What is opt-in for text messages in Canada?
Opt-in is the clear yes a person gives before a business may text them. For alert texts, it means each staff member agrees to get alarms on their own phone. With Welco, each person joins on their own join page, then replies YES to one text before any alert arrives.
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What a real opt-in looks like
A good opt-in is clear, freely given and tied to one kind of message. A box that is ticked in advance is not a real choice.
The person should also know what they will get and how to stop. For staff alerts, that means system alarms from work, with STOP to opt out.
How opt-in works on a Welco join page
Your company emails each staff member an invite or shares a join link. No text goes out at that point.
On the join page, the person enters their own cellphone number and ticks a box that starts unchecked. Welco then sends one confirmation text asking them to reply YES. See an example join page.
Until that YES comes back, the phone gets no alarms. Staff can reply STOP at any time, which is opting out by text.
The first alarm after a YES reply
Once the operator replies YES, alarms start to flow. This is the kind of text they get next.
- Lift station pump failure: Welco: [Lift Stn 9] Pump 2 FAIL, wet well rising at 10:08 PM. Reply STOP to opt out.
Why opt-in matters for alert texts
Networks check that business texts were asked for, and by the person who gets them. A manager's yes for someone else doesn't count. A clean record of YES replies is part of what reviewers look for in the toll-free number review.
It also protects your staff. Nobody gets work alarms on a phone they never agreed to use. Canada's anti-spam law, CASL, is aimed at commercial messages, and alerts to your own staff are not commercial messages. Read how Welco handles opt-in for the exact wording.
Opt-in vs double opt-in vs implied consent
A single opt-in is one yes, such as a ticked box. Double opt-in adds a second step, a YES reply to a confirmation text. Welco uses double opt-in for every phone.
Implied consent assumes a yes because someone works for you or gave you their number. Welco doesn't rely on it for alert texts. Other consent words are in the alert texting glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I opt in my staff's cellphones for them?
What if a staff member never replies YES?
Can a shared on-call phone opt in?
How long does Welco keep opt-in records?
Invite your team and let each person say YES
Every person confirms once, then the right alarms reach them.
7-day free trial, 15 message creditsCard required for verificationNo charge for 7 daysEmail reminder before billing