Send a text, voice and email notification
Composing communications for your audience
Connect Rocket makes a distinction between visual (text message and email) and audio messages (voice calls). Doing so allows you to optimize each message for how it will be consumed by your audience. Text messages and emails can be drafted, knowing they will be viewed on a mobile device, where links and phone numbers can be easily interacted with. The voice call can share similar information scripted in a manner that is best delivered by human voice through a phone call. This approach improves message clarity and audience retention at times of crisis.
Step 1
Sign into Connect Rocket. From the dashboard select Send a text, voice and email notification.
Step 2
Select the Group or Groups you wish to send your notification to by ticking the box beside the group name. The name(s) of selected groups will appear as tags in the search field. Once done, click 'Next.'
If you need some help to determine who should receive your notification, you can choose to view your map using the link in the top right corner of the page or you can access any descriptive text by clicking the down arrow (when present).
Step 3
Add the copy that you want to deliver to your recipients by text message and email. If your account has prepared messages available, you can choose one of your prepared messages from the dropdown or you can compose a text message and email from scratch.
Below the message composition box, you'll see a character counter that displays remaining characters in each text message segment and the number of message parts that you will be sending. If you choose to add a file attachment to your notification, we'll append a shortened URL to the outbound message for your recipients.
Why add a file attachment?
File attachments can be any format, which means you can share anything you wish with your audience. Perhaps a video message on how to shelter in-place, or maybe a PDF map with evacuation routes indicated. Anything you can conceive can be shared.
Step 4
There are two ways to add a voice message to your notification. Once your voice message is uploaded and reviewed, click 'Next' to advance.
OPTION 1
You can upload an audio file that you've recorded on your computer or mobile device. When your recording is complete, you can upload the file by clicking the 'Add a Voice Message' button. After selecting the file for upload, wait while the file is processed - this can take a handful of seconds. Once done, an audio player will load and you can preview your voice message before moving to the next step. If you upload the wrong message, you can delete the audio file by clicking the trash can to the right of the audio player.
OPTION 2
You can also record a voice message using Connect Rocket. To begin, click the 'Record a Voice Message' button. You'll be prompted to enter a direct phone number where Connect Rocket can call you. Once done, click 'Call me.' Connect Rocket will then call your number and guide you through recording and saving your voice message. Once you've saved your message, an audio player will load in browser and you'll be able to preview your voice message before moving to the next step. If you're unhappy with your voice message, you can delete the audio file by clicking the trash can to the right of the audio player.
Supported audio file formats.
You can upload any audio file format to Connect Rocket. We'll convert your file to .mp3 for delivery.
Step 5
You're now ready to test your notification. To begin, verify that your delivery details are correct. Review your text message, email and voice message content. Once everything checks out, you can add a phone number and email to the fields in the green block at the top of the page. Clicking 'Send Test' will initiate a test of your notification to the phone number and email that you entered. If you need to modify your notification in any way, you can use the 'Edit' links on the right side of the page. When you're satisfied with your testing, click 'Next' to advance.
Why would I use Smart Connect?
When Smart Connect is selected, we will only send a text message to mobile numbers. Land lines will still receive a voice call. Smart Connect can save money for notifications that are not life-safety related by reducing the number of voice calls made. The reduction in voice calls can also minimize network load, if there's any concern about local telco infrastructure after a disaster.
Step 6
The Final Review & Send page provides one last chance to review our notification. When you're satisfied with all aspects of your notification, type 'SEND' in the provided field to enable the send function. Once done, click 'Send Notification' to deliver your notification to your selected recipients.
