SMS Smart Opt-In

Getting permission from your users to send SMS is one key part of a compliant SMS strategy. As a SMS marketer, it's your responsibility to gain explicit consent before sending SMS and MMS messages. During the opt-in process, there are several compliance requirements and best practices that you'll want to follow, such as:

• Providing a link to your Privacy Policy and/or Terms of Service.
• Describing the frequency a user can expect to receive messages.
• Including opt-out instructions (such as texting the keyword STOP).
• Gaining and retaining proof of consent to receive SMS communication.

Whether you've just started building an SMS audience, or you're looking for easier ways to manage new opt-ins, Iterable's SMS Smart Opt-In feature can help automate the sign-up process and gather proof of compliance. When you use SMS Smart opt-in, you'll get to:

• Spend less effort obtaining phone numbers and proof of opt-in compliance.
• Gather quality data with accurate phone numbers.
• Use pre-written SMS opt-in language, or create your own disclaimer.
• De-anonymize your users once they provide their phone number.
• Provide an intuitive opt-in for your users so they can start getting SMS campaigns in just two clicks!

To use SMS Smart Opt-In, first go to the in-app template builder and create a link. Next, add this link to a template and send it with a campaign. Your users will have this experience when they click on it from their mobile phone:

Once they click Send, Iterable takes care of the rest!

# In this article

# Overview

SMS Smart Opt-In begins with a link. You can create any number of links that you can associate with different campaigns or run experiments.

• Each link can be connected to any SMS message type that is has an opt-in subscription policy.

• In campaigns, the links are dynamic and personalized, which ensures that the opt-in is associated with an existing user profile (anonymous or not).

• User identifiers contained in the link (userId, email) are anonymized, so the link doesn't contain sensitive information.

Here's an example SMS Smart Opt-In link:

https://link.example.com/smartOptIn/click?_p=1ae5c054fs9e577j15be321a926a00dd&_i=4&_r={{#urlEncode}}{{#base64}}{{defaultIfEmpty userId email}}{{/base64}}{{/urlEncode}}&_t={{templateId}}`

Next, add this link and a legal disclaimer to your in-app template. We provide a basic disclaimer language, but you can also update it or use your own.

When your user clicks on this link from your mobile app, they're taken to their text message app with a pre-filled message confirming they wish to opt in. Once the user pushes send, that message sends back to your Iterable account.

When Iterable receives this message:

• A subscribe event is recorded in the user's history.
• The phoneNumber field is updated in the user's profile.
• The user is opted in to the specific message type associated with the link.

# Step 1: Configure your project

To get started, you'll need:

• A SMS channel with at least one message type set up in the project. This message type should have an opt-in subscription policy. To learn more, see Message Channels and Message Types Overview

• An in-app channel with at least one message type set up in the project.

• A redirect link for users who are not on their phone (for example, to a web form that collects SMS opt-ins).

# Step 2: Create a SMS Smart Opt-In link

To create your first SMS Smart Opt-In link:

1. Go to Content > Templates and either create a new in-app template or edit an existing one.

2. When the template is open, click Edit Design.

3. Next, click SMS Opt-in (available in any design mode).

4. Click Add SMS Opt-In Link.

5. Add opt-in details:

   • Name - For display in Iterable
   • Description (optional) - For display in Iterable
   • Brand Name - Included in the pre-filled opt-in text message
   • SMS Message Type - The message type that this link subscribes users to.
   • Send Reply To - The SMS service that the text message goes back to
   • SMS Disclaimer Terms of Service Link (optional) - A HTTPS link that directs to your SMS Terms of Service. This is added to your recommended SMS disclaimer.
   • SMS Disclaimer Privacy Policy Link (optional) - A HTTPS link that directs to your SMS Privacy Policy. This is added to your recommended SMS disclaimer.
   • Redirect Link - A link that non-phone users are redirected to when clicking on the link.

   

6. You can see a preview of the prefilled text and the response your user receives at the bottom of this screen.

   

7. Click Create Link to finish.

Don't worry, you can always come back here and edit the link later!

# Step 3: Add the link to your in-app template

To use opt-in links, add them to your in-app templates.

