What is Cold Texting?

Like cold calling, cold texting entails reaching out to someone with whom you have no previous relationship.
If you buy a contact list or obtain a prospect’s phone number online, any text messages you send them regarding business endeavors are considered cold texting, and this is prohibited.

Currently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates firms in the United States to obtain authorization from prospects before texting them.

One example of cold texting is when a business purchases a contact list from a third-party source to expand its customer base. While this may seem like a quick and easy way to reach a larger audience, it can often lead to adverse outcomes. The customers receiving these unsolicited messages may find them strange or intrusive, causing them to negatively perceive the business. In some cases, customers may even report the business for engaging in unsolicited texting, which can result in legal repercussions and damage the company’s brand image.

Another example of cold texting is when a business obtains individuals’ phone numbers through other means, such as online surveys or giveaways, and subsequently sends them promotional messages without their consent. This practice not only violates customer privacy but also risks non-compliance with privacy regulations. Sending messages without consent can lead to a low response rate from customers, as they are more likely to ignore or delete texts from unfamiliar sources.

Texting is a more intimate form of communication than email (and has much higher open-rates), which is widely used by businesses as a means of communication.
The fact is that cold texting can lead to serious legal consequences and may result in your business being blacklisted. We don’t want that for you. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that businesses must obtain consent from prospects before sending text messages. This legal requirement sets cold texting apart from cold emailing and cold calling, which do not have the same explicit opt-in rule. Ignoring the reasons behind the prohibition of cold texting can land you in hot water.

Can Cold Texting Be Useful?

The Challenges of Cold Texting
One of the primary drawbacks of cold texting is the lack of a pre-established relationship with the recipient. Without prior interaction, it’s difficult to gauge their interest in the product or service being offered. This not only makes it challenging to tailor messages effectively but also reduces the likelihood of engagement.

Furthermore, cold texting faces significant legal hurdles:

• GDPR: Protects privacy and personal data in the EU.
• TCPA: Safeguards U.S. consumers against unsolicited calls and texts.
• CTIA: Provides best practice guidelines for messaging in the U.S.
• CASL: Canadian law against unsolicited electronic communications.

These regulations can impose heavy fines for non-compliance, making cold texting a risky strategy.  We don’t want that for you. So, what can you do instead?

5 Alternatives to Cold Texting

• Keyword Opt In

Utilizing a keyword opt-in approach can be a game-changer for businesses looking to expand their text messaging reach. By employing a relevant keyword that, when sent to the business’s phone number, automatically enrolls recipients in receiving future messages, companies can ensure compliance and customer engagement.

Consider this scenario: you’re an accountant aiming to provide tax-related updates to clients. Creating a keyword like “TAXTEXTS” allows potential clients to easily opt in and receive valuable information via text message to support their financial journey.

• Add a Click-to-Text Button to Your Website to Improve User Experience

Enhancing user experience with a click-to-text button on your website can streamline the communication process with prospects. When visitors click on this button, their native messaging app opens up with a pre-written message and a pre-filled phone number, facilitating quick and convenient interaction. This feature enables businesses to promptly respond to messages, nurture leads, and initiate the conversion process effectively.

Once the click-to-text button is clicked, the visitor’s SMS app on their cell phone will automatically open with a pre-written message and a pre-filled phone number. This streamlined process saves your prospects time and effort, making it convenient for them to get in touch with you and express their needs or inquiries.

By incorporating a click-to-text button on your website, you provide a direct and efficient communication channel for your customers. This accessibility can significantly improve customer retention and satisfaction. It allows them to easily contact you about their complaints, suggestions, or any other inquiries they might have. By addressing their concerns promptly and effectively, you can strengthen your customer relationships and build trust.

• Make Your Phone Number Available

Although it may seem simple, do prospective consumers know how to contact you? Have you made it simple for people to text you, or do they have to search through the depths of your website to find a phone number?

Making your business’s phone number readily available and visible across all marketing platforms is essential to encourage opt-ins. Whether it’s on your website, social media channels, or marketing materials, ensure that potential customers can easily find your contact details without any hassle. Simplifying the process of reaching out to your business can significantly impact engagement and conversion rates.

