Mobile carriers, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and trade associations have established rules for the text marketing industry to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their customers. To achieve this, mobile carriers are closely monitoring all text message traffic and implementing filtering and blocking measures as necessary. To ensure that your text messages are delivered smoothly to your supporters, it is advisable to adhere to the following points.
Only Message Opted-In Supporters
Obtaining prior express consent from the individuals you are attempting to contact is important. Your supporters should be aware of the types of message content they have agreed to receive and the frequency at which they should expect to receive them. The most convenient way to accommodate this is to add mobile phone opt-in elements to your recruitments.
Avoid Controversial Topics
The acronym SHAFT (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco) serves as a reminder to avoid including these topics in your messages or call-to-action. These subjects are considered highly inappropriate and can result in an immediate ban if included.
Avoid Shortened Links
Carriers typically block messages with shortened links from providers like bit.ly and tinyurl.
Stay (Content) Relevant
When sending text campaigns, make sure that the messages are relevant to your organization. Avoid sending messages that fall outside the scope of your organization's programs and activities as this could lead to supporters reporting your messages as spam. If your messages are reported as spam, mobile carriers may block them. As always, it's recommended to consult your attorney for clarification on any potential legal issues.
Pay Attention to Time Zones
You must comply with regulations and best practices for sending text messages. Be mindful of time zones and send messages only during normal daytime hours for your supporters, regardless of their time zones.
Country Support
Fuel Cycle supports text messaging to US supporters with 10-digit phone numbers. Do not include the 1 before the area code.