---
title: "What rules should you follow when sending marketing SMS messages?"
description: "Check that your recipients have given their consent and that unsubscribe requests are handled before sending a promotional SMS campaign."
url: https://help.sarbacane.com/en/articles/431-what-rules-should-you-follow-when-sending-marketing-sms-messages
collection: "Introduction"
updated: 2026-10-13
language: en
alternates: [fr, es]
---

# What rules should you follow when sending marketing SMS messages?

Check that your recipients have given their consent and that unsubscribe requests are handled before sending a promotional SMS campaign.

To send a marketing SMS with Sarbacane Campaigns, your recipients must have explicitly agreed to receive this type of message and must be able to unsubscribe easily. Sarbacane manages unsubscribes and sending times. You are responsible for obtaining consent and keeping proof of it.

## Prerequisites

-   A Sarbacane Campaigns license.
    
-   A **Marketing** campaign: these rules apply to promotional messages (offers, invitations, surveys, etc.), not purely informational **Notification** SMS messages.
    

## Steps

1.  Before importing your contacts, check that each person has explicitly agreed to receive marketing SMS messages (prior consent, or opt-in). This is a legal requirement in France under the GDPR and the French Postal and Electronic Communications Code.
    
2.  Keep proof of this consent, including the date and source of collection. You may be asked to provide it in the event of an inspection.
    
3.  At the **Message** step, under **SMS type**, select **Marketing**. Unsubscribes are then handled automatically: with a **Custom** sender, the STOP SMS text is added automatically; with the **Standard number**, your recipients reply STOP to the number.
    
4.  Schedule your message from Monday to Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., excluding public holidays. Outside these hours, Sarbacane sends the SMS at the next permitted time.
    

## Expected result

Your marketing SMS is sent to recipients who have agreed to receive it, with an easy way to unsubscribe, and you can provide proof of their consent.

## Troubleshooting

### Can I send a marketing SMS to a contact who has not given their consent?

No. Obtain the contact's consent first, or choose another channel.

### A recipient replied STOP

You don't need to do anything. The recipient is automatically added to the unsubscribe list and will no longer receive your campaigns. They won't receive a confirmation message.

## Related articles

-   [How do I create an SMS campaign in Sarbacane?](https://help.sarbacane.com/fr/articles/52-comment-creer-une-campagne-sms-dans-sarbacane.md)
    
-   [How do I import contacts into a Sarbacane SMS campaign?](https://help.sarbacane.com/fr/articles/48-comment-importer-des-contacts-dans-une-campagne-sms-sarbacane.md)