However, I wasn't completely happy that the delivery method (as is the case with most low-cost mass texting services like SimplyTXT) uses email rather than an actual text (for instance, rather than sending a text to my phone number xxx-xxx-xxxx, the service sends an email to xxx-xxx-xxxx@txt.att.net, which in turns forwards the message to my phone). This method is not as reliable as sending an actual text, it requires that we know someone's phone carrier to send them a text, and texts can be delayed by hours and arrive in the middle of the night.
I asked Josh Griffin at SYMC in March what he uses to text students and parents. He recommended Duffled, which is a full-service solution with lots of bells and whistles (translation: EXPENSIVE). I looked into it, but could not justify the cost. The biggest benefit to this type of service is that it uses a dedicated short code to send messages. I looked into other lower-cost short code solutions, but the biggest drawback was having to manage another database just for texting.
Thankfully, MinistryTracker.net introduced a solution that was perfect for us. This spring, they began offering ProTXT as an alternative to their other texting service. With ProTXT, you get a dedicated 10-digit number (not as nifty as a 5-digit short code, but that wasn't important to us), texts are super-cheap ($0.025 per text per recipient, plus a monthly flat fee), and of course, we don't have to manage a separate database. Plus, people can text back, and there are a few other features such as polls. We've been using the ProTXT service for over a month and love it. So, if you've been looking for a texting solution (and if you've been using Excel to manage your youth ministry database), MinistryTracker.com might be your solution. No, they aren't paying me to say these great things about them. It's simply the best complete youth ministry database/communication solution I've ever used, and our administrative assistant loves it so much that she would probably quit if we ever decided to switch.
