SMS Definitions

Glossary of commonly used terms in SMS marketing.

Updated over a week ago

Auto-Replies: All SMS messages will automatically respond to any Stop, Help or Start messages sent to the keyword the user subscribe to. Your welcome auto-response is also an auto-reply and will not count towards your message frequency cap.


Attribution: Springbot will only be able to provide revenue attribution if the user includes a link in the content of their SMS Message. All SMS Campaigns are created with the default copy of “[[store url]]” to encourage users to make sure they include a URL. Opens are not able to be tracked for SMS Messages.


Brand Name: Your brand name will be used in several auto-replies to let contacts know who you are.


Compliance Message: The compliance message is a crucial component to include, as it outlines the privacy rights of your subscribers. This is a mandatory statement. Your compliance message includes:

  • [[Message Frequency]]

  • [[Fee Disclosure]]

  • [[Support Contact Information]]

  • [[Opt-Out Instructions]]

  • [[Terms of Service]]

Description: The Description is used to let your SMS contacts know what type of content you will be sending them. Promotions, Updates, Alerts, etc.


Fee Disclosure:

Although many contacts have opted for unlimited text messaging plans through their carriers, some users may incur a small fee to receive text messages. You must let users know that they could incur a fee by signing up for your SMS messages. This is automatically included in your compliance message. (Msg&data rates may apply)


Keywords: A keyword is a word or phrase that is unique to a business or brand. Once a user reserves a Keyword, no other store can reserve the same Keyword. People can subscribe to an SMS List by texting the Keyword to your toll free number.

Example: “For more updates like this text JOIN2021 to (123) 456-7891
to join our SMS Marketing List”

Keyword Lists: Contacts subscribe to a Keyword and opt into the specific compliance message for that Keyword. When sending SMS Campaigns, users will choose which Keyword List to send to if they have multiple Keyword Lists.


Message Frequency:

For SMS Campaigns, users must determine how often they will be contacting their subscribers in a monthly period. This sets expectations and prevents confusion about unwanted messages. For example, if my Keyword message frequency is 4 then once a subscriber gets 2 campaigns and a Back in Stock alert and an abandoned cart SMS they will have hit their frequency cap for the month. Auto-reply messages do not count for the Message Frequency Cap.


MMS: Multi-Media Messages are SMS Messages that users can add images to. Springbot currently doesn’t support MMS messages but is looking into future support.


Mobile Test Number: Users will be able to verify their mobile number to receive SMS previews. Once the user submits their number and selects “Verify” they will receive an SMS Confirmation Auto-Reply requiring them to text “YES” to confirm they want to receive messages. This is located on the Store Settings page as well as on the SMS Campaigns Configure page and on the SMS Automations Design page.


Privacy Policy:

Users are required to provide a link to their website’s Privacy Policy on Step 2 of Keyword Setup. This will automatically be added to the Terms of Service page that Springbot auto-generates with each Keyword’s Compliance Terms.


Terms of Service:

Within the compliance message, the following Terms of Service must be present or a link must be provided to a site providing updated terms:

  • The identity of your company/brand/program

  • Customer care contact information

  • Description of the product people are signing up for

  • Opt-out instructions in bold type (e.g., Reply STOP to unsubscribe)

  • Springbot has provided an auto-generated landing page that includes all of the required information for each Keyword. This will be the default user experience for all users and the URL to this page will be automatically shortened and included in the compliance message.

  • Users will be required to provide a link to their website’s Privacy Policy. The link to this will be included in the auto-generated page.

Text-to-join Campaigns: Users can advertise their SMS Programs by displaying their Custom Keywords in various places to grow their SMS subscribers. Users are required to include the compliance message wherever they advertise their Keyword or they face their SMS Features being disabled by Springbot.


Shortened Trackable Links: All links that users add to their SMS Message Content will automatically be turned into a Shortened Trackable Link. The shortened version of the link is what is counted in the Message Character Counter.

Sign Up Forms: Users can collect SMS Subscribers by using the Phone Module in Springbot Sign Up Forms. Users are required to include the compliance message to gain express consent for SMS. When a contact subscribes via a Sign Up Form, they must consent via double-opt in.

Support Contact Method:

When someone texts Help or Info to your Keyword they will receive an auto-reply that provides support information. Users can choose to include a support email or a support phone number.


Uploading SMS Subscribers: Users can only upload existing subscribers if they have received expressed consent from the subscriber to send them SMS Marketing. If they do not have documentation of consent, they will not be able to text them. The users will be in violation of Springbot’s Terms of Service as well as TCPA laws.


Welcome Auto-Reply: This is the automated welcome response contacts receive when they text your keyword.

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