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10DLC SMS Content Guidelines for Compliance & Deliverability

Following 10DLC content best practices helps ensure your messages are compliant, reducing the risk of rejections or filtering and improving overall deliverability.

notifyre_united_states_flag_icon_f8fc3aa8bbRegion Applicable: United States

Sending SMS messages to recipients in the United States using a 10DLC number requires compliance with carrier regulations to ensure reliable delivery and avoid message filtering or rejection.
 
Following these content best practices helps improve deliverability, maintain compliance, and protect your business reputation.
 

Why content quality matters

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and consumers are increasingly cautious about spam and fraudulent messages. Poorly formatted or misleading content may be flagged, delayed, or blocked. High-quality, transparent messaging helps ensure your SMS campaigns reach your audience successfully.
 

Best Practice Guidelines for 10DLC SMS Content

To maximize deliverability and reduce the risk of rejection, follow these guidelines when creating SMS messages:

Use a recognizable sender

  • Send all messages from one consistent number per campaign
  • Include your business name in each message so recipients know who it's from

Format URLs correctly

  • Use a consistent web domain
  • Avoid public URL shorteners (e.g. bit.ly, tinyurl)
  • Prefer full URLs or branded short links

Use clear, natural language

  • Avoid textspeak or excessive abbreviations (e.g. “H!, S4L3 0N 2MOZ - 20% @FF”)
  • Write in a professional tone that reflects your brand

Email to SMS forwarding & formatting

  • When sending SMS from email messages must be plain text only.
  • Do not include HTML tags or formatting.
  • Avoid forwarding emails that include:
    • Long signatures
    • Disclaimers
    • Images

These can cause your message to be flagged or rejected.

Keep messages concise

  • Standard SMS length is 160 characters
  • Longer messages will be split into multiple SMS parts
  • Aim for brevity to improve readability and customer experience

Include Opt-Out and support instructions

Always end your message with:
  • STOP – to opt out
  • HELP – to request support

Set expectations for message frequency

In your first message, let recipients know how often they’ll receive messages

Example:
Welcome to [Business Name]. Thanks for subscribing to receive SMS promos. You’ll get 4 msgs/month. Reply STOP to opt out.

Explore Notifyre's library of free SMS templates to help you get started