Messaging Compliance
Consent and Opt-in
SMS consent refers to the practice of obtaining permission from a person before sending them text messages for marketing or other purposes. This is typically done by having the person opt-in to receive text messages from a business or organization.
Opt-in practices can involve the use of a keyword that the person can text to a designated phone number in order to subscribe to receive text messages from the business or organization. For example, a business might advertise a keyword such as "SIGNUP" and ask people to text "SIGNUP" to their number in order to opt-in to receive text messages from the business.
In addition to using keywords, businesses and organizations may also provide web forms on their websites that allow people to opt-in to receive text messages. These forms typically ask for the person's phone number and may also ask for additional information, such as their name or email address. Once the person has filled out the form and submitted it, they will typically receive a confirmation message to their phone, which they must reply to in order to complete the opt-in process.
Once a person has opted in, the business or organization is then able to send them text messages for marketing or other purposes, as long as the messages are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Businesses and organizations need to obtain explicit consent from individuals before sending them text messages, as failure to do so can result in legal consequences.
It is also important you let your contact list know they can opt out of receiving messages at any time. To opt-out, the recipient simply replies to the message with "STOP" or "UNSUBSCRIBE", and the sender is then required to stop sending messages to that number. Opt-out SMS messages are a way for companies to comply with privacy laws and regulations that require them to allow individuals to opt-out of receiving unwanted communications.
Message Contents
- Sending Links: Please refrain from using public URL shortening services such as TinyURL or Bitly. Such links are frequently flagged as spam by U.S. carriers. To use trackable URLs, we recommend using TxtSquad's proprietary link-shortening feature, which provides a branded link, or utilizing an alternative service that offers a dedicated short URL domain.
- Do not send content that is illegal in your sending area, or is forbidden by carriers. See Forbidden message categories for SMS and MMS in the US and Canada for additional information.