How do I create an SMS Campaign and collect Subscriber Opt-Ins?

Race Roster enables Event Organizers to create and send SMS campaigns to subscribed participants via text message. This tool is ideal for delivering important event updates before race day, sharing key announcements, and distributing results links or follow-up communications after the event.

For additional guidance on credit management, refer to the relevant knowledge base articles on How do I purchase and share SMS text credits?

Creating an SMS Campaign

1. Log in to the Timer Dashboard

2. Select Messages from the left hand sidebar and choose Manage SMS Campaigns

3. Select Manage Campaigns for the specific event from which the SMS campaign will be sent.

Note: Only participants who have actively subscribed and opted in to receive SMS communications can be contacted using this tool.

4. Click Create campaign

5. Campaign setup: Enter a name for the campaign and choose the Sender Method. The Sender Method references the pre-purchased credit pool or SMS provider (Twilio) integration.

6. Campaign criteria: This is where the campaign’s send schedule, filters, and triggers are configured. Event Organizers can choose from three send schedule options:

• Upon match: The campaign sends automatically to all contacts who meet the selected criteria on an ongoing basis until the specified end date.

• At scheduled time: The campaign sends to all qualifying contacts at a predetermined date and time.

• Immediately upon enabling campaign:The campaign sends to all qualifying contacts as soon as the campaign is activated.

During this step, appropriate send dates and end dates should also be selected based on the campaign’s objectives.

7. Next,Filters and Triggers are configured.

Filters determine which participants are eligible to receive the campaign based on selected sub-events and/or races. Races refer to results sets created within the Results dashboard.

Triggers determine which participant action or result will initiate the SMS send. Available trigger options include:

• Finish time

• Challenge progress

• Segment performance, including segment place, segment race, or split time.

8. Campaign content: The next step is Content, where the SMS message is created and customized. During this stage, Event Organizers can compose the campaign message and use merge tags to personalize content for each participant.

9. Review & send campaign: The final step is Overview, where all campaign settings can be reviewed before activation. During this stage, Event Organizers can:

• Review campaign details displayed on the left-hand side

• Identify any incomplete steps or configuration errors

• Confirm available SMS credits

• Send a test message for final verification (test messages will consume available credits)

Once the campaign has been reviewed and confirmed, click Send & enable campaign to activate and distribute the SMS campaign.

How to collect SMS subscribers

Collecting subscribers in registration: 

1. Log in to the Race Roster dashboard as an Event Organizer.

2. From the left-hand navigation menu, use the search bar to locate and select Registration Questions under Settings.

3. Click Add questiona for the SMS Opt-In Question to enable SMS subscription for participantsn in the registration flow.

Your question will then be created and added into the registration flow: 

Collecting subscribers outside of registration:

1. Log in to the Timer Dashboard

2. Select Messages from the left hand sidebar and choose Manage SMS Campaigns

5. Click Manage campaigns for the required event

6. Click on the arrow to the right of the SMS opt-in settings to find the sharable SMS opt-in link and paste it in a location where participants can sign up for text message notifications.  The link can be added event details sidebar which will navigate visitors to the SMS opt-in pag

 The form to collect subscribers looks like this: