Tips2024-12-305 min read

SMS Best Practices - How to Avoid the Spam Filter

Learn best practices for SMS messaging that keeps you out of spam filters. Write effective messages that get delivered and read.

#best practices #spam prevention #deliverability

Why Messages Get Blocked

Carriers and phone manufacturers actively filter SMS to protect users from spam. If your legitimate messages get caught in these filters, they never reach recipients.

Understanding what triggers spam filters helps you avoid them.

Common Spam Triggers

1. URL Shorteners

  • Avoid: bit.ly, tinyurl.com links
  • Better: Full URLs or your own domain
  • Best: No links, direct call-to-action
  • 2. Excessive Capitals

  • Spam-like: "FREE MONEY NOW!!!"
  • Better: "Free offer available today"
  • 3. Too Many Special Characters

  • Spam-like: "$$$ AMAZING DEAL $$$ !!!"
  • Better: "Special deal this weekend"
  • 4. Certain Trigger Words

    Watch out for overuse of:
  • Free, Winner, Cash, Prize
  • Urgent, Act Now, Limited Time
  • Guaranteed, No Cost, Congratulations
  • 5. Sending Too Fast

    Sending hundreds of messages in seconds looks like spam bots. Group SMS naturally paces messages to avoid this.

    Best Practices

    Write Like a Human

  • Use normal punctuation
  • Write conversational messages
  • Include your business name
  • Make it personal when possible
  • Identify Yourself Clearly

    Recipients should immediately know who's texting:
    "Hi from Joe's Cafe! Your loyalty reward is ready..."

    Not:

    "You have won a reward! Click here to claim..."

    Include Clear Opt-Out

    While Group SMS sends from your number so people can just ask to stop, it's good practice to mention it occasionally:
    "Reply STOP to unsubscribe"

    Time Your Messages Appropriately

  • Business hours are safest
  • Avoid weekends unless relevant
  • Never send between 9pm and 8am
  • Test Before Bulk Sending

    Send a test message to yourself or colleagues first:
  • Does it read well?
  • Any typos?
  • Is it clear who sent it?
  • Message Templates That Work

    Appointment Reminder

    "Reminder: Your appointment at [Business] is tomorrow at 2pm. Reply YES to confirm or call 555-1234 to reschedule."

    Promotion

    "[Business Name]: 20% off this weekend only. Show this text at checkout. See you soon!"

    Update/News

    "[Business Name] Update: New hours starting Monday. Now open 9am-8pm daily. Same great service!"

    Thank You

    "Thanks for visiting [Business Name] today! We appreciate your business. See you next time."

    What to Do If Messages Aren't Delivering

    Check Your Message Content

  • Remove URLs if possible
  • Reduce special characters
  • Avoid spam trigger words
  • Reduce Sending Frequency

  • Don't send too many messages at once
  • Space out bulk sends
  • Limit to 2-4 messages per recipient per month
  • Verify Phone Numbers

  • Remove invalid numbers from your list
  • Update outdated contacts
  • Check for formatting issues
  • Conclusion

    Good SMS practices benefit everyone. Your messages get delivered, recipients get useful information, and carriers don't have to block spam.

    Follow these guidelines and your messages will reach their destination reliably.

    Start sending group SMS now

    Send group SMS for free.

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