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Local Phone Number for SMS

Your LoopSpark account comes with a dedicated local telephone number. This number will be used to send and receive SMS communications. You can find your LoopSpark assigned phone number on the top left corner of your dashboard below studio name. Your SMS number can be passed via merge tag {{STUDIO_SMS_NUMBER}}

What do clients see?

Clients will receive a text messages that looks just like any regular text. Clients will not be able to see which staff member sent the text, only that the text was sent from your LoopSpark phone number (only you and your staff can see which staff member(s) responded to a communication.

SMS Opt-Out Message Each client will receive an additional message attached to the first message you send them. This message will ONLY be attached to the first message and will only be sent to a client 1 time.

The opt out message helps us stay compliant with regulations, and lets your clients know they can opt-out any time.

The Opt-Out message will look like1:

    To Stop receiving messages from {{Studio_Name}}, reply STOP
  1. Where {{Studio_Name}} is defined in your Outgoing Message Settings.

Text Message Limitations

Although your LoopSpark account comes with UNLIMITED outbound and inbound texts, there are a few limitations:

  1. Character count is limited to 320 characters per text message. When writing text automations, please take into account the length of preset variables such as {{FIRST_NAME}}
  2. No images or Multimedia - Currently we do NOT support sending or receiving images, sound clips, videos or any other multimedia. Please take this into account if a client attempts to send you screen shots/images.
  3. Incorrect Data - LoopSpark will not send to any phone number that is formatted incorrectly. Make sure phone numbers for clients in your booking software include 10 digits (area code included) and are placed in the mobile phone number section of their client profile.
  4. US Domestic Only - LoopSpark will only send messages in the US and Canada (country code +1).
  5. Mobile Phones Only - LoopSpark will only text SMS enabled mobile phone numbers. Please make sure your clients have a valid phone number in the mobile phone section of their profile within your booking software.

What happens if someone calls my LoopSpark number?

Your LoopSpark phone number is only designed to be used for sending and receiving texts. While you can't make outbound phone calls using this number, inbound calls will be redirected to your business' landline1.

  1. Business Landline is defined in your Studio Settings and can be edited/updated.

Unsubscribing to Text Messages

Clients can unsubscribe to text messages sent be LoopSpark by replying to any message with the word STOP

  • If a user mistakenly unsubscribes from text communications and would like to re-subscribe, please have them send the keyword START to your designated SMS number.

Best Practices:

We notice higher unsubscribe rates when using text messages for mass marketing. To best respect your customers and avoid the dreadful unsubscribe, we recommend only using texts for transactional communications or very targeted marketing.

Example Text Communications:

  • First Visit - After user's first visit. Ask if they need help booking next appointment.
  • Class Cancelled - Warn clients who signed up for a class that is cancelled.
  • Reminder - Upcoming event reminder for users signed up or interested.
  • Congratulations - Congratulate customer on hitting 100 classes, their birthdays, or other auspicious occasions.
  • Package Expiration Reminder - Remind users of expiring packages or low remaining count.
  • Challenge Updates - Update users participating in a challenge.
  • Feedback - Ask for feedback after users first class with a new teacher, or takes a new kind of class.
  • Late Cancellation - Warning message for users after their first late cancel.

  1. To make the best use of your 320 character limit, we recommend using personalized variables through our Merge tags for booking classes {{STUDIO_BOOK_CLASS_URL}}, purchasing packages {{STUDIO_LIST_PACKAGES_URL}} and purchasing contracts {{STUDIO_LIST_CONTRACTS_URL}}

  2. Bit.ly links will almost always result in phone carriers marking your message as SPAM To ensure your customers are receiving your messages, please do not include any bit.ly links.

  3. Formatting links: make sure to include either http:// or https:// to each link to ensure proper delivery.

Avoiding SPAM (SMS)

Danger

  • DO NOT use Bit.ly links! Including link shorteners (especially bit.ly) will almost always result in carriers flagging your content as spam and not delivering the SMS to intended recipient.
  • Excessive use of CAPS and words like Free, buy now, click here can result in carriers marking your message content as spam.
  • Personalize your content! Make sure to include personalized variables such as {{First_Name}} to add variance to SMS campaigns.
  • Avoid large batch SMS during peak holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas.
  • Large batch SMS that include marketing messages and lack personalization are frequently flagged as SPAM during holidays.
  • Avoid batch SMS campaigns for client lists larger than 50 recipients.