Send an SMS Text Message

Text messages have a maximum limit of 612 characters  for SMS text messages. If your message exceeds this limit, you’ll need to shorten the content before sending.

Your messages can include URLs (for example, your YouTube channel), tinyURLs that can link to images or files, and more.

To send an SMS Text Message:

• After logging in you will arrive at the Send Message page. You can also navigate from the messages menu in the top navigation bar and click Send Message.
• From the Send Message page select the group you want to send a message to from the Select Groups dropdown menu. If you want to send to multiple groups, select them one at a time from the dropdown menu. Each group selected will appear in the yellow detail bar above the Review Recent messages section. To remove any of the groups click on the group's name hyperlink and press OK to confirm.
• Select the User Types to be notified from the dropdown menu.
• Select Text Message from the Message Type dropdown menu.
• Select the desired escalation level from the Select Alert Escalation Level dropdown. This defines  which cell phone numbers to be contacted.
• The Non-emergency or Emergency drop down menu is a secondary selection of Cell Phone numbers to include in the message.  Cell Phone numbers marked as Emergency Only on a user’s Dashboard will only be contacted if Emergency is selected. If Non-Emergency is selected, regardless of the escalation level, the Cell Phone number will not be included.
• The yellow message detail bar displays the number of users who will receive the message.
• In the Create New Text Message Alert section enter a Message Subject in the field provided. Or choose one of your own SMS Templates from the dropdown menu and click the Insert Template button. (Learn more from our tutorial on Creating Alert Templates.)
• To personalize your message, select an option for the Insert Name Options dropdown menu. (CAUTION: This option is not recommended for emergency messages as this can slow down the delivery rate of messages.)
• Type your Message Body into the field provided. Text messages have a limit of 612 characters with charges of 1 message per 160 characters sent. Messages over 160 characters may be split based on the phone carrier or mobile operating system (or mobile OS) the user has, but are sent out as one unified message from your Cast system. (NOTE: The message will automatically be translated for the recipient based on their language settings on their Dashboard.)
• To have your message translated into one of the multiple supported languages, select the language from the Language dropdown menu and click the Translate button.
• To attach a file to upload and create a link to which the recipient will receive to download:
  • Locate the file by clicking the Choose File or Browse… button.
  • Select the file from your computer and click Open.
  • Click the Upload button.
  • Click within the Message Body to place the created link and click OK on Insert Upload link here?
• To receive a response from recipients, select Request Recipient Response from the Text Recipient Response dropdown menu.
• Click the Send Message Now button to send the message immediately or click the Send Message Later button to schedule the message. A box will appear to select a date from the calendar and a designated time by pressing the clock button. When the scheduled data and time have been selected, press the Add button. Follow the steps above to schedule the message for another date and time. When ready click Schedule Alert(s) button. You will be redirected to Scheduled messages on the Navigation bar.
• Once the message has been sent you will be redirected to the Results page. Or from the messages menu in the top navigation bar click Past messages where you can:
  • Access and view the message by clicking the Document button under the Message column.
  • View message results by clicking the hyperlinked number in parentheses next to the green and blue People icon in the View Results column.
  • Use the message as a draft to create a new message by clicking the Pad and Pencil icon under the Use as Draft column.
  • If you have opted to receive Alert Delivery Reports expect an email providing a summary of the success of the message within 60 to 90 minutes after the message was sent.
    • To opt to receive Alert Delivery Reports, from the Dashboard menu in the top navigation bar click My Dashboard.
    • Click the SMS Preferences tab.
    • Check the box next to Notify me when SMS responses are received.
    • Enter a Notification Email in the field provided. (Leave this blank to use your top priority email contact.)
    • Click the Update SMS Preferences button to save.

Questions? Contact our Customer Support Team!

Updated November 19, 2025 15:56