This guide covers how to use iHomefinder MAX text messaging and marketing automation to engage leads effectively. Learn about setup, compliance, and best practices to optimize your campaigns and streamline communication.
Feature Overview
With iHomefinder’s drip texting functionality, your Marketing Automation campaigns will send emails and text messages to leads who opt in to receiving texts. Texting seamlessly integrates with automated drip campaigns so you can manage all your communication from the same place.
Configure your Texting Number
The first step to configure texting is to click 'Enable Texting Now' under Communications -> Texting. This will pop up a wizard where you will enter your texting number's area code, call forwarding number (in case a lead calls the texting number) and time zone.
Privacy Policy
To use iHomefinder’s text messaging marketing automation it is required that you create a privacy policy that addresses SMS texting on your website. Learn More
Assign Leads to Texting Campaigns
Change your marketing automation rules so they point leads to one of the new hybrid texting campaigns, or a texting campaign you created on your own.
How Text Messages Are Sent From Accounts
Using your chosen area code, our system will rent a 10-digit phone number exclusively to send your texts. When a lead who has agreed to receive texts is added to a Marketing Automation campaign with text messages included, they will be sent text messages on the campaign’s schedule.
What Can Be Included in A Text
The software supports both SMS & MMS texting. You can text a lead emojis, images, gifs as well as recommended listings. The software also supports merge tags so you can easily include personalized information.
New Hybrid Texting Campaigns
When you opt into this feature you will have new hybrid (containing both text and emails) campaigns in your account. Make sure you change your automation rules to use these new campaigns!
View Lead Responses to Text Messages
If a lead responds to a text message from a campaign, you will receive a notification with the lead’s response, the last text sent from your account and the lead’s contact information. The response will display on your account’s dashboard as well as the lead’s individual profile.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Text Messaging Marketing Automation feature.
Who will receive texts?
Only leads that have expressly given consent to being texted will receive text messages from your campaigns. When you join the texting beta, your contact forms will be updated to include texting consent language. Leads who submit a contact form with this consent language will be eligible to receive texts. Existing leads who have not given consent will not receive texts.
How are text messages sent from my account?
Using your chosen area code, our system will rent a 10-digit phone number exclusively to send your texts. Leads will always receive texts from the same number. When a lead who has agreed to receive texts is added to a Marketing Automation campaign with text messages included, they will be sent text messages on the campaign’s schedule.
Can I manually opt a lead into receiving text messages?
No. A lead must expressly consent to receiving text messages via an opt-in form on the website.
What happens when a lead replies to a text message?
If a lead responds to a text message from a campaign, you will receive a notification with the lead’s response, the last text sent from your account and the lead’s contact information. The response will display on your account’s dashboard as well as the lead’s individual profile.
What happens if a lead calls a texting number?
If a lead calls your texting number, the call will forward to the phone number listed on your account. You can change your forwarding number in the Control Panel under Communication > Texting.
Why am I not able to send text messages right away?
It takes a few business days for texting numbers to be registered with the message carriers before texting can begin. We register your numbers in order to keep your messages deliverable and compliant across carriers.
Can I use one of the texting numbers to text a lead outside of a campaign?
No. This feature is for automated texting. All texts are sent through Marketing Automation campaigns.
Do I have to manually add text messages to my campaigns to start sending text messages?
No. When you join the beta you will have new hybrid (containing both text and emails) campaigns in your account. Make sure you change your automation rules to use these new campaigns!
How do I view the text messages in a campaign?
Text messages have a different icon than email messages, so you can tell the difference between the two. Click on the Text message name to see or edit the content.
How do I add a text message to a campaign?
You can add a text message to a campaign by following the steps below.
- Click into a campaign where you want to add the message
- Click the + ADD MESSAGE button
- Select “Text Message”
What types of things can I include in a text?
The software supports both SMS & MMS texting. You can text a lead emojis, images, gifs as well as recommended listings. The software also supports merge tags so you can easily include personalized information.
How does a lead opt out of texting?
A lead can respond to any automated text with any of these words and they will automatically be unsubscribed from the texting portion of an automated marketing campaign.
- STOP
- END
- QUIT
- CANCEL
- UNSUBSCRIBE
- UNSUB
- STOP ALL
What is the TCPA?
The TCPA is the Texting Consumer Protection Act. It lays out very specific rules that must be followed when using automated text messaging. TCPA violations can result in penalties of up to $500 per violation, with willful violations up to $1,500 per violation.