Contents

• General Questions
  • What communication methods does ChMeetings support?
  • Which pricing plan provides communication and messaging features?
  • Which pricing plan provides communication and messaging features?
  • Can I schedule my communication?
• Built-InText Messaging
  • How can I send messages to my congregation?
  • Are there limitations on the number of messages I can send?
  • What text messaging options are available?
  • Where is ChMeetings Messaging available?
  • What are the fees associated with ChMeetings Built-In Messaging? 
  • How long should a text message be?
  • Can I get a dedicated phone number? 
  • How can people opt in or out of receiving text messages?
  • Can I use an alternative messaging service?
• Email
  • Does ChMeetings offer advanced email editing?
• Push Notifications
  • How do push notifications work in ChMeetings?
• Group Chat (Branded App)
  • Does ChMeetings support group chats?

General Questions

What communication methods does ChMeetings support?

ChMeetings supports various communication channels, including:

• Emails: Send individual or blast email newsletters directly from the ChMeetings platform, using an advanced designer, at no extra cost, and without having to use other external services.
• Text/SMS and MMS Messages: Communicate via text messages; MMS is available in the United States and Canada.
• Voice Messages: Send recorded voice messages that play when the recipient answers a call.
• Push Notifications: Deliver notifications to members' mobile devices or desktops.
• Social Messaging Apps: Connect through WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger directly from member profiles.

Which pricing plan provides communication and messaging features?

• Unlimited email and push notifications are included with all plans except the Free plan, with which such communications can’t be sent for security reasons. These features do not cost extra.
• Text messaging (SMS, MMS), and voice messaging are built into ChMeetings and are available with all pricing plans, including the free plan, at an extra cost.
• Connecting to social messaging apps and building forms are available with all our plans, at no additional costs.

Can I schedule my communication?

Yes. All of our communications features (email, SMS, MMS, voice messages, and push notifications) come with a scheduling feature.

Built-InText Messaging

How can I send messages to my congregation?

You can send messages in several ways:

• Individual Messaging: Access a member's profile and choose the desired communication method (email, text, voice message, or social app).
• Bulk Messaging: Select multiple members from the People module and choose the appropriate messaging option.
• Group Messaging: Within the Groups module, select a group and send messages to all or specific members.
• Event Participants: From the Events module, message all or selected participants of an event.
• Follow-Up Module: Communicate with individuals listed in your follow-ups.

Are there limitations on the number of messages I can send?

All ChMeetings paid plans come with unlimited emails and push notifications. The messages you can exchange by connecting to social messaging apps are also unlimited. Text and voice messages cost extra so are only limited by your chosen messaging plan. Learn more.

What text messaging options are available?

With ChMeetings you can send both SMS and MMS text messages. There are three ways to send text messages: 

• Using ChMeetings’ built-in messaging feature, which gives you access to text and voice messaging, at an extra cost. Learn more about how we bill text messaging.
• By installing the ChMeetings Mobile App (free with any plan), then using your phone plan to send messages. This incurs no extra messaging costs with ChMeetings.
• By integrating a third party messaging provider. This does not cost extra with ChMeetings either. We integrate with Twilio, Eazismspro, Clickatell, SMSGlobal, and Bulk SMS Nigeria. Learn more about our Integrations.

Where is ChMeetings Messaging available?

Most communications services provided by ChMeetings are available worldwide. The only exception is MMS which is only available in the United States and Canada.

What are the fees associated with ChMeetings Built-In Messaging? 

• Email and mobile push notifications are unlimited and free of charge, included with all our paid plans. Other communication features such as using external messaging apps, or creating forms, are also included at no extra cost besides your plan price.
• Text and voice messages cost extra, and pricing depends on your location. Learn more about how we bill text messaging. You can find out more about the pricing that applies to you by logging into ChMeetings and going to Settings > Payments & Credit. If you don’t have an account yet, we offer a free, 30-day trial. Sign up here. 

Messaging is available with all ChMeetings pricing plans, including the Free plan. Costs don’t vary based on your price plan, but based on your location. The only exception  is the Free plan, where message costs are slightly higher, though still based on location. Compare free and paid plan features here. 

How long should a text message be?

SMS is meant for short communications, but you can definitely write longer messages. Keep in mind though that SMS is billed according to international standards stipulating SMS character limits as follows:

GSM is the standard used by a typical SMS message, while Unicode is usually used when you send MMS. For example, for GSM text messages, your first message ends after 160 characters, then the second one begins, and ends after the next 146 characters. Visit our help center for a more detailed explanation. 

Can I get a dedicated phone number? 

Yes, you can, and it’s free. Here is how. 

How can people opt in or out of receiving text messages?

By default, everyone receives text messages from your church.

To opt out of receiving text messages, admins must check Do Not Text on the person’s profile. Alternatively, the person in question can text “Stop” to your church’s phone number.

To opt back in, the person must text “Start” to your church’s phone number. A church servant must also uncheck Do Not Text on their profile, so they can start receiving messages again.

Can I use an alternative messaging service?

Yes, you can. You are not required to pay for ChMeetings’ built-in messaging plans. You have two other methods available:

• When using the ChMeetings mobile app, you can choose to send text messages using your mobile phone plan. If you have text messages already included with your phone plan, this helps you save money by not paying for an additional SMS/MMS service.
• If you are sending larger amounts of text messages and are already using a dedicated service, you can simply integrate it with ChMeetings, which will enable text messaging within your church app with no extra costs paid to ChMeetings.

Email

Does ChMeetings offer advanced email editing?

Absolutely! With ChMeetings, you can craft visually-appealing emails using an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop editor that lets you create emails tailored to your congregation. Learn more.

Push Notifications

How do push notifications work in ChMeetings?

Push notifications are free messages sent to members' mobile devices. Recipients must have the ChMeetings app installed and be logged in to receive notifications. You can send these notifications individually or in bulk from various modules within ChMeetings. If you have the Branded App, you can also send notifications to guests, not just to members. They must have the app installed to receive them, but they do not need to be logged in. 

Group Chat (Branded App)

Does ChMeetings support group chats?

Yes, ChMeetings offers a Group Chat feature within the Branded App, allowing Group Leaders and members to communicate directly within their groups. This feature supports conversations with up to 200 participants and helps facilitate information flow and engagement. It’s built right into the ChMeetings mobile app, for hassle-free interaction.