This topic explains the differences between group messages and single messages in Mapp Engage. Use this information to understand how Mapp Engage tracks and evaluates your messages.


Message Types

​Group Messages


Group messages are sent to some or all members of a group. Mapp Engage sends a group message to many contacts simultaneously. The messages that you prepare and send to a group in the ​Message Creation ​ wizard of Mapp Engage are group messages. These messages are considered group messages even if you apply a selection or perform a split sendout (A/B test).

Single Messages


A single message is a message that Mapp Engage sends to one contact, not to an entire group. Single messages usually contain information that is specific to the contact:
  • Shipping details
  • Birthday greetings
  • Order confirmations
  • Automated reactions to the activity of the contact

There are many types of single messages:
  • System messages.
  • Transactional messages.
  • Automated single messages.

Sendout methods

The following table shows different ways to send messages in Mapp Engage. You can see which sendouts are group messages, and which are single messages.


Sendout Method

Group Message

Single Message

Sendout with ​Message Creation ​wizard

The messages that you prepare and send to a group with the ​Message Creation​ wizard in Mapp Engage are group messages.

These messages are considered group messages even if you apply a selection or perform a split sendout (A/B test).

To send a copy of a prepared message as a group message, use the ​Copy & Send action in the ​Prepared Message Overview​ window manually.

N/A

System Messages

N/A

System messages are always single messages.

For more information, see ​Create Templates for System Messages​.

Automations

The following automation jobs send group messages.

The following automation jobs send single messages.

API

You can send both group messages and single messages with the Mapp Engage API.


Tracking and Evaluation​

Mapp Engage tracks group messages and single messages in different ways.


Evaluation of Single and Group Messages


Group Message

Single Message

Message ID

Mapp Engage assigns a new, unique MID to each group sendout of the prepared message.

In the background, Mapp Engage records the original MID of the prepared message. Mapp Engage stores information about the original MID in the Mapp Engage database. This information enables Mapp Engage to recognize related sendouts of the prepared message.

All single sendouts of a prepared message share one MID.

Every single-message sendout retains the same MID as the prepared message.

Statistics

All group sendouts of a prepared are evaluated separately in the ​Statistics​. Each sendout has a separate set of statistics.

See ​Message Statistics (window)​.

All single sendouts are evaluated together in the ​Statistics​. Mapp Engage generates on set of statistics for all single messages that are sent from a prepared message.

See ​Message Statistics (window)​.

Outbox

Each group sendout is stored separately. Each sendout is visible in the ​Outbox​. No message content is deleted. This method ensures that you have a record of every group sendout.

Only one sendout appears in the ​Outbox​. If you change the content of a prepared message you use exclusively for single sendouts, the previous sendout content is lost. To preserve a record of your previous message versions, store versions of single messages outside of Mapp Engage.

Message Limitation

Mapp Engage evaluates group messages in message limitation.

Mapp Engage does not evaluate single messages in message limitation.


Example

The following table compares a daily birthday greeting campaign (single message sendout) with holiday message campaign. The holiday message campaign uses an automation whiteboard to send a series of five holiday emails (group message sendout).


Birthday Email (Single) vs. Holiday Series (Group)


Holiday Message Campaign

(Group Message Sendout)

Daily Birthday Greeting Campaign

(Single Message Sendout)

Message ID Handling

Each message in the series has a unique ID.

  • 54321
  • 54322
  • 54323
  • 54324
  • 54245

All birthday emails share one message ID 12345.

Statistics

Mapp Engage calculates the statistics separately for each of the holiday messages individually. Mapp Engage does not calculate statistics for the series as a whole.

Mapp Engage calculates a combined set of statistics for all birthday the emails. Mapp Engage does not calculate statistics for the individual birthday messages that are sent on a particular day.

Outbox

Each of the five holiday messages appears separately in your ​Outbox​. You can view the content that was sent in each message at any time.

Only one birthday sendout appears in your ​Outbox​. If you change the content of the birthday message, Mapp Engage does not save a copy of the old content.