Does Text-Messaging Double Opt-In Exist?

Most people know that if they text a certain message to a certain number, they’ll receive a pretty neat message on their phone with something relating to the product they want.

Take the Barack Obama campaign as an example…once you signed up for the text messaging, you’ll receive messages about the campaign’s progress and the types of things that they have going on that you might find interesting – otherwise, why did you send the initial message?

Nevertheless, the point is at which point do advertisers have your permission to send you additional messages. Sure, you see an ad that says “text the word ‘fun’ to 12345 and find out blah blah blah….” and you happen to do so while walking down the street and get the text message.

End of communication, right? Not really sure…because after you texted the word ‘fun’ to 12345, did the advertiser capture your information – perhaps most importantly your phone number? And, if they did capture your information, does that imply that you’ve given them permission to text message you further, knowing full well that you may not have agreed to the standard text messaging charges that could apply?

When you log onto a website, such as a destination website – for example, washington.org (Washington, DC Tourism)…and sign up for their newsletter, do advertisers or marketing folk put a box in their newsletter signup form and ask them to verify that “yes, I wish to receive additional information about product XYZ”? Of course, there’s a little rule about double opting-in for e-mail subscriptions. However, what about including an additional box that reads “yes, I wish to receive occasional text messages relating to product XYZ and agree that I may be charged standard text messaging charges by my carrier.“?

I’m sure that someone out there is doing something about permission marketing with text-messaging…right? Text me if you are…