Automated Texting allows you to trigger automated text messages to contacts based on key events in Impactive, including keyword opt-in (ex. text "JOIN" to XXXXX).

Because texting automations are set up and activated via the Impactive administrator dashboard, they are not a traditional "action" that is published to the Impactive volunteer interface; however, to manage subsequent conversations/replies to an automated text, you may still need to access the inbox in the Impactive volunteer interface.

Impactive will soon support additional texting automation use cases; reach out to [email protected] anytime to suggest a new feature!

Impactive currently supports two types of texting automations: an automated SMS in response to a certain keyword, or an automated SMS after a contact fills out a form or checks their voter registration.

You can create a texting automation to be linked to a separate Impactive form or voter registration check; after filling out the form or the voter registration form, contacts will then receive the Automated Texting script immediately.

First, set up your texting automation and activate it; then, in your form or voter registration form, select that texting automation from the dropdown on the form/VR edit page and save that action.

You can create a texting automation that sends a message back to a contact if they send a certain keyword to your broadcast number (which can also be a short code, if desired).

For example, a contact can text "VOLUNTEER" to your campaign's Broadcast Texting number (found in Campaign Settings > Broadcast Texting), and receive an automated message back with more details about how to volunteer for your organization.

This texting automation feature is perfect for a variety of use cases, including keyword opt-in to grow your subscriber list, a convenient way to provide follow-up information to supporters or volunteers at an event, and more.

To set up this type of automation, simply set up Automated Texting as described below, and indicate the desired keyword when setting up your initial script. Just make sure that your keyword is unique within your account; it cannot be the same as a keyword designated in a separate texting automation.

Note that any contact who sends an Automated Texting keyword will automatically receive the Opt In (Broadcast) tag, making them a subscriber who is eligible to receive future Broadcast Texting messages.

To create a new broadcast, head to Broadcast > Automated Texting and click + New Automated Text in the top-left corner of the table.

A title for this texting automation is required. This title will not be seen by contacts; it is internal-only, for your reference.

A responder list is required; these users will receive any responses to this texting automation in their inboxes (in the volunteer interface, web or mobile) and can conduct subsequent conversations. Responses will be divided evenly among this list of users.

Optionally, assign this action to one or more folders. Learn more here about using folders as an internal organizational system within Impactive.

The most important step! Write the initial script, i.e. the automated text, that will be sent to recipients. Find our full guide to initial script writing in Impactive here.

Optionally, if this script will be sent in response to a specific opt-in keyword (see above for types of texting automations), designate the keyword that will trigger this script. Keywords must be a single word (no spaces or hyphens); they are often expressed all in caps, like "RSVP" or "JOIN", but note that this feature is not case-sensitive.

Optionally, write response scripts for this texting automation. Response scripts for Automated Texting can be used in a couple of ways; they can be the "canned responses" that users can send to contacts as they continue conversations after the initial script is sent, or they can be ongoing automated replies (a "chatbot" functionality). Read more about response scripts here, including the automated chatbot option.

Once your texting automation has been created, it's time to activate it! Click Activate at the bottom of the draft; messages will then begin sending immediately in response to the designated trigger.

Recipients of your texting automation can reply to the message, and you can have a full back-and-forth conversation with them (leveraging response scripts, if desired).

If recipients reply to the automate text, those replies will be found in the inboxes (within the volunteer interface, web or mobile) of the users who were on the responder list you designated for the automation.

If needed, you can also reassign texting conversations/threads from one user to another; find a full guide to reassignment here.

Results for a texting automation can be monitored from the automation's results page. You can find the results page either from the automation's individual page:

Or from the results link for that automation within the all Automated Texting list page:
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