Knowledge Base

Setting Up Your Sakura SMS Account

A complete guide to configuring your profile for high-deliverability SMS in Tanzania.

Verifying Your Identity (KYC)

How to become a verified sender and unlock unrestricted sending limits.

Understanding Sender IDs in Tanzania

Everything about registering your Brand Name (e.g., 'SAKURA') vs. numeric headers.

Dashboard Overview

Navigate the Sakura SMS dashboard and understand all available features.

Onboarding Walkthrough

Step-by-step first-time setup: sign up, company info, channel selection, and KYC verification.

Creating Your First SMS Campaign

Step-by-step guide to composing and sending your first bulk SMS campaign.

Personalizing Messages with Variables

Use dynamic variables to make each message unique and boost engagement.

Scheduling Campaigns

Schedule messages for optimal delivery times and manage recurring campaigns.

Understanding Delivery Reports (DLR)

How to read delivery reports and what each status means.

Optimizing Delivery for Vodacom & Tigo

Strategies to ensure 99.9% delivery rates on Tanzania's largest networks.

Sending Bulk SMS to Groups

Send targeted bulk SMS using contact groups, CSV uploads, and group workflows.

WhatsApp Business API Setup

Connect your WhatsApp Business account to Sakura for high-volume messaging.

WhatsApp Message Templates

Create and manage approved WhatsApp templates for outbound messaging.

WhatsApp Shared Team Inbox

Manage customer WhatsApp conversations with your team from one dashboard.

WhatsApp vs SMS: When to Use Which

Choose the right channel for your message type and audience.

WhatsApp Flows: Interactive Conversations

Create interactive WhatsApp flows with forms, menus, and data collection templates.

WhatsApp Broadcast Messaging

Send approved template broadcasts to groups via WhatsApp Business API.

API Authentication

How to authenticate your API requests with Bearer tokens.

Sending SMS via API

Complete guide to sending SMS programmatically using the REST API.

Managing Contacts via API

Push and update contacts programmatically, including custom fields for merge-tag personalization.

Webhooks & Callbacks

Receive real-time delivery notifications and event callbacks.

SDKs & Libraries

Quick-start code examples in Node.js, Python, PHP, and Java.

Rate Limits & API Best Practices

Understand rate limits and build resilient API integrations.

API Error Codes & Handling

Complete reference of error codes and how to handle them gracefully.

Webhook Setup & Testing

Create webhooks, configure event types, test with sample payloads, and verify signatures.

Developer Quick Start Guide

End-to-end: get API key, send first SMS, check delivery, and set up webhooks.

SMS API Quick Start Guide

Complete guide to sending SMS via the Sakura SMS API with code examples in cURL, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and Google Apps Script.

Pricing & Credit Packages

Transparent pricing per SMS. No hidden fees, no expiration.

How to Top Up Credits

All payment methods for purchasing SMS credits in Tanzania.

Credit Usage & Tracking

Monitor your credit consumption and understand how credits are deducted.

Payment Methods: Step-by-Step Guide

Detailed M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, CRDB, and Selcom payment instructions with merchant numbers.

I Paid But My Credits / Balance Haven't Updated

What to do when a top-up or payment doesn't show up on your account yet.

How Billing & Credits Work

Understand SMS pay-as-you-go credits, WhatsApp monthly plans, and what 'paused' means.

Refunds & Credit Adjustments

When refunds apply, how credit adjustments work, and how to request one.

Changing or Upgrading Your Plan

How to upgrade, downgrade, or change your SMS volume or WhatsApp plan.

Importing Contacts

Import your contacts from CSV files or sync from your SMS gateway.

Contact Groups & Segmentation

Organize contacts into groups for targeted messaging campaigns.

Audience Cleaning & Hygiene

Remove invalid numbers and keep your contact lists healthy to save credits.

Using the Unified Inbox

Manage all SMS and WhatsApp conversations in one inbox with AI auto-reply.

