How to check logs of user consent to SMS campaigns?

SMS marketing has been an influential method of businesses to reach out to the customers in real time. No matter what you are doing with Bulk SMS, a Bulk SMS service, the only thing you cannot afford to do is to ensure you do not overlook logs of user consent before you launch your SMS marketing campaign. Lack of consent may lead to breaking of rules, preventing your brand reputation, and even losing the right to use the Bulk SMS API.

In India, in order to remain within the confines of the TRAI rules, businesses are expected to record, archive as well as authenticate user permission before dispatching out SMS messages, particularly when conducting SMS message marketing. Service provider such as RCSMESSAGE assists businesses to administer consent logs, onboard businesses into the DLT platform and ensure that all SMS campaigns are compliant.

What Is a SMS Consent Log and Why It is Important?

An SMS consent log is not just any document that you should begin verifying before moving on with it. An SMS consent log is an account that indicates that a client has accepted the messages that your business sends them.

This record must include such information as:

·         The user’s mobile number

·         When the consent was given

·         The manner (which channel) of collecting the consent

·         The kind of SMS the user subscribed to obtain (e.g. offers or updates)

This information secures your business and the customer. Consent logs should be well taken care of to make sure that your Bulk SMS marketing is legal and that it does not interfere with the choices of the recipient.

One of the reasons that SMS consent logs should be checked is that of legal compliance. In India a distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform introduced by TRAI makes businesses register and upload valid consent logs prior to sending promotional messages.

It is time to go through the steps you will be undertaking practically to ensure that user consent logs to a successful SMS marketing campaign are verified using Bulk SMS services and the Bulk SMS API that comes along with RCSMESSAGE.

Step 1: Gathering of Legitimate User Consent

The initial process in verifying the consent logs is to get the consent in the proper way. The consent must be clear, that is, the user explicitly agrees to a message, that is, he or she agrees to get promotional offers, updates, alerts, etc. sent by you.

Consent can be obtained in the following ways:

·         Web forms with checkboxes

·         In-app pop-ups

·         Point of Sale (POS) systems

·         Mobile app interactions

·         Forms that are digitised subsequently offline

Step 2: Make up the Consent Log File

Once you have received the consent, you should create the file to be uploaded to the DLT portal. Indian Telecom operators also demand the use of a particular format of consent logs before they can be admitted to their system.

Typically, this involves:

·         A CSV file format

·         Columns such as Mobile Number, Consent Template ID and Date of Consent

·         No similar or null numbers

With the help of the tools offered by a professional SMS marketing service company such as RCSMESSAGE, it is possible to automatize the process so that the files are never in violation of the rules of the DLT.

Step 3: Consent Data uploaded to the DLT Portal

When you are ready with your file, then you will be able to upload it to your registered DLT portal account. Telecom companies in India have several DLT portals such as:

·         Airtel DLT

·         Jio DLT

·         Vodafone Idea DLT

·         Tata DLT

Both portals enable companies to post consent logs associated with pre-approved consent templates. The template that you have to use in your CSV should be identical to the approved template in DLT. When you upload:

·         Log into your DLT portal

·         Click on the consent upload

·         Choose the approved template of consent

·         Upload your CSV file

·         Submit for approval

Once the file has been submitted, it will be processed by the system. In case everything is okay, your consent logs will be approved; otherwise, the system will display errors, which you need to resolve.

Best Practice: Before uploading your consent log files, it is always best to have backups of your original files.

Step 4: Check Consent Status on a regular basis

After uploading is not the conclusion of verification. You should ensure that you visit the consent logs to verify their status.

Your records will be displayed as:

·         Approved

·         Pending

·         Rejected

Unless they are accepted or changed, you should take action as soon as possible to fix any errors like formatting errors, invalid numbers, or incorrect templates.

RCSMESSAGE offers dashboards to keep an eye on the progress and the status of your consent logs in real time using their Bulk SMS API provider interface.

This is done to make sure that on the time when you roll out your SMS Campaign, the numbers you are sending have verified consent attached to them which gives the numbers a better chance of deliverability and compliance.

Step 5: Keep Audit Records and Storage

You ought to maintain a secure and organised database of your logs of consent even after approval. The law might demand you to demonstrate consent at some point in the future i.e., in a regulatory audit, when a customer disputes or in an internal audit.

Maintain:

·         Timed and signed consent forms

·         Screen shots or tapes where feasible

·         Documentation of the template utilized

A strong Bulk SMS service provider such as RCSMESSAGE can assist you to save such logs in a safe place where they can be retrieved when necessary. This assists you in tracing the origin of consent as well such as web form, app interaction or POS collection.

Suggestions to simplify the consent verification

The following are tips that can be useful when using SMS consent logs:

·         Focus your approval administration in a single location so you cannot lose track of documentation.

·         Check mobile numbers prior to their inclusion in bulk lists.

·         On uploading to DLT use pre-approved templates of consent.

·         Automate processes as much as possible to eliminate human errors.

·         Contract services of reputable SMS companies such as RCSMESSAGE to handle the whole process easily.

Why Checking Consent Records Benefit Your Campaign?

Verification of user consent logs is not simply a matter of a check box but benefits have concrete returns:

Enhanced deliverability: The SMS messages will have reduced chances of being blocked or as spam.

Regulatory compliance: You are out of fines and legal actions.

Greater involvement: You are more likely to gain more involvement with your messages.

Trust and reputation: Transparency helps to create stronger trust in customers.

Better analytics you have the benefit of validated audiences to target wiser.

Conclusion

User consent logs are an important part of a successful SMS marketing campaign that should be checked by the verifier. Having strict regulations, in particular markets such as India, the business should gather, compile post and track consent logs when sending messages. These steps are made simple by engaging a reliable Bulk SMS service provider in India like RCSMESSAGE and are guaranteed to stay within the boundaries of the law and attain maximum outcomes of your SMS campaigns.