How to Send SMS Invitations

Send RSVP invitations directly to your guests' phones via SMS text message. This is one of the most effective ways to reach guests quickly and ensure high response rates.

Accessing the SMS Feature

1. Go to your event dashboard at dashboard.fotify.app
2. Select your event and click "RSVP" in the sidebar
3. Click the "SMS" tab

Make sure you've added guests to your list with valid phone numbers before sending SMS.

SMS Coverage and Delivery

Supported Countries

SMS invitations are available in 100+ countries worldwide. Click "See Supported Countries" to view the full list.

Note: United States and Canada are coming soon (pending compliance approval).

Smart Delivery Timing

Messages are automatically scheduled to arrive during appropriate local hours (9 AM - 9 PM) based on each recipient's timezone. This smart timing:

• Ensures messages arrive when guests are awake
• Prevents your messages from being flagged as spam by carriers
• Improves delivery rates and open rates

If you send a message at 3 AM in a guest's timezone, it will be held and delivered at 9 AM their local time.

Understanding SMS Statistics

The SMS dashboard shows five key metrics:

Metric	Description
Valid Phones	Guests with properly formatted phone numbers
Delivered	Messages successfully sent to guests
Pending	Messages scheduled or in queue
Failed	Messages that couldn't be delivered
Opted Out	Guests who replied STOP to unsubscribe

SMS Credits

Below the statistics, you'll see your SMS usage:

• X of Y used - How many SMS credits you've consumed
• Z remaining - Credits available for sending

Click "Buy More" to purchase additional SMS credits if needed.

SMS Template Preview

The SMS message is pre-formatted for compliance with carrier regulations (TCPA/CTIA).

Customizable Fields

You can personalize two parts of the message:

• Organizer Name - Your name or organization name
• Event Name - The name of your event
• Default Language - The language for guests without a specific language set

Message Structure

The invitation message follows this format:

Fotify: [Guest Name], you are invited to [Event Name] by [Organizer Name]. Please confirm here: [RSVP Link]. To stop receiving messages, reply STOP.

Why the Template is Fixed

For compliance with carrier regulations, the message structure includes:

• Brand identification (Fotify:) at the start
• Personalized content (guest name, event details)
• RSVP link for easy response
• Opt-out instructions (reply STOP)

This ensures your messages are delivered reliably and comply with telecommunications laws.

Guest SMS Status

The Guest SMS Status table shows all guests with phone numbers and their messaging status.

Status Filters

Filter the list using the tabs:

• All - All guests with phone numbers
• Not Sent - Guests who haven't received an SMS yet
• Delivered - Guests who received the message successfully
• Failed - Guests whose messages couldn't be delivered

Table Columns

Column	Description
Name	Guest's name
Phone	Phone number with country code indicator
RSVP	Current RSVP response status
SMS Status	Delivery status (Not Sent, Delivered, Failed)
Actions	Send or resend button

Phone Validation Icons

Next to each phone number, you'll see an icon:

• Green checkmark - Valid phone number, ready to send
• Red X - Invalid phone number, cannot send SMS

If a number shows a red X, check that it's in the correct international format (+1234567890).

Sending SMS Invitations

Send to Individual Guests

1. Find the guest in the SMS Status table
2. Click the "Send" button in their row
3. The message is queued for delivery (respecting smart timing)

Send to All Guests

1. Click "Send to All (X)" where X is the number of unsent guests
2. All eligible guests will receive their personalized invitation
3. Messages are delivered respecting each guest's local timezone

Resending Messages

If a guest hasn't responded, you can send one reminder:

1. Find the guest in the Delivered filter
2. Click "Resend (1)" to send a follow-up
3. Each guest can only receive one resend to prevent spam

Important: To respect your guests and comply with anti-spam regulations, Fotify limits each guest to receiving a maximum of 2 SMS messages (initial + 1 resend).

Troubleshooting SMS Issues

Message Shows "Failed"

Common reasons for failed messages:

• Invalid phone number - Check the format includes country code (+)
• Carrier blocked - Some carriers filter automated messages
• Guest opted out - They previously replied STOP
• Number not in service - The phone number may be disconnected

Guest Didn't Receive SMS

1. Verify the phone number is correct and includes country code
2. Check if the number shows a green checkmark (valid) or red X (invalid)
3. Wait for smart delivery timing (9 AM - 9 PM in their timezone)
4. Ask the guest to check their spam/blocked messages folder

Can't Send to US/Canada Numbers

SMS to United States and Canada is coming soon pending compliance approval. In the meantime, use the WhatsApp or copy/paste options from the Guests tab for these guests.

Best Practices

Before Sending

• Ensure all phone numbers are in international format with +
• Set the appropriate SMS language for international guests
• Review your organizer name and event name in the template

Timing Your Messages

• Send initial invitations well before your RSVP deadline
• Wait at least a few days before using the resend option
• Consider timezone differences for international guests

Managing Responses

• Monitor the SMS Statistics for delivery rates
• Follow up with failed deliveries using alternative methods
• Respect guests who opt out - they won't receive further SMS

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much do SMS messages cost? A: SMS has a fixed price per message regardless of destination country. Bulk packages offer better rates - click "Buy More" in the SMS tab to see available packages.

Q: Why can I only resend once? A: To prevent spam and respect your guests' phones, each guest can receive a maximum of 2 SMS messages per event. This complies with anti-spam regulations and maintains good delivery rates.

Q: Can I customize the SMS message text? A: The message structure is fixed for compliance with carrier regulations (TCPA/CTIA). You can customize the organizer name, event name, and default language.

Q: What happens if a guest replies STOP? A: They're automatically opted out and won't receive any more SMS messages from your event. Their status will show as "Opted Out" in the statistics.

Q: Why is my guest's phone showing a red X? A: The phone number format is invalid. Edit the guest in the Guests tab and ensure the number starts with + followed by the country code (e.g., +34612345678).

Q: Do SMS messages count against my plan if they fail? A: Failed messages typically don't count against your SMS credits, but this may vary. Check your plan details for specifics.

Q: Can I schedule SMS to send at a specific time? A: Messages are automatically scheduled using Smart Delivery Timing (9 AM - 9 PM in each guest's timezone). You cannot set a specific send time, but this ensures optimal delivery.

Q: What languages are supported for SMS? A: SMS can be sent in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Danish.

Q: How do I know if a guest received my SMS? A: Check the SMS Status column. "Delivered" means the carrier accepted the message. Note that "delivered" means it reached the carrier - actual receipt on the device isn't always trackable.

Q: Can guests RSVP by replying to the SMS? A: No, guests must click the link in the SMS to access their personalized RSVP form. Text replies other than "STOP" are not processed.