# Using Existing Number with WhatSnap

Guidance on using your existing personal or business phone number with WhatSnap SMS.

## Can I use my existing number with WhatSnap SMS?

**Yes**, using an existing personal or business number with WhatSnap SMS is **technically possible**, and many users do so successfully.

**However**, we **strongly recommend using a separate number** dedicated solely to your WhatSnap SMS activities.

***

## Why Use an Existing Number?

### Potential Benefits

**Business Number Recognition:**

* ✅ Customers already know your number
* ✅ Existing business line with established presence
* ✅ No need to update marketing materials
* ✅ Continuity for long-standing customers

**Cost Savings (Short-Term):**

* ✅ No need to purchase new device/SIM
* ✅ Use phone you already have
* ✅ Leverage existing carrier plan

**Simplicity (Initial):**

* ✅ One number for everything
* ✅ No multiple devices to manage
* ✅ Easier to remember

***

## Why We Recommend a Dedicated Number

### Risk 1: Blocking Your Primary Business Line

**The Big Risk:**

If anything goes wrong with your SMS campaigns (accidental mass send, spam-like content, volume spike), **your number could get flagged or blocked by the carrier**.

**What This Means:**

* ❌ Can't send ANY SMS (including personal/business texts)
* ❌ May impact voice calls (carrier-dependent)
* ❌ Customers can't reach you
* ❌ Critical communications disrupted
* ❌ Business operations impacted

**Real-World Scenario:**

```
You accidentally send 2,000 SMS messages at once 
(forgot to enable drip mode)
  ↓
Carrier flags your number for spam-like behavior
  ↓
Number blocked within 2 hours
  ↓
Customers can't reach your main business line
  ↓
Lost business, frustrated customers
  ↓
Takes days to resolve with carrier
```

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Critical Risk**: If your primary business number gets blocked, it can severely impact your business operations. A dedicated number contains the risk to just your CRM messaging.
{% endhint %}

***

### Risk 2: SIM Card Blocking

**When SIM Blocks Occur:**

* Sending high volume too quickly
* Spam-like message content
* High opt-out rates
* Carrier fair use violations

**If It's Your Personal/Business SIM:**

* ❌ Lose access to important number
* ❌ May not be recoverable
* ❌ If blocked permanently, lose the number forever
* ❌ Years of business history tied to that number - gone

**Recovery Difficulties:**

* Sometimes carrier will unblock
* Sometimes they won't
* No guarantees
* Long-standing business numbers are at risk

**With Dedicated Number:**

* ✅ If blocked, just get new SIM ($10-30)
* ✅ Main business line stays safe
* ✅ No impact on critical communications
* ✅ Minimal disruption

***

### Risk 3: Mixing Personal and Business

**Challenges:**

* Hard to track business vs. personal messages
* Business metrics get polluted
* Risk of syncing personal conversations to CRM
* Confusing for team members
* Harder to manage DND and opt-outs

**Better Separation:**

* Dedicated business messaging number
* Clear distinction
* Clean CRM data
* Professional operation

***

## When Existing Number Makes Sense

### Scenario 1: Low-Volume, Conversational Use

**Acceptable IF:**

* ✅ Sending <50 messages per day
* ✅ Only appointment reminders and customer service
* ✅ NOT doing cold outreach or campaigns
* ✅ NOT doing database reactivations
* ✅ You understand and accept the risks

**Why This Is Lower Risk:**

* Low volume = less likely to trigger carrier flags
* Conversational style = doesn't look like spam
* Personal responses = good engagement metrics

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important**: Even low-volume use carries risk. If you ever plan to scale or run campaigns, start with dedicated number from day one.
{% endhint %}

***

### Scenario 2: You're a Responsible Reseller or Consultant

**If Setting Up for a Client:**

You **must explain the risks** clearly to your customer:

**Your Responsibility:**

1. **Educate on risks** - Number could get blocked
2. **Set expectations** - Don't use for mass texting campaigns
3. **Establish guidelines** - Appointment reminders and notifications ONLY
4. **Provide alternatives** - Offer to set up dedicated number instead

**Safe Use Cases for Existing Number:**

* ✅ Appointment reminders (scheduled workflow)
* ✅ Notifications (order updates, service alerts)
* ✅ One-to-one customer service conversations
* ❌ **NOT mass outreach campaigns**
* ❌ **NOT cold SMS**
* ❌ **NOT database reactivations**

**Critical:**

> **You do not want to be the reason a client loses a business-critical phone number!**

If mass texting or marketing blasts are required, set up a separate dedicated number.

***

## Best Practice: Dedicated Number Strategy

### The Safer Approach

**Get a Dedicated Number For:**

* WhatSnap SMS messaging
* CRM communications
* Marketing campaigns
* Database reactivations

**Benefits:**

* ✅ Contain risk to messaging-only number
* ✅ If blocked, easy to replace
* ✅ Test campaigns freely without fear
* ✅ Quickly swap numbers if needed
* ✅ No major business impact if issues arise

**Keep Your Main Number For:**

* Phone calls
* Personal communications
* Critical business communications
* Customer inquiries

### Setup: Dedicated Number

**Cost:**

* Android device: $80-150 (or use spare phone)
* SIM card: $5-30 (one-time)
* Monthly plan: $10-30/month

**Total:** $25-50/month all-in

**What You Get:**

* Peace of mind
* Unrestricted testing
* Scalable operation
* Professional separation
* Risk mitigation

***

## If You Decide to Use Your Existing Number

### Essential Precautions

**1. Configure Personal Message Filtering**

**In WhatSnap Dashboard:**

* Configure settings to **NOT automatically create new contacts**
* Only sync contacts already in your CRM
* Personal messages stay in native Messages app
* Business messages go to GoHighLevel

