Win
Keep messages short
Keep texts short and to the point, 160 or fewer characters. Any time it can be way less than 160, even more powerful. It's just a text message.
This is important for multiple reasons:
- Some carriers will not send messages over 160 characters or will break messages up, which can cause them to be confusing to parents.
- Most parents will skim a text message if it is too long and will end up not getting the important information intended in the text.
Warning
Don't over-message
Use SMS for time-sensitive information only. Messaging families too often may cause them to opt out of messages from your school, meaning they will miss important information down the road.
Tips to help prevent over-messaging:
- If what you are sending can wait, consider putting it in a weekly email. You can compile the email in myInbox and leave it saved as a draft until you are ready to send.
- Send an email with all the details for the week, and one text with it to alert families that there is an important email to be read.
- Put yourself in the perspective of the parent, how many text messages are too many from the school? Hint: a school really shouldn't need to send more than one, maybe two texts in a day, and not more than three to four in a week.
Win
Ask families to save your number
Sometimes phone carriers will block unrecognized numbers. One great tip? At the beginning of the school year, send a friendly text inviting families to save your school’s SMS number. That way, they'll recognize your messages throughout the year.
Be sure to clarify that the school's SMS number is different than the main office number. Parents can have both saved to their phones!
Win
Send yourself a test
One of the easiest ways to check for clarity and accuracy is to send yourself, or a coworker, a test text. This allows you to see how the text looks, check links, dates, times, and other details.
Pro-tip! Put on your parent hat. Is it obvious what the text message means? Does it include your school name? Does it make sense if the person receiving the text knows nothing about the subject of the message?
