The next big thing is rich communication services (RCS). It’s basically putting a website into a text message. Why? Because it creates a complete user experience where you can go from message to donation in a singular, contained moment. No breaking out to a website or another experience—which is where it’s easy to lose people. In the latest episode of Your Rally Point podcast, hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin dive into RCS and why it matters. It’s the same reason you want to test your donation form and make sure it’s stupid simple. Any complication or hindrance can derail people and you’re missing out on donations.

What You’ll Learn

• Text messaging is the most intimate form of communication with donors.
• RCS offers enhanced user experiences compared to traditional SMS and MMS.
• RCS allows for richer content, including images and buttons, in messages.
• Rich business messaging (RBM) is another term for the same thing.
• Your messages need clear identification and branding to build trust.
• Rich messaging can significantly improve click and response rates.
• The user experience in the donation processes is often overlooked.
• RCS technology can streamline the donation experience by keeping people in the message.
• If RCS sounds like more work, templates will be a way to make it easy.

Resources

• Episode 9: RCS Explained: New Mobile Feature and What It Means for Nonprofits

Quotables

• “Texting is where our personal lives happen on our devices.”
• "We went from SMS to MMS to RCS."
• “Fancy smart glasses that are probably the next fight for real estate on our bodies.”
• “I sent an emoji one time to my 20-year-old daughter. … She goes, ‘Dad, don't ever use that emoji. You don't know what it means.’”
• “With RCS, the entire process from end to end, from engagement to donation, should be contained in a single message. And there's no other platform that does that today.”
• “My reputation's on the line if you send a text message to thousands of people pointing to a really crappy website”
• “You're combining multiple experiences that we have today into one. And that's really the future with RCS”
• “I'm not saying here's a tool, good luck. I'm actually going to show up and help you swing the hammer, show you how to use it.”
• “Success as a service, not software as a service. I don't care about the software, care about the success.”
• “Make sure you see mobile as a means or a method. It is not the end. It is a machine or a tool to further your message and help you meet people in the middle and move them to act.”

Skip to What You Want to Hear

• 00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Journey
• 03:05 - The Importance of Mobile Engagement
• 05:50 - Understanding RCS and Its Impact
• 12:10 - The Evolution of Messaging: From SMS to RCS
• 15:05 - Why Nonprofits Should Care About RCS
• 17:19 - Understanding Effective Messaging in Nonprofits
• 19:05 - The Importance of Rich Messaging
• 22:14 - The User Experience in Donation Processes
• 25:50 - The Future of RCS Messaging
• 29:51 - Creating Immersive Experiences for Nonprofits

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