How to create an SMS recipient list

Find out how to create a list of SMS recipients and import it into your OVHcloud Control Panel.

Last updated 5th August 2022

Objective

To send an SMS campaign to multiple contacts, you can import one or more recipient lists into your OVHcloud Control Panel.

Find out how to create a list of SMS recipients via a spreadsheet or text editor, and import it into the OVHcloud Control Panel.

Requirements

  • an active OVHcloud SMS account
  • a spreadsheet or text editor tool
  • You must be logged in to OVHcloud Control Panel, in the Telecom section, then SMS.

SMS Telecom Control Panel

Instructions

Step 1: Creating your recipient list

Creating your list via a spreadsheet

You can create a recipient list via a spreadsheet, or use a list that already exists. This list must be in .csv format, and have the layout below in a spreadsheet:

recipients

To ensure that the spreadsheet does not perform any automatic calculations on your numbers, you must customise the format of your number column.

In Microsoft Excel, select your entire number column, right-click, and click Format Cells. Click Custom and enter the following value in the Type field: [>0]+0;Standard.

recipients

Under LibreOffice, select your entire number column, right-click, and click Format Cells.... Enter the following value in the Format Format code: [>0]+0;Standard

recipients

If you open a .csv file with a notepad program, it should look similar to this:

recipients

The following points are vital for your recipient list to be processed properly on the OVHcloud Control Panel:

  • All of your contacts must be on the same sheet in your spreadsheet file, in a number column.
  • Special characters, such as accents, must be deleted because they will not be accepted when you import the .csv file to the OVHcloud Control Panel.
  • Phone numbers must be entered in international format (e.g. for a UK phone number: +44712345678).
  • Save your spreadsheet file in .csv format (separator: semi-colon).

Creating your list with a text editor

An alternative method involves simply creating a .txt file via a text editor or notepad program.

  • Enter number into the first line.
  • Enter your phone numbers in international format (+44712345678), with one number per line.

You should end up with the result below:

recipients

Step 2: Importing your list into the OVHcloud Control Panel

Log in to the OVHcloud Control Panel, then select Telecom. Next, select SMS.

Select your SMS account, then click on the Contacts tab and Create a contact list.

recipients

You can create up to 9 contact lists.

To do this, simply click Actions, then Add.

recipients

Name your recipient list, and import your local file on to the OVHcloud Control Panel.

recipients

Step 3: Sending an SMS to your recipient list

Now that your list has been imported, you can follow the instructions in our guide on Sending SMS messages via the OVHcloud Control Panel in order to send an SMS to the recipients of this list.

Go further

Sending SMS messages via the OVHcloud Control Panel

Managing SMS address books

Join our community of users on https://community.ovh.com/en/.


Did you find this guide useful?

Please feel free to give any suggestions in order to improve this documentation.

Whether your feedback is about images, content, or structure, please share it, so that we can improve it together.

Your support requests will not be processed via this form. To do this, please use the "Create a ticket" form.

Thank you. Your feedback has been received.


These guides might also interest you...

OVHcloud Community

Access your community space. Ask questions, search for information, post content, and interact with other OVHcloud Community members.

Discuss with the OVHcloud community

In accordance with the 2006/112/CE Directive, modified on 01/01/2015, prices exclude VAT. VAT may vary according to the customer's country of residence.