# Message Your Brands

Use the *Messages* feature to quickly and easily communicate with both the managers of the programs you have joined and programs you'd like to join. The feature offers you a range of uses, such as streamlining your onboarding with a program, contacting a brand about special arrangements, resolving issues, and more.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important:** Refer to impact.com's [Messaging Terms of Use](https://impact.com/terms-of-use-messaging/?_gl=1*j1tga9*_ga*MTI3MTM3MzE1Ni4xNjUyNjkzMjk1*_ga_MDF55NMH0F*MTY2MjAyMTAzMC4zODAuMS4xNjYyMDIxMjk1LjAuMC4w*_ga_MHKLSZ6DR4*MTY2MjAyMTAzMC4zNzcuMS4xNjYyMDIxMjk1LjAuMC4w) to ensure that you stay within messaging guidelines.
{% endhint %}

#### Find messages

You can access *Messages* in 2 ways:

1. From the top navigation bar, select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ecf5df45e06e6b7c09769b367898e68ee4a5e7c%2F51f34bf8e6da338f17712db1b36aeebf2443b795ad441d16b8d60aaca6c3bc39.svg?alt=media) **\[Chat]**.
   * A slide-up will appear, letting you start a conversation with the manager of any program you select.
2. On the *Inbox* screen, select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-25e38f4f723974128822e01b6b31dd34743c91a8%2F681989cced80f31b48aa9dc1dc0477edff12486dbf7c686642145cc26e7800fe.svg?alt=media) **\[Compose]** and use the ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3c5971fb7b03a98375488e97a4317afd60621298%2Fd0fbb4c2c189cdc83bc0eb8e906fa3cb66818d0a9daa1491ea48042160714ed2.svg?alt=media) **\[Search]** option on the right to find a program with whose manager you want to chat.

   <div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0c7edecaa3a4c4df26c554a1a1c837a99b7904e8%2F7d006f3bd411a483aa0a7fecc25bb8dd106d6b21f0d99c46317e870d3546fb07.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### View received messages

1. Messages you receive will appear in both your ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ecf5df45e06e6b7c09769b367898e68ee4a5e7c%2F51f34bf8e6da338f17712db1b36aeebf2443b795ad441d16b8d60aaca6c3bc39.svg?alt=media) **\[Chat]** widget and your [*Inbox*](https://app.impact.com/secure/mediapartner/fr/impact-message.ihtml?u=%2Fmessaging%2Finbox).
2. Continue the conversations you've left off by selecting an existing message thread.
3. To start a thread with a different program, select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-25e38f4f723974128822e01b6b31dd34743c91a8%2F681989cced80f31b48aa9dc1dc0477edff12486dbf7c686642145cc26e7800fe.svg?alt=media) **\[Compose]** and search for the program.
4. You can also attach files to your messages by selecting ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8a8d53b8213cbc775f140da1793eae45e545aea1%2Fac7713ef448343c401b031417b972b0647df6d6717fca53b1ea458fe41eb4191.svg?alt=media) **\[Attach]**. The following file types are supported: CSV, PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF.

   <div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1ef62834ac9011ae5f423e80d062fa1e388057df%2F7fcfe79a92fb6468dced58db68b88d7ec7b31ff8d85cae51ec79477d97ff0376.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### Set message thread status

You can manually mark a message thread as *Unread* or *Spam*:

1. On the ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ecf5df45e06e6b7c09769b367898e68ee4a5e7c%2F51f34bf8e6da338f17712db1b36aeebf2443b795ad441d16b8d60aaca6c3bc39.svg?alt=media) **\[Chat]** widget, open up a thread and select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c746d936c908b9090325464502f7c10acda0e993%2F2a92939e8e78dd7e0c0416b1a250d5ef1d7ab0dec966fb5ed320ca62acfc06c5.svg?alt=media) **\[More]**.
   * Select **Mark as unread** to reset the message notification.
   * Select **Move to spam** to no longer receive notifications from the message thread.
2. On the [*Inbox*](https://app.impact.com/secure/mediapartner/fr/impact-message.ihtml?u=%2Fmessaging%2Finbox) screen, open up a thread and, from the top of the screen:

   * Select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5e962e68a3cf6c87d7ade712b204bae70f02fe42%2F07666ee42fc00c5eb99a6545e1f573505a3888c370d4751169eab2b06d01158c.svg?alt=media) **\[Mail]** to mark the message as unread and reset the message notification.
   * Select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e60bb2ba2a821fd99ff1bbdec067374f6220a920%2Fb66e4e2a0baa1daab9540faccbee93e10f2887e6c8c821c2ffbdac95e194793d.svg?alt=media) **\[Exclamation]** to mark the message as spam and no longer receive notifications from the thread.

   <div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3aa409fe3aae00c7276f83d0ed613d0c81dcd515%2F8dbc7b550bc3524640f229be106e3b48bb3dfe31653285af88a27b9c6e5e6522.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### Search for message threads

1. On the ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ecf5df45e06e6b7c09769b367898e68ee4a5e7c%2F51f34bf8e6da338f17712db1b36aeebf2443b795ad441d16b8d60aaca6c3bc39.svg?alt=media) **\[Chat]** widget, search for a specific message thread by inputting a keyword from the program's name in the search bar.
2. On the [*Inbox*](https://app.impact.com/secure/mediapartner/fr/impact-message.ihtml?u=%2Fmessaging%2Finbox) screen:

   * You can search for a specific message thread by inputting a keyword from the program's name in the search bar on the left.
   * Alternatively, use the ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7cfd25b971c29a0610f2e298c20fbd9fd30ae9e6%2Fb9fc56922a355ba3112ddf49588fbe3cb2030c765ff244dd14a06eda4c9bf555.svg?alt=media) **\[Filters]** to surface programs based on your **Relationship** status with the program and the thread's message **Status**.

   <div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ffe1a160e4caa57f47b3f10cc57c52cddf8d9a3%2F2428aeb6b04818b676f96dbabebbc3de88c6afd5016ebe84b01403e17be89217.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### Make your account appear offline

To configure business hours or set yourself as offline, you need to work on the *Inbox* screen.

1. In the upper-left of your inbox screen, select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b41bccda02eaed8c7460e5fff68d88faba98b23c%2Ffd32e503ed9f0744024a11f8cc94b7bd8b46b02169d70247c7128c8950e7a7cd.svg?alt=media) **\[Settings]**.
2. Select ![](https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d0b6669ae76a7bef06a8d6940d7ad5c16bb8d018%2F7cb018d4face8d7cceb880eb5086c812e764fbcfe6f2a0377f88bc7576973070.svg?alt=media) **\[Toggle on] Business Hours**.
3. Use the drop-downs to set your business hours, outside of which your account will appear *Offline*.

   * By default, your account will appear *Online* 24/7.
   * Optionally, input an **Away Message** to inform brands when you'll be back.

   <div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://347878556-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fb2rE79d9UhOKZQLgzSqx%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f1cbed092dbd6f1e9580131eae5b507ebbc14238%2F30ea8a0af3d07fe063ba1a0bd34a5107efd9e08937379a0da7e460eabf882a72.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### Best practices for communicating with brands

* Regularly check your impact.com dashboard and [notifications](https://help.impact.com/partner/platform-features/dashboard/configure-platform-and-email-notifications-for-partners).
* Pay attention to [newsletters](https://help.impact.com/partner/account-management/account-settings/connect-media-properties/connect-a-newsletter) and email updates. Brands often send out newsletters with new promotions, product launches, or changes to their program.
* Unsure what the brand is talking about? Learn more about the industry [terminology](https://impact.com/glossary/).
