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V3: How to send a Group or Individual message / text / SMS
V3: How to send a Group or Individual message / text / SMS

Send a text message (SMS) to a person, people, or group(s). Recommended: Use your local A2P (10-digit) number not the short code.

Anne Heath avatar
Written by Anne Heath
Updated over 3 months ago

2024.06.19 NEW OPTION: BROWSER EXTENSION

Would you like to send messages from within your ChMS itself? In other words, no need to sign in to PastorsLine?

Download our Browser extension: https://pastorsline.com/browser-extension/

CURRENT RECOMMENDATION:

USE YOUR LOCAL PASTORSLINE NUMBER

OR OUR BROWSER EXTENSION (see above)

Previously, we offered our PastorsLine shared short code (77411) and toll-free numbers to improve the sending rate of your texts and to help you avoid carriers filtering your text messages to spam.

Since then, all PastorsLine numbers have become ‘recognized’ numbers in the new A2P 10DLC system. As a result, they have been given trust scores. These trust scores mean that mobile carriers should not filter your texts as spam, and the sending rates should be higher.

The recommendation now is to use your local, 10-digit PastorsLine number.

How to get to this page

Step 0

Log in to PastorsLine.

Step 1

Click on Create New (top item in left-hand most column). The Create New box will open.

Step 2

By default, you will be in the All tab. Click on Send Text, Pic or Video.

The screen will refresh and this is what you will see:

Don't worry! We will enlarge and break it down right now. We just wanted you to get the overall feel of the page.

The videos below show another way to get to a new message. However, once you are there, the create process is the same.

Creating a new text message

2024.02.20 To help prevent your people from sending messages by mistake...

If you hit the keyboard shortcut key for Send, a message will pop up asking you to confirm your send action.

Part 1: Page Header

Counters at the top of the page will keep track of the number of recipients and the total credits your message will cost. In the image above, both are zero as we have not selected anyone yet nor written any message.

Part II: Message

(1) In the image below, the date and time are auto-populated.


(2) Blue box in image below

Here is where you can add merge fields and/or use a message template.

Then type your message in the empty message block.

(3) Yellow box in image above

Add items to your message as needed: images, videos, URLs, etc. If you click on More, you will see further options. You can also set your signature.

(4) Pink arrow in image above

As you type your message and/or add attachments, URLs, etc., the message statistics will auto update. This allows you to keep track of your costs.

As you type...

The mobile phone on the right-hand side of the screen will give you a good idea of what your message will look like when it is received.

NOTE: What you see in your preview may not be exactly what a message receiver sees. This is due to differences in phone operating software.

To (Recipients)

Click here to add your contacts, groups, and/or tags.

From (The sending phone number)

Click here to choose a different phone number from the one shown (if needed).

Scheduling

Click on the Edit.

The Schedule Message box will pop up.

Sending your message

Notice that the message statistics are updated (blue and yellow boxes in image below).
The Send button is now enabled (pink button in image below). Click to send your text.

You may also wish to check out the links below for more information:

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