SMS Broadcasting

Copyright 1997-2007 Mekashron.
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<p <span style="font-size:14pt">'''SMS Broadcasting'''</span><br /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<p class="style8"><span class="style9">
M</span>ekashron is a powerful sales tool for your business and nowhere is this more apparent than in its facilities for automated campaigns.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">In this chapter we will look specifically at using <strong>SMS Broadcasting</strong> campaigns. The topics we will cover are:
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
</font>
<br />
<table width="366" border="1">
  <tr>
    <td width="356" bgcolor="#E8E8E8"><ol>
      <li><a href="#setup" target="_self">SMS Settings</a></li>
      <li><a href="#create" target="_self">Create SMS Campaign</a></li>
      <li><a href="#add" target="_self">Add Entities to an SMS Campaign</a></li>
      <li><a href="#stats" target="_self">SMS Campaign Statistics</a></li>
      <li><a href="#reports" target="_self">SMS Campaign Reports</a></li>
      <li><a href="#summary" target="_self">Summary</a></li>
      </ol></td>
  </tr>
</table>

<p class="style2">
At this stage, we assume that you have completed the following tasks: 
<ol>
<li>Successfully <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_Installion.ashx">Installed Mekashron</a> </li>
<li>Set up or imported your <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_EntitiesProfile.ashx">Entities</a></li>
<li>Reviewed the chapter on the <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_Editor.ashx"> Mekashron Editor</a>, which is used to create the SMS messages you will send in your campaigns.</li>
</ol>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
You will need to be logged into your Mekashron system as an administrator in order to set up <strong>SMS Campaigns</strong>.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>

<p class="style3"><a name="#setup"></a>1 - SMS Settings</p>
<br />
<p class="style2">
To set up Mekashron for <strong>SMS Broadcasting</strong>:
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
From the main Mekashron menu, select <strong>Main -> Settings</strong>.
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Campaign1.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 1.1 � Accessing Settings from the Main Menu</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
In the resulting dialog box choose the <strong>SMS</strong> tab:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms8.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 1.2 � The SMS Settings Tab</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
When you first wish to set up Mekashron to send SMS messages, you will need to set up an account and purchase some SMS text credits from the Mekashron website. To do this, click on the <strong>Buy More Credits</strong> button:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms9.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 1.3 � The Buy More Credits Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
This takes you to the Mekashron site where you will be guided through setting up an SMS account and buying credits. During this process you will create a username and password.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
Once you have done this, please return to the SMS settings form and fill in the username and password you have just created, then click on <strong>Verify Account</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms10.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 1.4 � The SMS Account Settings</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Once your SMS account has been verified online, the screen will update to show how many credits you have:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms11.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 1.5 � The Account Balance Display</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
The final setting on the <strong>SMS Settings</strong> screen is the <strong>From Number</strong>. This is where you enter the number that you would like to display as the sender, when your client or prospect receives an SMS message from your Mekashron system:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms12.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 1.6 � The From Number Setting</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
It is important that you set up the correct <strong>From Number</strong> so that your clients or prospects can recognize you as the sender, and indeed contact you if desired. When you send SMS messages via Mekashron, the messages are sent out over your internet connection and then are transmitted from our own central SMS server here at Mekashron to your recipients.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
When you have finished setting up your system for SMS, click <strong>OK</strong> to save your changes and exit the settings screen.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>