**How It Works:**

* Messages from CRM contacts → Sync to GHL
* Messages from non-CRM contacts → Stay on phone only
* Prevents personal conversations from entering CRM

See: [Preventing Personal Messages](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/prevent-personal-messages)

**2. Use the `whatsnap-blacklist` Tag**

* Tag personal contacts with `whatsnap-blacklist`
* These contacts' messages won't sync to GHL
* Prevents mixing personal and business

**3. Follow Strict Volume Limits**

* **Never exceed 50-75 messages per day** on personal number
* Use proper drip mode (1 msg per 2-3 minutes minimum)
* Avoid anything that looks like mass marketing

**4. Monitor Closely**

* Check delivery rates daily
* Watch for carrier warnings
* Be ready to stop immediately if issues

**5. Have Backup Plan**

* Keep backup SIM ready
* Know you may need to switch numbers
* Document migration process
* Inform customers if number changes

***

## Comparison: Existing vs. Dedicated Number

| Factor                      | Existing Number              | Dedicated Number               |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Risk to Business**        | ⚠️ High (main line at risk)  | ✅ Low (isolated to messaging)  |
| **Cost**                    | ✅ $0 additional              | ⚠️ $25-50/month                |
| **Flexibility**             | ⚠️ Limited (must be careful) | ✅ High (test freely)           |
| **Scalability**             | ❌ Limited volume             | ✅ Can scale with multiple SIMs |
| **Recovery if Blocked**     | ❌ Difficult, may lose number | ✅ Easy, get new SIM            |
| **Setup Complexity**        | ✅ Simple (use existing)      | ⚠️ Moderate (new device/SIM)   |
| **Professional Separation** | ❌ Mixed personal/business    | ✅ Clean separation             |
| **Peace of Mind**           | ⚠️ Constant worry            | ✅ Sleep well                   |

***

## Real-World Recommendations by Use Case

### Appointment Reminders Only

**Volume:** <500 msgs/month **Style:** Automated reminders

**Recommendation:** Existing number **acceptable** if low volume

* ✅ Risk is relatively low
* Configure personal message filtering
* Monitor closely

***

### Database Reactivation Campaigns

**Volume:** 1,000-10,000 msgs/month **Style:** Marketing campaigns

**Recommendation:** Dedicated number **strongly recommended**

* ⚠️ Higher risk with existing number
* Campaigns can trigger carrier flags
* Not worth risking main business line

***

### Cold SMS Outreach

**Volume:** Varies **Style:** Marketing to new leads

**Recommendation:** Dedicated number **required**

* ❌ Do NOT use existing number for cold outreach
* Highest risk of carrier blocks
* Potential legal issues if not compliant
* Use dedicated number or Twilio A2P

See: [Cold SMS Outreach Guide](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/cold-sms-outreach)

***

### Customer Service (Conversational)

**Volume:** <1,000 msgs/month **Style:** One-to-one conversations

**Recommendation:** Existing number **acceptable** if low volume

* ✅ Conversational style is lowest risk
* Natural messaging pattern
* Configure personal message filtering

***

## Summary: Decision Framework

**Use Existing Number IF:**

* [ ] Volume is <50-75 messages per day
* [ ] ONLY appointment reminders or customer service
* [ ] NOT doing campaigns or database reactivations
* [ ] You understand and accept the risk
* [ ] You have backup plan if number gets blocked
* [ ] You configure personal message filtering

**Use Dedicated Number IF:**

* [ ] Running marketing campaigns
* [ ] Database reactivations
* [ ] Volume >100 messages per day
* [ ] Want to scale operations
* [ ] Can't afford to lose main number
* [ ] Want peace of mind

{% hint style="success" %}
**Recommended for 95% of Users**: Get a dedicated number for WhatSnap SMS. The small monthly cost ($25-50) is worth the risk mitigation and operational freedom.
{% endhint %}

***

## Getting Started with Dedicated Number

**Quick Setup:**

1. **Purchase Android device** - $80-150 (or use spare)
2. **Get SIM plan** - See [SIM Plan Recommendations](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-specifications#sim-plan-recommendations-by-country)
3. **Install WhatSnap** - [Installation Guide](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-installation-setup)
4. **Warm up new number** - [SIM Warm-Up Process](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/broken-reference)

**Timeline:** 15-20 minutes setup + 2 weeks warm-up

***

## Key Takeaways

**Bottom Line:**

* Using existing number is **possible** but **risky**
* Setting up dedicated number costs **$25-50/month**
* Dedicated number provides **peace of mind** and **operational freedom**
* If number gets blocked, **dedicated is easy to replace**, **existing is disaster**

**Professional Approach:**

> **Use a separate, dedicated number for your WhatSnap SMS activities.**

This provides a clean slate, a layer of protection, and allows you to:

* Test campaigns and automations freely
* Separate your CRM communications from personal/core business lines
* Quickly swap out numbers if issues arise, without major impact

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Final Warning**: While using an existing number is possible, the **smart move is to use a separate, dedicated number** with your WhatSnap SMS account. Don't risk your primary business line.
{% endhint %}

***

## Related Resources

* [Preventing Personal Messages](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/prevent-personal-messages) - Configure message filtering
* [SIM Plan Selection](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/account-management/sms/sms-specifications) - Choose a plan for dedicated number
* [SIM Warm-Up Process](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/broken-reference) - Start new number properly
* [SIM Blocking Recovery](https://whatsnap.gitbook.io/whatsnap-docs/faq/sms/sim-blocking-recovery) - What happens if number gets blocked

***

**Questions about number strategy?** Contact support at <support@whatsnap.ai> for personalized recommendations based on your use case.
