Introduction

If you have a LoftyWorks text package, you can send and receive text messages from contacts. 

This article will review how to send and receive text messages with LoftyWorks.

Summary:  

• Character Limits
• Text Settings
• Sending Text Messages with LoftyWorks
• Receiving Text Messages from Contacts
• Replying to a Contact

Character Limits

One text message can have up to 160 characters. If Non-GSM-7 Characters are included in the message, you can have up to 70 characters.

Common examples of non-GSM-7 characters:

• Emoji (😃🔥💯 etc.)

• Smart quotes: “ ” ‘ ’

• En dash and em dash: – —

• Curly brackets or non-standard symbols: • ™ © ® ±

• Accented letters not in GSM-7: á í ó ú ñ ç ê â ô (many others depending on the accent and language)

• Non-Latin characters: 你好, مرحبا, नमस्ते, etc.

If the text message exceeds the character limit (160 or 70 characters), it will be sent as two messages.

Text Settings

Virtual Phone Numbers

All text messages through LoftyWorks will be sent from one of the virtual phone numbers set up with the dialler under Personal Settings > Call/Text Settings > My Numbers

There is NOT an option to "mask" the virtual numbers. When you send text messages via LoftyWorks, they will be sent from the virtual number you select. 

For more information on setting up virtual numbers, please see these articles: 

• Getting Started with a Virtual Number
• Company Number(relink)

Text Subscription Message 

Enable this feature to automatically send the following text message to contacts the first time the contact is texted: Reply "unsubscribe" to opt-out of future text communication.
If contacts choose to unsubscribe, their Text Message Permission to Contact setting will be set to 'No'.

This setting is located in Personal Settings > Call & Text > Info & Settings. 

This setting is located in Personal Settings > Call & Text > Info & Settings

When enabled, mass text messages will not be sent during the quiet hours and will be scheduled to be sent when the quiet hours are over.

The quiet hours do not affect 1:1 text messages or smart plan text messages.

Sending Text Messages with LoftyWorks

To send a text message to a contact via the contact profile, click the "Text" option.

A pop-up window allows you to draft your text message. Click the drop-down menu on the From line to select the virtual phone number the text is sent from.

While you can enter any message you like in the text box, we also offer several tools to help you craft the best message possible. These icons are defined from left to right below:

1. AI Writing Assistant
   1. This tool utilises AI to help you write a text using prompts and keywords.
2. Insert Properties
   1. This tool allows you to insert a link to your own or your team's property
3. Video (Beta Feature)
   1. If you see the Video icon, you have the option to send a video text message. This feature is currently being beta-tested
4. MMS, Image Messaging
   1. The photo icon allows you to send an image. Your Design Center templates are also available to be sent
5. Text Templates
   1. Your personal and company text templates are available here
6. Email and Text Variables(relink)
   1. The hashtag icon contains various variables. This allows you to personalise a text without entering the personal information yourself
7. Virtual Business Cards
   1. The virtual business card is the contact card for you and your company members. 

You can also send mass text messages to contacts from the Contacts page.

Learn More: Send Mass Emails & Texts

Receiving Text Messages from Contacts

Replies from the contact will appear in LoftyWorks under the contact profile as well as your LoftyWorks Workspaces.

To receive a notification that you received a message on your mobile phone, enable the option "Forward incoming text messages to another number". 

Please keep in mind that this is not an actual message from the contact; it is only a notification that you have received a new text message.

See this article for more information: Call/Text Package Settings(relink)

Replying to a Contact

To reply to a text message, first click on the chat icon. This will open the chat panel with the most recent messages at the top of the list. Select the contact that you want to respond to. The text can be crafted directly in the chat panel.

The same options will be available to select which number to text from, insert variables, and text templates.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this topic or anything else, please get in touch with our Support Team. You can email us at <Support@LoftyWorks.com> or call us on +44 330 321 3500.