Sending text messages in the Lead Center mobile app

In this article, you'll learn how to send and receive text messages to your tracking numbers using the Lead Center mobile app. 

Getting started

Before you start sending text messages you will need to:

- Register your company. All businesses using numbers for outbound text messaging are required to register their business. 

- Set up stop/unsubscribe keywords. To protect you and your customers from unsolicited text messages, we require the use of a keyword to allow customers to opt-in or opt-out to your text messaging campaigns.

Replying to a new text message

When a customer texts your business, you'll see their contact name in your Incoming inbox. 

1. When you open the Lead Center mobile app, choose the account and company you'd like to use. If you only have one account or company, it will be the only option in the menu, but you still have to select it from the menu.
   
   
2. Click Incoming at the bottom of the screen.
   
   
3. Find your contact's name and tap to respond to their text. When you click Respond, your text conversation will move from the Incoming section of your inbox to the Active section of your inbox. 
   
   
   
   
4. Tap on the conversation to open and reply to the message. When you've finished typing your message, press Send. Once an hour has passed without any activity in the conversation, the text will move to the Recent section of the app.

Sending a text message to a recent contact

Anyone who has recently contacted your business by phone or text will appear in the Recent inbox.

1. When you open the Lead Center mobile app, choose the account and company you'd like to use. If you only have one account or company, it will be the only option in the menu, but you still have to select it from the menu. Your Recent inbox will show.
   
   
2. Find the contact you'd like to text and tap on their name. Two icons will appear, allowing you to call or text them. Choose the Message icon to text that contact. This moves the text conversation to the Active section of your inbox.
   
   
   
   
3. Type your reply and press Send when finished. Once an hour has passed without any activity in the conversation, the text will move back to the Recent section of the app.

Starting a new text message conversation

You can text any mobile device from your local tracking numbers in the Lead Center mobile app.

1. When you open the Lead Center mobile app, choose the account and company you'd like to use. If you only have one account or company, it will be the only option in the menu, but you still have to select it from the menu. Your Recent inbox will show.
   
   
2. Click the plus (+) icon in the bottom right corner of the inbox and choose Text.
   
   
   
   
3. Enter the mobile number you'd like to text and choose the tracking number we should use to send your message. Only local tracking numbers can send text messages.
   
   
4. Type your message and click Send when finished. If your lead replies to you before an hour has passed, they'll appear in the Active section of your inbox. After 60 minutes of no replies from either party, the conversation will move to the Recent section of your inbox.

Text conversation settings

You can choose to keep all text conversations in the Lead Center mobile app active until closed out by an agent. Choosing this option will prevent text conversations from automatically timing out in the mobile app.

1. Click My Account on the top left, then select Account Settings.
   
   
2. Choose Details from the Account header on the left.
   
   
3. In Lead Center Settings, click the check box for Keep my text conversations in the Lead Center mobile app active until manually closed by an agent.

FAQs

Can I send MMS messages in the Lead Center mobile app?
Yes! You can now receive, view, and send MMS messages from your Lead Center mobile app. 

Can international numbers send and receive text messages?
Only local U.S. and Canadian tracking numbers can send and receive text messages.

Can I send links in a text message?
Yes, you can send a hyperlink in a text message. However, you would need to send the full link.