Keyword Overview
Your Keyword, AKA text-to-give (found under Text Messages > Keywords), is a tool you can use (in addition to a Facebook post, email, etc.) to direct your donors quickly & easily to a donation link to give. Donors do NOT make a donation by texting in a $ amount to the number.
Your keyword is a unique word or phrase that your supporters can text to a short code number (269-89) to receive a custom response that you set for that Keyword.
For example, a supporter texts your custom keyword (i.e. HELPING) to 269-89 they are automatically sent an auto-response, which can include texts, links & more!
Managing Your Keywords
How to Create a Keyword
To create a new Keyword, first check to see if you have any keywords available. Most Harness subscriptions allow for one keyword. You can check your keyword allotment "# of # Keywords used" section at the top of the page.
If you have less keywords in use than your allotment, you will be able to create a new keyword. The new keyword can be created by selecting the blue + New Keyword button on the right side of the page.
From there you will create your keyword. Using the Keyword text box, try the name of the keyword you would like your contacts to use (this will be the exact word they must text to the short code 269-89).
If the keyword you would like to use is available for use, the word "Available" will appear as green text to the right of the text box.
However, if the keyword you've entered is already in use by another one of Harness' non-profit partners, you will see the words "Not Available" displayed in red to the right of the text box. In this case, you will must use a different keyword.
Next, type the message you would like recipients to receive when they send your keyword to the 269-89 short code into the Text Message text box. Feel free to add the link to one of your fundraising pages (a Giving Form, Campaign page, or Event page). It's recommended to include your fundraising link directly after your thank-you message for easier access by supporters.
You may also add emojis to your message by selecting the emoji icon in the corner of the text box.
If you would like to attach a link the keyword's message instead of simply pasting a link in the message body, then you can use the + icon to the left of the text box or the + Attach a Link option to add a link to the response. For best results, structure your message with a thank-you first, followed by the call to action with your link. For example: 'Thank you for supporting [your cause]! Your contribution will make a real impact. Donate Here: [campaign URL]'
On the right side, a preview of the message recipients will receive is displayed.
Be sure to save your changes using the Save button beneath the text box.
How to Edit a Keyword
To edit an existing keyword, select the three dots to the right of the keyword, then choose the Edit Keyword option.
From there, you may edit the keyword just the same as if you were creating a new keyword. You may change the keyword, update the text message content, add emojis, and attach a link.
How to Delete a Keyword
If needed, you may also delete a keyword. To delete a keyword, select the three dots to the right of the keyword, then select the Delete Keyword option.
How Should I Use a Keyword?
Keywords are best used whenever you need to drive donors to your fundraising pages but are unable to give them a link to click. This typically would be all types of physical or audio communications such as:
Print Materials (Direct mail, paper newsletters, flyers, decals, banners/signs etc.)
Events (Display your keyword on the presentation screen and/or verbally)
Radio/TV Promotions
However, you should avoid using your keyword in any place where a link can be provided, which would include all digital communication channels such as on your website, in emails, when posting on social media, and when creating QR codes. In all of these communication channels, you should instead provide a clickable link that goes directly to the Giving Form, Campaign page, or Event page that you would like to direct the donor to. When including URLs in your text messages, consider shortening them by removing prefixes like 'https://' or 'www.' to create a cleaner appearance.
If you do use your keyword in any digital communication channel, then for compliance reasons you must also disclose in the same post, email, or website page that "message and data rates may apply" and "one message is sent per user request" (must also be disclosed for radio, T.V. and online ads). Additionally, you must include references to Harness' Privacy Policy and SMS Terms of Service.
FAQs
Q: What's the short code to text my keyword to?
A: Your keyword's short code is always 269-89 regardless of your keyword. Supporters do not need to type the hyphen when texting your keyword—they can simply text the keyword to 26989.
Q: What happens to my old keyword when I update it to be a new keyword?
A: When you edit your keyword and change the keyword to something else, the new keyword overwrites the old keyword, and the old keyword becomes inactive.
Q: Why doesn't my keyword automatically connect with my campaign?
A: Your keyword is a free-form tool you can customize to direct wherever you want it to go. This can be to a specific giving form, campaign page, event page, or even an external link. You can change your keyword & message to feature whatever priority call-to-action you have at any time.
Q: How do I connect my keyword to a campaign, giving form, or event page?
A: You will want to copy the link to the giving form, campaign page, or event page, then edit your keyword and paste the link into the body of the keyword's message.
Q: How should I best promote my keyword?
A: Check out these partner examples for inspiration!
Q: Can I add a photo/video attachment to my keyword?
A: No. However, you can include within your keyword body message a link to your Harness fundraising page (where an image is featured), or your website, an online video, a landing page, etc.
Q: How do I track what donations were given through my keyword?
A: While we currently don't offer any keyword analytics specifically (here's our current analytics options), a potential workaround could be that you could create a private campaign, share this private campaign link in your keyword only, and hide that private campaign link from all other giving forms & other promotional channels (ex: emails, social media, etc). This way when donations are received to that campaign, you can know the donations came from your keyword vs another source.
Q: How do I ensure my use of the text-to-give keyword stays compliant with U.S. Laws?
A: We strongly encourage that in all marketing and communications involving your text-to-give keyword, including using your keyword on your website which we do not recommend (share a link to your fundraising page instead), you include verbiage along the lines of: "message and data rates may apply" and "one message sent per user request." Additionally, all uses of your text-to-give keyword must reference Harness' Privacy Policy and SMS Terms of Service.
Q: How do I get additional keywords?
A: Most Harness subscriptions include 1 keyword. What most of our non-profit partners do is use one main keyword that's usually their organization's name or acronym (something easy for donors to recognize), and update their keyword as needed to feature different campaign messaging. Some of our What most partners do is use one main keyword that's usually their organization's name or acronym (something easy for donors to recognize) partners will also include multiple links in their keyword's message like this partner did.
If you're subscribed to our Advanced, Accelerator, Pro, or Executive plans, please contact your success specialist directly (or email us at [email protected]) to discuss keyword availability.