Texting Best Practices

Mobile phone carriers will filter messages that they think are unwanted spam. To make sure your messages get delivered, the best thing you can do is avoid complaints.

Here's a few basic tips to avoid complaints and make sure your messages reach and engage your audience:

1) Process opt-outs immediately. Daisychain automatically processes opt-outs that use standard keywords (like "stop" and "unsubscribe") as well as a long list of other words and phrases — but the automated opt-out system doesn't catch everything. If someone has requested not to receive messages from you, you must stop messaging them immediately. From the inbox, you can opt someone out with one click. Opt-outs using

2) Make it clear how to opt-out. If it's your first time messaging someone, you must make it clear how they can stop receiving messages from you. While you can use some of the more generic options like "stop2quit", you're also welcome to use something a bit more human and conversational, like "P.S. I'm a real person and ready to chat, but you can reply 'stop' to opt out."

3) Clearly identify yourself. Especially if it's your first time messaging someone, you should introduce yourself and your organization and campaign. Something as simple as "Hi, this is Molly with Acme Progress" will do the trick.

A Note on Opt-Ins in the USA

In 2021, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Facebook vs Duguid that sharply narrowed the legal definition of an autodialer. As a result, text messaging systems that do not use random or sequential number generation like Daisychain are not classified as autodialers under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

As a result, these systems are therefore not subject to the TCPA’s strict “express written consent” requirements. The broader messaging ecosystem, including carriers and platforms like Daisychain, strongly encourages organizations to build lists of people who have clearly opted in. An opted in list improves deliverability, supporter experience, and long term engagement.

Many organizations and campaigns choose to text people who have not explicitly opted in. This is a common and understandable practice, especially when communicating about issues that affect the public interest. While we are not lawyers and this is not legal advice, we believe that sending texts through a system that is not an autodialer is fully compliant with the TCPA. Programs should still follow best practices that respect supporters, avoid unwanted high volume contact, and maintain list hygiene.