AI Chat Widget

Deploy an AI-powered chat widget on any website for lead capture and support.

Auto-Responder Setup

Configure AI-powered automatic responses for SMS and WhatsApp messages.

Knowledge Base Training

Train the AI with your business-specific knowledge for accurate responses.

Magic Write — AI SMS Copywriting

Use AI to enhance your SMS copy for maximum engagement.

Automation Rules & Drip Sequences

Set up keyword-triggered automations, drip sequences, and view execution history.

TCRA Regulations for Bulk SMS

Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority rules for commercial messaging.

Data Protection & Privacy

How Sakura SMS protects your data and your customers' privacy.

API Key Security Best Practices

Protect your API keys and prevent unauthorized access to your account.

Common Delivery Issues

Diagnose and fix common SMS delivery problems.

Account Access & Login Issues

Fix common account access problems including login, approval, and verification.

Credits Not Reflecting After Payment

What to do when your credits don't appear after making a payment.

Campaign Sending Errors

Fix errors when campaigns fail to send or show unexpected behavior.

My Sender ID Was Rejected or Is Still Pending

Why a Sender ID gets rejected or stays pending, and exactly how to get it approved.

OTP / Verification Codes Aren't Arriving

Step-by-step fixes when one-time passwords or 2FA codes don't reach your users.

WhatsApp Messages or Templates Won't Send

Fix WhatsApp template rejections, the 24-hour window, and messages that won't deliver.

Common API Errors and What They Mean

Decode 401, 402, 422 and rate-limit errors from the Sakura SMS API and fix them fast.

Admin Dashboard Overview

Tour the admin panel: stats, user management, gateways, API monitoring, approvals, and AI config.

User Management Guide

Approve, reject, suspend, and manage user accounts, credits, and access.

Finance Dashboard & Revenue Tracking

Monitor revenue, customer lifetime value, transaction ledger, and export financial data.

AI Training & Configuration

Train the platform AI, configure auto-reply behavior, and manage the knowledge base.

Lead Management & Chat Intelligence

Monitor chat leads, live conversations, and lead intelligence from the admin panel.

How to Deploy Your Website or Web App on SakuraHost

Customer asks for deploy docs/guides (mwongozo wa kupeleka tovuti au web app)? Send these exact links. Which hosting to use: https://billing.sakurahost.co.tz/knowledgebase/120/ — HTML/PHP/WordPress site upload (cPanel): https://billing.sakurahost.co.tz/knowledgebase/119/ — Node.js/Next.js/React app (cPanel Application Manager, needs Web App Hosting): https://billing.sakurahost.co.tz/knowledgebase/117/. Django/Python app (cPanel Application Manager, Python 3.9, Django 4.2 LTS): https://billing.sakurahost.co.tz/knowledgebase/121/. Ask what the app is built with before choosing.

SakuraHost Shared Hosting Plans

Compare all shared hosting plans — Start-Up, Swala, Sungura, and Faru — with pricing, storage, and features. Also covers WordPress Hosting, which is the same plans under a WordPress-specific page.

SakuraHost Premium Hosting Plans — Nyati, Tembo, Simba

Multi-website hosting plans for growing businesses and agencies — Nyati (2 sites), Tembo (10 sites, most popular), Simba (unlimited sites).

SakuraHost Web Apps Hosting — Starter, Developer, Business

Managed hosting for Node.js, Next.js, React, and API-based web applications — Starter, Developer, and Business plans, provisioned via cPanel's Node.js App Manager.

SakuraHost VPS Hosting

Cloud VPS plans with KVM virtualization, full root access, NVMe SSD, and instant provisioning.

Domain Registration & Transfer

Register .co.tz, .com, .org, and other domains. Includes free DNS hosting, WHOIS privacy, and email forwarding.

