GDPR: Here’s What You Need to Know for Your SMS Messaging

The effort to protect individuals’ information began way back in 1981 when the Council of Europe Convention 108 voted to make it a priority. Fast forward to 2016, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was approved by the EU to bring the concept into the modern era.
Even though the UK voted to exit the union, it’s been made clear that the UK intends to follow the GDPR. It sets the highest standards for protection and gives control to the individual over how you use their data. It’s set to take effect in May 2018.
In preparation, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has started publishing guidance on how businesses and organisations will be impacted. If you’re using SMS messaging, you’re already aware that you need permission before contacting anyone. One of the major aspects of the GDPR is the changes for obtaining consent.
Right now, there are two different opt-in options: soft and hard. It appears that the soft opt-in may not be allowed and there are additional requirements for hard opt in. Here are some of the highlights from the ICO documentation so far:
“Consent requires a positive opt-in. Don’t use pre-ticked boxes or any other method of consent by default.”
“Keep evidence of consent – who, when, how, and what you told people.”
These tie into the updated definition of consent shown here:
They sum it up as follows: “In essence, there is a greater emphasis in the GDPR on individuals having clear granular choices upfront and ongoing control over their consent. “
The Good News
The changes aren’t all bad news. It turns out that if you’re already complying well with the existing Data Protection Act, then you’re in good shape. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to take steps though.
The ICO released a twelve step checklist for organisations to use in the coming months to work towards compliance. The GDPR involves more than just consent and touches on all the gathering and processing of personal data.
Another potential positive side effect of the GDPR is that the more stringent opt-in requirements mean that you’ll have less “casual” people on your SMS lists. People need to be more deliberate in giving their permission, which means those that do may be more motivated to take action.
So whether you are running an SMS marketing list or a list for a non-profit, it means you’ll have more success. Your ROI, however you measure it, should improve.
More Information
The ICO is maintaining a webpage with links to their blog, events, and latest publications on the GDPR. You can check it for updates, or sign up for their newsletter.
Our account managers and support staff are also ready and able to address any questions about the changes too. Feel free to contact us via Live chat, email or phone.
Related Articles
Here’s Why SMS Marketing Is Literally The Best Idea Ever
Is SMS marketing the worst idea ever? That’s the opinion of one author in Entrepreneur Magazine. He gives five reasons why companies should never bother sending SMS messages to customers. I take him on, point by point to show why he’s wrong and SMS marketing is the best idea ever.
SMS Opt-In: Why You Want It and How To Get It
The first thing to remember is that legally, you must give the customer the chance to both opt-in and opt-out of your SMS campaign - but the good news is people are happy to opt-in - 49% of them according to a 2014 survey. So all you need to do is stay compliant and follow some basic guidelines to grow your list.
SMS Marketing Disasters – and How to Avoid Them
SMS Marketing, also known as test message marketing, is one of today's most powerful and cost efficient marketing tools when used correctly and offers endless opportunities with a little creativity added to the mix. However, whether careless or intentional, some mistakes can be harmful to your brand and reputation - as well as leaving you in legal trouble in certain circumstances. Luckily, this is extremely rare and it is easy to stay safe and make sure your SMS Marketing is an all round success. In this article, we look at come examples of how not to do things and offer our advice for ensuring your campaigns are effective and profitable.
Why SMS Marketing is Superior to Email for Entrepreneurs
As an entrepreneur, it is notoriously difficult to get your message out there. It's even harder to get seen and heard in a meaningful way that doesn't offend people. Email marketing has been the darling of entrepreneurs for years, but it's time for something new. Something that supersedes the email and circumvents the spam folder.
Best Practices for SMS Marketing
In many of our previous posts, we have discussed the whys and hows of SMS marketing, listing the benefits, and the impacts on lead generation. There’s no doubt that by employing a marketing strategy that uses business SMS as a medium that your processes will become more efficient and your leads will become more targeted, meaning a better ROI. Here we will look at the best practices for SMS marketing to ensure your campaigns are offering the best for you and your users.
5 Key Points to Ensure Your SMS Marketing is GDPR Compliant
What Your Customers Want From SMS Marketing
Mobile marketing offers an unprecedented access to your customers virtually any time, anywhere. This is particularly true for SMS marketing because it is “always on”. Customers don’t have to be surfing the web, or using an app to receive messages. Instead, they see the marketing messages right alongside ones from their friends and family.
A review of the EC directive for SMS marketing
Our 10 Best SMS Mobile Marketing Blog Posts
Need to know all about mobile marketing with SMS messaging? We’ve pulled together the top ten blog posts that tell you everything you need to know. The list starts with the basics and goes through analysing the success of your campaign.