Messages/Messages XR overview

In this Article

• What is Messages? 
• What is Messages XR? 
• New interface in 2024!
• How can Messages/Messages XR work for you? 

What is Messages? 

Messages is Finalsite’s bulk emailing module. Fully integrated with Composer, Messages can use the constituent data you already have to populate mailing lists. It can also automatically insert dynamic content such as calendar events, athletic events, and posts content into message templates, significantly streamlining the process of creating regular messages such as newsletters.

Messages can be launched from the communications menu in your left navigation.

What is Messages XR?

Messages XR (Extended Reach) is an add-on to Messages that makes it easy to send a message to all of your channels at the same time. Send messages as emails, SMS texts, voice calls, social media posts, mobile app notifications, and website alerts all in the same screen.

New interface in 2024!

Messages and Messages XR are being upgraded with a new user interface and experience (UI/UX) in 2024, speeding up and improving your process of sending messages out. Fewer clicks means faster communication. Enjoy the new features you’ve requested, such as the automatic pre-filling of your message into channels and automatic translation. Learn more in the article, "New Messages/Messages XR Interface 2024."

New benefits include: 

• simplified recipient selection
• prefilled message screens
• automatic translation
• faster channel selection
• single-scroll preview panel
• schedule, review, and send all in one screen!

How can Messages/Messages XR work for you? 

Create groups 

Use Group Manager to create groups which can then added to a mailing list in the Lists feature. Groups are generally more role-based (10th Grade Parents, Faculty, Athletic Teams) so that they can then be added together to a List which is more topical or situational (Weekly Newsletter, Summer Learning). 

Target recipients with Lists

Once you have created your groups, the Lists feature in Messages is where you can configure recipient lists to help keep your messaging consistent and improve your communication. Create lists for different situations, such as graduation, tutorials, and so much more. 

• Add recipients to a list individually, by group, contact, or by list upload.
• Allow users to set their own consent preferences for how they want to receive messages.
• Set up push notifications for your Finalsite Mobile App. 

Build templates for consistency

• Reuse a consistent design for repeat communications.
• Start a message from scratch or, to be more efficient, choose a template from the dropdown to "clone" an existing layout. 
• Add content to existing templates that could be easily swapped out and updated each time you send out a new message. 
• Lock your templates down so that admin users can't change certain pieces but only swap out new content and pictures, etc. 

Publish everywhere from one place

Prepare your messages, alerts and posts all in one place and send them all at once via: email, SMS text, voice phone call, mobile app notification, social media, and website alert. Easy-to-send mass notifications and alerts will improve your school's response time so you can put student and staff safety first.

Send messages on the go

Create, send, and schedule messages from your mobile device. Gone are the days of waking up at 5:00 a.m. and getting to your computer to send out a mass message. With our companion app Finalsite Central, get messages out quickly and easily from anywhere.

Boost parent satisfaction

Give parents and staff control over how and where they receive notifications. Enable parents to select how they'd like to receive messages and notifications through custom options that matches their individual preferences. Sending out a text, voicemail, or maybe the combination of a mobile app notification and an email with more info helps your community to be happier, connected, and more engaged than ever before.

Easily translate content

Translate messages into your families' preferred languages. All your communications can be translated into the recipient's preferred language before you hit send! Messages are translated automatically, and you can preview and edit translations before sending.

Ensure accuracy with integrations

Integrate with your SIS. Ensure messages are sent to parents and staff with the most up-to-date and accurate contact data when you integrate with your SIS or other information systems. We integrate with 40+ SIS and SSO systems so it's likely our system can talk to yours!

Set permissions for your team

Messages has both global and granular levels of permissions so that you can customize the perfect level of permissions for each member of your team who will be working in Messages with you. 

Create and send out bulk messages and newsletters

It's easy to create and send out a message. Learn more in the article, "Send communication in Messages."

Analyze success in Messages Reports

After a message has been sent, view the message report by clicking on View Report in the bottom-right corner of the Message Details screen, or clicking on the bar chart icon next to the message in the All Messages list. Learn more in the article, "View reports on message sends."