---
title: AHS Mass Texting Strategy — Event Promotion & Compliance
type: article
created: '2026-04-05'
updated: '2026-04-05'
source_docs:
- raw/2025-10-28-ahs-marketing-meeting-97410361.md
tags:
- mass-texting
- sms
- compliance
- event-promotion
- marketsharp
- ringcentral
- client:ahs
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# AHS Mass Texting Strategy — Event Promotion & Compliance

## Overview

During the November 2025 marketing review, AHS and Asymmetric discussed adding mass texting as a channel to promote training events and trade shows (e.g., the NARI Home Show, January 24–25). The conversation surfaced two significant constraints: MarketSharp's texting capacity is nearly exhausted by day-to-day operational use, and any marketing texts must include a compliant opt-in/opt-out mechanism. No platform decision was made; this remains a "want, not a need" pending further research.

See also: [[clients/ahs/index]] | [[knowledge/email-marketing/ahs-training-email-campaign]]

---

## Use Cases

| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Training promotion | Announce upcoming sessions (e.g., Nov 19 Madison, Dec 11–12 Kalahari/Dells) |
| Trade show promotion | Drive booth traffic (e.g., NARI Home Show, Jan 24–25) |
| General event awareness | Reach existing contact list with short-notice reminders |

---

## Platform Options Discussed

### MarketSharp (Current CRM)
- AHS already uses MarketSharp's automated texting heavily for **operational messages** (appointment confirmations, pre-job instructions).
- As of late October 2025, the account hit its **monthly texting capacity** with ~3 days left in the billing cycle.
- Mass marketing blasts would require purchasing additional capacity or upgrading the plan.
- Native integration is appealing (contacts already in CRM), but the current implementation does not support true bulk sends — texts must be added as individual account activities.
- **Verdict:** Possible but constrained; cost of expansion needs evaluation.

### RingCentral (Current VOIP/Phone System)
- AHS uses RingCentral as its phone/VOIP platform, which includes a texting feature.
- Gina noted it is limited to **10 texts at a time**, making it impractical for mass campaigns.
- RingCentral does support an opt-out toggle on outbound texts.
- Previously had texting privileges revoked and had to go through a reinstatement process (handled by Chris).
- **Verdict:** Not viable for mass sends at current plan limits.

### External SMS Platform
- An external dedicated SMS tool (e.g., SimpleTexting, EZTexting, or similar) could handle bulk sends more cost-effectively.
- Would need to integrate with or export from MarketSharp contact lists.
- **Verdict:** Likely the most scalable option; research assigned to Sebastian.

---

## Compliance Requirements

> "If you're doing kind of promotion for marketing messages, you have to give an opt-in, opt-out option." — Sebastian Gant

- All **marketing texts** (as distinct from operational/transactional texts) require a clear opt-in/opt-out mechanism.
- AHS already collects opt-in consent on intake forms for operational texts; marketing consent may need a separate checkbox or list segment.
- RingCentral's opt-out toggle was confirmed as available but not yet used for marketing sends.
- Any new platform must support TCPA-compliant opt-out handling.

---

## Key Constraints

1. **MarketSharp capacity ceiling** — operational texting already consumes the monthly allotment; marketing volume would require a plan upgrade or a separate tool.
2. **RingCentral 10-text limit** — not suitable for broadcast sends.
3. **Opt-in/opt-out compliance** — non-negotiable for any marketing SMS campaign.
4. **Contact list quality** — the existing email list has a ~30% bounce rate (~300 of 1,067 contacts); the phone number list likely has similar staleness issues.

---

## Priority & Status

This initiative was explicitly classified as a **"want, not a need"** by both Gina and Sebastian. The immediate priority is filling the Nov 19 Madison and Dec 11–12 Kalahari training sessions via email. Mass texting is a future-state channel to revisit once training email campaigns are stable.

**Status:** Research phase — no platform selected, no sends executed.

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## Action Items

- [ ] Research MarketSharp mass texting add-on cost and implementation path (@Sebastian Gant)
- [ ] Research external SMS platforms as an alternative to MarketSharp for marketing sends (@Sebastian Gant)
- [ ] Evaluate RingCentral bulk texting upgrade options (@Sebastian Gant)
- [ ] Propose platform recommendation with pricing to Gina and Bob (@Sebastian Gant)
- [ ] Confirm opt-in consent coverage for marketing texts vs. operational texts (@Sebastian Gant / @Gina Richardson)

---

## Related

- [[knowledge/email-marketing/ahs-training-email-campaign]]
- [[knowledge/marketing/ahs-website-chat-feature]]
- [[clients/ahs/meetings/2025-10-28-november-review]]