Overview
One of the most convenient features of Broadstripes messaging is that it allows you to send an SMS text to multiple workers at once, for instance, all the workers in a given shop or department, or everyone who has recently shown interest in coming to a rally you’re planning.
You can also send a message to just one worker at a time. Either way, you can receive responses back on your cell phone, and can view a history of all your text communications in Broadstripes.
Get a look at how Broadstripes text messaging works in this overview video, or scroll down to watch a step-by-step video and learn how to get set up to send your first text blast.
Video: Overview – How text messaging works in Broadstripes
Overview of SMS text messaging
Video: How to set up and use text messaging in Broadstripes
Set up messaging and send a text blast
Before you can send a text message
Three things need to happen before you start sending texts in Broadstripes:
- You have to have permission to send texts, which an admin can give you.
- You need a virtual cell number, which also must be provided by an admin. Broadstripes uses virtual numbers so that:
- organizers don’t have to give out their real cell numbers
- if an organizer moves on from a campaign, another team member can continue an ongoing text conversation in their place.
- You need to add your own (real) cell number to your Broadstripes user account so that Broadstripes can notify you if someone you text sends a message back.
How to add your cell number to your user account
For this example, let’s say that you have the permission you need and an admin has set up a virtual number for you.
Your next step is to add your actual cell number to your user account. Keep in mind that this number won’t be visible to the workers you text – they’ll receive texts from your virtual number. But you do need to include your real number on your account so that you receive notification texts on your cell if a worker replies to you.
Here’s how to add your number:
- To start, click on your name in the upper right-hand corner of the page to open your account details.
- When the account details form opens, type your cell number into the Phone number for SMS notifications field.
- Click Update Info to save.
- You’re now all set up to send text messages.
Sending a text message to multiple workers at once
From the search results page, you can easily send an SMS text to multiple workers using a bulk action.
Learn how step-by-step in the Bulk Actions – Send SMS texts article.
Sending a text to a single worker
You can also send a text to just one worker. You can use the method above (selecting only their name from the search results), or you can use a shortcut on their contact detail pop-up window:
- From the Search Results page, hover over the looking glass icon next to the worker’s name.
- Click the phone icon shortcut at the bottom of the pop-up window.
- Compose a short message (160 characters or fewer) and hit Send.
Receiving replies to your texts
Now let’s look at what happens if a worker writes back to a text you’ve sent using Broadstripes.
- If someone replies to a text you’ve sent, you’ll get a text notification on your cell phone with the name of the project, the name of the worker who responded and a snippet of their message.
- At the bottom of the notification text, there’ll be a link that takes you to the full text conversation in your phone’s browser.
- Tap the link and log in to Broadstripes if you’re prompted.
- The browser display that opens will look just like a regular text conversation and will allow you to continue your conversation using your Broadstripes virtual number. You’ll be able to send and see messages as they arrive in real time.
See a history of sent texts in Broadstripes
Seeing a history of the texts you’ve sent in bulk can be helpful for tracking and managing your communications. You’ll also be able to see messages sent by others on your team. Here’s how to view that history using Broadstripes:
- Choose Sent texts from the left-hand toolbar.
- You’ll see a list of every bulk text sent out for this project. Click the info icon to see more details about a specific text.
