Send the right message to the right donor at the right time with SMS text messages. Reach your donors in near real-time to engage your donors and update them on what your organization is doing.
Text message communication has 5x more engagement than email and is one of the most effective ways to engage your donors. We have developed our own text message-sending platform that lets you send to your past and present donors with just a few steps.
This article will cover the setup and basics of text message marketing, from creating your account to sending messages and managing your plan.
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Create Your First Text Message
From the Pages screen, click Text Messaging from the top menu bar
Click the Create New Campaign or a Create Campaign button
Campaign Name: Enter the text message name (this is for internal and reporting purposes only)
Send To: Select the page(s) for which you'd like to send a text to your donors
NOTE: If you select multiple pages, the ability to filter will go away. Filters are only available when you select one page per text message
Add Filter: If you selected one page, you can set your desired filters to only send to
donors you gave across a specific time range
Schedule and Send Your Message
Select Send Immediately to send the first text immediately, or select Pick a Date/Time to schedule the text to send on a future date and time
In the Message field, add your text information. You'll notice the sample text message appear on the right update as you type your message
Click Send a Test Message if you would like to a test message to a phone number of your choice
Click Send Campaign or Schedule Campaign
NOTE: Text message character count includes message text, account name and opt-out language. Carriers will bill the message as two messages when using more than 160 characters. The organization name will only send in the first sms message and will not be included in the following messages. More details on this under FAQs.
Manage a Scheduled Message
NOTE: While a text in the sequence has a status of Scheduled, you are able to view, copy, edit, send a test and delete the message.
But once a text message is sent, you are no longer able to send a test, make edits or stop it from sending. You can only copy and view the text message. When a text has sent, you can then see how many recipients were sent the message, and what time the text was sent.
Warning: Deleting a text message cannot be undone. So proceed with caution.
From the Pages screen, click Text Messaging in the top menu bar
Find the Text Message you would like to manage, and click any of the following icons:
The duplicate icon allows you to copy a previous message to send again
The pencil icon allows you to edit the text
The eye icon allows you to view the text
The phone icon allows you to send a test message to a number of your choice
The trash can icon allows you to delete the text
Add Keyword Auto-Responders
Keyword Auto-Responders are a great way to give standardized answers for questions your donors might have about your organization. For example, prompt your donors to respond with the word "event' to automatically receive a text response with the latest details for an upcoming event you are hosting.
Here is how to set up these auto-responders on your GivingFuel text:
From the Pages screen, click Text Messaging from the top menu bar
Click Keywords on the left-hand side of the screen
Click Create Keyword
Enter the Keyword that your donors can text in to your number
Enter the Response Message you'd like to auto-send back to the person after they text the keyword
Enter the Hint - If your donors text-in the word help, it will give them a list of the keywords and the associated hint or description of what the keyword will get them
FAQs
Can I create multiple text message key words?
Can I create multiple text message key words?
Yes, you can create multiple sms text message keywords.
How do my donors know the messages are from me?
How do my donors know the messages are from me?
On the first text message you send we include the name of your account at the top of the message as it’s listed in your Account Settings.
Why is my GivingFuel Organization name showing up on the text message?
Why is my GivingFuel Organization name showing up on the text message?
The new carrier guidelines require that the first message we send to any number includes the name of the sender.
GivingFuel won't send that in subsequent messages. If you want to change your organization name you can update it in the Organization Details. The message will display the updated name for any future sends.
What counts as a single text message?
What counts as a single text message?
A single text message is 160 characters long. We let you send more than 160 characters in a single message. If you send a longer message, it will count as two (or more) messages depending on character count.
If someone replies to a text message I send, can I reply back?
If someone replies to a text message I send, can I reply back?
Right now, the SMS feature allows for 1-way broadcast messaging to your donors and keyword replies. We recommend using keyword replies to answer common questions that your donors may have. The ability to reply to text messages in conversation format could be a future enhancement.
If someone texts us without using a keyword...is there a standard message that would be sent to them?
If someone texts us without using a keyword...is there a standard message that would be sent to them?
If a text is sent without code word, the text does not go anywhere, and the donor does not receive a response.
How does a subscriber opt out?
How does a subscriber opt out?
The first text message sent to a donor instructs them to reply STOP to opt out. This is the industry standard. Their number will be added to a do-not-send list by the carriers. If a donor sent STOP by mistake or wants to remove themselves from the do-not-send list, they should send the keyword START to resume. When a donor opts out, they opt out of all future messaging from that number, not just that donation page.
Can a donor opt in to receiving text messages after submitting their donation?
Can a donor opt in to receiving text messages after submitting their donation?
Yes, donors can opt in to receive text messages after submitting their donation by logging into the Donor Account Center, and opt in from there. This article walks through how donors can use the Donor Account Center.
Can I import numbers?
Can I import numbers?
Right now, phone numbers cannot be imported into the text messaging feature.
Can I see who has opted into text messaging? Will this show any contacts who choose to later opt out through texting STOP?
Can I see who has opted into text messaging? Will this show any contacts who choose to later opt out through texting STOP?
To see who has opted into text messaging, we recommend downloading a Contact export. This report will show which donors opted in upon donating and any donors who opted in to text messaging through the Donor Account Center. If a donor later chooses to opt out through texting STOP, the Contacts import will not update with this information.
From the Pages screen, click the Contacts tab in the top menu bar
Click Export
Can I Send a Page Link in my SMS messages? Will this count towards the character limit? Does the text message auto link the page link or do they have to paste their link in the message?
Can I Send a Page Link in my SMS messages? Will this count towards the character limit? Does the text message auto link the page link or do they have to paste their link in the message?
Yes, you can send a page link in your SMS messages. To send a page link, we recommend pasting your link into the message itself. This link will count towards the character limit on your messages. If you would like to shorten your link, we recommend using a link shortener site to reduce the number of characters.
If a Donor has given multiple times on my GivingFuel page, will it send them multiple text messages?
If a Donor has given multiple times on my GivingFuel page, will it send them multiple text messages?
Our text messaging feature will only send one text message per phone number. So if someone gives multiple times to your GivingFuel campaign, our system will only send them one message. It will not send duplicate text messages.
Can I send emoji's in my text message?
Can I send emoji's in my text message?
No, emojis are not supported right now in the text messaging feature.
Is there a limit to how many recipients I can send an SMS Message to?
Is there a limit to how many recipients I can send an SMS Message to?
Yes, SMS Text Message Campaigns can send up to 30,000 recipients per campaign.
If a donor adds and opts in their phone number in the giving section (instead of the billing section), will that number receive texts?
If a donor adds and opts in their phone number in the giving section (instead of the billing section), will that number receive texts?
Yes, if a donor adds a phone number on the giving level and opts in to receive texts, they will receive texts.