Short answer: CoolFocus can't send mass or bulk texts. You can't send one text to a group, a segment, or a list. Every text is sent one-to-one from an Inbox conversation. To reach a whole group at once, send an email to a saved segment.
Texting in CoolFocus is built around one-to-one conversations in the Inbox. Here's how to reach several people anyway: a program group, an event list, or everyone connected to a church.
Texting a few people
For a small group, send from the Inbox, one conversation at a time. Each reply stays attached to the right person, so staff can follow up, assign, or add a note with full context. This works well when you're reaching a handful of people and want the message to feel personal.
There's no way to pick several contacts and send them one text together, and no group text where everyone sees each other's replies.
Reaching a whole list or segment
To send the same message to everyone in a saved list or segment (for example, an event promotion), use email:
1. Build or open a segment of the people you want to reach.
2. Use the segment's Email action and pick a template.
3. Preview, send a test to yourself, then send.
Full steps: Sending Emails. Segments don't have a Text action.
Sending a picture or flyer
You can attach a picture to a text in an Inbox conversation, which works for sending a flyer or image to one person.
For a flyer that needs to reach a whole group (like a church promoting a summer event), send it in an email to a segment. If you'd rather text the people you're already talking with, send a short message with a link to a page that shows the flyer.
Texts that go out automatically
Some texts reach everyone they should without a manual send:
• Appointment reminders and confirmations go to people with upcoming appointments.
• Secure message alerts tell a contact there's a new message waiting for them in the portal.
If some people aren't getting these, check that their records have a valid mobile number and recorded texting consent.
Why mass texting isn't available
Phone carriers treat a message sent to many people as a different kind of texting than one-to-one client care. Each kind needs its own carrier registration, and your texting number is registered for client conversations only. Sending broad promotional blasts from that number would risk carriers filtering or blocking it, including the texts your clients depend on. The same rule is why CoolFocus can't text donors yet. See Texting Donors: Why It Isn't Available Yet.
Keeping texts welcome
These habits keep your messages landing and your texting number in good standing:
• Text people who expect to hear from you. Contacts who opted in are far less likely to report a message as spam, and spam reports are what lead carriers to block a number.
• Keep texts about the relationship. Use texting for client care and service, and use email for general promotions.
• Honor opt-outs. When someone texts STOP, CoolFocus blocks further texts automatically and warns staff. See Understanding Text Message Delivery Warnings.