When mass SMS messaging is not spam, and how to avoid becoming a spammer

Mass SMS-messaging — it is a marketing tool used by companies of different sizes and from different areas. Do you remember the last time you received a message from a local cafeteria or received an SMS from a bank on your phone? Perhaps it was today. 

Many people are still convinced that SMS spam is spread through such mass messaging. We hasten to assure you that these are two different phenomena, although the line between them is very thin.

Why is "spam" not equal to "mass messages"?

SMS spam messaging — it's evil. Even those who have never received messages with unauthorized advertising of products will agree with this statement. 

The term “spam” arose in the first half of the 20th century and is associated with the mass promotion of the brand of the same name. 

• During the Second World War, low-quality canned meat was included in the diet of soldiers. 
• After 1945, the product was actively supplied to countries with a food crisis. 
• In the 1960s, the company sold tons of goods, so often the canned food was out of date. 

As a result, the word “spam” has come into common use as the name of something annoying, of questionable quality, and yet ubiquitous.

In a marketing context, the so-called chain letters (Make Money Fast), invented and sent out in 1988 by an American student, are considered the first spam. Although about a hundred years before the term spam, in 1864, the international company Western Union was already promoting its services using mass mailing - customers were notified via telegraph.

Where is the line between "healthy" messaging and spam?

In a broad sense, SMS spam messaging is an illegal mass messaging of messages to subscribers who did not consent to receive it. However, you may have noticed that your phone sends legitimate, at first glance, promotional emails to the Spam folder. Why? 

If we consider the phenomenon of SMS spam in a narrower sense, the reasons may be as follows:

• the advertiser sends notifications too often;
• SMS contains malicious links and a lot of trigger words (free, now, etc.);
• mass messaging is applied to a large number of non-segmented users;
• the advertiser sends empty messages or with a single link; 
• messaging is done from a regular phone number. 

The modern communication space is overflowing with SMS spam. But sometimes brands become spammers without realizing it.

To prevent this from happening, use the services of the official Decision Telecom provider. Our clients undergo mandatory registration of the official company name (alpha name), which reduces the risk of mass SMS being classified as spam messaging. After the conclusion of the contract, verification and validation of the SMS API is carried out. 

Do you want to integrate a secure channel into your marketing strategy? Call or write to us. Looking forward to your application.