Crew read texts in minutes and email in hours. Turning on texting is how a job reminder actually gets seen.
Summary
NextCrew sends texts through your agency's own Twilio account. Open a Twilio account, register for 10DLC (the carriers' registration for business texting in the US), and buy a phone number that can send texts. Then, in Settings › App Marketplace, add Twilio and enter your Account SID, API key and phone number. Twilio bills you directly, so there may be a cost. What goes wrong: skipping 10DLC. Texts to US numbers are then blocked or never arrive.
How to do it
- Open an account at twilio.com and add a payment method.
- In the Twilio Console, complete A2P 10DLC registration: your business (brand) and your messaging campaign.
- Buy a phone number that can send texts.
- In NextCrew, go to Settings › App Marketplace, find Twilio on Find Apps and click Add.
- On My Apps, click Configure on Twilio. Enter your Account SID, Api SID, Secret Key and Phone Number.
- Turn on Listen For Replies so Crew replies come back into NextCrew, then click Update.
- Send yourself a test message.
▶ Watch how to turn on text messaging with Twilio
That's texting on for your agency. Read on for 10DLC, replies and checking delivery.
On this page
From sign-up to your first text
The bar along the top shows where each step happens. The badge on each step shows who does it. On a phone, swipe sideways to see every step.
| Twilio | NextCrew | |||||||||
STEP 1 You Open a Twilio account Your agency's own account, with a payment method on file. | → | STEP 2 You Register for 10DLC Register your business (brand) and how you text Crew (campaign) in Twilio. | → | STEP 3 Automatic Carriers approve it From a few days to about 2 weeks. | → | STEP 4 You Get a number Buy one phone number that can send texts. | → | STEP 5 You Connect it to NextCrew Add Twilio in the App Marketplace and enter your details. | → | STEP 6 Crew Crew get texts And can reply. Replies come back into NextCrew. |
You · Automatic · Crew
Most of the setup happens in Twilio. The NextCrew part takes a few minutes.
10DLC: why it matters
US carriers require businesses that text from a regular 10-digit number to register first. That registration is called A2P 10DLC, and you complete it in your Twilio account.
- Brand: your legal business name, address, EIN, website and a contact.
- Campaign: what you text about, such as job offers and reminders, with sample messages and how Crew opt in and opt out.
- Approval: from a few days to about 2 weeks.
⚠️ Watch out
Until 10DLC is approved, texts to US numbers can be blocked or go undelivered.
Get your 10DLC campaign approved
Carriers reject campaigns that are vague. These steps give your campaign the best chance first time:
- Describe the campaign plainly. Say you text your own workers about job offers, confirmations, reminders and changes to their jobs.
- Add real sample messages. Use messages like the ones below, with your agency's name in them.
- Show how people opt in. Take a screenshot of your registration page where Crew agree to get texts, and include it.
- Wait for approval. It can take up to about 2 weeks.
| Sample | Message |
|---|---|
| Invitation | Hi {first name}, {agency} has a job for you: {job title} on {date}. View it and apply: {link}. Reply STOP to opt out. |
| New jobs | Hi {first name}, new jobs that match your skills are open near you. Tap Interested on the ones that fit your schedule: {link} |
| Confirmation | Hi {first name}, you're confirmed for {job title} on {date} at {time}. Details and directions: {link} |
| Change | Hi {first name}, your job {job title} has changed. New date and time: {date and time}. Details: {link} |
Twilio changes its approval process from time to time. If something here doesn't match what Twilio asks for, follow Twilio's current instructions.
What goes in each field
| Field in NextCrew | Where to find it in Twilio |
|---|---|
| Account SID | On your Twilio Console dashboard |
| Api SID and Secret Key | Create an API key in the Twilio Console. Copy the secret when it's shown, as it's shown only once. |
| Phone Number | The number you bought, in your Twilio phone numbers |
| Listen For Replies | Turn it on so replies come back into NextCrew |
NextCrew supports one Twilio phone number per agency.
Why text from NextCrew
| Without NextCrew | In NextCrew |
|---|---|
| Recruiters texting Crew from their own phones | Every text comes from your agency's number. |
| Replies stuck on someone's personal phone | Replies land on the Crew Member's record, where the whole team can see them. |
| Copying numbers into a texting app | Text a whole list from the same screen as email and app notifications. |
| Not knowing whether a text arrived | The SMS Tracking (2.0) report shows what was sent and delivered. |
What your Crew see
Crew get texts from your agency's number, alongside email and app notifications. They can reply to a text, and the reply lands on their record in NextCrew.
When a reply comes in, the AI Ticker at the top of your screen shows who wrote and what they said.
Check that texts are delivered
Go to Reports and run SMS Tracking (2.0) to see texts sent and their delivery. Email Tracking (2.0) and Push Tracking (2.0) do the same for email and app notifications.
Questions people ask
Who pays for texts?
Your agency pays Twilio directly. There may be a cost.
Can we use more than one number?
No. NextCrew supports one Twilio number per agency.
Why aren't Crew getting texts?
Check that 10DLC is approved, your Twilio account has funds, the Crew Member's mobile number is right, and run SMS Tracking (2.0).
How long does 10DLC approval take?
From a few days to about 2 weeks. See Get your 10DLC campaign approved.
Can NextCrew set up Twilio for us?
The Twilio account and 10DLC registration are in your agency's name, so your agency completes them.
Do we need texting at all?
No. Without it, messages still go by email and app notification.
Other ways people ask this
- How do I send text messages to Crew?
- How do I turn on SMS?
- What is 10DLC?
- Why are my texts not delivered?
- How do I connect Twilio?
- Can Crew reply to texts?
Related guides
- Message Your Crew and Clients: Start Here — what to send once texting is on
- Send a Message to Crew, Clients or Your Team — your first text
- Stay Connected With Your Crew — messages on a Crew Member's record
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