Before moving forward, please ensure that the Company Name you're using in the {CompanyName} merge field for your message templates closely matches your registered 10DLC Brand Name — whether that’s your DBA or legal company name. This is required to stay compliant with carrier regulations.
To update your {CompanyName}, please refer to the .gif below for guidance.
To ensure the legitimacy of the business texting, carriers require Company Name to be included in the message templates.
In addition to the regulatory updates enforced by carriers within the 10DLC Messaging system last October, carriers have also introduced advanced filtering mechanisms designed to eradicate spam and scam attempts within the U.S. text messaging network.
To maintain the integrity of your 10DLC Campaign and EIN number, as well as our platform, our team has been tirelessly analyzing the data. We are now sharing the best practices for message templates to help you optimize your response and deliverability rates & prevent from your messages being filtered & blocked by the carriers.
We've compiled a list of best practices to incorporate into your content, stay under the carriers' radar & maximize the efficiency of your outreach & thus increase your ROI.
1) Steer clear of negative keywords & their variations
Negative keywords are words and phrases commonly filtered and blocked by carriers. Messages with negative verbiage are often blocked and undelivered, as carriers aim to eliminate potential spammers and scammers within the 10DLC messaging system.
Our system includes mechanisms to analyze content and identify verbiage frequently flagged by carriers. As a result, our in-app negative keywords list is continuously updated, and templates containing these negative keywords are not permitted.
Our in-app template builder lists all these negative words and will alert you if you accidentally use them. Aside from enlisted carrier blocked words, their variations sent in large quantities are equally likely to cause your messages to be filtered & hence undelivered.
To ensure your message gets through without being blocked by carriers, make sure to exclude all the negative keywords variations by searching for synonyms and alternative phrasing to convey your message.
2) Text Spinners: How to Use Them Effectively
Our proprietary text spinner algorithm allows you to create tens of variations out of a single SMS message & prevent your messages from being filtered by carriers.
Large quantities of the same or similar content are pretty likely to be flagged by the carriers, hence, our system needs diverse wording available within the text spinners to be able to create enough variations.
What does that exactly mean?
Include more words & phrases within the single text spinner element.
Increase the number of text spinner elements in each of the 5 single template variations.
Incorporate syntaxes & phrases within the spinner tokens, rather than solely relying on individual words.
Here's an example:
3) Avoid Common Greeting Openers: Hi/Hello/Hey
Using common message openers like "Hello," "Hi," or "Hey" in your text spinners can make your templates overused and prone to being flagged as spam. These standard greetings are often scrubbed and filtered out, limiting the effectiveness of your messages. Moreover, relying on these greetings reduces the system's ability to create diverse variations for your template messages.
Instead of starting with a generic greeting, save your text spinners for longer, more significant sentences where you can get creative. This approach not only enhances the uniqueness of each message but also increases the chances of your messages being delivered successfully. Next time you write your templates, skip the greeting text spinners and focus on crafting varied and engaging content.
4) Avoid using soliciting, salesy verbiage in your initial outreach
Carriers are on the constant lookout for soliciting, sales-oriented, or spam-like language, which is likely to trigger their spam filters.
Unsure about how to initiate contact effectively?
Your first message should focus on introducing yourself. With numerous SMS messages bombarding your leads daily, it's crucial to stand out and communicate clearly to capture their attention.
Begin by introducing yourself, your company, and how you can benefit them. Highlight the value you offer and emphasize that you're the most convenient and optimal choice available.
Following that, inquire if they have a moment to discuss further or hop on a quick call with you. Your representative can then take it from there.
Here's an example:
5) Timing Your SMS Correctly & Monitor Your Sending Frequency
Sending too many messages in a short period can also trigger spam filters. It is best to space out your messages and only send them when necessary. Additionally, monitor your open and response rates to determine the optimal frequency for your audience.
One effective strategy is to spread your daily SMS limit across different times of the day. This approach avoids overwhelming both the recipients and the system, promoting a steady flow of engagement. For example:
Morning Batch: Start at 9 AM.
Mid-Morning Batch: Send another batch at 11 AM.
Afternoon Batch: Continue with more messages at 2:30 PM.
Late Afternoon to Early Evening Batch: Conclude with the final messages between 4 and 6 PM.
6) Regularly Clean Your Contact List & Test Different Approaches
High-quality data and keeping your contact list clean are foundational for successful SMS marketing. Segment your lists based on urgency and previous engagement.
High-Quality Data: Use the best available data to tailor your messages to the specific needs and interests of recipients.
Strategic List Importing: Import lists with a strategic approach, focusing on a segmented audience to increase engagement and conversion rates.
7) Deliver Meaningful Content in Your Messages
It's essential to offer valuable content, like current market trends or pertinent advice, to cultivate authentic engagement. By consistently providing value and presenting yourself as more than just someone aiming to seal a deal, you can navigate through the filtering process successfully.
Sharing insights into market trends allows recipients to perceive you as knowledgeable and resourceful. Likewise, offering practical tips demonstrates your commitment to assisting them beyond immediate transactions. This approach not only helps your messages bypass filtering mechanisms but also builds trust and credibility with your audience over time.
But that’s not all – let’s discuss a couple more points to help you out.
Follow these extra tips to prevent your messages from being filtered:
Optimize your initial message templates by balancing professionalism with a casual approach, especially in high-value transactions.
Rotate your templates & keep updating them frequently. Ideally there should be one template per each batch available.
Avoid unrealistic promises. Use "Explore potential investment opportunities," instead of "Guaranteed profit in just one week!"
4. Stay away from emojis, URLs, special characters ($), and the overuse of exclamations, as these can trigger spam filters with carriers.
Incorporating these strategies is key to safeguarding the sender reputation and health of your 10DLC Campaign and EIN number. By consistently delivering high-quality and relevant messages, you not only enhance engagement and response rates but also pave the way for more successful real estate transactions.