Sending your first message out to your contacts can be a daunting prospect. Whether sending to one person or a million, this guide will take you through each step of using our powerful Web SMS tool so you can be confident in sending out your message.

You can find the Web SMS tool either on the dashboard or on the left hand menu:

Click on either of these options and it will take you to a list of any scheduled or previously sent Web SMS’ and this is where we will find the option to create a new Web SMS:

As you can see we have a message that has been sent out already and one that is scheduled to go out in the future - If I want to stop this going out, I can do so by selecting the middle option under the Action header. To create our new Web SMS we need to select the ‘+’ symbol as highlighted above.

We then receive a choice of basic (Quick WebSMS) and Advanced (WebSMS) mode. By selecting 'Quick WebSMS' we get a concise option of all the basic features you need to send messages. 'WebSMS' on the other hand allows access to additional features such as naming your Web SMS, Suppression List and Seed List.

Quick WebSMS

• Sender ID - This is a great tool to be able to identify yourself to your recipients, you can use up to 11 alphanumeric characters, so you can either use your company name or an existing number that you have access to.
• Message - Here is where you will create your message, there are two options here - Static and Dynamic. You also have an option to insert an opt out, add a short URL and to add an attachment.
• Switch to WebSMS - If you decide after you begin inputting information that you need more features, this button will allow you to switch to advanced mode whilst still keeping all the data you've already entered

Web SMS

• WebSMS Name - This is for your own records so that you can refer back to it at a later date to view the report for this WebSMS. This will not been seen by your recipients.
• Recipients - This is where you select who you are sending the message to, you can click ‘Show All’ and this will bring up your existing contact lists. Alternatively you can add an individual number in the box below, just make sure you hit the ‘+’ symbol and you’ll see it move into the Recipients box above.
• Sender ID - This is a great tool to be able to identify yourself to your recipients, you can use up to 11 alphanumeric characters, so you can either use your company name or an existing number that you have access to.
• Message - Here is where you will create your message, there are two options here - Static and Dynamic. You also have an option to insert an opt out, add a short URL and to add an attachment.
• For more information about using the Advanced Features please see our Advanced Features Guide.

We set whether we want to send the message out ASAP or if we want to schedule it for any time in the future and then we hit Next.

This now brings us to an overview of the message that we have created, it will break down each section bit by bit. So here we can view the name we have given it, the sender ID we have set, the contact list we are sending it to, the message itself and when it is sending and also the amount of credits it will use.

• 1 credit is one (up to) 160 character message to a UK mobile number, it is possible to do longer messages but they will use multiple credits to do so - more information on pricing can be found here.

Once we are happy, we simply hit Send Web SMS and the message will be sent out, if we want to edit, save or cancel the message there are options to do so as well.

If you always use either basic or advanced mode, it is possible through the 'Account' button on the left hand menu to choose the 'Default Web SMS type' to open automatically upon selecting 'New Web SMS'

If you need any help in using the WebSMS feature then please don't hesitate to get in touch and one of the team will be happy to help.