Imagine this: You’ve got dozens of guest follow-up texts and emails ready to go. But then a room changes, your service time adjusts, or your pastor retires (yep, it happens!). Now you’re stuck manually updating every message.
Good news? You don’t have to.
Let’s break it down.
What Are Message Variables?
Message variables are “smart snippets” you create once and reuse everywhere. Think of them as shortcuts that automatically fill in specific info—like your nursery location or pastor’s name—whenever you use the variable code in a message.
For example, let’s say your nursery details change from time to time. Instead of updating every workflow manually, you create a message variable like this:
Variable Name: [nursery]
Text Output: Ages 0 to 2 in rooms 203 and 204
Now, anywhere you include [nursery] in your messages, it automatically populates with that info.
How to Set It Up
Here’s a step-by-step:
Go to Account Settings → Message Variables
Click Add New
Choose a type: Text, Link, Email, or Phone (most are just Text)
Set your variable code (e.g., [nursery])
Enter the replacement content (e.g., "Ages 0 to 2 in rooms 203 and 204")
Click Save
Done! Now every time you use [nursery] in your messages, it’ll pull in that custom info.
Why They’re So Helpful
Here’s where message variables really shine:
Time Saver: Edit one variable, and it updates across every email, text, or workflow where it’s used.
Consistency: Say goodbye to typos or outdated info scattered across messages.
Personalization: Make your communications feel thoughtful without doing more work.
Real-Life Example
One church had an automated workflow for their youth group...but it was still signing off messages as "Pastor Bob"—who had retired months ago. 🤦♂️
If they had used a [pastor_name] variable, updating the sign-off would have taken 10 seconds instead of redoing it manually for every message.
Pro Tip: Bulk Edit Your Variables Anytime
You can always go back into your Account Settings, click the three dots next to a variable, and update it on the fly. It’s perfect for things like:
Changing your service times
Updating your address
Switching out links or phone numbers
New ministry leaders
Start using Message Variables today, and make your communication faster, easier, and more consistent.