Explanation: Message Templates

Overview:  Message Templates are an important part of all auctions - setting them up so that your patrons receive SMS and/or email messages that are relevant to your fundraiser, and meaningful to your guests, is critical.  Poorly configured message templates will leave many of your patrons wondering if the messages are spam, and will likely be ignored.

Important Distinction:  There are TWO places to edit Message Templates.  You edit organizational-level  templates from the right-side menu, and these are only used when you create a new auction from scratch.  What you set up here is copied into an auction's configuration when you create a new auction.  If you duplicate an auction, the organizational-level message templates are NOT used - the message templates of the source auction are copied into the duplicate.  You edit auction-level templates from the left-side menu found off the auction dashboard.

Custom Messages vs Automated Messages:  MobilBid sends a variety of messages out to patrons based on specific triggers.  For example, if a high bidder is outbid on a particular item, they will receive an "OutBid Notification" - the administrator does nothing, the system sends them automatically.  Some of the automated messages can be sent by the administrator, but are usually sent by the system as a result of a schedule, or in response to specific activity (e.g. a patron sending a text message to register.)  Custom Messages are used by the administrator to compose "one-off" messages that are only sent manually.  For example, a Custom Message may be created to be sent 30 minutes before the end of the auction, warning patrons that time is running down.  Custom Messages can be used for any purpose, at any time - or not at all.  Custom Messages can be scheduled to go out automatically at a pre-set time.

Important Note:  When editing the templates, you will see a variety of merge tags, in the format of %{....} (e.g. %{invoice_url}).  DO NOT alter these tags, and be careful editing around them, as broken tags will not display vital information to patrons.

In addition, one of the quirks of iPhone messaging is that received links that are at the end of a message are converted to a "View Preview" button that cause all sorts of issues preventing patrons from easily accessing an auction.  The answer is to have a space and period after any URL in a text message that ends the message.  All the templates are formatted with a trailing space + period where needed.  DO NOT REMOVE THEM, thinking it is bad syntax...!

Description of each Automated Message Template:

1. SMS No Auction Autoresponder (SMS only, Automated only): Sent in response to a patron's text message request to register for an auction, but there is no auction running under this organization.  Note: This template can only be set at the Organizational level.
2. Test Auction Invitation (SMS + Email, Manual only): Sent by an administrator to patrons chosen as Testers, inviting them to preview and test the auction. 
3. SMS Sign-up Confirmation (SMS only, Automated Only): Sent in response to a patron's registration (name and contact info) giving them their unique link to the auction.
4. SMS Autoresponder (SMS only, Automated only): Sent in response to a patron's text message request to register for an auction, with an auction in preview or running mode.
5. SMS Login Message (SMS only, Automated only): Sent in response to a patron's request to login again, should they have logged out of an auction, giving them a new unique link to the auction.
6. Auction Preview (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual): Sent to registered patrons informing them the auction is available for preview, with a personal direct link to access the auction.
7. Auction Running (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual): Sent to registered patrons informing them the auction is open for bidding, with a personal direct link to access the auction.
8. Outbid Notification (SMS + Email, Automated only): Sent to a patron who is the highest bidder on an item, but has been outbid by another patron.
9. Increased Bid Notification (SMS + Email, Automated only):  Sent to a patron who has set an Auto-Bid, when another patron places a bid, but the system automatically raises the bid, notifying the holder of the auto-bid that the system has bid on their behalf.
10. Non-Winning Participant (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual):  Sent at the closing of the auction to those that had placed bids at some point during the auction, but did not win any of the items, confirming they owe no money.
11. Invoice Ready (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual):  Sent at the closing of an auction to those that had won one or more items, notifying them what they owe, with a link to payment options and a copy of their invoice.  This is not sent if they have a credit card on file (see #13 and #14.)
12. Payment Receipt (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual):  Sent to a winning bidder who makes a payment, either by credit card, cash or cheque after the end of the auction, with confirmation of their payment and details on how they can pick up their item(s).
13. Invoice Generated and Automatically Paid (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual): Sent to a winning bidder who has a credit card on file, and the automatic payment is successfully processed at end of the auction, with confirmation of their payment and details on how they can pick up their item(s).
14. Invoice Generated and Card Failed (SMS + Email, Automated + Manual): Sent to a winning bidder who has a credit card on file, and the automatic payment fails at end of the auction, with payment options and a copy of their (unpaid) invoice.
15. Payment Reminder (SMS + Email, Manual only):  If there are patron accounts with an unpaid balance, the administrator can send reminders, with their outstanding balance, payment options and a copy of their invoice.