How to Send Outbound Sales Messages
Business Goal: Import Contacts to send cold messages or follow up with leads.
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Last updated
Business Goal: Import Contacts to send cold messages or follow up with leads.
Last updated
Sales agents can import leads from their existing lists as well as adding leads individually in the platform. Following up with leads who have not contacted the business in some time requires opening closed conversations.
Send outbound sales messages to:
Follow up on potential leads.
Let existing leads know about changes or new features that might prompt them to purchase.
Add or import leads and send the first message.
Open closed conversations to follow up with leads.
Use this method when you want to import leads to send them a message.
When your sales agents have picked up lead information from physical events or sales campaigns, you’ll want to import Contacts into respond.io to message them.
Method Objectives
Import Contacts via a CSV file.
Add Contacts on the go using the Add Contact feature.
How-to:
Import Contacts via a CSV File
When you want to import a large number of Contacts at once, import them via a CSV file in the Contacts module. This option is best for sales managers.
Add Contacts on the go using the Add Contact feature
Use this method when you want to follow up with leads.
Method Objectives
Find leads with closed conversations.
Reopen conversations with leads and send an outbound message.
How-To
Use the Sort and Filter dropdown along with the Search Bar to find a specific lead on the platform. Choose the right filters based on the location of the lead within the platform, then input the Search Bar with fields such as Contact’s first name, last name, email or phone number.
There are two ways to find a lead with a closed conversation.
If the lead is assigned to you, go to the Mine Inbox > select the Closed filter > type the Contact’s name, phone number or email in the Search Bar.
If the lead is not assigned to you, go to the All Inbox > select the Closed filter > type the Contact’s name, phone number or email in the Search Bar.
The ability to reopen a conversation differs among Channels. Most Channels allow you to send outbound messages anytime, some Channels have a messaging window with limitations, while some Channels do not allow you to message leads after the messaging window closes.
Channels with no messaging window
Most Channels allow you to message leads any time after they’ve become a Contact on the platform. The list of Channels without a messaging window are Telegram, LINE, Website Chat, SMS and Email.
To reopen a conversation, go to the Messages Module > use the text box to send a lead an outbound message.
However, some channels have a messaging window that limits what you can send after the messaging window is closed. Here are the channels with messaging windows and their limitations.
Channels that do not allow outbound messages after messaging window closes
There are also channels with a messaging window that do not allow businesses to send any outbound messages after the messaging window closes until their lead sends them a message again. Here are the channels with messaging windows and their limitations.
Once a conversation is open, the lead will automatically be assigned to the agent who sends the outbound message. When the agent has finished chatting with a lead and closes the conversation, the agent may be unassigned from the lead depending on the closing conversation logic your business decides to use.
Learn more best practices for .
When you , they won’t have access to the bulk import option, but they can still add Contacts using this method.
Learn more about .
The search behavior depends on the field type you input. Learn more about .
Keep in mind that if a lead is snoozed, it will not be under closed conversations. You’ll have to to see it in your inbox again.
Learn more about here.
WhatsApp has a 24-hour messaging window. After the messaging window closes, use WhatsApp Message Template to send outbound messages. These Message Templates are messages that require pre-approval from WhatsApp. Learn more about here.
For other messaging platforms, Facebook Messenger has a standard 24-hour messaging window. However, respond.io has an extended 7 days messaging window period due to Facebook’s HUMAN_AGENT tag integration on the platform. After the messaging window closes, use a Message Tag to send outbound messages. Learn more about here.
Viber has a 24-hour messaging window. Messages sent by the bot outside the messaging window will be considered Chatbot-initiated Messages. Viber provides free 10,000 chatbot-initiated messages every month. Once exceeded the monthly free limit, you'll get an . To send more chatbot-initiated messages beyond the monthly limit, you must agree to Viber’s Chatbot Commercial Terms. Learn more about .
For other messaging platforms, Instagram has a standard 24-hour messaging window. However, respond.io has an extended 7 days messaging window period due to the HUMAN_AGENT tag integration on the platform. After the messaging window closes, no outbound messages can be sent to leads. Learn more about .
WeChat has a 48-hour messaging window. After the messaging window closes, no outbound messages can be sent to customers. Messages sent outside the messaging window will not be delivered and there will be a red exclamation mark indicating the message is not delivered. Learn more about
Learn more about .
