SMS Messaging Set up and User Guide

How to set up your SMS Messaging and start sending texts to guests.

SMS messaging is an add-on you can choose to subscribe to if you want to enable SMS messaging for your property. Add-on pricing information can be found on our pricing page. Follow the steps below to enable and set up SMS messaging.

 

Getting Started

Activate SMS Messaging

SMS Messaging is a Firefly account add on. Follow these steps to to turn on to the SMS Add-on for your property: 

1. Click on your name on the top right of your screen
2. Click Account. 
3. Click the Add-ons tab.
4. Check the box next to SMS Messaging under the list of Available Add-ons
5. Click Save.

Subscribe to the SMS Messaging Add-on to enable SMS

Choose your Phone Number

Once you have turned on the SMS Messaging add on, you can set up your number. 

1.  Click on the Settings menu
2. Click Property,
3. Navigate to the General tab,
4. Click Select SMS Number 
5. Click Select SMS number to claim a local number
6. Enter your desired area code and click Search.
7. When you find the desired number, check the box next to it
8. Click the blue "Select Number" to save
9. When you return to the General Property Settings tab, you will see your new number

If you don't see the option for Select SMS Number, check to make sure you have subscribed to the addon. 

Set Up International SMS Messaging

International pricing has been updated to be included in the listed price under the Account Manager, Addons tab.

1. Click Settings
2. Click Property
3. On the General tab, check the box that says to "Enable International SMS Messaging" 
   
   
   

   Set Up and Edit SMS Messaging Templates

   You have the ability to customize SMS Message templates, create new templates for SMS Messages, and choose when some of the automatic messages send.

   To access the SMS Message Templates:

   1. Click the left Settings menu
   2. Click SMS Templates
   3. Click on the template you wish to edit

   

   Click on any template to edit the template message. 

   

    

   Update Sending of Templates

   For any automated template, you can choose if it sends to your guests or not. To turn on/off sending, check/uncheck the "sending" box in the top right corner of the template. 

   For a few of the automated messages, you can choose when they send. To do so, edit the criteria box in the top left corner of the template settings as seen in the image below:

   

   💡 Use Placeholders to further customize the messages that are sent! 

   Create New SMS Messaging Templates

   Your park might have the same type of message that you send repeatedly. Custom templates are a perfect option to save you time. To create a new SMS Message Template:

   1. Click Settings
   2. Click SMS Messaging Templates
   3. Click "New Custom Message" in the top left corner
   4. Enter in the name of the template
   5. Enter the text you wish to send
   6. Click Save
      
      

   Note: This does not send the template, it only creates the template. To send the template, follow the instructions up above for sending a message using a template.

Set Up SMS Notifications

SMS Notifications have customizability. You can choose to receive alerts when guests message your park, the sending window that you would receive these notifications, and how many minutes a message would be left unread before you get the alert to your own device. 

1. Click Settings
2. Click Property Settings
3. Click the Notifications Tab
4. Update the settings as best fits your park

Here is an example of what the notification to your or your staff may look like:

Message through the SMS Message Center 

The SMS Message center is your go-to SMS hub giving you access to all messages with park guests in one convenient location.

To access the SMS Message center: 

1. Click Guests
2. Click SMS Message Center

Draft and Send a New Message 

1. Click "New Message" in the top right corner
2. Choose Returning Guest or New Guest and Enter in the information as needed
3. Select the Guest you wish to Message
4. Type your SMS message into the textbox provided
5. Click Send
   

Pin a Message to the Top of the Inbox

When viewing a message in the SMS Message Center, click the circle with the three dots next to the specific message you wish to pin. Click "Pin Chat"

Mark Message as Read/Unread

When viewing a message in the SMS Message Center, click the circle with the three dots next to the message you wish to mark as unread. Click "Mark as unread"

Message through the SMS Message Guest Feature

This is a great feature for using SMS message templates and sending a mass message to multiple guests. There are several filter and search options for choosing the specific audience you wish to send a message to. 

To load the message contents from a template click the Load from template dropdown.

Use the Select All option to message the entire recipient list or select each one individually using the check boxes. If messaging a majority of the list, you can Select All then uncheck guests you do not want to receive the message.

Once you have the desired recipients selected and your message is finalized, click Send Message to send the SMS text.

Frequently Asked Questions

💡 FAQ: Why do not all of the templates show when I send a manual SMS Message?

Some of the templates for SMS Messaging require specific data in order to be sent. When sending a manual text, data is not always available so it will not show as a template able to be used in that scenario. 

For example: The "New charge notification" requires information about the specific, new charge. When sending a manual text, there might not be a new charge to pull the information from to be able to send. 

💡 FAQ: I keep getting an error, "Some guests listed below require international SMS." If the guest you are wanting to communicate with does not have an international number, but you see this message it may mean that their phone country code needs to be selected in their guest profile.

🙋‍♀️ Still need help? Email: support@fireflyreservations.com and one of our technicians can help answer your questions.

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