SMS Marketing: How to get the opt-ins

In fact, before sending even your first promotional text, industry working body CTIA requires enterprises to seek express written consent (basically, you must prove that a consumer accepted to receive your SMS).

So, how can you persuade your clients to agree? How do you acquire the "yes" and have your clients opt-in to your SMS marketing (which you must do)?

Make the texts worthwhile

Make sure what you're sending to your consumers is valuable, which should go without saying.

Providing them with information, bargains, promotions, or anything else they'll find useful is not only a good way to get them to sign up for your communications, but it's also a good way to keep them agreeing to receive them.

Send exactly what you say you'll send

Make it clear to your customers what information you'll send them, and then send it. If you claim you'll send deals, then send deals. If you say you'll just send sales alerts, keep your word.

Giving clients a sneak peek at the information you'll provide them will not only boost the possibility that they'll opt in, but following through will also increase the likely that they'll stay opted in.

Tell your customers how frequently you'll SMS them (and don't send them too soon or too late).

Be honest about how frequently you'll deliver marketing items by text. Let your consumers know how often they can expect to get SMS from you, whether it's daily, weekly, monthly, or just on the vernal equinox.

Also, and this is critical, keep it during regular business hours. After dinner, only send texts to family and friends. After 10 p.m., texts are only sent in an emergency. Nothing will drive your clients to unsubscribe from your messages faster than getting awakened up at 2 a.m. by what they think is an emergency but is actually a sale coupon.

Make it simple for people to sign up (and out)

Customers are unlikely to opt-in to your text messages if they must sign a form, produce three pieces of identification, and complete a 150-question survey. Yes, that's a foolish example, but making it simple to opt in increases the likelihood of their doing so.

Make sure you get the correct kind of opt-in (see our piece on the different types of opt-in permission), but don't make your clients jump through hoops to get your communications. A quick cheat sheet: ticking a box on a form is a simple and painless way to comply with promotional text rules.

On the other hand, don't make it difficult to opt-out. Make it clear what clients must do to stop receiving SMS if they decide they no longer want them as part of the opt-in procedure (and honour that request). If you receive a STOP text, make sure you and/or your texting provider unsubscribe them from any future SMS campaigns.

Expert Advice is Available

You can't send messages to people who don't want to receive them. Our team of specialists is ready to advise you through the problems of getting your messages broadcast, offering suggestions on how to make it easier for your customers to opt-in while staying within the CTIA's rules.