Table of Contents
What is SMS Sharing in 7taps?
SMS sharing delivers your 7taps content directly to learners' phones via text message. Each recipient receives a unique tracking link that opens instantly in their mobile browser—no app downloads, no login required.
What makes SMS sharing powerful: Every learner gets their own trackable link, so you can see individual engagement in your analytics dashboard.
Who Can Use SMS Sharing?
SMS sharing is available on:
✅ 7taps Enterprise (included in plan)
❌ 7taps Free (not available)
Each Enterprise team receives 2,000 SMS messages per month. Need more? Contact our team to discuss your needs.
How to Share a Course via SMS
Step-by-Step Process:
1. Navigate to Share Options
Open the course you want to share
Click the Share button
Select SMS from the sharing methods
2. Enter Phone Numbers
Type or paste phone numbers in the text field
Press Enter or use a comma to separate multiple numbers
Each number must include the country code (format: +12035242934)
3. Customize Your Message (Optional)
Click Edit message to personalize the text
You have 248 characters available for your custom message
Use the character counter to track your remaining space
Add emojis if desired using the emoji picker
4. Set Up Reminders (Optional)
Check the box for "Send reminder in X days"
Select 1-15 days using the day picker
Click Edit to customize the reminder message
Or keep the default: "REMINDER: 7taps has invited you to view the 7taps, '[Course Name]'"
5. Send
Review your settings
Click Send to [X] learner(s)
You'll see a confirmation: "Sending course - Your course is being sent to [X] recipient. For large recipient lists, delivery may take a few minutes to complete."
Click Got it
Important: For large recipient lists, SMS delivery may take a few minutes to complete. All messages will be sent—just allow time for processing.
Phone Number Requirements
Required Format
All phone numbers must include:
✅ Country code (e.g., +1 for US, +44 for UK)
✅ Complete phone number with no spaces
❌ No dashes
❌ No parentheses
❌ No other symbols
Correct format: +12035242934
Incorrect formats:
203-524-2934
(203) 524-2934
+1 203 524 2934
Entering Multiple Numbers
Option 1: Manual Entry
Type each number
Press Enter or add a comma between numbers
The system will validate as you type
Option 2: Paste from Spreadsheet
Copy a column of properly formatted numbers
Paste directly into the phone number field
Press Enter after pasting
Option 3: CSV Import (Enterprise only)
Use Learner Management to upload a CSV file
Include phone numbers in the proper format
System will automatically associate numbers with learner profiles
Customizing Your SMS Message
Default Message
If you don't customize, learners receive:
"7taps has invited you to view the 7taps, '[Course Name]'."
Custom Message Options
Character limit: 248 characters available for your custom message
What to include:
Why this training matters
When they should complete it
Context about the topic
A personal touch from leadership
Urgency indicators if time-sensitive
Example custom messages:
For urgent policy updates:
"🚨 New safety protocol in effect TODAY. Complete this 3-min training before your shift. Required for all warehouse staff."
For ongoing development:
"Hey team! Here's this week's customer service tip. Quick 2-min read with a scenario to practice. Let's keep improving together! 💪"
For onboarding:
"Welcome to the team, Alex! Your first training covers our company values. Takes just 5 minutes. Looking forward to having you aboard!"
Tips for Effective SMS Messages:
Lead with the "why" - Give context first
Be specific - State the time commitment (e.g., "3-minute training")
Add urgency when appropriate - "Complete before Monday's shift"
Keep it conversational - Write how you'd text a colleague
Use emojis sparingly - One or two can add personality
Include completion expectations - "Required" vs "Optional"
Remember: Your message shows up before the course link, so make it count. This is your chance to drive engagement before they even click.
Setting Up Automatic Reminders
SMS reminders help ensure learners complete your content—especially useful for busy frontline teams.
How Reminders Work
1. Enable the Reminder
Check the box: "Send reminder in X days"
Select how many days to wait (1-15 days)
The reminder sends automatically—no manual follow-up needed
2. Choose Your Timing
Consider when to send based on:
Urgency of content: Critical updates = shorter window (1-2 days)
Course length: Longer content = more time before reminder (5-7 days)
Work schedules: Account for days off (remind on work days)
Timing examples:
Safety training: 2-day reminder
Monthly compliance refresher: 7-day reminder
Optional skill development: 5-day reminder
Customizing Reminder Messages
Default reminder message:
"REMINDER: 7taps has invited you to view the 7taps, '[Course Name]'."
