SteepleMate’s Communication section provides robust tools to manage text messaging, call forwarding, and mass notifications for your church. These features help streamline communication, ensuring that you can easily reach your community through SMS and phone calls. This guide will walk you through enabling these features and customizing them to suit your needs.

Step 1: Accessing Communication Settings

1. Go to the Administration Menu
   From the SteepleMate dashboard, navigate to "Organization Settings".

2. Open the Phone Numbers, Text Messaging, and Call Forwarding Section
   Click on "Phone Numbers, Text Messaging, and Call Forwarding" to access the communication settings.

Step 2: Claiming Your Free Texting Number

If you haven't already claimed your free texting number, follow these steps:

1. Claim Your Free Texting Number
   Click the "Claim My Free Texting Number!" button. SteepleMate provides a complimentary toll-free number that can be used for sending texts, system notifications, call forwarding, and other communication needs.

Step 3: Enabling Text Messaging

To start using text messaging features within SteepleMate:

1. Click "Enable Text Messaging"
   This will enable the availability of SMS-related features, including:
   • Verification messages
   • Welcome cards for guests
   • Message forwarding
2. Once enabled, you can send SMS messages to individuals or groups based on your communication needs.

Step 4: Enabling Call Forwarding

SteepleMate allows you to forward calls to a personal number:

1. Click "Enable Call Forwarding"
   This feature forwards incoming calls to a designated number, and you have the option to:

   • Accept the call
   • Reject the call
   • Send the call to voicemail

   Note: Call forwarding is billed per minute, so manage your usage accordingly.

Step 5: Managing Mass Messaging Options

If you need to send messages to your entire congregation or specific groups, you can control these settings:

1. Enable Mass Messaging
   Click "Enable Messaging 'Send to Everyone'" to allow mass SMS and email messages to all valid contacts. This is useful for large-scale communication, but disabling it can help control costs if necessary.

Step 6: Voicemail Alert and SMS Forwarding Settings

Voicemail Alert Notifications

• Voicemail Alert Notification Recipient Group: Choose the group that will receive voicemail alerts and transcriptions. This ensures important voicemails are promptly addressed. You can disable this feature if voicemail alerts are not required.

Forward Received SMS Messages

• Forward SMS to a Group: Select the group of people who will receive forwarded incoming text messages. Standard messaging rates will apply, so consider this when setting up frequent messaging.

Step 7: Managing Voicemail and SMS Limits

SteepleMate provides additional options for managing voicemails and SMS activity:

• Voicemail Customization: Update, purchase, or customize voicemail settings for your various phone numbers. You can set up different voicemail messages based on the number or department.

• SMS Limits: Set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on SMS messages to ensure you don’t exceed your communication budget.

Step 8: Setting Alert Numbers and Validating Cell Numbers

Alert Numbers

You can designate specific phone numbers to be used for church or school alerts. This allows you to direct important communications to the right audience quickly.

Automatically Validate Cell Numbers

To prevent non-cell numbers from being marked for texting:

• Click "Automatically Validate Cell Numbers When Edited"
  Each time a cell number is validated, a one-time charge applies, but it ensures that only valid cell numbers are used for texting.

Step 9: Handling Invalid or Undeliverable Phone Numbers

When an SMS message is rejected by a carrier (due to invalid numbers, for example), you can ensure that your team is notified:

• Invalid or Undeliverable Phone Number Notifications
  Select a group to receive notifications when a phone number is invalid or undeliverable. This helps keep your contact list up to date and avoid repeated message failures.

Step 10: Monitoring Usage and Managing Balances

To keep track of your text messaging usage:

• Monitor SMS Activity
  View sent and received text messages, track pending charges, and monitor the balance of your texting account. This helps you manage your usage and ensure you stay within budget.

Step 11: Save Your Changes

After configuring your text messaging, call forwarding, and other communication settings, make sure to:

• Click "Save" to apply and save all changes.