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Sometimes the people we are communicating with decide they no longer want to get our messages (I know, total bummer!).
Anyone in your Text In Church account can text the word STOP (nothing else, just the word STOP) to your Text In Church number, and they will be opted out automatically.
This opts the person out of our entire system, and they will no longer receive text messages from your Text In Church account.
To opt back in, they will need to send the word START to the same number they texted STOP to.
If a contact wishes to stop receiving messages from a specific Group but does not want to opt out entirely, you can manage their preferences without them having to text "STOP."
Follow these steps to remove them from a specific Group:
Navigate to the Group
Check the checkbox by their name and click the "Select Action" text
Then click "Remove Members."
Two Ways to Manually Opt Out:
Find their contact in the People section
Click the pencil mark in the top right to edit, and then you can uncheck the appropriate box saying if you have permission to email or text them.
Note: Opting a contact back in manually does not apply to individuals who opted out by texting STOP; they will need to text START to opt back in.
3. The other way to opt someone out manually is to view the conversation history, click the three vertical dots, and select the option to “Opt-Out of Further Communications.”
Two Ways to Check if a Person Has Opted Out
In the People tab, you can tell if they've opted out by observing visual indicators:
A green circle over the message or email icon signifies they are opted in, while a red circle shows they are opted out.
2. When viewing the conversation history, you won't be given the option to compose a reply if they have opted out.
If a contact has opted out by texting STOP, they must text START to fully opt back in.
If a contact has accidentally opted out of emails, they can be opted back into emails using the steps above after you've confirmed they want to receive emails.
Admins and Users cannot manually re-opt a contact back in if the contact texted STOP. These rules are in place to ensure compliance and protect subscriber preferences.
Opting In to Receive Text Messages
There are several ways for individuals to opt in to receive text messages through Text In Church:
Texting a Keyword: People can opt in by texting a Keyword to your designated number.
Scanning a QR Code: Display QR codes that link directly to a Connect Card.
Filling Out a Paper Contact Card: You can collect contact information that includes approval for communication.
If using a paper card, be sure to mention that sharing their contact information means they'll be receiving communications from you.
Sharing a rough estimate of how many messages the person can expect can also improve their experience and provide clarity on the volume of messaging.
Using a Website Widget: Add a Widget or Widgets to your website. Check out our guide here! 💡
Importing Existing Contacts: If you already have a database of members who have given prior approval, you can import them into Text In Church via CSV.
Texting START to your number: If a contact has opted out by texting STOP, have them text START to the number they texted STOP to, so they can opt back in.
Retaining opted-out contacts in the database allows them to remain in specific groups and receive email communications. Keeping them in your database ensures they can easily re-subscribe by texting START at a later date.
Reporting and Exporting Opt-Out Data
To track your opted-out contacts or devise effective communication strategies, you can generate detailed reports:
Navigate to the ‘People’ tab.
Use the filter icon to filter contacts based on text or email opt-out preferences.
Select the filtered contacts, click on ‘Action,’ and choose ‘Export’ to download the data.
You can generate a similar report, including their opt-out date, by exporting this data from the Export People section of the Tools tab.
Head to Tools
If you'd only like the information from a specific Group, select it from the drop-down box. If you'd like this data for all contacts, leave the drop-down box blank.
Choose Select Fields
Select Email Opt Out, and Email Opt Out Date, or SMS Opt Out and SMS Opt Out Date
(We'd also recommend the First and Last Name fields, Email, and Phone Number)Then click Export
You'll be emailed a .CSV file with the contacts and the data selected.
You can also find the export in the Exports folder of the File Storage section under the Tools tab!
