Lists Overview
The Lists feature (found under Text Messages > Lists) allows you to create segmented lists of contacts which you can use for sending mass text messages as well as sending text messaging invites.
How to Create Lists
There are a few places where lists can be created in Harness. We'll cover each of those below.
First, a new list can be created direct from Text Messages > Lists by selecting the + Create New button.
Lists can also be created from your Saved Contacts by checking the checkbox to the left of each contact you would like to add to a list, then selecting Actions > Create List.
You can also create a list when drafting a new text message by selecting the Need to Create a List? link.
No matter which route you go, you will end up in the Lists section. From there, selecting the + Create New button will allow you to create a new list. You will then be asked to give the list a name and you may also add a description of the list.
Once the list has been created, it will need to be populated with contacts (unless created from your Saved Contacts). To add contacts to the list, select Options > Add Users.
You can then select the contacts you would like to add to the text messaging list by checking the checkbox to the left of their name. There's a search box in the upper-righthand corner to help you look up contacts by name. Once all contacts have been selected, use the Add to List button to update the list to include those selected contacts.
Now that contacts have been added to the list, the list is ready to be used for text messaging or for sending text messaging invites.
Another way lists are created is by uploading your contacts into Harness. When doing this, a list of those uploaded contacts is automatically created, but you may also create or designate which lists contacts should be added to when filling out the importing template. For more information, see Importing Contacts Into Harness.
How to Edit and View Lists
Existing lists can be managed from within the Lists section in your Harness Dashboard.
Adding Contacts
If you've created a list without adding contacts to it or if have a list containing contacts but would like to add additional contacts, that can be done by selecting Options > Add Users.
From there you can select the additional contact you would like to add to the list by checking the checkbox to the left of their name, then using the Add to List button once all contacts have been selected. There's also a search in the upper-righthand corner to help make it easier to look up contacts by name.
Contacts can also be added to a list using the Upload Contacts tool. For more information, see Importing Contacts Into Harness.
Renaming Lists
If you would like to rename a list, select Options > Rename.
A pop-up window will then open allowing you to update both the list's name and description. The list's name is used to help you and your team members identify the list in both the Lists section and when composing a new text message. The lists name should be recognizable and understandable, and clearly communicate the purpose of the list.
Viewing Lists
You can also open the list to view all contacts that have been added to the list by selecting Options > View List.
The list's contents will then be displayed similarly to have your Saved Contacts are displayed. Here, the Manage List button in the upper-righthand corner allows you to add more contacts to the list, send a message to the entire list, download a copy of the list as a CSV file, rename the list, and delete the list.
Another option available by viewing a list is removing contacts from the list if needed. To remove contacts from the list, select the checkbox to the left of the contact's name, then when selecting the Manage List button a new option of Remove Users will appear.
Deleting Lists
If you ever need to delete an entire list, you can do so from the Lists section by selecting Options > Delete list. As covered in the last section, you may also delete the list while viewing the list using the Manage List button.
How to Send Text Messages to a List
Just as with creating a list, there are a few places that you can send text messages to a list of contacts.
The first place is right from the Lists section. From there, select Options > Send Message.
You will also have the option to send a text message to a list while viewing a list by selecting Manage List > Send Message.
Finally, you can select a list when composing a new text message. In the Select a list or choose users... field you will see all available lists and can even search for the list by name.
Sending a message to a list of contacts sends each contact a message individually. This is a mass text message, but not a group text message. Any responses from contact will appear as a one-on-one conversation with the contact in your Messages inbox.