Broadcast messages can be sent to all contacts who are subscribed to your mobile SMS lists. These new messages can be sent as an SMS message, or MMS message, which allows you to include images and larger amounts of content. You can also send data acquisition messages, which allows you to collect additional information to store in an SMS system or custom profile field such as email address, zip code or more.
To create a new campaign navigate to Messages > SMS SMS Broadcast > click New Campaign button > click the Broadcast SMS card.
💡 If you have multiple sender codes, you will need to select the correct sender code from list navigation dropdown menu.
Setup
On the left sidebar, give the message a unique name (required).
⚠️ An alert will appear if this is left blank or if the name applied is currently in use.Select the list to send to from the drop-down.
If desired, add a filter to send to a portion of the selected list.
💡 Filters are dynamic and will update at the time of send. The filter may slightly over or under estimate the number of contacts who will receive the final message based on new acquisitions or contacts who have met the frequency capping settings.
If creating a data acquisition campaign, select the checkbox to enable the feature.
Select a specific field of data to capture
Set an Acquisition Window which will control how long Listrak will monitor inbound messages for a response. This can be set to 24, 48, and 72 hours and can be customized for each message.
Field options include: System, Other/Custom, Marketing Consent > Cart Abandonment.
If you don't see the filed you would like to collect, you can create a new custom field.
💡 This campaign type will automatically add a filter to target contacts with the
empty field.
Enter applicable Listrak Conversion Analytics.
Enter applicable Google Analytics.
Click Continue.
Compose
When composing a message, the experience will be determined by the type of message you are creating.
Composing a Broadcast SMS or MMS Message
Add text into the subject line field (optional).
Subject Line will always be bold, at the top of the message, above any attachment and/or text.
The message will automatically become an MMS Message.
⚠️ Subject line is not available for Toll Free Numbers or 10 Digit Long Codes.
Add the text into the Message Content section. Your program name will be pre-populated at the beginning of the Message Content section. This is based on the setting at the Sender Code level.
For SMS messages over 160 characters, convert two or more SMS messages into one MMS message using the "Convert to MMS" call-to-action to combine a message which is over 160 characters.
Links will automatically be shortened using Listrak's built-in link shortened. Links will automatically be appended with source, medium, campaign, and content values based on what is specified at the short or long code level (source and medium) and the message level (campaign and content).
If sending an MMS message, use the Attach File option to select an image or other media file to include in the message.
📑 Learn more about tricks for creating an MMS Attachment.
If desired, use the add personalization option to select the personalization to include in a message. The fields available are based on the profile fields you have created.
Final message character count will depend on the length of the information in a contact's profile.
To add a coupon to the message, check the coupon checkbox and select a coupon pool from the drop-down.
The maximum character count for both the coupon and coupon expiration (if applicable to the pool) will be displayed below the dropdown to provide you with an accurate count.
If adding a coupon, add the coupon personalization tag from the personalization drop-down to the SMS or MMS message in the Compose section.
If desired, paste the default compliance language into the message. SMS subscribers should receive these messages at least once a month. The compliance language is set in the sender code settings.
Using the compliance checkbox enables a new filter type to send messages to those who have not received a message with this language in a specific timeframe.
Composing a Data Acquisition Campaign
Broadcast data acquisition campaigns allow you to collect additional information about your mobile subscribers by asking your subscribes to provide additional information.
Add the text asking for a contact to provide additional information into the Acquisition Message section. Include important information, such as format. Your program name will be pre-populated at the beginning of the Acquisition Message section. This is based on the setting at the Sender Code level.
If desired, use the add personalization option to select the personalization to include in a message.
Final message count will depend on the length of the information in a
contact's profile.
In the Confirmation Message section add the text of the message a contact would receive if they provide the information you asked for. Contacts have 24 hours to respond to the acquisition message.
If including an incentive to provide information, you can enable a coupon by checking the checkbox and selecting a coupon pool.
