Sending an SMS

Overview

Use the Heed SMS sending feature to easily send text messages to users' mobile devices anywhere in the world.

Sending an SMS

1. Open the Heed Admin Portal and click Create.
2. Click Create your own, then click on SMS.
3. Using the recipient filter; search for the recipients of your message.
4. Enter a name for your message (this will not be sent as part of the message)
   
5. If you have configured a different SMS from name, then select it in the From dropdown; otherwise leave the default of Heed.
6. Enter the content of your message in the Content box.
7. Finally, click Send Now to send your message.

A note on message length

An SMS message is limited to 160 characters. This character limit ensures that messages can be efficiently transmitted through the cellular network. If your message exceeds this limit, it will be automatically divided into multiple smaller messages, each containing up to 160 characters, and sent sequentially to the recipient's device. Recipients will receive these segmented messages as a single continuous message, so it's essential to be mindful of the character count to ensure your communication is clear and complete, even when it spans multiple SMS messages. Additionally, it's important to keep in mind that there is typically a charge per SMS message, so longer messages may result in increased messaging costs.

Flash SMS

A "Flash SMS" (Short Message Service) is a type of text message that appears directly on the recipient's mobile phone screen without the need for the recipient to open or save the message. Unlike standard SMS messages, which are typically stored in the recipient's inbox until read, Flash SMS messages are displayed immediately on the phone's screen and are not saved in the inbox or sent items.

Flash SMS messages are often used for urgent or important notifications, such as emergency alerts, one-time passwords (OTPs), or critical updates, as they grab the recipient's attention instantly. However, because they are not stored like regular SMS messages, recipients may not have the opportunity to review them later, and they may disappear once the user dismisses or closes the message. Additionally, not all mobile phones and networks support Flash SMS, so compatibility can vary.

You can send your message as a Flash SMS message by toggling the Flash SMS switch when creating your message. 

Templates

You can create SMS message templates to save time when sending similar messages in the future. 

How to Create a Template:

1. Open the Create SMS page as you normally would.
2. Enter the content of the SMS message you wish to use.
3. Click Save as Template.
4. In the modal that appears, provide a name and description for your template.
   
   
   
5. Click Save to store your template.

How to Use a Template:

1. Select the template you want to use from the Templates dropdown box.
   
   
   
2. If necessary, use the search function to find a specific template.

How to Edit an Existing Template:

1. Choose the template you want to edit from the Templates dropdown box.
2. Click Save Template.
3. Make any changes to the content in the modal.
4. Once you're done editing, click Save to update the template.