Compliance best practices for sending SMS messages

FieldEdge’s SMS feature is a powerful tool for reaching voters directly, however, sending SMS requires care to maintain compliance, avoid carrier spam flags, and avoid people reporting your messages.

It's important to know, sending SMS via FieldEdge (using Call Time or directly from a person's profile), uses your phone's carrier plan and number.

1. Avoid Repetitive Content

Carriers are increasingly flagging identical, repetitive messages as spam. Adding variety and personalization not only avoids this but also increases engagement.

• Use the recipient’s name or reference their district.

• Rotate message wording to reduce identical copies.

• Add personalized touches to every message by reviewing past interactions, tags and data from their profile.

2. Avoid Overloading Recipients

Sending too many messages in a short period can irritate voters and lead to complaints. Stick to a reasonable frequency:

• 1–2 messages per week is generally acceptable unless you’ve had prior engagement.

• Avoid sending multiple messages in a single day unless it’s urgent.

3. Always Identify Yourself

Ensure that recipients know who you are and why you’re messaging them. Transparency builds trust and prevents confusion. This is critical to avoiding people manually marking your message as SPAM.

4. Respect Opt-Out Requests

When using personal numbers in a political setting, providing a formal “Reply STOP” mechanism isn’t required in most regions but being mindful of opt-outs is still important.

• If someone asks not to receive messages, respect their request immediately.

• Update their profile using FieldEdge or NationBuilder to reflect their preference.

5. Keep Messages Clear and Concise

Call Time allows for direct, impactful communication. Avoid overwhelming recipients with lengthy messages.

By using Call Time strategically and following these best practices, you can run a successful and compliant SMS campaign that fosters meaningful voter engagement while avoiding common pitfalls like spam complaints or carrier blocks.

6. Monitor and Respond to Replies

One of FieldEdge's strengths is facilitating direct engagement. Many recipients will reply to your messages, so:

• Be prepared to answer questions promptly and politely.

• Log responses via Call Time or using Log Contact to track engagement and identify trends.

7. Know the Rules in Your Region

Lastly, While political messages often have exemptions, some guidelines still apply. As of writing this, we understand that:

• United States: Messages sent manually are generally exempt from TCPA restrictions but must be respectful and responsible.

• Canada: CASL exempts political messages, but identification and courtesy opt-out handling are encouraged.

Before starting your messaging, review the regulations in your region.