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Apple has announced that it’s releasing iOS 26 in October. Here’s what we know so far about how it will affect your SMS comms:  

The headline change is that iOS 26 will be introducing SMS filtering for unknown senders. So text messages from numbers not saved in a user’s contacts will automatically be sorted into an “Unknown Senders” folder. This is similar to how email clients already filter promotional or unfamiliar emails. 

While this might seem like a potential obstacle for your outreach efforts, fear not. It’s important to remember that if you pursue a relationship-building strategy with your supporters and you switch to RCS (often referred to as  Verified SMS) so that your organisation name and profile image appears, increasing trust, you shouldn’t need to worry about this change. A supporter focus should always be at the core of your communications strategy and that approach will continue to pay off, building trust and recognition in your cause, no matter the changes in technology.

There will be more information to come out over the coming months on how the changes will work, so we don’t know everything right now, but we want to reassure you that we’ll have guidance coming out in response to all these changes as and when we learn more. 

If you’d like to talk to us about getting set up on RCS to improve your open rates then book a call here and we’ll be happy to chat. 

iOS 26 and SMS

For campaigners who rely on SMS to mobilise and engage your supporters, this iOS update undoubtedly raises some questions. The main concern is how SMS messages from unknown numbers will be sorted into a secondary folder, suggesting they’re less likely to be read. If you’ve relied on SMS as a key channel to remind people of an important vote, event, or petition, then now might be the time to start thinking about your SMS strategy.

It’s important to understand that the best communications are built on relationships, not just transactions - and that’s always been the case. iOS 26 may have changed how messages are delivered, but it hasn’t changed the value of ongoing, two-way communication with your supporters. This could actually be a great opportunity to strengthen those relationships and ensure your supporters feel engaged and heard ahead of the update. 

Relationship-building should continue to be the focus

Successful campaign outreach is ultimately about nurturing ongoing relationships through story-telling and high value, informative communications. Meaning when it comes to those one-time comms like ‘Have you voted’ or ‘sign the petition now’ followers are much more likely to complete the action. 

The recent iOS changes might make it harder for your message to reach a cold inbox or unrecognised number, but it will have less impact on messages that have been built on trust. 

If you’re building an engaged base of supporters who recognise your number, save it to their contacts, and trust your messages, then the iOS update should have a pretty minimal effect on your communications. Of course the more we find out about this in the coming months, the more we can confirm it.

If you feel like you could do more developing relationships with your supporters in this strategic way, then maybe this moment could kick-start that process in time for October. In the meantime we’ve put together some best practice tips that could come in handy:

1. Encourage supporters to save your number

Between now and October, it could help to ask your supporters to save your number in their contacts. This ensures they see your messages even if iOS sorts them into the “Unknown Senders” folder. 

You could send an initial SMS message saying:
"Add '[Campaign Name] Alerts' to your contacts so you never miss an important update."

This gives your supporters a chance to engage with you right from the beginning and shows that you value their involvement. 

2. Balance urgency with longer-term story telling

Here’s a little piece of knowledge, time-sensitive transactional SMS will still make it into your audience’s main inbox, even if the number is unknown. You’ve just got to pick your moments.

When it comes to those immediate actions, sometimes you need to stress the urgency of the situation. If so, your messages should focus on immediacy and relevance. SMS can work for time-sensitive information, like event reminders or voting alerts, if they are framed as urgent rather than generic. You can read about how we did this with Labour during the 2024 election.

For example, instead of simply saying:
"Have you been out to vote?"
You might say:
"Three seats too close to call as time runs out. Your vote could decide the outcome, have you voted yet?"

By framing your message as time-sensitive, you create a sense of urgency that encourages your audience to act, making it more likely they’ll open your message. We would stress that in the build up to these kinds of communications you’ve also built some dialogue with the recipient to help boost responses. 

3. Diversify your communication channels

While SMS is effective, they shouldn't be your only channel for outreach. Multi-channel communication is great for building real tangible connections with supporters over a number of places. If someone has had a phone call with one of your team they’ll be more likely to respond to a follow-up SMS. A newsletter subscriber might be more likely to complete an SMS survey. Consider reaching out via email, WhatsApp, or over the phone. 

