Insermo - Bulk SMS Software - Email Marketing - MMS SMS Gateway

Upload your contacts list into Insermo

Import a File

1. Click on the Contacts icon from the Welcome screen.

2. Click on ‘Create a new contact list’, from the Contacts Manager window. Then click ‘Import a file’ to process your contact list.

(If you have uploaded lists before, use the ‘new’ link at the top of the list manager window)

3. Type in the ‘List Name’ in the space provided.

4. Click the ‘Yes’ check box to confirm that your recipients have given their permission.

5. Browse and upload your file in the formats suggested .CSV, .TXT, .XLS. (Please Note: Excel 2003 or below must be used for .XLS files. Once uploaded you will see the following screen. This screen displays the fields found in your contacts file.

7. The above screen will identify the field types automatically, e.g. ‘Email Address’, etc. If you notice that the field types have been assigned incorrectly, simply drag the correct field across as shown above and then click save. Your list has now been uploaded. (Note: Use the expandable + next to 'Contact details', 'Personal details' etc, to display other field types that you can drag across.)

Add Contacts Manually

1. Click on the 'Contacts' icon from the welcome screen.

2. Click on ‘Create a new contact list’ from the Contacts Manager window, then ‘add contacts manually’ to create your contact list. (If you have uploaded lists before, use the 'new' link at the top of the Contacts manager window)

3. Type in the ‘List Name’ in the space provided.

4. Click the ‘Yes’ check box to confirm that your recipients have given their permission, then click next.

5. In the image below there are no fields detected. You must assign the field you wish to have in your contacts list by dragging the field type from the left hand side under 'Contact Details' etc, to the blank field on the right.

6. First drag ‘Email Address’ to the blank field. You can see in the below image the 'Email' field has been assigned. Use the expandable + next to 'Contact details', 'Personal details' etc, to display other field types that you can drag across. Once you have dragged all the fields you wish to include, click save.

7. To begin adding contacts to the list, double click on your list name and then click on the ‘add contacts’ link.

8. This will open the contact detail screen where you can add your contact information.

9. Click 'Save & Close' to close the window or click 'Save & Add New' to add another contact to the list.

Create Sublists from your List Data

1. Upload your contacts list into Insermo. Ensure that you have a few fields, for example First Name, Email Address, Last Name. If you need help with uploading a list, visit how to upload your contacts list.

2. Double click on your list name from the 'Contacts Manager' window. You should be able to see all the contacts in the list, on the 'list detail' window.

3. Type a word or phrase into the ‘Search’ box on the ‘list detail’ screen and then hit the enter key. (Sublists can be based on any data that may currently be in your list).

As an example, we have selected to create a sublist of 'gmail' email addresses, by typing gmail into the search box.

4. When you hit the enter key, a new tab with the search term will appear on the top right. All contacts that matched that word or phrase will be displayed in this tab.

5. Right click on this tab and select 'create sublist' from the available options as shown below.

6. The sublist has now been created in the Contacts Manager. Sublists are shown with the master list name followed by the search term used. E.g. the sublist ‘manual list – gmail’ is our gmail sublist.

Can I unsubscribe contacts from my lists?

1. Open the Contacts Manager and double click on the list, with the contact you would like to unsubscribe.

2. Search for the email address in the search box at the top of the screen and hit the 'enter' key. (This will open a tab with the search term. If you cannot see the tab, click on the arrow button next to the tab, on the right side of the window). Then click on the new tab.

3. Right click on the specific contact and select ‘Unsubscribe Email’. Once complete, you will notice the recipient will display the red avatar to indicate an unsubscribe. (Note you can also click ‘Unsubscribe Mobile’ if you are using a SMS contact list.)

If you make a mistake, you will notice that you can re-subscribe the contact using the ‘Subscribe Email or Mobile’ link. As per the Spam Act please ensure that permission is provided by the recipient to re-subscribe an email address or mobile number.

Will duplicates in my list be sent when I deploy my campaign?

No. When you upload your list into Insermo, we automatically deactivate your duplicates and place them on the duplicates tab.

If you are sending to more than one list and you have 'Contact A', in List 1 and List 2, Insermo will deactivate the duplicate when you send your campaign. This way you are in no danger of sending multiple emails even if certain contacts appear on several lists.

What do the coloured contacts represent in my lists?

Blue contacts represent new contacts or those that fall under the 'no response' category in reporting.

Green contacts represent recipients that have opened the campaign, but have not clicked on any links.

Orange contacts represent recipients that have clicked on links in the campaign.

Red contacts represent those that have unsubscribed.

Creating a sign up form for your website

Grow your database by creating a sign up form. Follow these simple steps to creating a sign up form for your website. Once created every sign up will be added to your list in Insermo.

