How to fix SMS error 30007 related to spam blocks and carrier violations?

Key findings

• Carrier filtering: Error 30007 signifies that messages were filtered by the carrier or the SMS service provider, often due to content or policy violations.
• Spam classification: This error is frequently treated as a spam block, indicating that your SMS content or sending patterns triggered automated filtering systems.
• Link reputation: The use of shortened links, especially those on shared domains, significantly contributes to messages being flagged as spam. This practice is increasingly becoming disallowed in the SMS space.
• Policy violations: Messages can be blocked for various reasons, including content, sender identity, or compliance issues with A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code) guidelines.
• Deliverability impact: Similar to email delivery issues, SMS filtering prevents your messages from reaching the intended recipients, impacting engagement and campaign effectiveness.

Key considerations

• Review content: Thoroughly examine your message content for anything that might appear spammy, such as excessive capitalization, generic links, or sensitive keywords related to SHAFT (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco) violations.
• Sender reputation: Understand that your sender identity plays a crucial role. Just as email sender reputation affects inbox placement, SMS sender reputation impacts delivery.
• Link practices: Avoid using generic URL shorteners. If you must use links, consider custom branded short links or full URLs to build trust with carriers and reduce the likelihood of blocks. This is a common issue, as noted by Twilio's guidelines on Error 30007.
• Compliance: Ensure full compliance with all relevant regulations, such as TCPA in the US, and carrier-specific requirements, especially for A2P 10DLC registration.
• Consent management: Verify that all recipients have explicitly opted into receiving messages. Lack of proper consent is a primary driver of complaints and subsequent filtering.

Key opinions

• Link-related blocks: A common observation among marketers is that link reputation (e.g., using shortened links) is a frequent cause of SMS spam blocks.
• Shared domains: Marketers note that using shared domains for shortened links is increasingly problematic and often leads to messages being filtered.
• Content sensitivity: Some believe that specific content, including excessive capitalization or certain keywords, can trigger carrier filtering, similar to how emails can be flagged as spam.
• Carrier violation recognition: Many marketers quickly identify 30007 as a carrier violation and understand that it requires a review of permissions and content.
• Importance of consent: Ensuring proper consent and opt-in processes are in place is seen as fundamental to preventing blocks.

Key considerations

• Auditing existing content: Marketers need to regularly audit their SMS content for compliance and potential spam triggers, rather than waiting for errors to occur.
• Adopting alternative linking strategies: Moving away from common shortened links is a growing necessity. Custom branded domains for links can offer a solution.
• Understanding specific carrier policies: While general guidelines exist, individual carrier policies can vary, requiring marketers to stay informed about nuances (e.g., as mentioned by HighLevel's advice on SMS filtering).
• Monitoring delivery: Proactive monitoring of SMS delivery rates and error codes, similar to email deliverability tests, is crucial for early detection of issues.
• Consulting platform support: Leveraging support resources from SMS sending platforms (e.g., Twilio, Braze) can provide specific insights into filtering reasons.

Key opinions

• Complex filtering: Experts agree that SMS filtering systems are becoming more sophisticated, moving beyond simple keyword matching to include behavioral analysis and link reputation.
• Sender reputation is key: Just as with email, maintaining a clean SMS sender reputation is crucial for avoiding blocklists and ensuring messages reach recipients. This is similar to how domain reputation impacts email delivery.
• Proactive compliance: Compliance with evolving regulations (e.g., A2P 10DLC) and carrier-specific rules is not optional; it's a prerequisite for deliverability.
• Link normalization: Shortened links are a red flag. Experts recommend using full, trustworthy URLs or branded shorteners to improve deliverability.
• User engagement: Low engagement rates, high opt-out rates, or user complaints can trigger filtering, even if content seems innocuous.

Key considerations

• Regular content audits: Continuously review SMS content against current best practices and known spam triggers to avoid blocks.
• Invest in A2P 10DLC registration: For US-based sending, proper A2P 10DLC registration is critical to establish legitimate sender identity and avoid filtering.
• Monitor delivery metrics: Track SMS delivery rates and error codes diligently. Sudden drops or increases in 30007 errors indicate an immediate need for investigation.
• Sender ID consistency: Using consistent, registered sender IDs (long codes, short codes, or alphanumeric senders where permitted) builds trust with carriers.
• Consent documentation: Maintain clear, verifiable records of user consent for SMS messages, which can be crucial if a carrier questions your sending practices. Just as with domain blocklists for email, documentation supports your case.

Key findings

• Error definition: Documentation confirms that 30007 is a 'Message Delivery - Carrier Violation' error, meaning messages were filtered by the carrier due to policy non-compliance.
• Content guidelines: Specific content types, such as messages containing adult content (SHAFT violations), excessive use of all caps, or certain keywords, are universally flagged.
• Link and URL rules: Many documents explicitly advise against using generic URL shorteners (e.g., bit.ly, tinyurl) as they are frequently associated with spam and can trigger blocks.
• Sender registration requirements: For A2P messaging in the US, registration with 10DLC is a mandatory step to ensure deliverability and avoid carrier violations.
• Consent validation: Proper, verifiable consent (opt-in) from recipients is a cornerstone of compliance and a crucial defense against filtering and complaints.

Key considerations

• Adherence to A2P 10DLC: For commercial SMS in the US, ensuring proper A2P 10DLC registration is paramount to avoiding carrier blocks and preventing SMS filtering by carriers.
• Regularly review carrier policies: Carrier policies are subject to change, so staying updated on their specific messaging guidelines is essential to maintain compliance.
• Transparent sender identity: Ensure your sender ID is consistent and clearly identifies your brand to build trust with carriers and recipients, reducing spam perceptions.
• Robust opt-out mechanisms: Provide clear and easy ways for recipients to opt out of messages, as high complaint rates directly lead to filtering and potential blacklisting, similar to Gmail SMTP errors.
• Avoid forbidden content: Strictly avoid content categories that are explicitly forbidden by carriers, such as illicit substances, hate speech, or deceptive marketing practices.