Whether you’re a serious shopaholic or just a part-time purchaser, it always feels good to get a deal or bag a bargain. One great way to stay abreast of sales and other offers is with email and SMS notifications. But what about when there are more messages than you can handle?
Fast, flexible, and mobile, email and SMS are both great at keeping us connected to our favourite brands and alerting us to special discounts or early bird offers. Every day, more and more businesses choose to communicate with their customers through such channels.
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It’s not hard, however, to feel like your email and SMS accounts are overflowing with marketing messages. Your accounts are akin to a virtual home, where you choose who gets to come through the front door and who doesn’t. In much the same way, you have the right to decide which marketing messages you want to receive, and which are unwelcome.
Reputable businesses try to ensure their marketing campaigns are targeted to your personal preferences. Canada’s federal Anti-Spam Law (CASL) codifies this approach. The law requires businesses to have your permission, either through an established relationship or express consent, before sending you an email or SMS containing marketing offers. Businesses must also give their customers the opportunity to opt out of receiving additional marketing messages at any time. You may have noticed more electronic marketing communications now clearly identify the sender and include a distinct “unsubscribe” link. These requirements ensure you only receive offers from the brands and businesses you want to hear from, while lessening worries about scams carried out by imposters.
Before you opt out of receiving any email or SMS marketing communications, it’s important to understand what you’re unsubscribing from. That way you won’t miss out on any valuable offers. Ultimately, it’s all about choice, being made aware of the deals you’re interested in, and staying connected to your favourite brands.
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