personalize the confirmation and success message

Once someone enters their phone number, they'll:

1. Get a verification code via text

2. Land on a confirmation screen to enter the code

3. See a final success screen once it's complete

Both screens are fully customizable. You can change the background, text, colors, and messaging from start to finish.

Click "Save & Continue" after each screen.

Step 7: Publish your form or connect it to a workflow

Your form is ready.

You can publish it right away and start collecting numbers. Or link it to an automated SMS workflow to send a welcome message or offer instantly when people sign up.

Either way, it's ready to go and fully yours to tweak, duplicate, or improve whenever you want.

How to turn more visitors into subscribers (without annoying them)

No one likes a pushy pop-up. But the problem usually isn't the form itself, it's how (and when) it shows up.

The good news is with the right setup, your SMS opt-in forms can be helpful, not disruptive, and convert at a much higher rate.

Here are a few simple tips to make that happen:

1) Time it for the most conversions

Don't hit visitors with a form the second your site loads. Instead, set it to appear:

• After 5–10 seconds
• On scroll (25–50% down the page)
• Or when someone moves to close the tab

These small adjustments give your audience a moment to breathe and make them far more likely to engage.

(You can test what timing options yield the best results for your audience.)

2) Keep the copy specific

Say what they'll get and why it matters.

"Sign up for SMS alerts" is easy to ignore.

"Get 15% off your first order" or "Join for early access to new drops" is not.

3) Offer something worth signing up for

If you're not running a promo, position the value of your texts:

"Get restock alerts before anyone else"

"Be first to know about new collections"

The clearer the reward, the higher the opt-in rate.

4) Keep it simple (for mobile)

Most visitors will see your SMS opt-in forms on their phones.

Use simple layouts, large buttons, and minimal text. Test how it looks on a smaller screen before you publish.

5) Create an A/B, A/B/C, or A/B/C/D test cadence

Test multiple versions of the same form with different headlines, images, or CTA buttons and see what performs better.

But remember that you're not just testing random things. You're testing strategic elements to see what best resonates with your audience on an emotional level.

Opt-In Forms makes it easy to create and compare variants, so you're not just guessing what works.

6) Build trust from the first click

Let people know what to expect.

A short line like...

"You'll get 1–2 texts per week. No spam, ever."

...can ease friction and increase signups.

It shows respect for their inbox and your brand's reputation.

Take the first step to launch

Opt-In Forms give you everything you need to grow your SMS list without overwhelming your audience, without manual work, and without relying on third-party tools that weren't built for the job.

It is:

• Fully branded
• Mobile-optimized
• Compliant
• Ready to publish in minutes

Log in now to start building your first SMS opt-in form or start a free trial if you're new here.

Grow revenue with smarter SMS and give every visitor a reason to say yes.