The maximum character count for both the coupon and coupon expiration (if applicable to the pool) will be displayed below the dropdown to provide you with an accurate count.
If adding a coupon, add the coupon personalization tag from the personalization drop-down to the SMS or MMS message in the Compose section.
If desired, paste the default compliance language into the message. SMS subscribers should receive these messages at least once a month. The compliance language is set in the sender code settings.
📑 Learn more about SMS cart reminder re-permission messaging.
Once you have drafted your message, click continue to schedule the message.
💡 Helpful Tips & Reminders
When a subscriber is replying to your acquisition message, their response will depend on the type of data you are collecting. Below are the formats for the different data types:
Text = Any text string
Number Format = 1, 2, 3 etc.
Checkbox Format = Yes/No, Y/N
Date Format = MM/DD/YYYY
If a subscriber responds in the incorrect format or with a response that does not make sense in the flow they may trigger one of Listrak's system messages.
Invalid Reply Response system messages are sent when the response does not make sense - for example, if you ask for an email address and somebody replies with 17554.
Failure Response system messages are sent to subscribers when the Invalid Reply Response was triggered more than 3 times.
📑 Learn more about how System Messages work.
Review & Send
Review
This is the last step before sending or scheduling the Broadcast message and you will be able to review your message settings including:
Message Name
Approximate Recipients
List
Filters
Message Composition
Schedule Message
Once you have confirmed your settings you are ready to send or schedule a message. There are three options when scheduling a message:
Send Immediately: Send the message now.
Schedule a One-Time Send: Schedule the message to be sent at a future time.
This message will be sent once at the date and time you specify.
You can select 'Time Zone Optimized' to send at the specified time in a contact's time zone. You will be able to see how many contacts received messages in each time zone when viewing reporting on the individual message.
Messages must be scheduled at least two hours in advance.
Schedule Recurring Send: Send this message at the same time every day, week, or month. Configurations include - X number of days, X number of weeks on a specific day, X number of months on a specific day or select the first/last day of the month.
You can select 'Time Zone Optimized' to send at the specified time in a contact's time zone.
💡 Helpful Tips
If the Quiet Hours setting is enabled on the Manage Sender Code page, you will receive an alert if you schedule the message between the hours of 8 pm and 8 am.
If you unselect 'Time Zone Optimized' for either Schedule One-Time Send or Schedule Recurring Send options, you will receive an alert pop-up notifying you the message might be sent during quiet hours for some recipients.
⚠️ In either case, the message will be sent as the system DOES NOT prevent it from being deployed.
If additional edits are required at this time, you can edit the message settings or content by clicking edit on this page.
To finish creating your list subscription campaign, click Confirm.
A popup will appear asking you to confirm you would like to activate the campaign.
Testing and Managing Messages
At any time during the creation process, you can use the options at the bottom of the sidebar to Send a Test, Save a Draft or Close the Wizard.
Send Test
Send a test to the internal team members added to the test list to preview the message before it is sent to your subscribed contacts.
Click Send Test.
Select the List this test message will be sent to.
Click Send Test.
💡 A few things to note:
It is required to set up a Test list, click here to learn how to set up a test list.
The test message will not have a test indicator.
This send counts towards your total sends per month.
Personalization data, including coupon codes, will be included in the message.
Sent test messages display on the Broadcast Messages dashboard in the SENT tab marked with the status of Sent.
Save (a Draft)
To enable the Save button the SMS/MMS message must be given a unique name. ⚠️ An alert will appear if this is left blank or if the name applied is currently in use.
To retrieve a message that is in Draft status, navigate to Messages > SMS SMS Broadcast Messages > click on the Draft tab. Select the checkbox and click Edit to continue working on the message.
💡 The type of message (SMS/MMS or Data Acquisition) cannot be changed if editing the draft version of a message. To change the type, duplicate the draft version.
Close (the wizard)
Selecting to Close the wizard will discard any new content or any changes that we made since the last time the message was saved.
For more information on SMS messaging, reach out to your Account Manager or Listrak Support!