The Do’s and Don’ts of SMS Marketing Compliance

In the world of virtual media, an app such as AutoForward Text is extremely valuable and sought after, especially by small business owners looking to market their products through text messages. The app works by automatically forwarding text messages and calls history to an e-mail address or another phone number, working as a marketing tool and a communicator.

With apps like these, users can only make full use of them by understanding how SMS marketing works and how they can use it to their advantage. There are some rules and regulations you must follow regarding SMS marketing compliance as well.

This article will tell you the Do’s and Don’ts of SMS marketing compliance so that you can distinguish the good practices from the bad.

Do’s

1. Adhere to the rules and regulations

Before you indulge in the practice of SMS marketing, compliance with the rules and regulations regarding sending text messages in your country is extremely important. In the US, the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) protects the rights of customers regarding SMS marketing, so you must make sure to do your research and adhere to those rules. 

There are a few ways you can legally do SMS marketing. First, obtain consent before sending a text message, which can include your company name or a mechanism by which they can subscribe to receive more texts. Secondly, provide any discounts and coupons firsthand and include the message frequency, as well as carrier cost and fees.

2. Include appropriate information

In the texts, you should only include the information you’re sure is important to the customer and will benefit them, rather than including fillers that would only make them wary of receiving text updates from your business. There’s also a list of content you should never include because of its controversial nature of it, which will be covered in the Don’ts of SMS marketing compliance.

3. Make the SMS customer-centric

Since the customers are the main asset to any small or big business, their needs and want should be cherished. As such, firstly, acquire their permission and consent before sending them text updates. Secondly, if the consumer agrees to receive the texts, make sure that they’re only receiving the information that will make them special, to reward them for their loyalty.

You should also frequently offer them discounts and vouchers to maintain that loyalty, and make your customers feel better about shopping from you.

4. Use appropriate timings

As said, there’s a time and place for everything. For text messages, you should keep in mind the appropriate times to send text messages to the customers. This can range from anywhere between 8 am to 9 pm, no further than that. You should avoid inconveniencing and burdening the customer if you send out messages after an appropriate time.

Don’ts

1. Spam the customers

Spamming customers, especially during odd hours of the night, is not only considered extremely rude, but it will also lose you some customers. Make sure not to spam the customers, or text them very frequently, as they may get annoyed by the constant reminders. Instead, send messages only once a week, and only in-between 8 am and 9 pm.

2. Disallow opt-out mechanisms

Most small businesses don’t take care to allow for easy opt-out options, in the fear that they’ll somehow lose customers by doing so. That’s a misconception, you should always allow for easy opt-outs from receiving text updates and messages. 

This will not only make the customer feel like they have the right to an option, but it may help retain loyal customers, as people often appreciate being given a choice. An example of this can be ‘Please text STOP if you would want to unsubscribe from receiving text updates’ etc. 

3. Withhold the important information

As a business, you should always be transparent with the information that you’re putting out to your customers. This is to make sure they know what they are opting into, so that they have a right to accept or reject the subscription. You can’t deceive your customers by withholding information just for fear that they’ll unsubscribe.

4. Include hateful content

One last thing you should never do, includes hateful speech within your messages, as this is punishable by law. This includes racist or discriminatory content, sexual content, alcohol, forearm, or tobacco-related content. 

Follow these rules and you will stay on the safe side of your SMS marketing campaigns.