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Getting Started with Text Messaging

Notifications vs. Promotional Content

Federal regulations require organizations to distinguish between notification messages and promotional content. Understanding the difference helps your church stay compliant and avoid having messages blocked.

Why this distinction matters

Text carriers monitor the type of content organizations send. Sending promotional content to individuals who have not opted in to receive it can result in your messages being blocked or your account being flagged.

Warning: This distinction is a compliance requirement, not a preference setting. Sending promotional content to individuals who have not opted in can result in your messages being blocked or your account being flagged.

Types of text messages

Notifications
Transactional messages related to something an individual has already committed to or signed up for. Examples include:
  • Serving reminders
  • Volunteer assignment notices
  • Event check-in confirmations
  • Group meeting updates for groups the individual belongs to
Promotional content
Messages about something the individual has not previously agreed to receive. Examples include:
  • Announcements for upcoming events
  • Registration campaigns
  • General church news or updates
  • Invitations to join a new group or program

When individuals opt in to text messaging — either through the consent form in an opt-in email or by texting START to your church's texting number — they are consenting to receive both notifications and promotional content from your organization.

Individuals can manage their notification preferences for specific groups without opting out of all texts from your church. However, if an individual replies STOP to any text, they are opted out of all Realm text messages. To opt back in, they must text START to your church's texting number.

Tip: This is a good time to review group membership and remove people from groups they no longer belong to. For example, families who recently became "empty nesters" may prefer to be removed from groups dedicated to children's ministries or youth activities.

Best practices

  • Send opt-in emails before sending promotional texts. Make sure individuals have had a chance to consent before you include them in a campaign or announcement.
  • Keep promotional texts relevant. Messages that feel like spam are more likely to be filtered by carriers and prompt recipients to opt out.
  • Use groups to target your audience. Rather than texting your entire congregation about a youth event, send it to the youth group. This keeps messages relevant and reduces opt-outs.
  • When in doubt, treat it as promotional. If you are unsure whether a message counts as a notification or promotional content, treat it as promotional and make sure recipients have opted in.

Last updated: April 29, 2026