Texting People

Summary: Discover how to enhance your church's text messaging capabilities using Breeze ChMS. Breeze allows organizations to text one or more people in the database at a time for quick communication.

Before You Begin

• One-Way Communication: The texting tool utilizes a dedicated shortcode (874-47) for one-way communication. Because it is one-way, users cannot respond to your texts, and you are unable to receive any replies.

• Complimentary Allowance: We provide each organization the ability to send 250 complimentary text messages per calendar month at no additional charge.

• Character Limits: We implement the industry-standard 160-character limit per SMS message. (Note: The first 11 characters of your Breeze Subdomain will always be included at the beginning of the text message, but this does NOT count against your 160-character limit).

• Permissions Required: To send a text message, you must have the People > Action > Text role permission. To view text history, you must have the History role permission.

• International Texting Limitations: Texting capabilities are currently unavailable for locations outside of the US.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. How to Send a Text

1. Go to People.

2. Pull up the list of people you'd like to text (by running an advanced search, searching by tag, or another method).

3. Using the Action Panel on the right, click Text.

4. Compose your text message.

1. Click Send Now. The message will be queued to send right away to the list of recipients.

   • Scheduling for Later: If you want to delay the message, click the arrow to the right of the "Send Now" button and select an option to schedule the text for the future.

2. How to View Text History & Scheduled Texts

Note: You can only view history for the texts that your specific user sent/scheduled.

1. Navigate to Account Settings (⚙️) on the top right.

2. Select History from the dropdown menu.

3. Click Text on the left-hand side.

4. Click on a text to view its details. The details screen will also provide a way to unschedule/remove pending messages if desired.

3. How to Enable Unlimited Texting (Over 250/month)

If you need to send more than 250 complimentary messages a month, you must enable Unlimited Texting. Every additional text above the 250 limit is billed at just 1.9 cents per text. (If you do not enable this, any text messages—including automated volunteer notifications—above the 250 limit will simply fail to send).

1. Navigate to Account Settings (⚙️) on the top right.

2. Select Manage Account.

3. Click the checkbox that says Enable Unlimited Texts.

4. Click Save Changes.

4. How to Send Links & Attachments

While there is no native way to attach photos or files directly to a text message, you can easily share them using a link!

1. Upload your desired photo or file to a cloud-based site (e.g., Google Drive, Google Photos).

2. Copy the shareable link.

3. (Optional) Navigate to a website like Tinyurl.com or Bitly to shorten this link so it takes up fewer characters in your text message.

4. Paste this URL directly into your Breeze text message!

Understanding the Billing & Counting Process

How Are Texts Counted? Breeze counts each recipient as an individual text message, regardless of whether the content is identical. We are charged by the texting provider for each message sent to an individual number. For instance, if you send 1 message to 30 people, Breeze sends out 30 individual texts (counting as 30 texts toward your monthly limit). (Note: Breeze automatically filters out duplicates. If multiple family members share the exact same mobile number, the system will only send one text to that number, counting as one text).

How Do I Check My Usage? To see how many complimentary texts are left this month, open the text compose box. At the bottom, next to the cancel button, it will display your remaining balance. If you have unlimited texting enabled, it will display the total number of texts you have sent so far. Your 250 free texts reset on the 1st of each calendar month.

How Is My Organization Billed for Overages? Text messaging usage is tracked by the calendar month, while your Breeze subscription is billed on your specific anniversary date. Therefore, your monthly subscription invoice will include the text overage charges from the previous full calendar month. (e.g., If your subscription bills on August 28th, that invoice will include any texting overages incurred between July 1 - July 31).

Compliance: Opt-Ins, Opt-Outs, and Initial Messages

The Automated Confirmation Message To keep you compliant with industry-standard regulations, the system automatically sends a one-time confirmation/opt-out lead message the very first time you text a new mobile number.

• This is handled automatically; no action is required on your end.

• This first-time message is completely free to the church and does not count against your 250 monthly allowance.

• It is sent immediately before your actual message or reminder is delivered.

Adherence to Opt-In Procedures In addition to the automated system message, you must also provide opt-in verbiage to all new people you text from Breeze. Text carriers are interested in protecting the rights of recipients. As stated in our Terms of Service, texting through Breeze cannot be used for marketing purposes; it is for reminders and alerts only. You can share this opt-in language in writing (on registration forms) or verbally (during announcements):

"We occasionally send convenient text message reminders and alerts to our membership. Message and data rates may apply. To opt-out of those messages at any time, reply with STOP and you will be removed from all messaging. For further information, visit breezechms.com/terms-of-service."

Managing Opt-Outs People who do not want to receive text messages have two options:

1. Reply "STOP": The recipient can reply to any text thread with the word "STOP." This blocks the system at the carrier level and disables ALL text messages from Breeze, including individual volunteer reminders. (To resubscribe, the recipient must text the word "START" back to 874-47).

2. "Do Not Text" Profile Setting: Administrators can navigate to a person's profile and check the "Do Not Text" option beneath their Mobile Phone field. This prevents the profile from receiving group text messages, but they will still be able to receive individual, 1-on-1 text messages and automated volunteer reminders.

Troubleshooting SMS: Shared Number Conflicts

The Scenario: A church member's phone number exists in two different Breeze organization databases (e.g., their current church and a former church). Because all US-based Breeze organizations use the exact same shared SMS shortcode (874-47), the member may have trouble receiving texts from their current church. If they previously sent "START", the system might have reconnected them to their old church because it was the last one to have an active connection to their number.

The Solution:

1. Member's Action: The member must reply the word STOP to the shortcode 874-47. It is crucial they do this after a text from their former church is the most recent one in that message thread. This tells the mobile carrier to block communication, severing the connection to the old church.

2. Admin's Action: The administrator at the member's current church must then go into their Breeze profile and ensure their phone number is manually opted-in to receive texts.

3. Final Step: The admin should then send a new, individual text message from Breeze to the member. This re-establishes the communication link, connecting the member's phone number to the correct current church. (If these steps do not remove the block, please reach out to support@tithe.ly for advanced assistance).