• Integrate your new marketing tools with your existing marketing tools

If you already have a way of gathering prospect information, there is a good probability that your product can be connected with Cloud Contact AI.

Canadian Fertility Consulting was one of the customers for whom we performed this service (CFC). In order to obtain lead information, it relied on Salesforce, but it required a simple procedure for following up with prospective clients based on the information they had provided on Salesforce.

According to the needs of the customer, we created an integration that filters new contacts in Salesforce and places them into different journeys within CloudContactAI. based on their needs. In their success story, you can learn more about how CFC has achieved seamless integration between both technologies.

If you’re already utilizing another application or piece of software, have a look at the integrations available on our website.

• Offer an SMS Signup on your Site

Providing customers with the opportunity to sign up for SMS alerts at checkout or during account creation is a proactive way to secure their permission for text message marketing. By establishing clear opt-in processes and ensuring easy opt-out options, businesses can build trust and rapport with customers through relevant and desired text message communications.

When customers willingly provide their phone number and agree to receive promotional information, they are giving explicit consent to be included in your SMS campaigns. This ensures that the text messages they receive are desired and welcomed, fostering a positive relationship between your business and the customer. By offering an easy opt-out feature, such as a “Reply STOP” option, you respect their preferences and maintain a transparent communication channel.

Incorporating an SMS sign-up at key touchpoints, such as checkout or account creation, allows you to build a contact list of interested customers who have willingly opted-in to receive your text-based marketing campaigns. This targeted approach not only ensures compliance with regulations but also enables you to deliver tailored promotions and relevant information directly to those who are genuinely interested in your products or services.

Additional SMS Marketing Tips

• Use an SMS Marketing Service

Don’t use your personal phone to text customers.  Automate SMS marketing with a quality SMS service like Cloud Contact AI. This allows you to automatically follow up with contacts, schedule delivery times, and send texts based on user actions. For example, you can notify customers of delivery updates after buying something.  SMS services can also help to avoid delivering messages at inappropriate times for the client.

• Quality > Quantity

When users opt-in to receive text messages from you, they don’t want to be bombarded with useless information. One of the simplest methods to make your text messages valuable is to offer a unique promotion or coupon only to your SMS marketing list. Customers will feel like VIPs with special offers. 

• Make it Personal

Customers respond better to messages that are directed at them. Personalization tokens are essential in SMS marketing. Consider greeting each recipient by name, providing offers/information based on their region, mentioning recent purchases, cart abandonment reminders, delivery updates, and more.  Similarly, keep the language in your texts professional and clear. Avoid slang and technical jargon that might confuse the recipient or appear unprofessional.

• Keep it Brief

The Quality>Quantity principle applies to the length of your messages as well. So keep your texts short and sweet. Begin with a hook to get the recipient interested. A statement like “SPECIAL OFFER” at the start of your message will stimulate consumers’ curiosity, keep them reading, and motivate them to act.

• Track Effectiveness

Businesses can effectively monitor and analyze the effectiveness of their SMS marketing campaigns through several methods. Firstly, they can track the response rate of their SMS messages by analyzing the number of recipients who take action, such as clicking on links or making purchases. Additionally, they can measure the engagement rate by assessing the level of interaction and feedback received from recipients, such as replies, comments, or shares.

Businesses can utilize tracking links or unique promotional codes in their SMS messages to monitor customer conversions and sales generated directly from the campaign. By implementing these methods, they can attribute specific results to their SMS marketing efforts.

• Have a Call to Action

End your message with a clear directive about what steps you’d like the recipient to take next. This clarity helps guide the conversation forward and enhances engagement.

Conclusion

Text messaging may be a valuable tool for your business, allowing you to convey essential messages directly to the hands of your clients. Text messaging is becoming increasingly popular. So take advantage of the situation. Remember to keep these suggestions in mind, and you’ll be an expert in SMS marketing in no time. 

To ensure full compliance with these regulations, businesses can take proactive steps to protect themselves from potential violations. By partnering with a professional SMS marketing service like Cloud Contact AI, companies can guarantee that every SMS marketing campaign adheres to the necessary legal requirements. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing compliant and effective SMS marketing solutions tailored to your business needs. Reach out to one of our professionals today to discover how Cloud Contact AI can help you navigate the complexities of SMS marketing laws and regulations with confidence.