SMS Marketing: How to Craft Your Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

What Is SMS Marketing?

SMS marketing, or text marketing, is the abbreviated term for short message service marketing. It is a digital marketing tool consisting of bulk text messaging that can be used to send information about discounts, promotions, informational updates, and other special offers directly to your customers’ mobile phones.

With DaySmart Appointments, your business can integrate SMS messaging into your client database to send appointment reminders and text marketing campaigns directly to your customers.

Why Use SMS Marketing Campaigns?

SMS marketing offers the ability to reach customers instantly and allows them a chance to respond quickly and in real time, making it easier to gain attention through actionable and urgent messaging that encourages the audience to respond.

If you use SMS marketing, it is important that you are aware of and take the appropriate steps to comply with applicable anti-spam and privacy laws, and that you have a Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions agreement on your website. Many businesses include links to these statements within their website footer so that customers can find them no matter what page they’re on.

You might be thinking, where do I start? Here are some things to think about when crafting your Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions agreement for SMS marketing to ensure you’re protecting your business and your customers’ personal information.

Privacy Policy

If your business leverages SMS marketing, you’ll need to have a clear, up-to-date, and easily accessible Privacy Policy that informs users of the kind of information you collect and what you do with it, and whether you sell or share their personal information.

• Privacy: Include language that states that the mobile numbers you collect will not be shared with any third-party vendors and that all information is for internal purposes only.
• Consent: Add a statement around consent that says when customers electronically provide consent to you, they also provide consent for you to keep record of their information. You’ll also want to give details on how they consent (by providing you with their mobile number, by opting in to SMS messages, etc.)
• Opt Out: Provide clear instructions for your users to opt-out of messages. Adding “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” to the end of any automated messages can help avoid these messages from being blocked by carriers.

Terms and Conditions

Having an SMS marketing Terms & Conditions agreement is crucial in establishing the guidelines and obligations that customers abide by when utilizing your products or services. If your business is starting to leverage SMS marketing, it is important to include clauses relating to text messaging.

• Cost: Offer a statement disclosing that you will not charge your customers for SMS messages, however standard message rates may apply and they will need to contact their cellphone provider for more information.
• Frequency: Provide a statement explaining how often you have your SMS settings to send customers messages. This will give them answers to common questions they may have: “Will your customers receive more than one message for their appointment? How many reminders should they expect?”
• Opt In: Include steps for how your customers can choose to receive SMS messages or not. Some businesses give their clients the option of choosing to opt in (or opt out) by checking a box which will be added here in the Terms and Conditions agreement.
• Contact Information: Allow your customers the opportunity to contact you by phone, email, or however they are permitted to get assistance with their SMS message reminders.

Start Texting Customers Today With DaySmart Appointments

Want to experience the benefits of texting for your business? DaySmart Appointments software is simple and easy to set up, allowing you to start texting your customers immediately. Click here to learn more.

Please note that all information found in this guide is for informational purposes only, does not guarantee text messages will not be filtered or blocked by carriers, and is not intended to constitute legal advice.