When it comes to texting, there are so many ways to target your contacts and lists. In this article, we’ll explore the features in our platform that enable you to:

Before using our Data Collection feature, you’ll need to create a Keyword that your contacts can use to opt-in or subscribe. For a review of how to set up a keyword, check out our article here: Setting Up a Keyword

You'll also want to make sure you have a corresponding custom field created for every piece of information you'd like to ask your contacts for.

If you haven't created those custom fields yet, you can do so by following along in this article through step number four only: Personalizing Messages Using Custom Fields.

Now that that's done, click on Apps > Data Collection > Add Data Collection

Here, you'll set your confirmation message preferences, select the pieces of data you want to collect from your contacts, customize the text of the questions, and set up a follow-up message.

Pro Tip 💡 In order to use their answers to later have them segmented based on their response, it's best to list the specific responses you want them to reply with, rather than leave it open-ended, or else they may respond with something different than the criteria you'll be entering.

For example: "How do you feel about your service experience? Reply with GOOD, OK, or BAD." In this example, the contact will respond with one of the three options mentioned, rather than something like "It was okay, I suppose...", etc.

Now that we’ve given our audience the chance to subscribe with a keyword, as well as answer our data collection questions, our next step will be to separate them into Segments based on specific criteria we enter.

You can create as many segments as you’d like with varying pieces of criteria. For example, if you have a long list of contacts located in three different cities, you could create a segment with each individual city listed as the criteria.
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Our system will then automatically sort your contacts into the segments with matching criteria.

After completing your segments, our system will filter any contacts into any Segments they match in real time, going forward. You’ll then be able to target them with segment-specific automated messages, which we’ll discuss shortly.

1.) First, click on Contacts >Segments >Add Segment > Add Criteria

2.) In the first drop-down, select the field that you'll use for your criteria for this segment. Then, you can select the limiting parameter for the criteria in the next drop-down.

For example: If my custom field is "Department" and I gave my contacts the option to reply with “HR”, “Sales”, or “Service” in my data collection question, I could create a segment for my sales team like this:

3.) Click on “Save Segment” and' enter a name for the segment. After you enter the segment’s name, click on “Save Segment” again.

4.) Repeat these steps for each segment you’d like to have.

To do this, the first dropdown of the Segment should be for the last Field that you asked about in your data collection series of questions.
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For the second dropdown, select "has any value." You can save your Segment from here and continue on with the process below.

Now that we’ve created a keyword, configured data collection, and created segments, we’ll be able to target those segments with automated messages that are able to be customized.

Autoresponder messages will be triggered whenever SimpleTexting filters a contact into a saved segment.
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That will happen as soon as they’ve answered your data collection questions, as long as their answer(s) match the criteria you selected in any of the segments you entered.

Check out this article to learn how to set up your Autoresponder(s): Setting Up Autoresponders

NOTE 🚨 In step number four, in the “List or Segment” dropdown, be sure to select the name of one of the segments you just created from the previous segments section. Segments are represented by curly arrows.

If you have multiple segments you’d like to send autoresponder messages to, or would like multiple autoresponders to be sent to the same segment, please repeat the above steps for each additional autoresponder message in your sequence.

Now that you’ve created a keyword, or multiple keywords, configured data collection to collect info from your contacts, created segments to separate them based on their responses, and configured autoresponder messages to be sent to them automatically, you’re all set!

You should feel pretty accomplished too, especially since you’ve just taken automation and engagement to a whole new level.

Here’s what will now automatically occur when someone enters the new message flow you’ve created:

If you have any additional questions about any part of the setup process described in this article, feel free to reach out to the team here at SimpleTexting anytime.