To effectively use text messaging as a communication tool, it is crucial for businesses to follow SMS best practices. As a fast and direct way to reach customers, SMS has become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes for marketing, customer support, and other communication purposes. However, it’s important to note that SMS also has its own set of best practices and content to avoid. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the SMS best practices and discuss the types of content that businesses should avoid sending via text message. Whether you’re new to SMS or looking to optimize your existing SMS strategy, this blog will provide valuable insights into how to effectively use SMS for your business.
As the provider of the VirtualText App, we stay on top of all the legal requirements of TCPA. In this Texting Consent blog series, we aim to enhance your knowledge of texting objectives, opt-in methods, types of consent, and provide some best practices for business SMS.
Tips to improve your content
As SMS marketing becomes more popular, it’s important for businesses to not only follow SMS best practices, but also to avoid triggering spam flags that can hurt their messaging campaigns. With spam filters becoming increasingly sophisticated, even legitimate messages can get flagged as spam if they contain certain types of content. Here are some tips to improve your content and avoid spam flags:
- Use a phone number people recognize for both text messages and voice calls.
- Use one domain name for each campaign. It’s best to use a full domain, but you can use a URL shortener for custom links.
- Use everyday language and avoid unusual spellings.
- Tell people how often they will receive messages so they have a good experience.
What SMS content should I avoid?
This section will provide a more detailed examination of the types of SMS content that businesses should refrain from sending, either because they violate legal regulations, are in poor taste, or simply ineffective. It can be challenging to determine whether a topic should be avoided, which is why our guide aims to provide clarity on whether a certain topic is appropriate or not. A great rule of thumb is to ask yourself if the message is effective, relevant, and respectful. Here are some SMS best practices for content that businesses should avoid:
- Promotional messages sent to toll-free numbers can be seen as spam and should be avoided.
- Phishing messages are illegal and can lead to identity theft and other financial scams.
- Fraudulent or scam messages can harm consumers and lead to legal repercussions.
- Deceptive marketing messages can be seen as misleading and result in legal issues.
- Avoid S.H.A.F.T. (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco) content as it can be inappropriate and offensive to some customers. Keep your messages professional and respectful.
- Sensitive content includes betting-related information, debt restructuring/refinancing and relief offers, payday and home loan offers, education loan offers, unsolicited insurance quotes, and job offers to earn money from home.
What SMS procedures should I avoid?
To ensure that SMS messaging is effective and well-received by customers, businesses should avoid certain procedures when sending text messages. These include sending irrelevant or too frequent messages, using unclear or overly technical language, sending unsolicited messages without obtaining prior consent, or failing to comply with regulatory requirements such as TCPA. By avoiding these pitfalls and instead implementing best practices, businesses can build trust with their customers and improve their overall SMS marketing efforts.
- Ignoring opt-out requests
- High opt-out rates
- Snowshoe sending
- Using multiple numbers for similar content without informing the carrier
- URL cycling
Get Started With Business SMS
We appreciate you taking the time to explore our texting consent blog series. In case you missed it, you can check out our guide on understanding different types of consent. Whether you’re seeking guidance on business SMS best practices or looking to integrate texting into your operations, our team of experts is always ready to assist you. Don’t hesitate to reach out!