SMS Plus

Overview

You can add the SMS Plus features to your dedicated Booking Rooster platform as an add-on to any Booking Rooster service plan - but not to Events Pronto. To use this feature you also need an SMS sending account with SendPulse.  Send Pulse will charge you directly per message segment. Why is the feature called SMS Plus?  It is an integration with the SMS SendPulse service plus 3 new Booking Rooster SMS functions.  To send SMS through a different provider please ask [e-mail] about your custom integration options. This help resource covers:

• How to add the SMS Plus feature
• SMS Plus 1 - automated reminders
• SMS Plus 2 - booking confirmations
• SMS Plus 3 - marketing messages
• How to disconnect the SMS Plus feature

Add SMS Plus

Join Send Pulse

To join Send Pulse, simply sign up at Send Pulse.  Note that:

• You will be signing up to their terms & conditions
• You will be charged at their current rates.
• Be sure to check the fine print of their rates.  At the time of writing, one message for billing purposes was defined as maximum 160 Latin characters (incl. spaces) or 70 Unicode characters, so:
  • You can send a message of 160 characters for their quoted 'message' rate.
  • You can SMS that is up to 6x this length, but
  • They will charge you per bundle of 160 characters, so

A message that is 320 characters long will cost you 2 x current message rate, one that is 480 characters long will cost you 3 x current message rate etc.

Add SMS Plus to your Booking Rooster Software

After signing up to SendPulse email [e-mail] to request the SendPulse SMS feature. Set-up fees apply.  Please read this whole article before sending your request. For rapid response include the following in your email:

• PO number to cover the set-up fee (if your company requires it)
• Send Pulse ID and secret (see instructions for getting this from SendPulse)
• Whether you want SMS reminders switched on, and your set-up preferences
• Whether you want SMS confirmations switched on, and your set-up preferences 

Find your SendPulse ID & Secret

Here's how to find your Send Pulse ID & Secret. 

• Log in to SendPulse
• Click on your profile (top right)
• Choose account settings
• Select API
• Copy and Paste the ID and secret

Note: It is important to copy and paste the ID and the secret.  Do not simply screenshot them.  Why?  It's almost impossible to retype that many numbers, letters and symbols without making an error. 

Automated SMS Reminders

Once you have added the SMS service:

• the automated ticketholder reminder service can be switched on and off by contacting [e-mail].  Normal activation and deactivation time is two business days. 
• You can also switch reminders on or off in particular courses or events by editing the event details. When requesting optional SMS Plus feature, please specify your reminder automation preferences:

• • Timing
  • Recipients 
  • Default content 
  • Editing content
  • Which courses or events you wish the SMS reminder to be applied on. 

Timing

By default, automated reminders are sent one day before the course or event starts.  You can request your automated reminder timing to be sent any number of days prior to the course or event start date.  The time of day these are sent is set at the time you implement SMS Plus.  Changing the time later is difficult so if you have a preferred time of day for SMS reminders to be sent, please specify this during implementation.

Recipients

Where automated SMS reminders are switched on at site level and in the event set-up, SMS reminders will be sent to all ticketholders that have mobile phone numbers in their booking.  It is important to note that:

• SMS reminders are not sent to bookers, only ticketholders.
• SMS reminders are only sent to those ticketholders that have mobile phone numbers.

Why aren't they sent to bookers? It takes a lot of characters to construct a meaningful message to bookers, and the costs to you would mount up.

Default content

You can specify default the content for reminders.  If you do not specify your own default content it will be added as:

"Hi, your {{event_name}} {course/event}} starts at {{ticket_start_time}} on {{ticket_start_date}} at {{venue}}!  {{Org Phone}}"

Note:  when choosing your own default content consider that:

• You pay SendPulse per block of characters (160 at the time of writing), so keep it short.
  
• Long course or event titles mean long SMS messages - consider using sub titles if you send SMS reminders.
  
• You can add remove or reminders yourself on a 'per course-type' basis.

 

Edit content

You can edit the content and apply it to reminders for events or courses of a type immediately by editing the message in the Organisation tab, Types menu (labelled Event Type, Course Type, Programme Type depending on your software configuration).  If you use delivery types to distinguish online courses from in-person courses, you can set different content for you online courses than for other courses.  Take care with this feature.

• Your default message with any existing additions can be seen at organisation/type.
• Anything that has {} around it is code that calls details from the booking or ticket.
• If you remove any {} symbols or edit anything within the {} you could create serious problem.

Applying automated SMS reminders to courses or events

If you specify the rules for applying SMS reminders when your SMS Plus service is set up, the SMS option will be switched on for those courses, events and templates you have specified to have them. It is best to specify  in terms of a criteria such as:

• All of a type
• All of a delivery type
• All public, all private or both.
• All of a location or or type of location.

You can  switch the SMS reminders on or off on any individual course, event or template yourself at any time:

• Go to Courses (or Events)
• Click "Edit (Course/Event) Details
• Scroll down to the "Course Options" section
• Check the "Send SMS Reminders" button
• Scroll to the bottom and click OK to cement your change - or apply to cement this change then make other changes.

If you would like your automated SMS reminder settings changed across a large number of existing courses or events request a quick change from [e-mail].

