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Buying cell phone lists...kosher?

by PBMax
15 replies
Found a cell phone list database where you can buy numbers by the zip code. Is this a good thing?

Here's the site: Cell Phone Number Database, SMS Text Marketing List, Opt-In Leads

I'm gonna get into SMS for deals at a local restaurant (and perhaps other clients down the road) and I want to amass a good list of numbers because waiting to get current/frequent customers to give their info is gonna take too much time.

I assume this site offers legit numbers...
#buying #cell #listskosher #phone
  • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
    Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

    Found a cell phone list database where you can buy numbers by the zip code. Is this a good thing?

    Here's the site: Cell Phone Number Database, SMS Text Marketing List, Opt-In Leads

    I'm gonna get into SMS for deals at a local restaurant (and perhaps other clients down the road) and I want to amass a good list of numbers because waiting to get current/frequent customers to give their info is gonna take too much time.

    I assume this site offers legit numbers...
    I wouldn't do it personally. You have to be very careful about spam laws and you really shoukd seek legal counsel to help as it may be your best source of advice regarding sms marketing.

    From what I understand there are some legal requirements pertaining to how you acquired an optin and being able to produce that agreement. I'm just not sure how you wouldn't violate some aspect of that.

    In all of your internet marketing work I assume you have setup a page to collect email addresses, correct?

    If so, then why didn't you just buy the email addresses?
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    • Profile picture of the author PBMax
      Originally Posted by jamesfreddyc View Post


      In all of your internet marketing work I assume you have setup a page to collect email addresses, correct?

      If so, then why didn't you just buy the email addresses?
      No. My clients have always been car dealers or doctors. Collecting email addresses wasn't necessary - the car dealers had ALL their info in-house after the paperwork AND the doctors didn't need them. Both cases, I didn't either.

      From what I can tell, collecting email addresses is only good for affiliate marketers trying to sell something online. My clients are brick and mortar.
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      • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
        Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

        From what I can tell, collecting email addresses is only good for affiliate marketers trying to sell something online. My clients are brick and mortar.
        Not at all. I wouldn't say it's a good idea for brick and mortar businesses to dismiss email capture along with all of the other pertinent customer data. Big fail if they aren't IMO (so much so that they qualify out of my sales process).

        But okay, I understand if you cannot relate that email list building example to SMS marketing. It was just an attempt to help you see the similarities in that it's just a bad idea to purchase lists of email addresses and spam that list with offers. Not only is it unproductive, it's probably illegal.
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  • Profile picture of the author GforceSage
    You could be held accountable for using up peoples minutes. Your carrier cold also be contacted and then they will be on you also. This is very different than calling a land line.
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    • Profile picture of the author PBMax
      Originally Posted by GforceSage View Post

      You could be held accountable for using up peoples minutes. Your carrier cold also be contacted and then they will be on you also. This is very different than calling a land line.
      Using up minutes? Who doesn't have unlimited talk & text these days?
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      • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
        Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

        Using up minutes? Who doesn't have unlimited talk & text these days?
        I think he/she was referring to "good practices" with opt-in's where you provide recipients some basic information regarding possible charges for receiving sms messages.

        Absolutely not everyone has unlimited talk/text, but that has nothing to do with legalities.
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      • Profile picture of the author GforceSage
        Originally Posted by PBMax View Post

        Using up minutes? Who doesn't have unlimited talk & text these days?

        Some non-contract carriers still offer monthly service with limited minutes.
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  • Profile picture of the author baxterblue
    I also believe it's illegal. If I remember correctly the only organizations that can use cell numbers in that way are non-profits and politicians.

    It's not a good idea, Take the time and build your own list of local opt-in users. It will be 100x's more responsive and profitable in the long run. I would put the money you were going to spend on buying the list of cell numbers into a legit keyword building campaign.
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  • Profile picture of the author umc
    No, it isn't kosher unless people have opted in to your list. You can't just spam people with text messages. You may think that you're jumping ahead on building a list for your client, but you very well may be turning people away from that business. There aren't many shortcuts that actually are legit in life. Take your time and build a good list, not just a list.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    You can't assume that everyone has unlimited talk and text. I don't for one.
    Just because you have something, never assume that everybody you deal with also has it.
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    • Profile picture of the author PBMax
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      You can't assume that everyone has unlimited talk and text. I don't for one.
      Just because you have something, never assume that everybody you deal with also has it.
      Fair enough. But it's soooooooooo cheap...
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Not everyone lives in the US.
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    • Profile picture of the author PBMax
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      Not everyone lives in the US.
      Ah, well true. But I do and all my clients do. (I only target local since my clients only do local.)
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      • Profile picture of the author ballparkbob
        I operate a text message marketing site so I know a thing or two about this. We get calls all the time from people like you who have "bought a list of opt-in cell phone numbers." I can assure you that no such thing exists.

        An opt-in is only granted to the one single business that generated the opt-in. Just because you opted-in to your favorite pizza restaurant's text list doesn't mean that the Jiffy Lube down the street can contact you via text.

        As a short code owner, I'd love to take the business from people that purchase lists, but I simply can't as it violates the rules and I'd run the risk of losing my short code.

        If you'd like to read the official rules, you can obtain the MMA Guidelines for the United States by going to the footer of my texting sites here and clicking on the appropriate footer link.

        Note--Canada has EXTREMELY strict new guidelines for text message marketing.
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        • Profile picture of the author PBMax
          Originally Posted by ballparkbob View Post

          I operate a text message marketing site...
          Checked out your site. What does "Reserve your favorite keyword now" mean? I'm a SMS noob so you'll have to bear with me...
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