📌 Note: Text Messages are available as add-ons. For more information on adding new features please see the add-ons page in your nation.

Table of Contents

Keywords allow your supporters to take action from their cell phones. Action pages in NationBuilder let you set up text message keywords that users can text to take the action linked to the page.

Note that keywords need to be unique within a nation across multiple broadcasters and websites.

The action page types available for text keywords are:

To set up a text keyword:

Go to your action page > [action] settings > Text keywords.

1. If you have more than one phone number, select the broadcaster you want to use.

2. Enter a keyword. The keyword should be a single word without spaces. When a supporter uses the keyword, the system will accept both lower and uppercase letters, like “sign” or “SIGN.”

3. When someone uses the keyword you can send them an autoresponse text. The autoresponse must be less than 160 characters.

4. Click Add keyword.

To adjust the settings for your keyword hover over it and click Edit next to the keyword listing.

This keyword will appear on the bottom of your action page. If you have more than one keyword, they will all display on your page. 

You can also distribute the keyword in the footer of your website, on outgoing emails, in your office, and on literature to grow your text subscribers list.

When a supporter texts a keyword to a broadcaster, some automated messages will be sent out to gather profile information. Then, the broadcaster will send the autoresponse indicated when the keywords was created. Once the profile is complete, a supporter will only receive the autoresponse.

The exact supporter experience depends on the location of your nation and your default control panel language. If your nation is located in Canada (at profile icon > Contacts and billing) and address information is requested, supporters will be asked for post code. If your default control panel language is French (at Settings > Nation defaults > Basics), the bot will request profile information in that language.

If the broadcaster text messaging settings indicate that a supporter should be asked for name, email, and street address the following will occur:

Supporter sends keyword.

Broadcaster responds: [Sentence related to type of action taken.] Please reply with your name.

Supporter responds.

Broadcaster responds: We got your text, but don't have your email address yet. Please reply with your email.

Supporter responds.

Broadcaster responds: We got your text, but don't have your address yet. Please reply with your address, city, state, zip.

In Canada, broadcaster responds: We got your text, but don't have your address yet. Please reply with your address, city, post code.

Supporter responds.

Broadcaster responds: with keyword autoresponse text.

For example:

Once the supporter's profile is complete, they will only receive the autoresponse written with each keyword. That means that if their profile has a name, email, and physical address (or whatever combination is indicated in the broadcaster's text settings), the interaction will be:

Supporter sends keyword.

Broadcaster responds with keyword autoresponse text.

For example, the next time Jane Doe sends in a keyword, this will happen:

Sentence related to type of action taken

When the bot tries to complete the supporter's profile, the first text sent will be in response to the type of page that holds the keyword.

Keywords can be added to five page types. A supporter can take action on a signup page or vote pledge page multiple times. Supporters are expected to RSVP for an event, sign a petition, or endorse once. So, if a supporter sends a second RSVP, signs a petition twice, or endorses twice, the system will note that they already took the action.

These page-specific sentences will only be sent if the bot is trying to complete a person's profile with name, email, and/or address.

Keywords on signup page:

Thank you for joining!

The keywords is added at Signup settings > Text keywords.

This is the same sentence sent if someone opts into receiving text messages using one of the pre-assigned keywords.

The other four action pages include the page headline in the page-specific sentence. The page headline can be edited at Settings > Headline. By default, the headline is the same word or phrase as the page name.

Keyword on vote pledge:

Pledged: [Page headline].

A keyword can be added to indicate a yes vote, at Vote pledge settings > Yes > Text keywords.

Keyword on an event:

RSVPd for [page headline] on [when].

If the person already RSVP's for the event:

Already RSVPed: [page headline] on [when].

A keyword can be added at Event settings > Text keywords. The event time can be edited at Event settings > Basics > When field.

Keyword on petition:

Signed: [page headline].

If the person already signed the petition:

Already signed: [page headline].

A keyword can be added at Petition settings > Text keywords.

Keyword on endorsement:

Endorsed: [page headline].

If the person already endorsed:

Already endorsed: [page headline].

A keyword can be added at Endorsement settings > Text keywords.