<p class="style3"><a name="#create"></a>2 - Create SMS Campaign</p>
<br />
<p class="style2">
There are three main steps for creating <strong>SMS campaigns</strong>:
<ol>
<li>Select your entities</li>
<li>Create your SMS message</li>
<li>Send your SMS messages</li>
</ol>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
In the main Mekashron <strong>Entity List</strong> screen, select the entities to whom you wish to send this SMS campaign:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Fax6.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.1 � Selecting Entities for an SMS Campaign</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
For tips on how to filter, find and select the list of entities that you wish to use, please refer to <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_SearchEntities.ashx">Search Entities</a>.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Once you are happy with your prospect list, select <strong>Campaign -> Send SMS</strong> from the <strong>Main Menu</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms1.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.2 � Creating an SMS Campaign from the Main Menu</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Alternatively, you can simply click on the <strong>SMS</strong> button:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms2.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.3 � The SMS Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Either of these actions will bring up the <strong>Mekashron Editor</strong> for you to compose your SMS message in:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms3.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.4 �Mekashron Editor in SMS Mode</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
The functionality of the <strong>Mekashron Editor </strong>is fully documented here: <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_Editor.ashx">Editor</a>.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Please note the button labeled <strong>Send SMS</strong>, that is available in the <strong>Mekashron Editor</strong> when you are using it in <strong>SMS Mode</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms5.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.5 � The Send SMS Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
You can now open an existing SMS message that you have composed previously in a separate file. To do this, select <strong>File -> Open</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Fax21.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.6 � Opening a Pre-Composed Message in the Mekashron Editor</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
This gives you the opportunity to browse to a location on your PC or your network and select an existing file in which you have already written the text for your SMS message.
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Fax22.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.7 � The Windows Open File Dialog Box</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
As you can see, Mekashron will allow you to open a variety of file types in the Mekashron Editor. However, as SMS messages must be plain, unformatted text files, it is recommended to only open Text files for creating your SMS messages.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
If you do not have a pre-written message, you can compose your message directly in the Editor. Note that formatting does not function when the Editor is in SMS mode, simply because SMS messages are always sent as plain text and cannot be formatted.
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms4.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.8 � Composing an SMS Message in the Editor</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
To customize the message for your own clients and prospects, you can use the <strong> Macro</strong> function to insert personalized fields.  For detailed instructions on how to do this, please refer to the <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_Editor.ashx">Editor</a> section in this chapter.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
In our example we wish to personalize the message with the client�s name:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms7.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.9 � A Personalized SMS Message</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Once you are happy with your message, you can send it by clicking on the <strong>Send SMS</strong> button:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms5.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.10 � The Send SMS Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
You will be presented with the <strong>Options</strong> for sending an SMS message:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms13.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 2.11 � The SMS Sending Options Screen</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
The <strong>Campaign</strong> options in this screen are:
<ul><li><strong>Campaign Name</strong> - If you wish to save this message as a campaign, enter a new campaign name here and select the box below, <strong>Save as Campaign</strong></li>
<li><strong>Save as Campaign</strong> - If this option is selected then the <strong>Campaign Name</strong> field above is a required field. However, if you simply want to send this SMS message as a one-off event rather than a campaign, then you can de-select this option and leave the text box above empty.</li>
<li><strong>Apply only to new entities</strong> - When you later reuse the same SMS campaign, if this option is NOT checked then you will be able to send the message to ALL the entities you have selected in the <strong>Entity List</strong>. However, if you wish to ensure that you don�t send a duplicate SMS message to prospects who have already received a copy, please check this box in order to send the SMS message to additional entities with no risk of annoying your clients by sending duplicates.
</li></ul>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
The other options, on the right of the screen, are:
<ul><li><strong>Schedule To:</strong> - Here you enter the date and time when you would like your SMS messages to commence transmission.</li>
<li><strong>Spooler Priority</strong> - In this drop down you can select a priority of <strong>Low, Normal</strong> or <strong>High</strong>. In this way you can create multiple campaigns to be sent during the same time frame, and control which are spooled with a higher priority to get sent out first.</li>
</ul>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Once you have set the options for sending your SMS message, click <strong>OK </strong> to send the SMS campaign, and the messages will be sent out over your internet connection, via the Mekashron SMS servers.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Once you have sent a campaign, you can view its progress and status in your outbox. For more information, please see the <a href="http://www.mekashron.com/MB3_Campaign_Manage.ashx">Campaigns Manage</a> chapter.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>

<p class="style3"><a name="#add"></a>3 - Add Entities to an SMS Campaign</p>
<br />
<p class="style2">
Once you have set up one or more SMS campaigns, you can easily add more clients or prospects (<strong>Entities</strong>) to the campaign in order to send the same SMS message out to another batch of clients.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
First, select the set of entities that you would like to add to the campaign in the <strong>Entities</strong> screen:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Fax18.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 3.1 � Selecting Additional Entities to Add to an SMS Campaign</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
Note that if you filter the entities to show all those you wish to add, you can simply right click and choose <strong>Select All</strong> to quickly select all of the entities currently shown in the list:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/selectall.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 3.2 � Selecting All Entities in the Filtered List</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
As you did when creating an SMS campaign, now select <strong>Campaign -> Send SMS</strong>, or click on the <strong>SMS</strong> button.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
When the <strong>Mekashron Editor</strong> opens in SMS mode, by default it opens with a new document (in other words a fresh, new campaign). To open an existing <strong>Campaign</strong>, click on <strong>Campaign</strong> and then select the existing campaign you would like to use.
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms14b.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 3.3 � Selecting an Existing SMS Campaign</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
To add the <strong>entities </strong> that we selected to this campaign, we can now click the <strong>Send SMS</strong> button: 
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms5.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 3.4 � The Send SMS Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
In the <strong>Options</strong> screen, this time Mekashron has pre-filled the <strong>Campaign Name</strong> field for us as you can see below:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms6.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 3.5 � The Options Screen for an Existing SMS Campaign</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
<p class="style2">
The key option at this point is the <strong>Apply only to new entities</strong> checkbox. Ensure that this is checked if you simply want to send the campaign out to the new entities that you have added and ensure that no duplicates are sent out to entities that have already received this SMS message. However, if you wish to send out the message to ALL of the entities that you have selected, even if some of them were in the original distribution list, then de-select this option.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>

