ANTI-SPAM & MESSAGING RULES
Be a real person, not a brand.
Every account should look and feel like a real person — a real first and last name and a real photo of the salesperson who'll handle the conversation. When a lead sees your message, it must read like an individual texted them, not a company.
Read this before your first send. Following it keeps your iMessage lines healthy and avoids bans.
DO
- ✓Only message opt-in / warm leads (see Who you can message).
- ✓Use a real person's full name (first + last) — the salesperson who'll reply.
- ✓Use a real headshot of that person as the profile picture.
- ✓Write like a human texting one person: short, conversational, specific.
- ✓Wait for them to reply before sending ANY link or image.
DON'T
- ✕Don't put a link in the first message.
- ✕Don't send images / attachments before they reply.
- ✕Don't write promotional copy that reads like an SMS blast or marketing email.
- ✕Don't use business / brand / product / role names as the sender.
- ✕Don't use a logo, product screenshot, or stock photo as the profile picture.
- ✕Don't message cold lists, purchased lists, or anyone who never opted in.
THE ONE RULE
Look and feel like a real person.
A real first and last name plus a real profile photo of the actual salesperson who will handle the conversation. When the lead sees your message, it must read like an individual salesperson texted them — not a company. Everything else on this page follows from that one rule.
ELIGIBILITY
Who you can message
iMessage outreach is allowed only to people who took an action with you — opt-in and warm audiences only. If they never opted in, don't message them.
WHY IT MATTERS
Spam report → unencrypt → green-bubble ban
When you message a new contact, they can mark you “known” or report you as “spam.” This happens even with warm leads — they forgot they signed up, typo'd their number, or simply changed their mind about opting in.
iMessages are end-to-end encrypted by default — normally only the sender and recipient can read them. The moment someone reports a conversation as spam, that protection lifts and Apple can review the past messages in that thread for quality control.
If that review makes it obvious the messages are automated and coming from a business, Apple restricts iMessage on that Apple ID. The number stops sending blue iMessages and shows up as a green SMS bubble — a clear signal to recipients that something changed.
Apple offers a one-time free unban. The key detail: that free unban almost never works when the account is set up under a business name. It works far more reliably when the account looks like a genuine person. That is the single biggest reason for the real-name + real-photo rule.
SENDER NAMES
Good names vs risky names
Use a real person's name and a real headshot — never a logo, product screenshot, or stock photo. Real fixes from customers: “Sandy Vans” became Braden Gross / Tanner Hendrix; “Riverx AI” became Brad Bone.
NUMBERS & ALIASES
Targeted, but not guaranteed
Phone numbers
We target by region / ZIP code — e.g. you can get a 212 number in New York — but we cannot guarantee a number that starts with a specific area code (e.g. “must start with 914”). If your preferred code isn't available, we provision the nearest available number in that region.
Email lines
Give us 3 possible aliases. We try them in order and check availability; the first one that's available becomes your sending address. Aliases aren't guaranteed — if your top choice is taken, we use the next.
BAN & REPLACEMENT POLICY
If a line gets banned
Follow the rules and bans are rare. When one does happen, here's exactly how replacement works.
SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT
What we need from you
- ✓A first name, last name, and a real profile picture for each account — use the salesperson who will actually handle those conversations.
- ✓We then configure an Apple ID email that gives the best shot at a free unban if anyone ever reports you.
FAQ
Questions. Answered.
Who am I allowed to message on iMessage with Tuco AI?
Only people who took an action with you: responded to your Facebook or Google ads, filled out a form, booked a demo, had a conversation with you, purchased from your ecommerce store, or gave you their phone number directly. iMessage outreach is for opt-in and warm audiences only — never cold lists, purchased lists, or anyone who never opted in.
What's the single most important rule?
Every account should look and feel like a real person, not a brand: a real first and last name plus a real profile photo of the actual salesperson who will handle the conversation. When the lead sees your message, it must read like an individual salesperson texted them — not a company.
Why does the sender name and photo matter so much?
When you message a new contact, they can report the conversation as spam. iMessages are end-to-end encrypted by default, but the moment someone reports a thread as spam, that protection lifts and Apple can review the past messages for quality control. If the review makes it obvious the messages are automated and coming from a business, Apple restricts iMessage on that Apple ID — the number stops sending blue iMessages and shows up as a green SMS bubble. Apple offers a one-time free unban, but it almost never works when the account is set up under a business name. It works far more reliably when the account looks like a genuine person. That is the single biggest reason for the real-name + real-photo rule.
What makes a good sender name versus a risky one?
Good: real human names like James Carter, Priya Nair, Marcus Webb, or Elena Rossi. Risky: brand, role, or product names like Sandy Vans Sales, Riverx AI, The Acme Team, Support Desk, or Info Outreach. Real fixes from customers: 'Sandy Vans' became Braden Gross / Tanner Hendrix; 'Riverx AI' became Brad Bone.
Can I pick my own phone area code?
We target numbers by region / ZIP code — for example, you can get a 212 number in New York — but we cannot guarantee a number that starts with a specific area code (for example, 'must start with 914'). If your preferred code isn't available, we provision the nearest available number in that region.
Can I choose my email sending alias?
Give us 3 possible aliases. We try them in order and check availability; the first one that's available becomes your sending address. Aliases aren't guaranteed — if your top choice is taken, we use the next.
Why can't I put a link in the first message?
A link or image in a first, unsolicited message is the strongest spam signal there is. Wait for the lead to reply before sending any link or image. Keep the first message short and conversational, like a real person texting one person.
What happens if one of my numbers or Apple IDs gets banned?
On the 1st ban we replace the number or iCloud email once, free. The 2nd and 3rd bans carry a $50 one-time replacement fee each. On the 4th ban we can no longer serve that account. Following the rules — opt-in leads only, real name and photo, no links until they reply — keeps lines healthy and avoids bans in the first place.
What do you need from me to set up an account?
A first name, last name, and a real profile picture for each account — use the salesperson who will actually handle those conversations. We then configure an Apple ID email that gives the best shot at a free unban if anyone ever reports you.