1. Open the Contacts Manager from the ‘Go’ menu and then double click on the list that you want to use for your sign up form.

2. Once your list view window opens, click on the ‘Create form’ button from the top menu bar.

3. You will see the form window open with a preview of what your form will look like.
The form will automatically include all of the fields from the list you selected.

4. Change the form text by typing in the fields under the ‘Text’ drop down on the right hand side. This is highlighted in green in the below screen shot. You can also change the intro text, submit text and the font size* in this section.

*If you increase the font size you then need to change the ‘Header Height’ under the dimensions drop down, so it doesn’t overlap with your form fields.

5. If you want to include a background image in your form, click on the 'open the media library' button and then drag the image from the media library to the dotted ‘background image’ box highlighted in green below. You will then see the image update in the form preview on the left.

6. Now click on the Thank you page tab, above your form preview to update the thank you page. This page has a similar right hand side section to the ‘form’ tab. Change the text on the right hand side to update your thank you page.

7. When finished click 'Save' to save your form in the Content Manager.

8. Now click on 'get form HTML' and copy the form code to provide to your website developer. this code can then be implemented into your website.

I don't have an email template, what can I use?

1. Click on the Content icon from the welcome screen.

2. Click on the 'Email' icon.

3. Click on 'Choose a template'.

4. The next screen will show all of the custom template options as thumbnails, as shown below. Click on a template thumbnail you would like to use. This will then open the template in the email content editor.

5. Make changes to the template, by pasting or typing in your text, uploading images and creating links. Then rename your template and click 'save'.

Insert an Email View Online Link

Insermo lets you create a web version of your email for those recipients that have trouble viewing the original.

To Create the Online Version:

1. Type a word or term such as ‘View Online’ into your template. (Generally this is located at the top of the template).

2. Highlight the text and click on the ‘Insert View Online link’ icon.

3. This will insert the 'view online' link into the template.

Insert an Email Unsubscribe Link

Insermo lets you choose where to place the unsubscribe link. If you do not allocate the unsubscribe link yourself, Insermo will automatically place the link at the bottom of the template when you deploy the campaign.

To Insert the Unsubscribe Link:

1. Type a word or term such as ‘Unsubscribe’ into your template.

2. Highlight the word or term and click on the ‘Insert Unsubscribe Link’ icon.

3. This will insert the unsubscribe link into the template.

Upload your own HTML email template

If you have an HTML email template already, you can upload this into the Content Manager in Insermo.

1. Double click on the Content icon on the desktop, in the ‘Go’ menu or from the Welcome screen.

2. From the Content Manager window, click on ‘Email’, and then click ‘Create/Paste HTML’.

3. Once in the Email Content Editor, click on the ‘Source’ tab and paste your HTML code into the box provided. Ensure that you paste over the HTML tags that are there already and then click the ‘Edit’ tab.

4. Click 'Save' to save the content or click 'Save as Template' to store the template in the 'My Templates' section.

5. Start making changes to the content, images and links in the Email Content Editor.

6. Rename your template in the ‘Email Name’ section and click ‘Sync’ to sync the text into the TEXT tab. Then click ‘save’ to save the HTML and TEXT versions of the template.

Personalise your Email content

Email

1. Open the Content icon on the desktop, in the ‘Go’ menu or from the Welcome screen.

2. Double click on the email template you wish to edit.

3. Once in the email content editor, place your cursor in the section where you would like to insert personalisation.

4. You will see the personalisation section on the bottom left of screen. This section contains all of the lists you have uploaded into the tool. You will also notice that each list has a + symbol, this allows you to expand the list to view every field it contains.

5. From here, drag a field into your template, such as Dear {First name}. Place your cursor over the field you wish to drag, hold down the left mouse button and then drag to the appropriate place in the template. Any field can be dragged to any position in your template.

You will notice when dragging personalisation across that you will either see a tick or a cross. The cross is usually displayed when the user has not dragged the personalisation to a valid place within the template. The tick indicates that you are now in a valid place to position your personalisation.

Upload images and insert into your Email content

The Media Library allows you to upload an image and drag it to a section in your template. You will need to open the Email Content Editor to access the 'Media Library'.

1. Click 'Open' under 'Media Library' on the left hand task bar of the 'Email Content Editor'.

2. When the Media Library window opens, click on the 'Upload an Image' button in the top left corner of the window.

3. Browse for your image, files permitted includes JPG, GIF, and PNG.

4. Click the 'upload' button.

5. Now, place your cursor in the section of the template you will drag your image too.

6. Drag the image from the media library, to the point where your cursor is placed. (NOTE: If you notice that the image drags to the top of the template, simply select it and drag to the appropriate place where the cursor is positioned).

