Editing messages and adding personalization
Pre-built messages are a fine starting point, but they sound a lot better when they sound like you. Here's how to make them yours.
Editing a message
- Open a campaign from the Campaigns tab.
- Tap the message (step) you want to change. The Edit Message screen opens.
- You'll see fields for the type, the timing, and the content of the message.
- Edit the wording.
- Tap Save.
Your edit applies to anyone who hasn't received that message yet. Anything already sent stays exactly as it was.
What's on the Edit Message screen
- Type. A choice of SMS or Email.
- Day. How many days into the campaign this step sends. Choose a day or set a specific date.
- Send Date. Use this instead of Day if you want to send on a fixed calendar date.
- Message Title *. Your internal name for the step (placeholder "Enter title here...").
- Subject Line *. Only shown for emails (placeholder "Enter email subject...").
- Message Body *. The actual message that goes out (placeholder "Enter your message here...").
- Personalized Text. A separate block where you can write a personalized version (placeholder "Enter personalized text here...") and tap Save Personalized Text.
- Resource (Optional). Attach a Life Steps resource if relevant.
If a step is locked (some Smart campaign steps are read-only), you can still use it as-is. To customize a locked campaign top to bottom, duplicate it as a Custom campaign first.
Personalization: the Add Customization button
Personalization in Simple Downline is your own. You set up the shortcuts you want to use, and then drop them into any message.
On the Edit Message screen, look for the Add Customization button. Tap it and a dialog opens with every customization on your account. Tap one to drop it into your message at your cursor.
When the message sends, your customization is replaced with the right value for each contact: their first name, your first name, whatever you set up.
You can use the same Add Customization button when you're editing a campaign step's message body, an email subject line, or any of the auto-reply fields on a funnel.
Tips
- Personalize the greeting. Even just dropping in a contact's first name in the opener makes a big difference.
- Don't overdo it. Five different customizations in one short text starts to feel like a mass email instead of a real message.
- Test on yourself. Add yourself as a contact, put yourself in a small test group, and run the campaign. It's the fastest way to spot a typo or a weird-looking line break.
Keep what works
The pre-written messages are short, friendly, and end with a question. That's on purpose. It invites people to reply. When you edit, try to keep that pattern. Replacing a question with a statement is the most common reason a tweaked campaign stops getting responses.