Advancements in modern technology have made it easier than ever for businesses and organizations to connect with their customers. Whether through e-mail, social media, or phone, contacting a prospect is a click away — literally.
As such, with the rise in popularity of solutions like personalized text messaging software, organizations now have quite a bit of power on their hands. However, the rights and privacy of the consumer must still be respected, which is why “opt-in” bulk texting remains a standard.
So, what exactly is this feature and why is such a critical factor in campaigns? Stick around as we answer that question.
Opt-in Texting: A Definition
In simple terms, opt-in texting means the customer chose to receive text messages from an organization. In other words, they’re providing consent to receive your text messages.
Often this is done via a text message received by the customer. However, there are countless ways to receive consent. For instance, on your website, having a “News & Special Offers” sign up to a bulk texting list can be considered “opting-in”. Or an email or social media DM asking for consent. Or a checkbox at signup/checkout when purchasing a product from your business.
Why Is It So Important?
Ultimately, texting customers without their permission is an invasion of privacy, and it’s against the law. According to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), businesses must have consent from the recipient before sending a text. The permission comes in the form of an opt-in.
Additionally, ensuring you have the consent of a client before sending them messages is a sign of respect in its most basic form. You’re showing buyers that you care about their comfort, privacy, and personal decisions regarding your organization.
Furthermore, offering recipients the ability to opt-out of your campaigns protects your reputation. Whether you are texting for a non-profit or a large corporation, no one will want to support a business that doesn’t show customers the respect they deserve.
Best Practices to Follow with Your Texts
So, how can you ensure your “opt-in” text messages don’t cross any boundaries or ruin your reputation? Be sure to follow these best practices:
- Be Upfront: Will you be sending text messages once a week? Once a day? Will message and data rates apply? All this information — and more — should be included when asking for consent.
- Be Concise: If your message is hard to understand due to clunky writing or an overabundance of information, your clients could be turned off. Just focus on the main points.
- Ask for Double Confirmation: To really ensure you avoid potential issues with your bulk texting campaign, you could ask recipients to confirm twice. It never hurts!
- Provide a Way Out: Respect for your client doesn’t stop at receiving consent to send those first few texts. You’ll also need to provide them with a way out, should they change their mind (i.e., responding STOP to be removed from your list).
- Use Keywords for Branding: Though optional, you could utilize keywords to give your recipients a sense of comfort. For example, instead of using “YES” for confirmation, a bookstore could ask their clients to respond “READING” to consent.
The Best Texting Software Solution
Ready to use your newfound knowledge to write a winning texting campaign? Well, you’ll need a great personalized texting software, like Stacked Messenger, to make your efforts worthwhile. Click here to learn how we can propel your business to greater heights!