automated messaging

[dbcwayx]

On the maintain personal profiles screen on the contact tab I have just noticed a box "automated messaging" as I don't look at this screen very often, I don't know how long it has been there. I notice there is an option for sending text messages. I can not find any help on how to use this option other than exporting reports. I am thinking about using it for bulk text messages for announcements, event notices etc. Shout custom messages not long reports. Where would I compose the message?
Is this possible and where can I find help or instructions?

using ver. 11.55
windows 7 Pro

[lmconn]

I believe that field is used for incorporating third party services like One Call Now and PhoneTree, which are separate services you would pay for to use automated messaging. I don't currently use these, does anyone who does want to weigh in?

[NeilZ]

I believe that field is used for incorporating third party services like One Call Now and PhoneTree, which are separate services you would pay for to use automated messaging. I don't currently use these, does anyone who does want to weigh in?

That is correct, these are features that allow you to export phone lists, etc to these third party programs.

You can find out more about Phone Tree here: https://www.powerchurch.com/products/phonetree.php
and One Call Now here: http://www.onecallnow.com/religious/overview

You can find out about any area of the program by pressing the F1 function key to being up context sensitive help. Here's what it says for this data item:

The Automated Messaging field on the Maintain Personal Profiles screen displays the person's current settings. If the field is blank, nothing has been set for that person. If it shows "Allow Voice; Allow Text" this indicates that the person has been included in these exports, but the default phone fields will be used. The field will list a specific communication type and phone type to be used if that has been specified on the Personal Profile. For example: "Voice:Home Phone; Text:Mobile". Lastly, if excluded completely from Automated Messaging exports, it will show "No contacts will be exported."

Click the Edit pencil button to open the Automated Messaging Service Options screen. Here you can record the person's preferences as to what types of automated messaging contacts, if any, the person would like to be included in and if necessary, which phone types to be used. Place a check mark next to each of the contact types (Voice, Text, E-mail) and if necessary specify the phone type that this person would like to have contacted.

[dbcwayx]

We don't use either of these third party programs. Our church is so small, I don't see the cost vs. benefit of having these. I thought this might be the case but I was hoping that Power Church had come up with a way to integrate text messaging into their software.
Thanks for the time and information.

[NeilZ]

We don't use either of these third party programs. Our church is so small, I don't see the cost vs. benefit of having these. I thought this might be the case but I was hoping that Power Church had come up with a way to integrate text messaging into their software.
Thanks for the time and information.

Its really not that easy to do, perhaps in a few years.

[lmconn]

If you new the cell phone carriers, you can create an email list where the email is (cell phone number)@(carrier email). For example, Verizon cell phone can be texted from an email address by sending it to 5555555555@vtext.com

[NeilZ]

If you new the cell phone carriers, you can create an email list where the email is (cell phone number)@(carrier email). For example, Verizon cell phone can be texted from an email address by sending it to 5555555555@vtext.com

If you ask your members if they would rather have text messages to their phone, than email messages, you could then use the E-Mail address on the Personal Profile. When Powerchurch then sends out an email to a group, it wouldn't know (or care) that its going to a phone as a text message.

Then, nothing says that you can't use the alternate email address block on the personal profile Contact tab for this. This way you could then export the list into your local email program and do that there.

In either case, your members would have to give you the proper email address to use.

[Jeff]

I have looked into sending text messages. There is not really a good way to send bulk text messages for free. Sending to vtext.com would require you get from each of members their cell phone carrier and if they change their carrier the messages do not bonce, so you wouldn't know that the message is not going through. So we have ruled that out as a viable option.

The best option is services like OneCallNow and PhoneTree. The settings were added so you can control by person what contact methods you want to use to reach them. For example, my parents don't leave their cell phones on, so a text message wouldn't get to them in a timely manner, but a phone call to their home phone would reach them. Using the options you can set their preference to a voice call to their home number. Using OneCallNow it will call them and use a text to speech engine to read them the text over the phone.

Using PhoneTree you can send texts for about 5.5 cents a message it goes down in price if you buy more "points."