<p class="style3"><a name="#stats"></a>4 - SMS Campaign Statistics</p>
<br />
<p class="style2">
In this section we will look at the statistical information that Mekashron gives you with regard to your SMS campaigns.
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
To access the statistics, from the Main Mekashron menu select <strong>Tools -> Statistics</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Email20.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.1 - Accessing Statistics from the Main Menu</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Alternatively, you can click on the <strong>Statistics</strong> button:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Email26.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.2 - The Statistics Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
In the <strong>Statistics Type</strong> box on the left expand the <strong>&Campaign</strong> group and then select <strong>SMS</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/smsstatsbox.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.3 - The Statistics Type Box</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Here is an example of some SMS statistics:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/smsstats.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.4 - SMS Campaign Statistics</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
As you can see, the statistics are shown in graphical form on the right of the screen.  The graph and data change dynamically depending on your selections:
<ul><li><strong>Date</strong> - The From and To date and time for the period you wish to view:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/Email23.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.5 - The Date Control</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Campaigns</strong> - In this selection list you simply select the campaigns you wish to view information for:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/smscampaigns.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.6 - The Campaigns Selection List</strong></li>
</ul>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Once you are happy with the statistics view, you can print or save your output:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email25.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 4.7 - Printing or Saving Your Statistics</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
If you select the <strong>BMP</strong> option, then when you click the <strong>Print Statistics</strong> button you will be able to save the statistical view as an image on your PC or network.
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
If you select the <strong>Printer</strong> option, then Mekashron will send the output to your printer.
</p><p>&nbsp</p>

<p class="style3"><a name="#reports"></a>5 - SMS Campaign Reports</p>
<br />
<p class="style2">
In this section we will look at the reporting facilities that Mekashron gives you with regard to your SMS campaigns.
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
To access the reports, from the Main Mekashron menu select <strong>Tools -> Reports: </strong>
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email21.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.1 - Accessing Reports from the Main Menu</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Alternatively, you can click on the <strong>Reports</strong> button:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email27.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.2 - The Reports Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
In the <strong>Report Type</strong> pane, expand the <strong>&Campaign</strong> option and then select <strong>SMS</strong>:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms15.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.3 - The Report Type Pane</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
You are now presented with all of the options in the right hand pane for filtering your SMS campaign report:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms16.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.4 - The SMS Campaign Reporting Options</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
At the top right, select the business whose data you wish to report on:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email30.jpg"><br /><br /> 
<strong>Figure 5.5 - The Business Dropdown</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Next, you can specify the date and time range of data you wish to include:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email31.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.6 - The Date Control</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
In the <strong>Campaigns</strong> list, you can check all the campaigns you wish to include in this report:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms17.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.7 - The Campaigns List</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
You can also filter your report by the status of the sent messages, in the <strong>Status</strong> checklist:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms18.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.8 - The Statuses List</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Once you have chosen your filtering options, you can customize the fields that will be shown on your report:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms19.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.9 - The Visible Fields Control</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Select those fields that you wish to include, and if desired use the arrow buttons:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email35.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.10 - The Control for Moving the Visible Fields</strong><br /><br />
� to move those fields into the order that you wish to have them displayed on the report.
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
When you are ready to create your report, select the output type you desire:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/reportformat.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.11 - Selecting the Output Type</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
� and then choose the page setup you want your report to have:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email37.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.12 - Choosing the Orientation of the Report</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
� before clicking the <strong>Generate Report</strong> button:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/email38.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.13 - The Generate Report Button</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p><p class="style2">
Here is an example of an SMS campaign report in <strong>Preview</strong> mode:
<br /><br /><img src="{UP}Campaigns/sms20.jpg"><br /><br />
<strong>Figure 5.14 - An SMS Campaign Report in Preview Mode</strong>
</p><p>&nbsp</p>

<p class="style3"><a name="#summary"></a>6 - Summary</p>
<br />
<p class="style2">
In this section we have covered all the SMS messaging and campaigns options that Mekashron gives you. In particular, you also have the simple yet powerful <strong>Macro</strong> functionality that enables you to personalize your SMS messages for each client or prospect. 
</p><p>&nbsp</p>
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