SMS Plus 2 Booking Confirmations

With SMS Plus you can send booking confirmations sent via SMS, email or both. You choose the defaults when your SMS Plus is implemented. Then, switch the feature on or off when you create or edit a course, event or template. When requesting The SMS Plus add-on please consider these elements and specify your booking confirmation preferences:

• SMS Booking Confirmation Settings
• Timing
• Recipients 
• Default content 
• Start date and time in booking confirmations
• Custom booking confirmation content
• Which courses or events you wish the SMS booking confirmations to be applied on. 

SMS Booking Confirmation Settings

For any course, event or template you have the option to 

• Send or Not Send SMS booking confirmation to the booker (you can send this in addition to or instead of email confirmations).
• If sending an SMS booking confirmation you can choose whether to include: 
  • An invoice link
  • A tickets link
  • Both of these
  • Neither of these

Timing

Like email booking confirmations, SMS confirmations are sent immediately the booking is complete.

Recipients

Booking confirmations are sent to all bookers that have a mobile number. Don't forget to make booker cell number compulsory if you switch to SMS notifications only.

Default confirmation content

Your booking confirmation content depends on your attachment preferences. Please read the notes below, as well as these templates:

• If tickets and invoices attached: 'Thank you for booking {{event_name}} at {venue} on {date} starting at {time}. You can download your tickets here: {{ticket_link}}. Please read the tickets carefully. You can download your invoice here: {{invoice_link}}. Please check the terms on your invoice.'
• If only tickets attached: 'Thank you for booking {{event_name}} at {venue} on {date} starting at {time}. You can download your tickets here: {{ticket_link}}. Please read the tickets carefully.'
• If only invoice attached: 'Thank you for booking {{event_name}} at {venue} on {date} starting at {time}. You can download your invoice here: {{invoice_link}}. Please check the terms on your invoice.
• If no attachments: 'Thank you for booking {{event_name}} at {venue} on {date} starting at {time}.'

Important Notes:

• Whether the start date and time display depends on whether these are checked in your course or event information.
• If you have chosen the 'online' venue from the venue dropdown the word 'at' will be removed so that the message reads "Thank you for booking {{event_name}} online on...."

Start date and time in booking confirmations

If everyone taking part in the course or event starts at the same time you will probably want to strengthen the confirmation message by including the start date and time in the confirmation. If you vary the start time or date by ticket this might cause bookers confusion, so you will want to switch it off.

• You control whether start date and/or time is included in:
  • Courses (or Events, Tours - depending on your configuration)
  • For a specific course or event click on: Edit (Course/Event Details)
  • Scroll down to the "Course Options" section
  • Click to choose options:
    • Include date in booking confirmations, tickets & invoices
    • Include start time in booking confirmations, tickets & invoices
    • Include end time in booking confirmations, tickets & invoices*

* This only controls email confirmations. End times are not displayed in SMS notifications unless you specifically add them as a custom option.

Custom booking confirmation content

The booking confirmation is set request using the Rooster's quick change service. To request custom content please email [e-mail]., specifying the exact content you require in your booking confirmations.

Applying SMS booking confirmations to courses or events

After SMS Plus is added you can switch SMS booking confirmations on or off for specific events or in specific templates. If you would like your SMS booking confirmations settings changed across a large number of existing events request a quick change from [e-mail]. 

SMS Plus 3 Marketing Messages

The SMS marketing message feature works similarly to email marketing and is automatically available as soon as SMS Plus is added. It is ideal for:

• Sending all ticketholders on a specific course or event a postponement or venue change notice.
• Sending all ticketholders on events within a date range a postponement notice.
• Keeping in touch with people who are doing online courses.
• Sending reminders about course work that needs to be completed
• Sending quick follow-up's tailored to the course.

This section covers:

• How to send an SMS message.
• How to see your SMS sending history.

Send an SMS notification

Here's how to send an SMS notification.

• Go to the Marketing tab.
• Click 'Create/Send a New Message
• Choose the "Send an SMS notification ..." option.
• Choose the option that best suits your need:
  • All courses in a date range
  • An upcoming course
  • A past course.
• If necessary, use the filters to limit the selection to courses of a specific type.
• Choose whether you want the message to go to ticketholders, bookers or both.
• The message will normally be sent within 15 minutes of pressing send.

If you're new to this feature why not set up a 'dummy' event with some of your colleagues and send a message to them before you try a wider audience?

See recent SMS activity

You can see a full list of the messages sent via both the marketing and auto reminder feature in the Marketing tab:

• Go to the Marketing tab.
• Click Recent SMS activity.
• View the summary.
• Click on a specific message to bring up full message details and the recipient list.

Disconnect SMS Plus

Do your Sendpulse account and Booking Rooster Software need a divorce?

Simply email [e-mail] asking for the SMS Plus features to be disabled or for a temporary block on the sending of SMS. Of course, you can keep the service but ask to switch off elements such as:

• All SMS reminders, or all reminders to courses or events that meet specific criteria (date range, type, delivery type etc)
• All SMS booking confirmations or all reminders to courses or events that meet specific criteria (date range, type, delivery type etc)

There is no charge for a full disconnect, for switching off SMS reminder, or for switching off all SMS booking confirmations. Switching off SMS reminder or confirmations off for all events of a type, delivery type, date range or the likes is available from the Rooster's quick change service. To request it please email your specific brief to [e-mail].

Any queries?

If you need further help please email  [e-mail]. or in an urgent situation call Booking Rooster support on [phone].