Event text messages

Event RSVP text messages let you send RSVP texts to the event's audience and collect their replies as RSVP responses. They are created and scheduled from the event's Text messages section — on a narrower window it sits under the Comms menu (see Events — Overview (Document ID: 190)) — and go to the people in the event's Audience. Because replies are processed automatically, there are some important constraints to be aware of.

Creating an RSVP text message

1. Open the event's Text messages section. The screen is headed Text messages, and the text below it explains that replies of Yes or No update the recipient's RSVP for you.
2. Click Create new text message.
3. Configure:
   • Message Name — an internal name.
   • From sender — choose a Sender Number; a custom sender name cannot receive replies, so replies only work when sent from a text message number.
   • Send Rules — target the message by RSVP status.
   • Write your message — the message text, with @Merge field tokens as needed.
   • Unsubscribe — choose an opt-out method for recipients (create a custom message, or let recipients reply UNSUB).
   • Schedule — when the message sends.

How RSVP replies are processed

Replies to an RSVP text message are interpreted automatically, subject to these constraints. These rules used to be set out on the screen itself; that panel has been removed, so this guide is now the record of them.

• Replies are only counted within 24 hours of the scheduled send.
• Only Yes / Y (attending) or No / N (not attending) are treated as valid RSVP replies.
• If a recipient replies to a later SMS in the thread, their response is counted against the most recent message they received.
• Where a contact is invited to several events on the same day, only the latest RSVP is applied.
• The message must be sent from a text message number (Sender Number) — replies to a custom sender name are not supported.

Sending an RSVP text message — step by step

1. In the event's Text messages section, click Create new text message.
2. Set the Message Name, From sender (a Sender Number, not a custom name), Send Rules, your message (with @Merge field tokens), the Unsubscribe opt-out method, and the Schedule.
3. Send or schedule the message.
4. Remember: RSVP replies are only processed within 24 hours of the scheduled send, and only Yes/Y and No/N count.