Introduction (0:00:00 – 0:04:20)
In this weekly workshop, we cover the best practices for TCPA-compliant outbound SMS. I (Adam) kick things off by welcoming everyone and setting the stage for what to expect. We’re diving into how to run effective and compliant SMS campaigns, especially under the strict guidelines of the TCPA. Today, we’re excited to have Samuel Smith with us, who’s going to walk us through the nuances of staying TCPA compliant while still achieving success with outbound SMS strategies. We also have some exciting updates about new features in Audience Lab that are specifically designed for B2B outreach.
Understanding TCPA (0:06:31 – 0:14:02)
Now, let’s get into the meat of the issue—understanding the TCPA and the major compliance pitfalls we need to avoid:
- DNC (Do Not Call) Lists: It’s illegal to call or text anyone on the DNC lists, whether federal or state, unless you have prior consent. We’ve built-in services within Audience Lab to help you scrub contacts against these lists, so you’re not accidentally breaking the law.
- Artificial or Pre-recorded Voice: The TCPA strictly prohibits using artificial or pre-recorded voices to contact individuals. This is true for both B2B and B2C communications. Even if you’re reaching out to business contacts via their mobile phones, these restrictions still apply.
- Automated Telephone Dialing Systems (ATDS): Here’s where it gets tricky—if a system has the capacity to auto-dial, it’s considered an ATDS under TCPA. This means platforms like Twilio or GoHighLevel, which can auto-dial, are technically non-compliant when used for outbound SMS without consent. And the penalties are steep—$500 to $1,500 per violation—so we must be very careful here.
These points highlight the major challenges, or “problems,” we must navigate to stay compliant with the TCPA.
How to Send Compliant SMS (0:14:02 – 0:44:10)
Let’s talk about solutions—how we can send SMS messages in a way that’s fully compliant with the TCPA:
- Manual SMS Sending: One simple, albeit limited, method is manually sending SMS messages from your phone. This method is compliant because it avoids any automated dialing or messaging systems.
- Custom-Built Platforms: We’ve developed a specialized platform that ensures each SMS is sent manually by an agent, making it compliant with TCPA regulations. This platform can handle up to 10,000 messages per hour per agent, allowing us to scale up while staying within the legal boundaries.
- Audience Lab Integration: By integrating the data from Audience Lab with our platform, we ensure that contacts are scrubbed against DNC lists, and that all messages are sent in a compliant manner. We handle everything—from A2P 10DLC registration to managing responses—making it easy for you to stay compliant.
- Additional Compliance Measures: We recommend using tools like TCPA litigator scrubs to avoid known litigators and employing trusted form tokens for added security in proving compliance, particularly when selling leads to networks that require proof of opt-in consent.
These methods are the “solutions” to the compliance challenges we discussed earlier.
Conclusion (0:44:10 – 0:51:06)
We wrap up the session with a Q&A, where Sam and I address your questions, clarify details about TCPA compliance, and explain the operational aspects of our SMS platform. We also discuss our plans to expand these services and encourage you to stay tuned for more updates and opportunities.
