As you’re crafting your SMS marketing strategy, you want to avoid some approaches that could cause legal complications or decrease audience engagement. From the 2003 Australia Spam Act to recent 10dlc U.S. carrier regulations, legislative bodies worldwide are implementing measures to penalize and prevent spam messages. It’s wise to be aware of the red flags these regulatory bodies look for so you can ensure you’re staying compliant and not getting SMS blocked.
To stay compliant, prevent lawsuits and maximize your texts’ positive impact on recipients, you need to know what not to do in your messaging strategy. Let’s dive into some top mistakes to avoid so you can reach customers more effectively while ensuring you follow the rules.
Why SMS Messaging Compliance Matters
With complaints about spam texts up 146% in 2021 alone, 10dlc regulations continue to evolve to control illegal messaging tactics. From fake requests for personal information to phony warranty information, SMS spam content is something all customers want to avoid. Therefore, when you’re composing your SMS, you should understand what could constitute spam and how to ensure your recipients don’t get any from your business.
In many cases, SMS messaging can provide incredibly valuable information for recipients, whether it’s a hospital contacting patients on organ donor lists or companies offering exciting rewards for customers. When you’re conscientious about compliance, you can use your messaging to support and inform your recipients every time you hit send.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Sending SMS Messages
When you’re planning your SMS approach, be sure to avoid these major mistakes that get businesses in trouble for spamming customers:
1. Don’t Send Messages Without Customers’ Consent
Your first and perhaps most critical step to SMS marketing compliance is to get customers’ consent. Before you offer any additional messages or solicit them in any way, get their express consent to receive content from your business. Whenever you send a message, you’ll also want to ensure you immediately identify yourself.
2. Don’t Text Without Offering an Unsubscribe Option
Make sure your recipients understand the text’s source and tell them that they can unsubscribe if they choose. You are required to provide an opt-out option for any marketing or business communications content you send.
3. Don’t Spam Nonsubscribers
Be careful to send the bulk of your messages to subscribers, when sending texts to nonsubscribers ask for consent in the first text. That way, you can help protect your messages from being marked as spam.
4. Don’t Mislead With Your Offers
Only send legitimate offers that customers can actually take advantage of through your business. Craft your messaging to accurately represent any special offers so customers won’t feel misled in any way.
5. Don’t Put Customers’ Privacy at Risk
If you need your customers’ personal information for a transaction, direct them to a secure link on the web. Be careful not to request this sensitive information over SMS.
Get the Most From Your Business SMS Strategy With Red Oxygen
At Red Oxygen, we’ve prioritized meeting anti-spam regulations for decades, and we’re here to help keep your messages compliant and on point. Our solution lets you seamlessly send text messages from your computer, making SMS management faster and easier. We also offer ongoing SMS management support services to help you effectively reach your customers without getting overwhelmed by the logistics.
Are you interested in learning more about what we have to offer? Reach out to our team today to get started!