If you use these channels in tandem you can maintain constant engagement and mitigate any drop in visibility caused by SMS filtering. You can talk to us about getting set up on these channels with Movement and we can show you how to make the most of them too. 

4. Focus on delivering value for your supporter

It’s a two-way relationship: you need to offer some insight, something engaging that’s relevant to your supporters. 

Whether it's sharing campaign updates, giving people a voice through surveys, or sending relevant resources, you should make sure every message serves your supporters’ needs as much as your own.

Get set up on Verified SMS (RCS)

One great upshot is the growing importance of RCS, or as we often call it: Verified SMS. 

With its verified sender status, profile picture and name already included (similar to that of WhatsApp) messages you send by RCS are far less likely to be filtered, meaning it’s an excellent tool for reaching your supporters with important, high-priority messages. Your audience will also recognise who has sent the message and so will be more likely to trust your messages and perform an action. We have some upcoming tests to show that RCS consistently outperforms SMS for open and response rates. More on this to come!

It’s growing rapidly since being introduced over the past year and should eventually replace all SMS messaging. This year alone we’ve seen a large number of clients make the switch. If you’d like to talk to us about getting setup on RCS then just complete the get a quote form and we’ll be in touch.

Adapt, don’t panic

This update doesn’t signal the end of SMS or digital outreach. Remember that you survived the great segmentation of email inboxes. Instead, it’s a reminder that the most successful campaigns have always been rooted in strong, two-way relationships. If you focus on engaging your supporters with clear, meaningful messages that offer value, ask for ongoing engagement, and build trust through consistent outreach, you’ll continue to see results, no matter the changes in how messages are delivered.

Don’t be alarmed by iOS 26, take this as an opportunity to strengthen the connections you have with your supporters. Continue to nurture those relationships, and your outreach will remain effective. It could also be a time to make a leap to Verified SMS so that your audience sees who you are and is more likely to trust your messages..

We’re sure there will be some updates coming in over the next few months. But we’ll also be providing tips and guidance in response so keep an eye out and fear not. Who knows this might be an opportunity for organisations to develop and grow closer to their supporter base.

If you’d like to see how RCS or as we often call it ‘Verified SMS’ can improve open and conversion rates for your organisation don’t hesitate to hit the Get Started button and we’ll be in touch.

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 Your new tool for the field

Organising has undoubtedly become harder in recent years; just as it’s become ever more necessary. Reps, organisers and campaigners are overburdened, grass-roots organisations are underfunded. And while digital tools are  transforming everything from banking to grocery shopping, many organisers are still stuck with clipboards, spreadsheets and their memory.

That’s where our new Organiser Dashboard comes in.

Launched in collaboration with organisers and battle tested through recent real-life campaigns; this tool is built to solve a basic but stubborn problem: how do you keep track of meaningful conversations in the workplace, at the door or over the phone when you’re trying to move people to take action?

The answer, it turns out, is deceptively simple; a tool that makes it easier to record, respond, and act on those conversations.

 A dashboard for the front line

At its core, the Organiser Dashboard is a tablet and mobile-friendly tool that gives organisers a single place to log and manage field conversations. Whether it’s a chat at the school gates or in the staff room, a knock at a supporter’s door, or a phone call during a ballot campaign, it helps ensure that no contact is forgotten; and no organiser is left unsupported.

By stripping away the effort of entering data by hand, the unread notes and hard-to-share spreadsheets, it frees up time for what matters most: conversations that build power. This data is then stored in one centralised database on Movement, accessible to all those who need it.

As Movement’s team explained:

“We wanted to take the legwork out of organising; so organisers have more time to do what they do best: talk to workers and bring them together.”

 Building momentum not admin

What makes this tool different isn’t just the design; it’s the intent behind it. Modern organising isn’t just about mass mobilisation; it’s about sustained engagement, often with stretched resources and fragmented systems.

From ballot turnout tracking to new rep recruitment, the dashboard allows organisers to:

• Filter and follow up with members in seconds
• Coordinate national campaigns across regions
• Trigger communications based on real-world data and conversations
• Integrate with existing CRM or membership systems

And perhaps most importantly, it lets organisers stop relying on memory; or messy handovers. “No more guesswork. No more lost notes. Just clarity,” as one local government activist described it during the webinar.

