Looking for more ways to connect with your audience?
In addition to email, collecting phone numbers opens the door to SMS marketing, a highly effective channel known for its 98% open rates and real-time visibility. It’s a great option for time-sensitive messages, flash sales, or quick updates that need to be seen instantly.
But like any communication method, SMS should be used wisely, with your audience’s trust and privacy in mind.
Let’s explore how to do it the smart and responsible way.
Why Should You Collect Phone Numbers?
Phone numbers are a powerful addition to your contact list. Text messages are often read within minutes, making them especially useful for urgent promotions or important alerts.
For example, if you’re running a 24-hour flash sale, an SMS can help drive instant traffic and action.
While email remains a reliable and essential tool for building long-term relationships, SMS can complement it by adding speed and immediacy to your messaging strategy. Used together, they create a well-rounded communication plan with higher engagement and better results.
Important Points to Consider When Collecting Phone Numbers
Collecting phone numbers through popups isn’t just about throwing a form on your website. It requires careful planning to ensure users feel safe and motivated to share their details. Here are some important points:
- Value Proposition: Clearly explain what the user gets in return. For example, “Get 10% off your next order – just enter your phone number!”
- Trust and Privacy: Add a short note like “We’ll never spam you or share your number” to reduce hesitation.
- Compliance: Make sure your form complies with regulations like GDPR or TCPA by adding a consent checkbox.
Also, using multi-step popups (first asking for an email, then the phone number) has been shown to increase conversion rates by making the process feel easier. Which will be coverd in details on how to collect email and
Let’s show you exactly how to start collecting phone numbers using Depicter.
Before getting started, make sure you have the Depicter plugin installed.
You can easily find and install it by searching “Depicter” in the Plugins section of your WordPress dashboard.
For a step-by-step guide with a video tutorial, check our guidelines here.
Step 1: Import a Template
We do have the option to create a popup from scratch, but one of Depicter’s biggest advantages is its large collection of ready-made Popup templates. These templates are all designed by top designers and built for real-world scenarios.
So, I recommend we start from there and move forward together using one of these templates.
After entering the Popups section, you can use the search bar at the top or the categories on the left to find the template you’re looking for.
All templates are designed with modern trends in mind and built for real website needs, making it super easy for you to choose and get started.
Once you’ve picked your desired template, just click Import. Within a few seconds, it will be loaded and you’ll be taken to the Depicter editor.
One important thing to note about this type of Depicter popup is that it includes a Form element.
When you select it, you’ll see additional form fields available to add on the left panel, and options to control what happens after submission in the right panel.
Everything from the design and appearance to behavior and functionality is fully customizable, giving you complete control to tailor the popup to your needs.
[Video Tutorial Coming Soon!]
Step 2: Configure Triggers That Work Best for Phone Number Collection
Different types of popups serve different goals. Here are a few examples that work particularly well for collecting phone numbers:
- Exit-Intent Popups: Triggered when a user is about to leave the site, offering a last-minute incentive.
- Timed Popups: Appear after a user has spent a certain amount of time on a page.
- Slide-ins: Subtle and non-intrusive, these are great for ongoing campaigns like SMS club sign-ups.
A clothing store, for instance, might use an exit-intent popup saying: “Wait! Want 15% off via SMS? Drop your number below!”
For this example, we’ll choose a Timed Popup trigger — meaning the popup will appear 10 seconds after the visitor lands on the page.
The idea behind this timing is that a visitor who has stayed on the site for at least 10 seconds is likely more engaged with the content and therefore more likely to respond positively to the offer shown in the popup.
To do this, after clicking the Publish button, go to the Display Rules section and click on Configure.
Next, under the Triggers section, enable the Spend time on page option and set the value to 10 seconds.
Save your changes, and you’re all set!
Now, on your website, the popup will appear to visitors 10 seconds after they land on the page.
After the user enters their phone number and clicks the Submit button, the second step of the popup will display a success message.
Once that’s done, you can go to the Leads menu in the Depicter dashboard to view the records of successful submissions.
What Can You Do With Collected Phone Numbers?
Once you’ve collected phone numbers, the real value begins. You can use them for:
- SMS Marketing: Send promotions, restock alerts, cart reminders, or exclusive deals directly to users’ phones.
- Customer Service: Offer fast responses or order updates via text, building trust and loyalty.
- Segmentation: Combine phone numbers with other data like purchase history or location to send more personalized messages.
Fortunately for Depicter users, you can easily export the list of collected phone numbers as a CSV file.
After you’ve selected the desired records using options like search, choosing the source, setting the time range, and filtering by various tags, you can download the CSV file by clicking the Download button.
From there, you can import the list into your SMS marketing platform (like Twilio, Klaviyo, or Mailchimp’s SMS feature) and launch targeted campaigns in minutes. It’s a seamless way to go from data collection to action.
