How to Send a Text Message

Text messaging is a premium feature and is an important tool for emergency plans. To ask for the text messaging feature, please submit a support ticket and our team will activate the feature for you. Text messages can be sent to a group or to an individual.

To send a text message to a group:

Go to admin → text messenger

You will then be able to view a list of all text messages sent. Texts will have one of three statuses: draft, sent, or received. 

To send a new message, select ‘New Text Message’

In the ‘To’ field, choose which group you would like to send the message to → Write your message → select ‘Send’

Note: Text message groups can be customized by your Village. Messages can also be saved as a draft and sent later. 

When someone replies to your message, it will appear in the list of text messages. 

To send a text to an individual:

Go to the individual’s profile you wish to message and select the ‘Activity’ tab 

Select ‘Send Text Message’

Write your message → select ‘Send’ or if you want don’t want to send the message yet, select ‘Save Draft’ 

Note: Make sure the person you are sending a message has a phone number listed on their profile, otherwise the message will not be sent.

Some recommendations about the telephone companies:

Telephone companies use messages filtering.

Message filtering refers to the blocking of messages that are unwanted or illicit. Filtering may occur to enforce policies or to comply with regulations and wireless carriers’ messaging policies.
 
There are some recommendations to prevent the telephone company to block the messages, please follow these indications:

1. Identify who is sending the message in the message
2. The opt-out language you include in your messages must include a widely accepted keyword for opt-out. e.g. "Reply STOP to unsubscribe." 
3. Send messages to mobile users who have provided consent

Check out this live demo: https://support.helpfulvillage.com/hc/en-us/articles/6922154597399-Live-demo-Text-messages-for-groups