A shared challenge ahead

As campaigners face a moment of political transition; with the pressures of the past decade still fresh and new threats looming; the question of how we organise has never been more urgent. Our dashboard doesn’t claim to solve every problem; but it offers a tool built with the reality of the work in mind.

Whether you're campaigning in a care home or coordinating a strike vote across hundreds of schools, it’s a step towards smarter, more connected organising.

There are no silver bullets; but there are better ways of working. This is one of them.

 If you’re keen to know more about how the Organiser Dashboard can help campaigners at national and local levels or want to know more about how Movement can help book a call below:

     Get started  

 In an age where effective communication can make or break campaigns, SMS 2.0, or Rich Communication Services (RCS) is emerging as a powerful tool for progressive organisations. From trade unions mobilising workers to NGOs raising awareness, RCS offers a smarter, more impactful way to connect with people. Movement provides the tools to make the most of this technology, enabling campaigners to engage, organise, and inspire like never before.

What is RCS and why does it matter?

RCS is the evolution of the humble text message, transforming SMS into a dynamic, interactive platform. It enables multimedia messaging with features like images, videos, carousels, and buttons for instant responses – all within a single conversation. Think of it as a messaging app that works on nearly every modern smartphone, without needing third-party downloads.

For progressive groups, this means you can deliver visually compelling calls to action, provide instant access to resources, and foster real-time engagement with your audience, all while ensuring your message cuts through the noise.

The benefits of RCS for progressive causes

RCS isn’t just a technical upgrade – it’s a tool for meaningful connection. Here’s how it can empower movements for change:

1. Mobilising action at scale
   Imagine a trade union sending out a beautifully designed, branded message urging workers to attend a strike rally, complete with a map of the meeting point and buttons to RSVP. RCS can make this a reality, turning a simple notification into an interactive experience.
2. Building trust and authenticity
   With verified sender IDs and consistent branding, RCS ensures recipients know the message is from a legitimate source. For NGOs battling misinformation, this is invaluable. Whether you’re running a climate justice campaign or providing crisis support, trust is paramount.
3. Enhancing inclusivity and access
   Many campaigners face challenges in reaching audiences across platforms. RCS bridges the gap by working directly with the native messaging apps on most smartphones. For progressive political parties, this means reaching constituents who may not use mainstream apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
4. Driving engagement through multimedia
   Picture a campaign to end housing inequality using RCS to share a video of affected families, followed by quick-reply buttons to contact local MPs or sign a petition. It’s a way to make complex issues tangible and spur immediate action.
5. Streamlining organisational logistics
   From event reminders to resource distribution, RCS enables progressive groups to manage logistics with ease. A grassroots organisation, for instance, could send a message with links to downloadable flyers, social media assets, and live updates about a protest.

How Movement makes it simple

RCS’s potential can seem overwhelming, but Movement’s tools make it accessible to everyone. Their platform enables organisations to design and deploy RCS messages with minimal technical expertise, ensuring progressive groups can focus on their mission rather than technology.

Key features include:

• Drag-and-drop message creation to build visually impactful content
• Integration with existing databases for personalised outreach
• Real-time analytics to measure effectiveness and fine-tune campaigns
• Scalability to support everything from local campaigns to global movements

Whether it’s a union strike ballot, an NGO fundraising drive, or a political call to action, Movement ensures your message is delivered powerfully and effectively.

Why progressive organisations should embrace RCS now

RCS is not just a tool for the future – it’s here and ready to be used. In a landscape dominated by misinformation, short attention spans, and digital overload, RCS offers a way to cut through and create genuine impact.

For campaigners, trade unions, NGOs, and progressive political parties, RCS is a game-changer. It’s a means of reaching people where they are, with content that compels them to act. With Movement’s support, progressive organisations can take full advantage of this technology to amplify their voice and create real change.

A call to action for progressives

If you’re working to build a fairer, more equitable world, the tools you use matter. RCS messaging offers an opportunity to rethink how we connect, mobilise, and inspire. By embracing this technology, and the tools Movement provides, progressive organisations can stay ahead in the fight for justice, equality, and sustainability.

Now is the time to harness the potential of RCS. The change we need depends on how we communicate – and RCS ensures that communication is more powerful than ever.

 If you’d like to talk to us about harnessing the power of RCS (or SMS 2.0 as we sometimes call it) then book a call bellow and we’ll be in touch:

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