Text Fundraising when the numbers were gathered outside of Square

[BBBoosters]

I'm looking for help for a high school marching band.  We are trying to do our fall fundraising through Square.  The students provide the contact info and then I send out the emails/texts.

The email campaign worked just fine through Square.  However, I can't find a way to do a text campaign.  To meet the FCC requirement, I'd like to send an initial text, briefly explaining who is contacting them and asking them to opt-in.  Then I'd send the fundraising text.  I can't find a way to send the initial opt-in text.

Is that not possible with Square?   And if not, can anyone recommend another service that will do this? 

Many thanks.

[TheRealChipA]

Hey @BBBoosters.  Actually, cold-texting any numbers asking them to opt-in to your list is not allowed and would not meet the FCC requirement.  But, never fear, there is an easy work-around, especially since you already have a working email list.

From your online dashboard, go to Marketing & Loyalty > Marketing > Settings.  Scroll down to the “Text to Join” section.  Here you can first tweak your Legal disclosure, something I highly recommend.  Then you can print signage to post around the school which includes a QR code.  Also you can send an email campaign to your existing email subscribers with a link for them to also join the text campaign.

I think that will do what you need, but let me know if it doesn’t.

[BBBoosters]

Thank you, but that won't work.  Of the 4000 kids at the school, I need to target 120 specific friends and family of 80 kids.  Chances of the friends/family ever seeing the advert around school are zero.  We have a hard time even getting them to come to info night.

I'm totally open to more ideas if you have them though.  Thanks.

[BBBoosters]

Adding that I only have emails for 30 of the friends/family.  Those I'm taking care of via email. Many people in our community don't use/check email.

[TheRealChipA]

@BBBoosters Square holds firm to the FCC regulations that customers MUST overtly opt in to text marketing.  They can do this in a variety of ways — when they make an appointment, when they place an online order, etc.  But the only way to opt in to pure text marketing is via a QR code or a link they receive, and that can NOT be sent via text as the first communication.  At least not that I know if.

Just in case I missed a memo, though, I’m going to tag a few Square moderators here.  Maybe they know something I do not know, but I doubt it in this case.

@_Violet @MayaP @RobynR @jj_

[MayaP]

Good Morning @BBBoosters,

I apologize, but I don't have any additional workarounds at the moment. However, I'll tag a few other top sellers (@ryanwanner, @vinesandrushes, @MAXSDELI, @GourmetOnWheels) to see if they might have some suggestions.

It might also be beneficial to reach out to our Marketing Team—they can delve deeper into the issue and guide the best course of action.

Thank you for your patience and willingness to explore these options.

[GourmetOnWheels]

@TheRealChipA is correct: Square holds firm to the FCC regulations that customers MUST overtly opt in to text marketing. So you can't just text anyone with Square, they have to seriously opt-in.

If you are not sure read the FCC regulations

René