.tz Domains and Registrar Lock

The .tz registry (TZNIC) does not support the registrar lock, so the lock error on .tz/.co.tz/.or.tz domains is expected and cannot be fixed or enabled by us. Transfers are still protected because they need the EPP authorization code, which only the account holder gets. Nameservers are never changed by this.

Business Email Hosting

Professional email with your domain — Starter, Business, and Enterprise plans with webmail, SMTP/IMAP, and spam filtering.

SSL Certificates

Secure your website with SSL — DV, OV, EV, and Wildcard options from RapidSSL, GeoTrust, and DigiCert.

Dedicated Servers

Bare-metal dedicated servers with Intel Xeon CPUs, up to 64 GB RAM, and unmetered bandwidth.

Reseller Hosting

Start your own hosting company with WHM, private nameservers, and WHMCS-ready billing integration.

Software Licenses

cPanel, DirectAdmin, LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, WHMCS, Plesk, and Imunify360 licenses for your server.

Website Design Packages

Professional website design — Starter Site, Business Site, and E-Commerce packages with hosting included.

Microsoft 365 & Google Workspace

Business productivity suites — Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Zoho, and QuickBooks reseller plans.

Game Server Hosting

Host Counter-Strike 2, Minecraft, Rust, and more with Pterodactyl panel, DDoS protection, and 11 global locations.

Getting Started with SakuraHost

How to order hosting, register a domain, access cPanel, set up email, and manage your account at billing.sakurahost.co.tz.

SakuraHost Troubleshooting

Common hosting issues — website down, email not working, cPanel access, DNS propagation, SSL errors, and more.

My Domain or Website Isn't Working

Troubleshoot a domain that won't resolve, DNS propagation, and pointing a domain to your app.

DNS Records Explained: A to Z Guide

Every DNS record type explained clearly — A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SRV, and more.

Setting Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

Stop your emails landing in spam. A complete guide to email authentication records for Tanzanian businesses.

DNS Propagation: Why Your Domain Isn't Working Yet

What DNS propagation is, how long it takes, and how to check progress across global DNS servers.

Connecting Your Domain to Web Hosting

Step-by-step guide for pointing any domain to your Sakurahost web hosting account.

Which Hosting Plan is Right for Your Business?

Compare shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting to find the right fit for your Tanzania business.

Backup Best Practices for Tanzanian Businesses

How to set up reliable backups for your website, database, and email to protect against data loss.

Getting the Most Out of cPanel

Key cPanel features every Sakurahost customer should know — file management, databases, email, and more.

IoT Hosting and Connectivity in Tanzania

Hosting IoT applications, MQTT brokers, and real-time data pipelines in Tanzania — what works and what to avoid.

Setting Up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for Your Tanzania Business

How to install GA4, understand key metrics, and use data to grow your Tanzanian business online.

Measuring SMS Campaign Performance

Key metrics for SMS marketing, how to calculate ROI, and what good benchmarks look like in Tanzania.

WhatsApp Business Marketing: Best Practices

How to use WhatsApp Business API to market effectively and keep your number healthy in Tanzania.

SEO Basics for Tanzanian Businesses

How to rank on Google in Tanzania — domain choice, local SEO, Swahili content, and technical basics.

Starting an E-commerce Business in Tanzania

How to build and launch an online store in Tanzania with M-Pesa, WooCommerce, and local logistics.

Digital Transformation for Tanzanian SMEs

A practical roadmap for taking your Tanzanian small or medium business online — step by step.

Mobile-First Business Strategy for East Africa

Why mobile-first is mandatory in Tanzania and how to design products, marketing, and payments for a smartphone-first market.

What is a CRM and Why Your Business Needs One

CRM explained simply — how customer relationship management systems help Tanzanian businesses grow and retain customers.

Integrating CRM with SMS and WhatsApp

How to connect your CRM to Sakura SMS to automate customer communication and close deals faster.

Customer Segmentation for Better Campaigns

How to segment your customer database for more relevant SMS and WhatsApp campaigns that convert better.