Create an SMS Message

Please Note: 1 standard SMS message is 160 characters with spaces.

1. Open the Content Manager and click on 'Create SMS Content', then click on 'Create SMS'. (You will notice that you have 148 characters remaining at the bottom of the smart phone. This is due to the 'reply2optout' clause having already been designated to your character count. This is to ensure your recipients know how to opt out of your messages).

2. Next, paste or type your SMS Message into the smart phone on the right. If you need to send more
than 160 characters, you can select the check box for 'allow joined messages'.

3. Type in a name for your SMS Message and click 'Save'.

Can I send an SMS without a list?

Of course. We developed the Quick SMS function (located on the desktop) as a 4 step process that allows you to create and send an SMS from the one screen. All you have to do is run through the 4 steps.

1. Select a From Name/Number (you can type in your own mobile number or use a name of 11 characters with spaces).

2. Add the mobile numbers you want to send to, by typing in a number and then clicking 'add'.

3. Type in the SMS message.

4. Then select to 'Send Now' or 'Schedule' for the future.

Please note: Quick SMS does not provide reporting or replies.

Send an email campaign

Sending an email campaign is quick and easy once you have your content and contact list(s).

1. Click on the Campaigns icon from the welcome screen.

2. Click on 'New Email Campaign'.

3. Type in a campaign title (so you can identify the campaign on the Campaigns screen). Then type a subject line, From and From address (The recipients will see these). Then click 'continue'.

4. Drag the list(s) you want to send too from the left hand side to the box on the right. Then click 'continue'.

5. Click on the email content you want to send. (You will see a preview on the right hand side). Then click 'continue'.

6. Type in your email address, click add and then 'send a test' to see if your email looks the way you want it too. Then click 'continue'.

7. Click on 'Send Now' to send straight away or choose a date and time in the future and then click 'schedule'.

8. On the confirm screen, check all the details are correct and then click 'confirm'.

9. Once your campaign is sent, double click on the campaign name from the campaigns manager window. This will open the report window.

Send an SMS campaign

1. Click on the ‘Campaigns’ icon from the Welcome screen.

2. Click on ‘New SMS Campaign’.

3. Type in your ‘Campaign Title’. ‘From Name/Number’ and the ‘Message Grade’ you wish to use. (From name allows you to type in 11 characters e.g. ‘Insermo’, or alternatively type in your own/business mobile number), (Message Grade allows you to choose Domestic or International carriers to send your message).

4. Drag the list(s) you wish to send to, from the left column to the right, and then click ‘continue’.

5. Click on the SMS content you want to use (a preview will display in the smart phone on the right, and then click ‘continue’.

6. Type in your mobile number and click ‘add’, then click on ‘send a test’ to check the message. Then click ‘continue’.

7. Click on the ‘Send Now’ button or choose a date and time in the future and click ‘schedule’.

8. Check all the details at the ‘confirm’ screen and click ‘confirm’ to send/schedule the campaign. Once your campaign has sent, double click on the campaign name and the report will open in a new window.

SMS reporting: Receiving replies from my contacts

You can receive sms replies in Insermo, however you will need a virtual mobile number for this to work. Don't worry this is easy, we can set up a virtual SMS mobile number for as little as $40 AUD per month. This way you do not have to use your own mobile number to manage replies and opt-outs.

All replies received to the virtual number will be displayed in the SMS report from the Campaigns window.

Create Sublists from your Campaign Reports

1. Open an email campaign report, from the Campaigns window by double clicking on a deployed campaign.

2. Select any tab in the report except the 'scoreboard' tab. (Tabs available include Open, Clicked, Bounced, Unsubscribed and No Response).

3. Right click on the tab and select 'Create Sublist' from the drop-down menu or click on the Create Sublist icon from the top of the window.

4. The sublist for the tab selected, will display in the Contacts Manager. Sublist names display as the master list name attached to the campaign followed by the report tab name. E.G. ‘August Contacts - Opened’.

Do I have to sign up to a month by month pricing package?

No, in fact we also have pre-paid options.

If you would like to buy a number of email or SMS credits in advance and use them without a time limit, you can. Please give us a call on 03 8612 6878 or email us and we can help you out with this request.

Where can I see the list of recipients from the clicks tab in campaign report?

To view this list, all you need to do is create a sublist from this ‘Clicked’ tab and the list will be saved in the Contacts Manager. To do this, view the ‘create sublists from campaign report’ FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Upload and Manage Lists

Create Email, SMS and MMS Content

Send and Track Campaigns

Account Settings and Pricing