Scout SuiteHow-to guide
Sending messages
Pick who should hear it, write once, and send. WhatsApp is tried first only when you've set it up on the group number and you're using an approved template — free-text goes as SMS.
Email the right parents
Email, its own item in the left-hand nav, is Compose message. Send to is all group parents, a section's parents, parents of people on an event, or a custom list of addresses. Optional Load template, Forward replies to group or section adults, and Also post to Facebook Page if a Page is connected. Send email.
Text — WhatsApp first when it's set up
Messaging is SMS, with WhatsApp folded in. Send to is group, section or event parents (no custom number list). If WhatsApp is available on the group number you'll see Send via: Automatic (WhatsApp, then SMS) or SMS only. Send message. Automatic only tries WhatsApp when the send uses a template that's WhatsApp-ready (Meta-approved). A free-text box is SMS only.
Parents are only texted if they have a login phone number and have opted in to SMS. Missing a preference is not treated as opted in — you can end up with no recipients. Email doesn't work that way.
WhatsApp on the group line is set up in Setting up group phones.
Templates, Facebook, Sent and Inbox
Templates, Facebook, Sent, and Inbox are each their own item in the left-hand nav. Templates holds email templates and message templates (Also send via WhatsApp on a message template is what makes Automatic possible). Facebook posts to a connected Page, or you connect one via Open group settings. Sent is the history — expand a message to see WhatsApp vs SMS per person. Inbox is SMS and WhatsApp received on the group number; Reply sends back on the same channel.
A custom SMS sender name (instead of the number) is one-way — they can't reply to it. WhatsApp template wording can't be personalised; insert-variable buttons apply to the SMS body.
Phones & messages
More in this topic
The group number, call flows, inbox, and meeting recordings.