Guidance

Use this guidance if you access GC Notify on a web browser. Developer guidance is in the API documentation.

To use GC Notify:

Step 1. Use a template

All GC Notify messages start with a template. You must either create a new template or choose a template you’ve already created.

To learn how to include formatting in email messages, read the guide about Formatting emails.

You cannot use formatting, such as bolds and bullets, in text messages.

Step 2. Prepare template for custom content

GC Notify can send similar messages with custom information for each recipient.

The guide Sending custom content has sections about how to:

• Use variables for custom content
• Filter content to a subgroup of recipients
• Fill variables with custom content

Step 3. To send to many recipients at once, use a spreadsheet

The guide Using a spreadsheet has sections about how to:

• Create spreadsheet columns for custom content
• Filter spreadsheet content to a subgroup of recipients
• Upload spreadsheet and preview messages

You may not need a spreadsheet if your team includes developers. Developers can send to multiple recipients through the API. The API documentation has a section about how to send a message.

Step 4. Check delivery details

GC Notify’s dashboard has a section for the number of email messages and a separate section for the number of text messages.

You can use the numbers as a link to navigate to a new page with more details. The new page shows you how many messages are in transit, delivered or failed. Check that page to find out how long you have to download that information as a report.

You can filter the page to show only problem addresses or problem phone numbers. Use the status column to decide how to treat each problem. To learn how, read the guide Understanding delivery and failure.

You’ll minimize failures by maintaining accurate contact information for recipients. To learn how, read the guide Updating contact information.