1. Go to Content > Templates and either create a new in-app template or edit an existing one.

2. When the template is open, click Edit Design.

3. Next, click SMS Opt-in in the bottom menu.

4. Review the existing opt-in links and select a link, or create a new one.

5. Click Copy for the opt-in link, and close the opt-in link modal.

   

6. Add the SMS Smart Opt-In link to a button in your in-app design.

   If you're using the Drag-and-Drop editor, create a Button and paste the link into the Url property.

   If you're using the WYSIWYG editor, make sure to use the Insert/Edit Link tool and enter the link in the URL field as shown here:

   

   IMPORTANT

   Notice here that the link includes Handlebars which have spaces:

   https://link.example.com/smartOptIn/click?_p=1ae5c054fs9e577j15be321a926a00dd&_i=4&_r={{#urlEncode}}{{#base64}}{{defaultIfEmpty userId email}}{{/base64}}{{/urlEncode}}&_t={{templateId}}`
   

   When adding a link to a template - it should always be added manually to a link's href property, or in the URL property of a WYSIWYG template builder. Copying and pasting the raw link into a rich text area can result in a broken link that won't work for your users!

7. Make sure to click Save Design.

# Step 4: Add a disclaimer

Alongside each opt-in link, you should also provide a disclaimer with required information about your SMS campaigns, for compliance purposes.

There are some specific elements that need to be included in a SMS opt-in disclosure:

• The number of messages that the user can expect to receive in a certain period. For example, 3 messages per week.

• A statement that messaging rates may apply.

• Terms and conditions, such as a link to your organization's policy.

• A help keyword (usually "HELP") and number to text, or a toll-free number or email address the user can contact.

• The opt-out keyword and number that the user can text to unsubscribe.

Some of these elements are also necessary when confirming a new SMS subscription and/or sending a SMS campaign message.

Iterable provides some basic language you can use or customize, but you can always use your own. Here is an example disclaimer generated by Iterable:

By signing up via text, you agree to receive recurring automated promotional 
and personalized marketing text messages (e.g. Marketing message) from Fake 
Flights at the phone number used when signing up. Consent is not a condition of 
any purchase. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. Msg frequency varies. Msg 
and data rates may apply. View Terms of Service or Privacy Policy.

To copy Iterable's predictive SMS disclaimer and add it to your template:

1. Go back to your SMS Opt-In links, find the link you just used, and next find the disclaimer below it. Click Copy.

2. Close the opt-in link modal and add the disclaimer text to your template design in a text area of some kind.

3. When you're done, click Save Design.

# Step 5: Send the link

Once you have created a SMS Smart Opt-In link and you have added it to an in-app template as described above, it's time to start using it.

Send your in-app campaign with the SMS Smart Opt-In link.

When your user clicks on this link from their phone, they're taken to their messaging app with a pre-filled, personalized message they can then send back to opt in to receiving SMS communications.

The following events are recorded when the user takes these actions:

• In-App Click - when the user clicks on the SMS opt-in button

• SMS Received - when the user sends the SMS opt-in text

• Subscribe - when the SMS opt-in is processed and the user is opted in to the associated message type.

  Here's an example Subscribe event:

  {
      "channelIds": [],
      "createdAt": "2023-01-26T21:34:36.000Z",
      "email": "email@example.org",
      "emailListIds": [],
      "eventType": "emailSubscribe",
      "itblInternal": {
         "documentCreatedAt": "2023-01-26 21:34:36 +00:00",
         "documentUpdatedAt": "2023-01-26 21:34:36 +00:00"
      },
      "messageTypeIds": [
         12345
      ],
      "profileUpdatedAt": "2023-01-26 21:34:33 +00:00",
      "signupSource": "Unknown"
  }
  

  NOTE

  You may notice the eventType is classified as emailSubscribe. This event type was historically linked only to email lists, however it's now used universally for subscribe events. In Iterable's app, you see "Subscribe" in most screens.

# Further reading

• SMS Overview

• Creating In-App Templates

• SMS Phone Verification

• SMS Compliance Guide and Checklist — Telnyx