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Communication

Sending Messages

Compose personalized email and SMS messages, then send them through your own email client, phone's messaging app, or directly from the platform.

The Communication page is a compose helper that lets you draft messages, select recipients, and personalize content with template variables. For email, you can choose to open your device's email client or send directly from the platform. For SMS, messages open in your phone's messaging app.

Tip

If your organization has a verified custom email domain, the platform can send emails on your behalf using your own from address (e.g., hello@mychurch.com). Set up a custom domain in under Website.

Composing a Message

1

Navigate to Communication

From your , go to the Communication section. You will see the compose helper with a channel toggle, template selector, message editor, and recipient list.
2

Pick a channel and send mode

Use the channel toggle at the top of the compose card to switch between SMS and Email.
The channel toggle in its default state
When you select Email, the toggle expands to reveal two send modes:
  • Client: Opens your email client with the message pre-filled (the default).
  • Platform: Sends the email directly from the platform using your organization's from address.
Selecting Email reveals the Client and Platform send modes
When Platform mode is active, a green indicator shows the from address that will be used.
Platform mode shows the from address your emails will be sent from
3

Choose a template (optional)

Select one of the built-in templates to pre-fill the subject line and message body. Available templates include Announcement, Event, Prayer, Thank You, and Follow-Up. Each template includes placeholder variables you can customize.
4

Write your message

Type or edit the message body (and subject line for email). Use the variable chips above the editor to insert personalization tokens like {{firstName}}, {{lastName}}, {{fullName}}, or organization-level variables such as {{organizationName}} and {{churchAddress}}. A live preview below the editor shows how the resolved message will look for the first selected recipient.

Tip

Click a variable chip to insert it at your cursor position in whichever field you last edited (subject or body). Variables are replaced with each recipient's actual data when you open the message.

Selecting Recipients

1

Filter by team or group

Use the filter pills (or the dropdown on mobile) to narrow the recipient list to a specific , small group, or imported contacts. Choose All to see every member.
2

Search for individuals

Type in the search bar to find recipients by name, email, or phone number.
3

Select recipients

Check the box next to each person you want to message. Use the select-all checkbox at the top to toggle everyone in the current filtered view. Recipients who lack the required contact info for the chosen channel appear dimmed.

Note

If a recipient has set a preferred communication method that differs from the channel you selected, a small hint appears below their name so you know they may prefer the other channel.

Importing External Contacts via CSV

You can add people who are not members of your organization by importing a CSV file. This is useful for reaching out to event guests, community contacts, or other external lists.

1

Click Import CSV

In the filter bar, click the Import CSV button and select a .csv file from your device.
2

Format your CSV

The file needs a header row with column names the system recognizes. Supported column names include:
  • First name: firstName, first_name, first
  • Last name: lastName, last_name, last
  • Email: email, email_address, e-mail
  • Phone: phone, cell, mobile, sms
Only a name column is required. Email and phone are optional.
3

Use imported contacts

Imported contacts appear in the recipient list with an Imported tag. You can filter to show only imported contacts using the Imported filter pill. Imported contacts are saved in your browser so they persist across page reloads. Use the Clear button to remove them.

Sending Your Message

Client Mode (Email Client / SMS App)

1

Individual send

Next to each recipient in the list, you will see an email icon and a phone icon. Clicking the email icon opens a mailto: link in your default email client with the subject, body, and recipient pre-filled. Clicking the phone icon opens an sms: link in your messaging app.
2

Bulk send via email client

After selecting multiple recipients, a bulk action bar appears at the bottom of the screen. From here you can:
  • Open in Email: Opens your email client with all selected email addresses in the BCC field and your composed message pre-filled.
  • Copy Emails: Copies all selected email addresses to your clipboard.
  • Copy Phones: Copies all selected phone numbers to your clipboard.
  • Copy Message: Copies the composed message text to your clipboard with recipient variables replaced by generic placeholders.

Warning

Bulk email via your email client uses BCC, so recipient variables like {{firstName}} are replaced with a generic greeting. For personalized messages, send to recipients individually or use Platform mode.

Platform Mode (Send from Platform)

When you select Platform in the email send mode toggle, the platform sends each email individually on your behalf. This means every recipient gets a personalized message with their own name and details filled in.

1

Compose and select recipients

Write your message and select recipients as usual. Make sure the send mode toggle is set to Platform.
2

Confirm and send

Click the send button in the bulk action bar. A confirmation dialog will show the number of recipients, the from address, and a preview of the subject line. Click Send to deliver the messages.
3

Review results

After sending, a notification will show how many messages were sent successfully, how many failed, and how many were skipped (for example, recipients without an email address).

Note

Platform mode sends each email individually, so personalization variables like {{firstName}} work for every recipient. The from address is determined by your organization's email domain settings.

Email Branding & Signatures

Every email sent from the platform includes a signature at the bottom. The signature style depends on your subscription plan.

  • Free and VBS plans: Emails include a default Hubl Life signature with the Hubl Life logo and links.
  • Website and Full plans: Emails include your organization's custom signature with your logo, name, website link, and social media icons.

Tip

Use the Edit / Preview toggle above the message body to see exactly how your email will look to recipients, including the signature. If you're on a free plan, you'll see a prompt below the composer to upgrade for custom branding.

To customize your signature, make sure your organization's logo, custom domain, and social media links are configured in .

Message Usage Tracking

The Message Usage page is a separate section that tracks SMS and phone call costs from the platform's Twilio-powered messaging service. This is used by features like automated notifications and reminders, not by the compose helper described above.

From the Message Usage page you can view SMS and phone call counts and costs, filter by month or year-to-date, export message history as a CSV, and view invoices.

Note

Sending via your own email client or SMS app does not incur any platform messaging costs. Emails sent using Platform mode are delivered through the platform's email service. The Message Usage page tracks costs for server-sent messages including Platform mode emails and automated SMS notifications.

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