To customize:
Click Edit next to the reminder setting
Enter your custom reminder text (248 characters available)
Use the same best practices as your initial message
Add urgency or incentive if needed
Example custom reminders:
Encouraging tone:
"Quick reminder! The customer handling training is still waiting for you. Just 3 minutes to sharpen your skills. 🎯"
Urgent tone:
"⚠️ FINAL REMINDER: Complete the new safety protocol training by EOD Friday. Required for all team members."
Incentive-based:
"Reminder: Finish this week's product training to enter our monthly drawing! Quick 5-minute module. You've got this! 🏆"
Pro tip: Make your reminder message different from your initial message. Acknowledge it's a reminder and add new context or urgency.
Understanding SMS Character Limits
Character limit: You have 248 characters available for your custom SMS message.
This includes:
Your custom text
Any emojis you add
Spaces and punctuation
The 7taps character counter shows you exactly how many characters you have remaining as you type.
What happens with the course link?
The unique course URL is automatically added to your message after your custom text. The full message (your text + the URL) will be delivered in a single SMS.
Understanding SMS Sending Limits
Monthly Send Limits
Plan | SMS per Month |
7taps Free | Not available |
7taps Enterprise | 2,000 per team |
What counts as "one SMS":
Each phone number you send to = 1 SMS
Sending the same course to 50 people = 50 SMS
Reminders count separately (50 reminders = 50 additional SMS)
Managing Your SMS Budget
Calculate before sending:
Initial send to 100 learners = 100 SMS
Reminder to those 100 learners = 100 more SMS
Total: 200 SMS used
Strategic tips:
Prioritize urgent content - Use SMS for time-sensitive training
Combine with other sharing methods - Use email for less urgent content
Be selective with reminders - Only send reminders for critical training
Track monthly usage - Monitor your SMS count to stay within limits
Need more SMS? Contact our team to discuss increasing your monthly limit.
Previously Shared Learners
If you've shared this course before with learners who have phone numbers in their profiles, you can quickly re-send to them.
How It Works
1. Look for "Previously shared with" section
This appears when applicable learners exist
Shows below the phone number entry field
2. Select Learners
Click the dropdown
Select specific learners by phone number
3. Benefits
Faster resending - No need to re-enter phone numbers
Consistent tracking - Maintains learner history
Reduces errors - No risk of typos in phone numbers
When This Is Useful
Sending refresher training to the same group
Following up with learners who didn't complete
Updating content and notifying previous recipients
Running the same training with multiple cohorts
Note: Learners only appear in the "Previously shared with" section if you’ve shared this with learners that have phone numbers associated with their profiles in 7taps (or if you’ve previously shared this course with them via WhatsApp or SMS).
Tracking Engagement
What You Can Track
After sending via SMS, you can monitor learner engagement in your Analytics dashboard.
Available metrics per learner:
✅ Phone number
✅ Status (whether they opened the course)
✅ Time spent in course
✅ Score (from quizzes)
✅ Last activity (date)
✅ Option to send manual reminder
Additional detailed analytics:
Course completion status
Individual card engagement
Quiz responses and scores
Form and poll submissions
Submit card content
What you CANNOT track:
❌ SMS delivery confirmation
❌ Whether the message was received
❌ Exact time they opened (only the date)
❌ If the message was read but not opened
Understanding the Data
"Opened" status means: The learner clicked the unique link in their SMS message and loaded the course in their browser.
If someone doesn't show "Opened" status:
They may not have received the SMS (carrier issue)
They may have deleted it without reading
Their phone number may have been incorrect
They may not have checked their messages yet
Manual reminder option: In the analytics view, you'll see a "Remind" button next to learners who haven't opened the course. Use this to send a one-off reminder without waiting for the automatic reminder schedule.
