Bank in May, this blog covered bill that passed through the Connecticut state legislature and was signed by Governor Dannel Malloy that added text messages to the state's "Do Not Call" list. This protects unsolicited SMS marketing from companies. Those that break this law could face fines of up to $20,000.
Because text messages have become a main form of communication for many people, it is not surprising that marketers are trying to take advantage of this platform. However, they need to make sure they are doing it right, because Connecticut is not the only state banning unsolicited text messages.
According to an article from the New Jersey Star-Ledger, last week the state Assembly passed a bill that bans unsolicited advertisements that are sent through text messages. It also allows customers to have their phone company block all incoming and outgoing text messages. The bill passed in a 77-0 vote.
"For individuals with a limited data plan, receiving a large number of unsolicited text messages may force them to rack up unwanted charges on their cell phone bill," Assemblyman Dan Benson (D-Mercer), a sponsor, told the news source. "The growing number of complaints regarding unwanted text advertisements can no longer be ignored."
This does not mean that the use of text message marketing is a bad choice, far from it. Companies just need to make sure they are doing it properly. With the help of an SMS gateway service, any company can create a dynamic text marking strategy that avoids random blasts and focuses on targeted advertising to customers that have opted in.
