SMS capabilities are currently available to North American customers only. We look forward to implementing GDPR-compliant SMS functionality for our UK customers in the future.Table of contents
Overview
One-time messages (formerly called “Newsletters”) let you share special announcements or promotions with your customers. Like automated campaigns (communication profiles), they support customer targeting and dynamic placeholders. However, while automated campaigns are triggered automatically, one-time messages are sent manually.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to send a SMS one-time message. For instructions on email messages, see the article on how to send a newsletter email.
Set up SMS functionality
Before sending SMS messages, you must complete your SMS registration. This is typically done during your account setup. If not, follow the steps on how to register for SMS.
Create your message
You can send one-time messages using either of these two paths:
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| A. From the Communication tab within a photo job Sends a message to customers of that specific job. |
B. From the One-Time Message tab on the Communication page Sends a message to all selected customers across your account. |
On the One-Time Message page, you’ll see the following settings:
- Name: Provide a meaningful internal name for tracking purposes.
- Channel: For an SMS newsletter, select the SMS format.
- Audiences: Use filters to select recipients by job, album/group, customer status, year (job created or customer created), or photo job type.
After you select the audience, press the button Apply selection.
4. Sending condition: Select the sending condition (all customers, with photos available, customers with no photos available).
5. Message content & Design: Customize your SMS message.
You can use placeholders to personalize messages.
There is a 150-character warning for older devices, which may split the message. Modern phones typically send it as one. Regardless, keep your message concise.
6. Automated scheduling: Choose to send immediately or check the box to schedule the SMS for later. Large batches may stagger delivery to avoid spam classification.
⚠ Important: After scheduling, click Preview and Send, then click Send newsletter to activate the schedule.
Preview and send your message
Click Preview and Send to view the final message with placeholders. Make any edits, then send it or activate the schedule when ready.
From this review page, you can either:
- Edit the newsletter
- Send a test SMS to your account email
- Send the newsletter (if you selected to schedule it, it is now scheduled to go out on the selected day / at the selected time).
FAQs
Can I send to multiple jobs or albums?
Yes, you can filter recipients using multiple jobs, years, or album groups during the recipient selection step.
Are there English SMS templates available?
No, SMS templates are not currently supported. Each message must be created manually.
What if I forget to click ‘Send Newsletter’?
The message will not be sent, even if scheduled. Be sure to click the button after setting everything up.
Are one-time texts only sent between 9 am and 9 pm, similar to notifications within automated campaigns?
Unlike automated campaigns, one-time texts can be sent immediately or scheduled for any time during the day. Once started, they are sent as quickly as possible within legal limits until all messages are delivered; no specific timeframe can be defined. Twilio uses a staggering method to send messages in batches. GotPhoto automatically prevents texts from being sent out during quiet hours. However, depending on the number of recipients, delivery may take some time.
To avoid late-night deliveries, schedule one-time texts earlier in the day to ensure the final batches are delivered before quiet hours begin.
Do I need to include instructions on how to unsubscribe from texts?
No, GotPhoto automatically includes “Reply STOP to opt-out” in every text that is sent out. Learn more here: SMS marketing compliance and best practices (US & Canada only)
Can I schedule the newsletter in advance?
Yes. Under Schedule message to send later, check Send the message on a specific date and time. There's no limit on how far ahead you can schedule a one-time message. For security reasons, the login links in the SMS stop working after 6 months, so don't schedule a newsletter that far in advance. Prepare the newsletter now and schedule it 1 to 2 days before it goes out, as described below.
Should I schedule the SMS now or close to the send date?
Prepare it now, but schedule it 1 to 2 days before it goes out. The recipient list is fixed when you click Send newsletter. Unlike automated campaigns, the system doesn't check the recipient conditions again before sending. For example, customers who order after you schedule a newsletter to "Potential buyers" still receive it as potential buyers.
To keep the recipient list up to date:
- Create the newsletter now, so the content is ready. Review it, but don't click Send newsletter yet. Clicking it activates the schedule.
- Open the SMS draft again 1 to 2 days before it goes out.
- Reset the recipient filter and apply it again to update the recipient list.
- Under Schedule message to send later, set the send date and time. Then, in the preview, click Send newsletter to activate the schedule. The confirmation says "The newsletter is being sent."
You can ignore this. It only means the newsletter is activated. You can still cancel it at any time on the One-time message overview page.
Customers who unsubscribe in the meantime are excluded automatically.
Takeaway
One-time SMS messages help you communicate directly with customers, whether for a single photo job or your full list. With personalized placeholders and scheduling flexibility, you can send clear, timely updates and promotions.
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