Welcome to the comprehensive guide on sending SMS and simple email blasts using Tithe.ly Messaging! Effective communication is essential for churches to engage with their community and donors. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to effortlessly send out SMS and email blasts, enabling you to reach your audience efficiently. Whether you're announcing upcoming events, sharing inspirational messages, or sending important updates, Tithe.ly Messaging makes it simple and convenient.
There are three types of Blasts that you can send from Tithely Messaging: SMS, Simple Email and Drag & Drop Emails. We'll go over SMS and Simple Email in this article. For Drag & Drop emails, visit Sending a Drag & Drop Email Blast.
User Permissions needed to access Messaging
Account Owner, Admin, or Limited Access with access granted to Messaging. If you have additional questions, please reference this article.
🚨 Important Update on SMS Regulation Changes 🚨
- 📌 For phone numbers in the "Pending Approval" phase, SMS containing URLs will be blocked starting November 8th, 2023.
- 📌 By January 31st, 2024, all SMS from these "Pending Approval" numbers, regardless of content, will also be blocked.
"Pending Approval" refers to phone numbers that are newly registered and awaiting full clearance, a process that takes roughly 3 weeks.
Both new customers registering their phone numbers and existing customers with numbers still in the "Pending Approval" phase will be affected.
🔗 Learn more about these changes and what they mean for you.
Creating an SMS Blast
Important Note on Timing and Immediate Communication
Tithely Messaging should not used for last-minute or time-sensitive communication because we cannot guarantee immediate sending or that it will be sent at the exact scheduled time. While a 2-3 hour delay is not typical, it can occur depending on the back-end sending queue. The queue is usually larger during popular sending times, such as Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Therefore, for urgent communications, please consider alternative methods to ensure timely delivery.
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Select Messaging from the left-hand menu.
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From within Tithely Messaging, click Blasts from the left side menu.
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Click the Create New Blast button on the top right of the window.
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Select SMS under Blast Type.
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Click Continue to Content.
Note: You can preview your message before sending it (preview on the right). - Enter a Blast Name.
- Select Contact or Groups as the recipient.
- Contacts allow you to send to select or all contacts.
- Groups allow you to send to a single group or multiple groups.
- Enter a Name.
- Enter an SMS Message.
Note: SMS Blasts are limited to 800 characters or less. If you receive an error but are using less than 800 characters, it may be related to pasted content or using unsupported characters. In this instance, please reach out to our Support Team and we can help by analyzing the content you are attempting to send.
Additional Note: There is no option to attach a file to an email or email Blast with Tithely Messaging. -
Next, select one of the following options:
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Send Now: Send Blast right away.
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Send Later: Schedule the Blast to send on a specific date/time.
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Save Changes: Save your Blast as a draft.
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You're all set! 🎉
Creating a Simple Email Blast
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Select Messaging from the left-hand menu.
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From within Tithely Messaging, click Blasts from the left side menu.
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Click the Create New Blast button on the top right of the window.
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Select Simple Email
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Click Continue to Content
Note: You can preview your message before sending it (preview on the right).
- Enter a Blast Name.
- Enter a Subject.
- Select Contact or Groups as the recipient.
- Contacts allow you to send to select or all contacts.
- Groups allow you to send to a single group or multiple groups.
- Enter a Message.
Note: There is no option to attach a file to an email or email Blast with Tithely Messaging. -
Next, select one of the following options:
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Send Now: Email the Blast right away.
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Send Later: Schedule the Blast to send on a specific date/time.
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Save Changes: Save your Blast as a draft.
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You're all set! 🎉
Using Smart Fields
Add in First Name, Last Name, Church Name or your Unsubscribe link using Smart Fields. The information used in Smart Fields is pulled directly from your Tithely People database.
- To add a smart field, once you are in a text field area, select the Smart Field.
- Select your smart field option: First Name, Last Name, Church Name or your Unsubscribe link. Your selected smart field will enter where your cursor is in the text field.
When Messages Fail to Send
Rarely an email or text will fail to send. This will usually be due to the carrier. Tithely Messaging will display the reason for the failed message.
In almost every circumstance of a failed message, if you wait a couple of minutes and try again, the message should go through.
Additionally, you should make sure that you have submitted your SMS registration form. If you have not submitted your form, or 3 weeks have not passed since submitting your form, you will not have success sending SMS Blasts. For more information on submitting an SMS registration form, see this article: Registering Your Messaging Phone Number
Example of an Error Message from a Blast