Texting Templates

[ashcraft]

Hi! My first post on the discussion board. I am struggling with the Template Setup. Is there someway to set a default that lists the company name and phone # without having to select a template. I am apparently the only one unable to figure this out since I've not seen any other posts about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Have a great day!

[Silky7]

I'd suggest you call into our Tech Support when convenient. They can help you familiarize yourself with the template editor. In the long run, learning to use it will save you a great deal of time. 888-724-6742, option 4 for Tech Support.

[ricmorin]

Unless you type free hand, everything is done with templates. Once you make a few they go real easy. Here's a starter course.....

In the texting template setup, there are three tabs in the upper left. These correspond to where you see the template once created.

tabs

tabs.JPG (23.97 KiB) Viewed 14162 times

If you create a template under the WIP/Order tab, then it will only be available when you click on 'Send Text' from either the WIP screen or the Order tab. This is helpful and reduces the number of templates you choose from to just the ones that are associated with that type of order. If you want the same text available everywhere, simply recreate it under all three tabs.

To create a new template, select the tab it will reside under and start typing. When a variable that can be pulled from the program can be used, simply highlight the variable and click on the left arrow button. That moves it into the template.

typing

typing.JPG (38.67 KiB) Viewed 14162 times

Remember to place spaces before and after those variables so your sentences look right. When you are done, give the template a logical name and click on save. This example will only be seen from the Scheduler.

Here are some examples.....

This is a contact card you can send to your customers to introduce them to your number.

contact card

contact card.JPG (25.74 KiB) Viewed 14162 times

This one can be sent when the vehicle is ready for pickup.

ready for pick up

ready.JPG (26.5 KiB) Viewed 14162 times

Text to advise an estimate is ready. Notice it's under the Revision tab.

estimate is ready

estimate ready.JPG (29.12 KiB) Viewed 14162 times

These are just a few that will get you started.

[ashcraft]

Thank You so much for the help! I greatly appreciate your time involved in this tutorial. This feature will help our shop so much. I was visiting with a customer the other day on the phone and they asked if we were a call center because of the phone ringing constantly in the background. Many of the calls we receive are people asking if their work is done even after we have called and left a message. I can't wait to see how much this will improve our shop!

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge!

Hope you have a wonderful day and a great Halloween!

[Sauvageaus]

Thanks Ric, that will be very helpful!

[ricmorin]

Thank you.

Here's a sample of an update you could create for those customers that keep calling in.

Keep those 'is it done?' calls at bay.

update.JPG (32.95 KiB) Viewed 14130 times

I think it's important to keep these templates as short as possible so people can easily glance and go.

[ricmorin]

Here is a sample of a template you can use where a customer calls in, asks for a bunch of work and you tell them a date. They are a good customer and never asks price, but you'd like to send a quick confirmation text with the date and the cost.

appointment confirmation text with date and total

Appt Confirm wTotal.JPG (37.38 KiB) Viewed 14122 times

[sbebenelli]

Good ideas! Thank you Ric!

[Rich]

Thanks Ric. I copied yours into ours. Now.....someday.....I will get the much awaited email and can get this ball rolling.

[Silky7]

Thanks Ric. I copied yours into ours. Now.....someday.....I will get the much awaited email and can get this ball rolling.

Rich, you're not saying you're not setup for texting yet, are you? If so, please PM me.

[Rich]

Thanks Ric, Tim, Silky and Jim (IT Guru) Texting is now up and crawling. Well, ok, its the operator that is crawling. But, we will get there!