Invite sample members by sms for survey

In the first stage, you can select the distribution channel to be used for inviting the members.

The following distribution options are available:

• E-mail distribution
• SMS distribution (professional user)
• Link list distribution

When you have selected the desired distribution channel (SMS distribution for this procedure), the corresponding tile will be highlighted in light blue and marked with a tick mark (in the top right-hand corner). You can then click the Next button at the bottom right to go to the Filter panel members screen.

In the second stage, you can use a filter to select the sample members to whom the invitation should be sent. In this way, you can considerably reduce its number. After all, the survey invitation may not be equally relevant to all of them.

At the distribution stage, filters can be based on:

• System fields, such as Email and Last Name, whose data are stored in the respective sample.
• Custom member fields: These are the additional variables you create in a sample, e.g. Area.

Example

Using the drop-down button (1) at the end of the variable field, you open a list from which you can select a variable type, e.g. System fields (2). After clicking on it, an overview unfolds with all available underlying variables, e.g. Language (3).

If you select this variable, you can select one or more languages from the list, e.g. English, so that the system selects the sample members for whom this language has been defined in the system variables. Based on this example, sample members with English as their language will receive a survey invitation.

The bottom of the screen indicates the number of members who meet the specified filter condition. To reduce the number of members even further, you can add another filter condition.

Once you have set the desired filter, you can click the Next button at the bottom right to go to the Choose SMS message screen.

Note: If you do not want to specify a filter, you can skip this screen and click the Next button directly.

In the third stage, you can select the SMS message to be used for the invitation. All displayed SMS messages can be found in the Messages screen (see the Library menu).

When you have selected the desired SMS message, the corresponding tile will be highlighted in light blue. You can then click the Next button at the bottom right to go to the Text screen.

In the fourth stage, you can check the text of the SMS message and edit it, if necessary. This text can be found on the Messages screen for the corresponding SMS message, see the Library menu.

Message header

Language: In this field you can select the languages in which the sms message is written. The language shown here is the default language set on the Messages screen. Using the Add language button, you can define other languages for the sms message. As soon as you click this button, a drop-down list appears from which you can select the desired language. Once you have selected a language, this will be included in the selection field. By clicking the Translate button, you can translate the message text on the Translate message window.

Note: Do not forget to translate your sms message into all languages required.

You can then exit this window using the < button (see red arrow). The SMS message will be displayed in the language selected under Language. To change the SMS message of another language, you can select that language in this selection field.

Sender number/name: The name entered here is displayed to the participants as the sender of the sms message.

Message: you can change and/or supplement the text that has already been entered for the sms message. Consult the link for information on placeholders in messages.

• By clicking the Save button, the customised sms message will be sent to the sample members to be invited. In addition, it will automatically be updated on the Messages screen from the Library menu.
• By clicking the Save as new message button, a pop-up window will appear in which you can enter a new name for the customised sms message. This custom message will then be sent to the sample members to be invited and added under the new name to the Messages screen from the Library menu.

Once you have checked the data related to the text to be sent, you can click the Next button at the bottom right to go to the Field phase screen.

In the fifth stage, you can set the date and time on which the sms message is sent to the selected sample members. By default, the value Now is selected in the Field phase start date field. In this case, the invitation will be sent to the corresponding sample members immediately after completion of this procedure.

You can also opt to send the invitation at a later time, to be determined by you. For this, you have to select the value Later in the Field phase start date field, see below.

In the Survey end date is field, the value No end is usually specified, unless you have specified an end date for the survey in the Data collection ends on setting (under Access control on the Build screen). For further details, see Survey settings. In this case, the end date will be displayed in the Field phase screen.

Explanation of selection value Later

In this case, a date field is displayed in which you can use the calendar button (1) to set the month (use the < and > buttons if necessary), a date in the future (2) and the time on that date (3) and (4). As soon as you click the OK button (5), the selected date and time will be inserted in the date field.

Once you have set the schedule, you can click the Next button at the bottom right to go to the Distribute screen.

In the last stage, you can check the preset data and, if necessary, adjust them on the previous screens (using the Back button). The number of sms messages to be sent is indicated at the bottom of the screen.

After you have checked the data on the screen, you can click the green Send button at the bottom right of the screen to create a distributor on the distribution overview. It contains the survey invitation of a sample via sms distribution.