Using TextCampaign

Sending a message

Step one: create your data file

1. Create a CSV (Comma Delimited) file containing your list of mobile numbers, and any additional information you want to use in your message.  The mobile number can be entered with or without both a leading zero and a country code.   You don’t need a header row.  You can create the file in Excel, but you must save it as CSV (Comma Delimited).

Step two: import your data

1. Login to Text Anywhere and select TextCampaign from the top menu.
2. Enter a name for your Campaign.
3. Browser to select your file, then click Upload File.   The first three lines of your file will be displayed.
4. Select the column that contains the mobile numbers from the drop down list.
5. If your list contains non-UK numbers, check the box.  Remember that messages sent to international numbers may cost more.  See Text Anywhere's list of International SMS Charges for details.
6. From the column list below, select any columns that contain data you want to include in your message.
7. Click Next Step.

Step three: create and send your message

1. Write your message.  To included personalised information, type %ColumnNumber%, where ColumnNumber is the number of the column you want to include, e.g. %C03%
2. Click Next Step.  
3. Set your Reply Options:
   • No reply, send 11 characters if you do not want recipients to be able to reply. Input the text to show the recipient who sent the text. 
     • IMPORTANT: the text you input in the no reply box must be an approved sender ID.
   • Reply to my phone to have replies sent to  a specified mobile or SMS capable landline.
   • Reply to my inbox to have replies sent to your Text Anywhere inbox.
   • Reply to my email to have replies sent to a specified email address.   
4. If you want to schedule the message to be sent later, click on Schedule and Smoothing Options, and set the date and time you want the message to be sent.
5. Click Send Message.  

International numbers

Please check our guidance for sending messages to international numbers.

Sender ID approval

Sender ID's must must be approved in advance by TextAnywhere.  When you request a Text Anywhere account, we will ask you to identify a sender ID of 11 characters or less. We will add this to your individual account, once it is approved.

When sending a message, only input text that is approved when you set up your account. Using unapproved text can cause your message to not be delivered.

You can also use one of the generic University of Edinburgh sender IDs.

Generic UoE sender IDs

• UoE

• Edin Uni

Viewing sent campaigns

Campaigns remain available for 12 months, and will then be deleted.   If you delete a campaign through the interface, you will no longer be able to view that campaign, but it will remain on Text Anywhere's systems until 12 months have passed.  If you need a campaign to be deleted earlier, contact IS Helpline.

To view your sent messages:

1. Select TextCampaign from the top menu.
2. Select View Sent Campaigns in the left hand menu, and select the Campaign you want to view. 

Checking and updating scheduled messages

You can change or delete scheduled messages up to their scheduled send time. 

1. Select TextCampaign from the top menu.
2. Select View Scheduled Campaigns from the left hand menu.
3. Locate the campaign that you want to change.
4. To delete the message, click the checkbox next to the campaign, and then click Delete Selected.
5. To change the message, click on Edit, and then make your changes.