TextPower's account configuration includes several things as standard components:
- One or more UserIDs (UID) to access the portal, our apps and API calls.
- Passwords associated with each of the UIDs for security.
- One or more campaigns.
- Keywords (optional); no keywords are required if there are no opt-in campaigns.
The first two components are pretty standard when logging into any website or using any type of online service. The last, keywords, is explained very thoroughly HERE. Campaigns, though, are unique to the TextPower service and may require some additional explanation.
You can view campaigns as a sort of sub-account associated with your main account. If, for example, you are an enterprise or municipality with multiple departments, you may want to know how many messages to attribute to each department or division. Separate campaigns are perfect for that. Every account must have at least one campaign. If you only have one you will not have to select it when accessing the portal. Most customers, especially utility and municipality users, have two: one opt-in and one no-opt-in (explained below).
Campaigns can be either opt-in or no-opt-in.
- An opt-in campaign is the most commonly used type. This campaign must have at least one keyword because keywords are used to determine which list or database within the system numbers are assigned to. End users cannot be opted in or opted out without a keyword and every keyword can only be associated with one campaign.
- If you are sending messages to an international destination you must have a separate campaign to do that. Every campaign has a unique "route" and are specific for domestic or international.
- If you are using a text-enabled toll-free number those are usable within the US and in any other area that uses the "+1" dialing system such as Canada, Guam, American Samoa, Turks & Caicos and many others.
- If you are using either a dedicated or shared short code messages cannot be sent to, or received from, phones in physical locations outside of the 50 states.
- A no-opt-in campaign is typically used for TextPower's AlertDispatcher Pro™ application. This is because AlertDispatcher Pro™ is designed for internal use (it can both send and receive messages in a process similar to a chat application except it uses SMS, which is available on every phone without having to download an app). Seeing as it's for internal use employees are not asked to opt-in but rather are added to the app by entering their names and numbers into a phone book.
In the vast majority of cases the campaigns that you have will be established when you initiate service and then never be needed again. You will always have to use the campaign name when logging into our system or when sending an API call. (Note that you can replace the UID, password, campaign and keyword with an API key. To get an API key login to the portal and go to Campaigns>Get API Key or contact Support@TextPower.com for assistance.)
In short, campaigns are necessary on the TextPower system but the necessary work will be done when you initiate usage and will only be required as part of your credentials after that.