Testing Your SMS Templates

Ensuring that your SMS templates function as intended is critical for maintaining the quality of your communications. Testing your templates allows you to preview the appearance and functionality before they reach your contacts, ensuring messages are delivered as intended. For those looking to refine or create new templates, see the How to Create an SMS Template and Updating Your SMS Templates articles.

 

Methods to Test SMS Templates

While Creating the Template

  1. Enter Mobile Number: As you finalize your template, input your mobile number in the Mobile Number field.
  2. Send Test SMS: Click Send to receive the template as a test SMS on your phone. This test will display Contact Variables as placeholders (e.g., FIRSTNAME), not actual contact information.
  3. Review and Proceed: Ensure the message meets your expectations before proceeding to save the template.

Testing an Existing Template for Admins

  1. Access the Desired Project: From the admin homepage, open the relevant project.
  2. Select SMS Templates: Open the Email, SMS & Docs menu then select SMS Templates.
  3. Open Your Template: Click on the template’s Display Name you wish to test.
  4. Test Your Template: Enter your mobile number in the Send SMS Test field and click Send to see how the SMS appears to a recipient.
  5. Finalize Changes: If satisfied, save any modifications by clicking Save.

Testing an Existing Template for Callers

  1. Access My SMS: From the Caller homepage, click on My SMS at the top of the page.

  2. Navigate to SMS Templates: Open the SMS Templates section from the top of the page.

  3. Open Your Template: Click on the Display Name of the template you want to test.
  4. Test Your Template: Enter your mobile number in the Send SMS Test field and click Send to see how the SMS appears to a recipient.
  5. Finalize Changes: If satisfied, save any modifications by clicking Save.

As a Contact within the Project

For a comprehensive test that shows exactly what your contacts experience:

  1. Add Yourself as a Contact: Incorporate your details into the VanillaSoft project as a new contact.
  2. Send Communications: Any SMS sent to this contact entry will mirror what other contacts receive, providing insight into the actual user experience.

For guidance on adding yourself as a contact, refer to the How To Add a Single Contact article.

After thoroughly testing your SMS templates and implementing any necessary adjustments, you are set to enhance your outreach with personalized, effective SMS communications. For additional information on how to deploy these templates effectively, review the Using an SMS Template article. 

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