A Keyword is a word your congregation texts to your Text In Church phone number to automatically join a Group and receive an instant reply.
Keywords are one of the fastest ways to grow your contact list and automate follow-up for events, sign-ups, and new visitor welcome messages. All Text In Church plans include unlimited Keywords.
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What Is a Keyword in Text In Church?
When someone texts a Keyword to your 10-digit Text In Church number, they are added to the linked Group and receive the automated reply you set up. You can have multiple Keywords per Group, but each Keyword can only be used once per phone number. Learn more about multiple phone numbers.
Not all automated replies are customizable. Carrier commands like "HELP" are sent directly by the carrier and cannot be edited. Your Keyword auto-reply is fully customizable within Text In Church.
Keyword Rules and Requirements
A Keyword must be one word with no spaces or punctuation (example: "welcome" or "loop").
Keywords must be between 3 and 20 characters long.
Reserved words that cannot be used as Keywords: Start, Yes, Unstop, StopAll, Stop, Unsubscribe, End, Quit, Help, Info, Halt, Leave, Block, Cancel.
You can use the same Keyword for multiple Groups if each is on a different phone number.
Keywords are not case sensitive. "Welcome", "WELCOME", and "welcome" trigger the same Keyword.
The text sent must contain only the Keyword. Extra characters, signatures, or spaces cause the system to treat it as a regular message and route it to your inbox.
How to Set Up a Keyword in Text In Church
Go to Groups and click the name of the Group you want to link the Keyword to.
Click Edit in the top right corner.
Click Next Step to go to the Keyword settings screen.
Toggle Activate Group Keyword to green. Enter your Keyword and select the phone number to assign it to.
To send an automatic reply when someone texts your Keyword, toggle Send Keyword Automated Reply Message to blue and compose your message. You can include Connect Cards, giving links, or event registration links.
Click Save to save your automated reply.
Click Save and Close to finalize all settings.
From the Group overview page you can confirm the Keyword is active.
You do not have to send a reply when someone texts your Keyword. Toggle the Automated Reply off and the Keyword will still add contacts to the Group. If you want no messages at all, also check whether any Automated Workflows are connected to that Group.
How to Edit a Keyword
Go to Groups and click the Group containing the Keyword you want to edit.
Click the pencil icon in the top right corner of the Group details page.
Edit the Keyword and click the blue checkmark to save your changes.
Note: Multiple organizations can share the same shortcode through a mobile carrier. Text In Church uses 10-digit phone numbers, giving your church a dedicated number for all communications.
