Authored by Loryn Lyle
Say you’ve got a promotion coming up and someone on your team says, “Let’s text our patients about it.” It sounds simple: you have their numbers, your practice has a texting tool. But before you hit send, ask one question: Do you know who agreed to receive marketing messages?
At SILVR, we’re having that conversation more often as practices get excited about texting. And sometimes when we ask about consent, the answer is, “We’re not sure.” Our rule of thumb? If you don’t know, don’t send.
Consent It matters.
People want to hear from practices they trust, but also want a say in how they hear from them. Unexpected promos can lead to complaints, damage trust, or even legal trouble. Rules vary, so have your legal counsel review your approach. The goal is a list of people who actually want your texts.
Let’s clarify the difference.
Appointment reminders or scheduling updates help patients manage care. Promotions or event invites are marketing. Just because someone gets reminders doesn’t mean they agreed to marketing. And having a number doesn’t tell you what they signed up for.
Before sending a campaign, make sure your team knows where consent came from and what people agreed to. If you’re unsure, pause and review.
How do you build your list?
Make it easy to say yes with clear opt-ins on forms. Invite your email subscribers to sign up. Use a QR code at the front desk that leads to an opt-in form. Have your counsel review the language and process.
Consent is the start.
Your team also needs to see who opted in or out. A tool like GoHighLevel can help track that so your team knows who’s open to hearing from you. It’s not a compliance shortcut, so review your setup. The goal isn’t just a bigger list, but people who want to hear from you.
Need help?
If you want support setting this up or organizing it in GoHighLevel, let us know. We’re happy to help.
About the author
Loryn Lyle is the founder of SILVR Agency. She helps medical and aesthetic practices communicate clearly online through website strategy, search optimization, and digital marketing.