Multiple Recipients

[ricmorin]

Can Message Manager send texts to multiple recipients simultaneously (like group texting)? I tried a few formats and was unsuccessful. I see an old post that it can't be done, but it was a while back. Any changes or something in the works?

[Auto Repair Coach]

Ric,
Sending multiple text messages is frowned upon. The FCC keeps an eye on it as we also do. The FCC rules are vague so we opt to stay on the single text side. Message Manager cannot send multiple text messages at one time.

For advertising we recommend email, this is why we have reminders to collect and use email addresses. Get your customers to get their invoices via email. Saves paper, ink and gets addresses.

[ricmorin]

Ric,
Sending multiple text messages is frowned upon. The FCC keeps an eye on it as we also do. The FCC rules are vague so we opt to stay on the single text side. Message Manager cannot send multiple text messages at one time.

For advertising we recommend email, this is why we have reminders to collect and use email addresses. Get your customers to get their invoices via email. Saves paper, ink and gets addresses.

Understood. This has nothing to do with advertising. Some clients have 2 numbers and it'd be nice if we could do both at the same time. Perhaps limit it to 2 if you're worried about mass texting?

[Auto Repair Coach]

Ric,
Now that I understand what you mean, I can say Good idea.
Do you think there should be a canned message for the second text that says something like, "We contacted this ###### fifteen minutes ago so we are sending this to the second number given by you..." to prevent confusion?

The second number can actually be the same as the first to try to get the customer's attention with a second text.

Next question, how does it determine when not to send the second message? Maybe the customer called in instead of texting.

It's good to try to figure out all the angles before presenting this for possible development. It is also best to be aware that not all submissions will be developed.

[ricmorin]

I envision it working like this...

Just as you have a button to change numbers, there can be a button to add a number. The number would populate from the list in the Manager record or one can free-form type it in.

I suppose you could have some pre-text verbiage set up to explain the second text if users find that necessary. I personally would not.

I don't see this as an automatic thing but something we initiate manually when needed.

[Auto Repair Coach]

Ric,
Does the drop down menu in Quick Message that displays all the customer's listed phone numbers and let you add a number work for this?

[ricmorin]

So add this proposed functionality to the 'Switch Phone Number' dialog? I think that'd be a perfect place for it. Possible rename to Switch/Add?

I like it.

[Gerald Martin]

Good idea from Ric here I think. I often text both numbers - husband and wife, mother and daughter, etc. So far I've had to copy and paste the message text. I would use this functionality.

Gerald

[Auto Repair Coach]

Thanks. This is going into the development team as a suggestion with two votes off the top.

Woo Hoo!