If you're planning to use SMS, Voice AI, outbound AI dialing, or any text messaging features, you'll need to get "A2P approved."

SmartDirectoryAI can make the approval process much easier. You can temporarily disable all other opt-in paths across your directory, and then use the pre-built A2P widget as your primary registration form during the approval process.

What Is A2P?

A2P 10DLC registration is a process used by U.S. cellular carriers (e.g. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc) to verify who is sending SMS (text messages) and what is being sent. A2P is short for "Application-to-Person," and 10DLC is short for 10-Digit Long Code.

A2P registration is a mandatory carrier requirement for businesses sending A2P SMS traffic in the United States. Registration is enforced by U.S. cellular carriers to verify sender legitimacy, consent integrity, and message transparency.

Carriers now review:

• Your website

• Your business information

• Your opt-in process

• Your privacy policy

• Your terms of service

• How users consent to receive messages

If your site contains multiple registration paths, unclear consent language, or inconsistent branding, approval can be delayed or rejected.

Overview of the Process

Getting A2P approved is a 2-step process:

1. Brand Approval - You will submit your business information to be reviewed. Your business name, website, address, phone, etc. as well as your personal contact information as the business representative.

2. Campaign Approval - You will submit the specifics of your messaging and business usage of SMS/MMS.

You will submit all of your information for both steps at once. But approval for each step is separate. You must first get Brand Approval, and then your Campaign Information will be reviewed and approved separately.

Before Applying for Approval

There are several elements you'll need to ensure are in place:

Registered Business

You should have:

• A legally registered business

• EIN or tax ID

• Matching business information across your website and SmartDirectoryAI account

Consistent Business Name, Email, Phone, Address

Your:

• Website Footer

• Contact page

• SmartDirectoryAI account

• A2P registration

…should all use the exact same business information.

Inconsistencies are one of the most common causes of rejection.

Terms of Service & Privacy Policy Pages

Your site should include publicly accessible:

• Privacy Policy

• Terms of Service

These should clearly explain:

• How customer information is used

• SMS consent language

• Opt-out instructions

• Contact information

Phone Number Purchased

If you haven't purchased a phone number yet, you'll need to do that first. Here's a help article: Purchase phone number

Using the HighLevel A2P Registration Widget

HighLevel recently introduced a pre-built compliant registration widget specifically for A2P approval flows.

Official HighLevel documentation:

HighLevel A2P Campaign Widget Guide

This widget is designed to create a cleaner, more compliant opt-in experience that improves approval rates.

SmartDirectoryAI A2P Approval Settings

To support this process, SmartDirectoryAI now includes a dedicated A2P Approval section inside Settings.

These controls allow you to temporarily disable alternate opt-in paths throughout your directory while your A2P application is being reviewed.

You can disable:

• Login link in top menu

• Register link in top menu

• Add New Business link

• Follow buttons

• Claim buttons

This helps ensure that visitors only register through the compliant HighLevel widget during the approval process.

Recommended Setup Process

We recommend the following workflow before submitting your A2P application:

Step 1: Make Sure You Have Prerequisites

• Registered Business with EIN

• Consistent Business Name, Email, Phone, Address

• Terms of Service & Privacy Policy Pages

• Phone Number Purchased

Step 2: Disable Alternate Registration Paths

1. Inside the SmartDirectoryAI A2P Approval settings (in your SmartDirectoryAI app, navigate to Branding > Content):

• Turn OFF Login

• Turn OFF Register

• Turn OFF Add New Business

• Turn OFF Follow buttons

• Turn OFF Claim buttons

2. You'll also need to temporarily remove your Pricing page from your menu(s).

3. Finally, you'll need to temporarily disable the Site Reviews feature for all plans.

This ensures the only opt-in method on your site is the one we'll add soon.

Step 3: Begin A2P Registration

1. In the left-hand menu, very bottom, click Settings.

2. Select Phone System.

3. Select Trust Center.

4. Under A2P Messaging (SMS), click the Start Registration button.

5. Complete the Business Details section.

6. When you get to the Brand Details section, select Low Volume Standard and check the box to accept the registration fee. Click the blue Continue button.

Step 4: Install the Pre-Built Widget

1. When you get to Campaign Details, select the Quick setup option. Click the blue Continue button.

2. At the Messaging Use Case screen, we recommend selecting Mixed, and Campaign Use Case Low Volume Mixed. Click the blue Continue button.

3. Your pre-built widget has been generated. Click the blue Copy code button.

4. Open a new tab, and navigate to your SmartDirectoryAI dashboard. Then go to Settings > Custom Code.

5. Paste the pre-built widget code into the Body Code section, and then click the black Save Code button.

Step 5: Finalize and Submit Your Registration

1. Head back to your original tab with the A2P registration. Click the button to continue to the next step.

2. On the final page, review all the required items, and make sure you have each. Check each box, and then click the blue Review Application button.

3. Allow the automated system to check your site, and when complete, click Proceed to submit your application.

After Approval

Once your A2P campaign is approved, you can safely re-enable:

• Login links

• Registration links

• Add Business buttons

• Follow buttons

• Claim buttons

• Pricing page in menu(s)

• Site Reviews option in plan(s)

Your directory can then return to normal operation.

Important Notes

These SmartDirectoryAI settings are intended as a temporary compliance mode during A2P review. The goal is to simplify the customer journey for carriers reviewing your registration flow. Cleaner websites with a single compliant opt-in path generally experience better approval outcomes. Approval is ultimately determined by carriers, not SmartDirectoryAI.