How do you get commercial message consent?
Is it fine to send campaign messages to your customer list? Even to known customers, commercial electronic messages usually need prior consent. Sending without it risks complaints and sanctions. 📩
Commercial message rules are set by separate legislation alongside KVKK, and permissions are recorded through the Message Management System (İYS).
Short answer: campaign emails, SMS and calls need prior, recorded and easily withdrawable permission. Manage permissions in line with İYS and apply opt-outs quickly. 🧭
Note: this is general information, not legal advice. Regulations and Board decisions change; see the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority for current guidance and a lawyer for your specific case.
Four message types
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- Informational messages
- Commercial messages
- Channel differences
- To traders and businesses
Different rules. 🗂️
Informational messages
Order, shipping, invoice notices; usually not commercial messages. 📦
Commercial messages
Campaigns, discounts, promotions; permission needed. 📣
Channel differences
Email, SMS, calls; permission may be taken separately per channel. 📱
To traders and businesses
Some exemptions exist; check their scope in current rules. 🏢
Getting permission
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- Prior
- Separate and optional
- Records
- İYS registration
Four principles. ✍️
Prior
Before sending; retroactive permission isn’t valid. ⏰
Separate and optional
An unticked, separate box on forms; see the web forms guide. ☐
Records
When, on which channel, with what text; proof. 🗄️
İYS registration
Uploading permissions to İYS and keeping them current. 🔄
Opt-outs and withdrawal
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- An easy opt-out
- Fast application
- In every tool
- No re-adding
Four rules. ↩️
An easy opt-out
An easy opt-out link or method in every message. 🔗
Fast application
Opt-outs are processed without delay. ⚡
In every tool
Email tool, SMS tool, CRM; opt-outs valid everywhere. 🔀
No re-adding
Opted-out people aren’t added back from an old list. 🚫
List hygiene
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- Permission source
- No bought lists
- Clearing old lists
- One source
Four habits. 🧹
Permission source
Every record’s permission source is known. 🏷️
No bought lists
Sending to a list bought from others is a serious risk. ❌
Clearing old lists
Old records with unclear permission are removed. 🗑️
One source
Permission status in one system; see the archive’s owned media guide. 📇
Four common mistakes
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- Campaigns to customers without permission
- Bundled permission text
- Ignoring opt-outs
- Business card lists
All four bring complaints. 🚧
Campaigns to customers without permission
“They’re already customers” doesn’t replace permission. 🤝
Bundled permission text
Permission buried in a notice may not count as free. 📄
Ignoring opt-outs
Messages after an opt-out are the commonest complaint. 🔕
Business card lists
Bulk sending to cards collected at a fair without permission. 🗂️
What should I do today?
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- Step 1: count your lists
- Step 2: separate unclear ones
- Step 3: check İYS status
- If you want help
Three steps, one hour. 🪜
Step 1: count your lists
All email and SMS lists with permission sources; a table. 📋
Step 2: separate unclear ones
Records with unknown sources get no campaigns. 🚫
Step 3: check İYS status
Are your registration and uploads current? 🔄
If you want help
Let us set up permission-based messaging together: use the consult your expert form. For a compliance snapshot of your digital assets see the digital audit; the bigger picture sits on the KVKK consultancy page. 🎯
Related reading from the archive: who owns the audience · owned media.
📝 Notes From the Field
A shop sent SMS campaigns to customer numbers gathered over years without permission records; after a few complaints the process was stopped. Lists were split by permission source, unclear records were removed from campaigns, and new permissions were taken with a separate box and recorded in İYS. The list shrank but complaints ended and campaign response rose.
📖 Short Glossary
Commercial electronic message: an electronic message promoting goods or services. İYS: the system recording commercial message permissions. Right to opt out: the right to stop receiving messages at any time. Permission source: where and how permission was obtained.
⚡ Quick Summary
Commercial messages usually need prior permission. 📩 Informational and commercial messages differ; think of permission per channel. Take permission in advance, separately and on record, and register it in İYS. Offer easy opt-outs in every message and apply them fast in every tool. Don’t use bought or unclear lists.
🎯 Next Step
Let us set up permission-based messaging: use the consult your expert form. Messaging sits in the messaging apps guide; for your setup see the digital audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Pure order notices usually aren’t commercial messages. Adding a campaign changes that.
Registration duties and exemptions for senders are set by regulation. Check the current position with İYS and the rules.
Some exemptions exist for traders, but scope is limited. The right to opt out must always be honoured.