How to Start a Text Message Survey with a Keyword (SMS Survey Trigger)
FollowText message surveys are one of the most effective ways to collect data from research participants. With Mosio, you can let participants start a survey simply by texting a keyword — no app downloads, no login required. This makes SMS surveys ideal for research studies, clinical trials, and public health programs where ease of participation matters most.
With Mosio, a text message survey can be initiated by sending a specific keyword to a designated phone number (STUDY, for example, not case sensitive), triggering the survey to begin. This keyword and number can be advertised to participants, allowing them to easily opt-in and start the survey via text.
In the survey you are editing, under Keywords, click "Show" and then Add Keyword.
Any keywords you enter there, when texted (that word only, no others) to the texting number for that project, the participant will start the text message survey you've created.
All survey functions (Question Actions, Unresponsive Participant Actions aka "nudges") work.
Single Message Response
The most common use case is to setup a specific reply message. To do this, setup a 1 question survey, with the Type set to Terminating Question. When the participant texts in the keyword, the survey will start, send the first question, and end.
Adding to a Storyline
If you want to setup an enrollment keyword, you can add a Question Action to the first question. The action should be "Storyline Add", then select your storyline, and use "today" as the start date. Other options for start date are "yesterday", "tomorrow", "next Sunday", etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a text message survey?
A: A text message survey (also called an SMS survey) is a series of questions sent and answered entirely via text message. Participants don’t need to download an app or visit a website — they simply reply to each question by text. Mosio’s platform supports multi-question surveys, branching logic, and automated follow-ups.
Q: How do participants start a text message survey?
A: With Mosio, participants text a keyword (like “STUDY”) to your project’s phone number. This automatically triggers the survey to begin. The keyword is not case-sensitive, making it easy to advertise on flyers, consent forms, or recruitment materials.
Q: Can I use text message surveys for research studies?
A: Absolutely. Mosio was built specifically for researchers at universities, hospitals, and cancer centers. Text message surveys are used for participant screening, daily check-ins, ecological momentary assessments (EMA), and post-visit follow-ups.
Want to see how text message surveys work for research? Visit our plans page to learn more or join our virtual office hours to see a live demo.