SMS Marketing Features: Alternate Messages
2 Way SMS Texting with Inbox
SMS Gateway API Documentation

Group Alternate Message

We added the alternate default message to our service some time ago, in response to feedback received from our customers. The alternate message is a feature that allows customers to send an alternate auto-responder message, in lieu of the default auto-responder, whenever a customer is already in the contacts database and tries to re-opt in by texting the keyword to the short code. However, this feature was not enabled with subscribers who opt-in through a group keyword extension. We have now added the capability to enable the alternate auto-responder to be sent to group opt-ins, assuming that the customers are already in the group and try to re-opt in to the group. The group alternate message settings is determined upon creation of the group. A customer can define whether to send the keyword alternate message, ignore the customer when they try to re-opt in, or send the group default message upon re-opt in.

Opt-Out Alternate Message

Per our customer feedback, we have also added the ability to send the alternate message to contacts who opt-out and try to re-opt in. This feature was added in an effort to prevent subscribers from abusing promotional offers that are available through the auto-responder. If this feature is enabled, anyone who opts-out of a mobile marketing campaign and re-opts in, will receive the alternate auto-responder message.

2-Way SMS Conversation – How it Works

  • Setup your Inbox to receive opt-ins and messages by clicking on Inbox and then checking the top box for “Send Opt-ins and Messages to Inbox”. Click update to save the changes.
  • Send a message to a group or individual.
  • Any reply from a contact on your list will be delivered to your inbox.
  • Click on the message in the inbox to send a direct reply to that individual number.
  • If a reply contains an email address the contact record will be updated to store the email address on the My Contacts page. These can be exported to a csv file with the red Export button on the upper-right side of the My Contacts page. 

    • Keep in mind that any message starting with stop, cancel, unsubscribe, end, or stopall will still remove the contact from your list and any message starting with help will send them the Help text with information about your text marketing campaign.

    SMS Uses for 2-Way Text Messaging

    There are many ways a business or organization can use sms texting to interact with subscribers, let’s take a look at a few.

    • Appointment reminders. 

      Use sms messaging to send appointment reminders to your contacts. You can send the reminder as an individual message with the exact date and time and ask them to reply confirming they can make the appointment or just ask them to reply if they need to reschedule. You could also send a general reminder to a group of contacts saying “Don’t forget your appointment with Dr. Brown this week, please reply if you have forgotten the exact date and time.” Even if you don’t tell them to reply you will see any replies that come in so you will know if someone needs to reschedule or needs to know the address or any other questions they may have. Inbound sms messages are FREE!

    • Work order confirmations. 

      If you have a service or repair shop you can text a quote to the individual client and ask for permission to move forward with the service or repair. All replies will be delivered to your inbox so you can see if they need more information or if they are ready for you to start the work.

    • Feedback. 

      Businesses thrive when they offer products and services that people like. The best way to ensure you are doing this is by getting feedback from your customers. Send a text and ask your clients to reply with any feedback they have about your products or the service they received. You can also use this to get input on different ideas you have. Send a message telling customers about a few new menu items, products you are thinking of adding, color options, etc. and have them reply with which ones they like best.

    • Q&A. 

      2-way messaging makes it easy to do a live question and answer session with your clients. Send out a text saying you’ll be answering questions live between Noon and 2 pm and tell them to reply with their question. You can do this at a live event where you read the question to the audience and answer it for everyone or you can do it one-on-one for clients everywhere and reply to the individual with an answer to each question.

    • Volunteers. 

      If you have a need for volunteers to help with an event you can send out the request and ask them to reply with the number of people that can be there to help with your event.

    • RSVP. 

      Need to know how many people will be attending an upcoming dinner or event? Send a text asking them to reply with the number of adults and children that will be attending.

    As you can see, there are many ways that you can use 2-way sms messaging.

    Text Blast Software Rules for SMS Marketing

    **NOTE Due to industry-wide changes moving away from shared short codes to 10-digit numbers, if you have a dedicated number for your account use that 10-digit number in the shortcode tag to properly link the api to your account. For example, 8885551122. Don't change the tag name or add a +1 to your number

    Functions

  • Add contacts – there are several options for adding a contact to your sms account from the api, including adding a single contact, web contact opt-in, adding multiple contacts, and multiple web contact opt-ins. A number collected from a web form needs to be added using the Web opt-in, this will send a text confirmation message to the number. That message will require them to reply YES before the number is added as a contact on the account. A web opt-in is required to be a double confirm to ensure they entered their own number and entered it correctly.
  • Delete contacts – use this to remove an sms contact if they no longer want/need to be on your text marketing list.
  • List contacts – use this function to pull a list of all current sms subscribers on the account.
  • Add group – this function will let you create a group on the sms text account (use groups to sub-categorize your list by employee type, location, interests, etc.).
  • List groups – to see a list of all current groups on your text message account use the list groups function.
  • Add contact to group – this function lets you copy a contact directly into a group – great for keeping your sms lists neat and up-to-date.
  • Remove contact from a group – this won’t delete the contact from the text marketing account but will remove their number from a specified group.
  • List inbox messages – use this sms api feature to retrieve all the inbound messages from your account, or set a date range to see only the most recent sms messages.
  • Send message – create and send custom text messages to all contacts, groups, or individual contacts.
  • Account balance – use this function to see the balance of messages currently on the account – keep in mind this balance changes every time there is a new contact added to the account and every time a message is sent out from your account.
  • Send Authentication – this is used for sms verification purposes, it does not establish permission to text people again but rather sends them a one-time text message with things like a password reset or verification code.

    • The api documentation document will provide the URL needed for our https xml post api. The only other information you’ll need is your api key and your account id – both of these will be available on your dashboard . There is no charge to use the sms api but we do need to make sure you are using it in a way that meets all sms laws and text marketing requirements.

    SMS API Uses:

  • Add contacts you collect with your POS (Point of Sale) system to your text marketing campaign, simultaneously
  • Use the sms api authentication to send a temporary password or account verification code to new customers or user locked out of an account.
  • Link your reservation system to your sms messages to send a text confirmation and reminder about an upcoming appointment.
  • SMS api integration with your web store is a great way to send a “Thank you” text when customers make a purchase – this also adds them to your list so you can send future specials and new product info to bring them back to your store for repeat business.
  • Use the api to send a custom notification to your customers when an order is ready or has been shipped.
  • Using an sms api you can send custom auto-responders to every person that opts in – great for one-use custom coupon codes!

    As you can see, the possibilities are endless!!