📲Best Practices for SMS

1. Obtain Explicit Consent: Ensure you have explicit opt-in consent from recipients before sending SMS messages. This is not only a best practice but is often required by law, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States.

2. Keep Messages Short and Sweet: SMS messages have a character limit (160-320 characters), so keep your messages concise and to the point. Make sure the message is relevant and valuable.

3. Personalize Messages: Use recipients' names and other relevant personalization to make messages more engaging and relevant. Personalization can boost response rates.

4. Set Clear Expectations: Let subscribers know what type of content and frequency of messages they can expect when they opt in. Transparency builds trust.

5. Opt-Out Options: Provide an easy and clear way for subscribers to opt out of receiving messages. This is not only a best practice but is legally required in many regions. We recommend adding the phrase ‘Reply STOP to opt-out’ at the end of your messages.

6. Timing Matters: Send messages at appropriate times, considering the time zone and the recipient's schedule. Avoid sending messages too early or too late in the day - in fact, Gleantap has measures in place to prevent messages being sent outside of respectable hours. (Set up your Quiet Hours under the SMS Configuration page.)

7. Targeted Segmentation: Segment your subscriber list into groups based on demographics, behavior, or preferences. This approach boosts the chances of generating higher engagement by delivering content that is more tailored to each group.

8. Provide Value: Give your subscribers exclusive discounts, early access to sales, or other incentives to make them feel that being part of your SMS list is valuable.

9. Track and Analyze: Monitor the performance of your SMS campaigns, including open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and opt-out rates. Use this data to refine your strategies.

10. Respect Local Regulations: Familiarize yourself with SMS marketing regulations and compliance in your region to avoid legal issues and maintain a positive brand image.

By following these SMS marketing best practices, you can create engaging and compliant text message campaigns that effectively reach and engage your target audience.