Opt-outs, consent and texting rules

Carriers and US law (the TCPA) have rules for business texting. SMS Blast handles most of them for you, but a few are up to you.

Keywords people can text

They text	What happens
STOP (or UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT)	They’re added to Opt-outs right away, get one confirmation text, and leave every automation. They won’t get any more blasts. If they text STOP again the same day, they don’t get a second confirmation.
START (or UNSTOP)	They’re removed from Opt-outs and can get texts again (one confirmation a day at most).
HELP	They get your help message, set under Settings (one a day at most).

Only the exact word counts. A reply like please don’t stop is treated as a normal reply.

Add an opt-out yourself

If someone asks you to stop texting by phone or email, go to Opt-outs and add their number. You can’t remove an opt-out. Only the person texting START can undo it.

Consent

Only text people who agreed to get texts from your business, for example by ticking a box on your website or signing up at your front desk. When you import contacts, SMS Blast asks how they agreed and saves it with each contact.

Don’t text sensitive information

Text messages aren’t a secure channel. Don’t include health details, diagnoses, Social Security numbers, card numbers or passwords. For healthcare businesses, general messages like office closures or “please call us to confirm your visit” are fine. Details about a patient’s care are not.

Your HELP reply

Under Settings, the account owner can set the message people get when they text HELP. Include a way to reach you, for example Questions? Call us at (215) 555-0100. If your message has no phone number, email or website, SMS Blast adds “Call or text” and your texting number at the end, because carriers require a way to reach you.

Downloading your records

On Reports, the Compliance record download lists every contact with how and when they agreed, plus every opt-out. Keep it if a carrier or lawyer ever asks. See Reports and downloads.