Pro tip: If you need delivery confirmation, consider sending a test SMS to your own phone first to verify the system is working correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I share the same 7taps content via other channels?
Yes, absolutely. You can share the same course via:
Email
Direct link
QR Code
Microsoft Teams
Slack
WhatsApp
iFrame embed
Each sharing method generates unique tracking links, so you can see engagement across all channels. Learn more about all sharing methods.
Q: Do SMS messages work internationally?
Yes, SMS sharing works internationally as long as you include the correct country code. The format is the same regardless of country: +[country code][phone number].
Examples:
United States: +12035242934
United Kingdom: +447123456789
Australia: +61412345678
Q: What happens if I enter an incorrect phone number?
The system will attempt to send to any properly formatted number. If the number doesn't exist or is inactive, the SMS won't be delivered—but it will still count against your monthly SMS limit.
Best practice: Double-check phone numbers before sending, especially when entering them manually.
Q: Can learners reply to the SMS?
No, SMS messages from 7taps are one-way communication. Learners cannot reply to the message. The SMS only contains your message and the link to the course.
If you need two-way communication, consider sharing via Email, Slack, or Teams.
Q: How long is the SMS link valid?
SMS links don't expire. Learners can access the course at any time using the link—even weeks or months after receiving the message, as long as the course remains actively shared.
This is useful for:
Reference materials learners may need to revisit
Training that doesn't have strict deadlines
Just-in-time learning resources
Q: What if I use all 2,000 SMS messages before the month ends?
Once you reach your monthly limit, you won't be able to send additional SMS messages until your limit resets at the beginning of the next month.
Alternatives while you wait:
Share via email (10,000 per month on Enterprise)
Share via link, QR code, or other methods
Contact our team to discuss increasing your monthly SMS limit
Q: Do reminders count separately against my SMS limit?
Yes, reminders count as separate SMS messages.
Example calculation:
Send course to 100 learners = 100 SMS
Reminder to all 100 = 100 more SMS
Total used: 200 SMS
Q: Can I schedule SMS messages to send later?
Currently, SMS messages send immediately when you click "Send." You cannot schedule them for a future date/time.
If you need scheduled delivery, consider:
Using Learning Paths with scheduled course releases
Setting calendar reminders to send manually at the right time
Reaching out to our team for potential workarounds
Q: Can I see exactly when each learner opened their SMS?
You can see if a learner opened the course and the date of their last activity, but not the exact time they opened it. The analytics show:
Status: "Opened" or not opened
Last activity: Date (e.g., "Nov 18, 2025")
Time spent in the course
Their quiz scores
Each learner is tracked individually by their phone number.
Q: Why would I use SMS instead of email?
SMS is ideal when:
Immediate attention needed
Mobile-first learners
Higher open rates
Simple, urgent updates
Learners without access to email
Use email when:
Content is less urgent
You need to include more context
Learners are desk-based knowledge workers
You want to preserve SMS budget for critical communications
When to Use SMS Sharing
SMS is Perfect For:
Frontline & Field Teams
Retail associates who don't sit at desks
Warehouse workers during shifts
Delivery drivers on the road
Healthcare staff between patients
Construction crews on job sites
Restaurant and hospitality staff
Urgent Communications
Safety alerts that require immediate action
Policy changes effective immediately
Critical system updates
Emergency procedures
Time-sensitive compliance training
Mobile-First Scenarios
Shift reminders and pre-shift briefings
Just-in-time learning at point of need
Quick reference materials
Micro-training during breaks
Process reminders before tasks
High-Engagement Needs
When you need 90%+ open rates
Content that must be seen today
Critical onboarding steps
Mandatory compliance with tight deadlines
Final reminders after other attempts
Consider Other Sharing Methods When:
Email might be better if:
Content is less time-sensitive
Learners are desk-based office workers
You need to preserve your SMS budget
The training includes extensive context best delivered in email
Learners primarily work from company computers
Link or QR Code might be better if:
Content will be accessed repeatedly
You're posting in a physical location (QR)
You want to include it in existing digital materials
Learners will access on their own schedule
You don't need individual tracking
Need Help?
If you have questions about SMS sharing or want to discuss your specific use case, reach out to our support team.
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