Auto-replies for keywords like HOURS or MENU

An auto-reply answers a word people text to your number. For example:

• Someone texts HOURS and gets “We’re open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM.”
• Someone texts MENU and gets this week’s menu (you can add a picture).
• Someone texts CODE and gets “Show this text for 10% off: FALL10.”

Create an auto-reply

1. In the menu on the left, click Sign-ups.
2. At the top, click Auto-replies.
3. Under New auto-reply:
   • Pick the Texting number people will text.
   • Type the Keyword, like HOURS. One word, letters and numbers only. People can text it in upper or lower case.
   • Write the Reply.
   • Optional: click Add a picture (JPG, PNG or GIF, up to 1 MB).
4. Click Create auto-reply. It works right away.

Tell people about it: “Text HOURS to (215) 555-0100 for our opening times.”

Words you can’t use

• STOP, START, HELP and words that mean the same (like END, QUIT, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, INFO, YES). Those are saved for opting out and getting help, as carriers require.
• A word that’s already a sign-up keyword or another auto-reply on the same number.

Change, pause or delete it

Open Sign-ups, click Auto-replies, then click the keyword.

• Edit the keyword, reply or picture on the right, then click Save changes.
• Pause stops replying for now. Click Turn back on when you want it again.
• Delete auto-reply removes it for good. Replies already sent stay in your Inbox.

The list shows how many replies each keyword sent in the last 30 days.

Good to know

• Exact word only. The text has to be just the keyword (spaces and punctuation are fine, like “hours!”). “What are your hours?” is treated as a normal message and lands in your Inbox.
• Late at night: between 9 PM and 8 AM (your company’s time zone) the reply waits and goes out at 8 AM.
• Monthly limit: each reply counts toward your plan’s monthly texts (a picture counts as 3). When you’ve used them all, auto-replies stop until there’s room again.
• Limits that stop loops: one person gets the same keyword’s reply at most once an hour, and at most 10 auto-replies a day. This stops two automated phones from texting each other forever.
• Opted-out people (who texted STOP) don’t get auto-replies.
• US and Canada only: auto-replies only go to US and Canadian mobile numbers.
• Inbox: if the person is one of your contacts, the keyword and the reply show in your Inbox.
• Carrier approval: carriers check keywords against your texting registration. If you’re not sure your new keyword is covered, contact Dial Raven support.

Other automatic texts

Dial Raven also answers these for you, on every number:

• STOP (and END, QUIT, CANCEL…): opts them out and always sends one confirmation, even if your monthly texts are used up.
• HELP: sends your help text, at most once a day per person.
• START: opts them back in, with a confirmation at most once a day per person.

HELP, START, the sign-up page’s YES question and sign-up confirmations count toward your monthly texts, and are skipped when your texts are used up, your account is paused or your number is turned off.