This week @Mssg added two platform features that show a great deal about our approach to messaging. The new features are the ability to send broadcast messages and source parameters to track the source of web conversions.
Broadcasts: Before launching broadcasts, nearly all of the messaging available in @Mssg was response to the user initiating a conversation. Broadcasts represent a small feature that has large implications for how @Mssg customers can communicate.
Broadcasts allow an organization to send an outgoing message to a list or filtered group. Like any outgoing message in @Mssg, a broadcast can be a simple text, include an image/gif/video or it can be a structured message that includes buttons.
The process is simple. First, give the broadcast a name, choose the list of people to receive the message and click “New Broadcast”.
The next step is to simply create the conversation as normal and then send the broadcast. It’s that easy.
Of course there are many more features coming soon – like scheduling messages, drip campaigns, advanced filtering and syncing the Facebook Messages with email campaigns.
Source Parameters: This second feature in the release doesn’t sound as flashy, but it’s a big deal for our customers. @Mssg has growth marketing, testing and iterating in our DNA. It’s crucial to have the ability to track conversions back to the source so that our customers can know what’s working and what isn’t.
With this new feature, @Mssg can pass a parameter from an ad, through the conversation and into the page where a transaction or conversion happens. It isn’t groundbreaking, but I’ve already spoken with marketers that have investigated other messaging platforms where this type of tracking is needed, and lacking. It’s clear that the @Mssg data approach is valuable and it helps the platform stand out for use by professionals.
Personally, it’s really exciting to build features that see immediate use and feedback. More to come!