When sending blast text messages to your community, it’s important to follow best practices to avoid your messages being flagged as spam or blocked by phone carriers. Because of the prevalence of spammy text messages and their relative annoyance, phone carriers are understandably aggressive in their efforts to block spam.
This aggressive blocking, combined with limited information to evaluate (especially compared to emails), means false positives can be common. To help avoid this, we’ve compiled some tips and guidelines to avoid having a legitimate message flagged as spam by phone carriers!
General message guidelines
To reduce the risk of a message being flagged as spam and ensure successful delivery, avoid including the following in your messages.
❌ Promotional language
Avoid using promotional buzzwords like “Free,” “Now,” “Offer,” “Winner”, or other promotional-sounding language. Below is an example of what not to send:
“FREE food this weekend! Come down to the clubhouse for your chance to win prizes. RSVP a spot NOW.”
❌ URLs and especially URL shorteners
Never include a shortened URL. Our platform will proactively prevent you from sending messages that contain shortened URLs from the most popular URL shortening services (e.g., Bitly, TinyURL, etc.), since these are almost guaranteed to result in your message being marked as spam. URLs in general heighten the risk of being flagged as spam, so while they don’t need to be avoided altogether, they should be used judiciously.
❌ Unclear calls to action
Requests for action without explaining what it’s about (e.g., only including “Tap here”).
✅ Example of what to send
Join us for a BBQ at the clubhouse this Saturday at 5 PM! View event details here: mycommunity.com/events.
Prohibited content
Phone carriers enforce strict rules around the types of content allowed in text messages. To avoid your messages being blocked, be mindful of the following topics, which could inadvertently fall under prohibited content:
❌ Deceptive marketing
Ensure that all messages about community events, services, or updates are truthful and not misleading. Avoid making exaggerated claims about community improvements or local services without providing adequate context or credentials. Below are a few examples to consider:
“Exclusive deal for members!”
“ABC Landscaping is offering a limited-time deal! Act now!”
“Try ABC Landscaping. They’re the best in town!”
❌ Sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco
Be cautious with content that could be misinterpreted or potentially flagged in this category. That could include using divisive or exclusionary language or events, promoting alcohol-centered events (e.g., happy hours, pre-games, or alcohol tastings), and avoiding using language that could be misinterpreted as a controlled substance (e.g., using "weed" to refer to weed killer and gardening).
❌ Gambling
When sending messages about events or contests, be sure to avoid language that could be construed as gambling or receiving monetary rewards and prizes. A few examples are provided below:
“RSVP for our HOA's casino night!”
“Vote for the best holiday decorations! Winner receives a cash prize!”
“Don’t miss your chance to enter our HOA's fantasy sports league! Sign up for a chance to win the pot!”
Tips for deliverability
To further improve message success, ensure your message is clear and concise—avoid excessive emojis or punctuation, and include your community's name if it’s your first message.
If you have further questions or would like a second set of eyes on a message before sending it, you're welcome to contact our customer success team.