• The count displayed in the New Message Tool is based on the number of selected records. It updates and adjusts if you select Send to Parent or Include Bulk Email Opt-Out.
• There may be a difference between the Count in the New Message Tool before you send a Message and the total of Message Recipients. This occurs when multiple Recipients have the same email address or you include a Recipient in more than one selection. MinistryPlatform automatically removes duplicate and invalid email addresses from the list.
• You can use Merge Fields in a Message to keep duplicate email addresses. For example, if you include Contact Fields or Data Fields that merge in unique information, each unique Message sends. You can use this to send multiple copies of a Message to the same email address.

Examples

Consider the following scenarios:

• George was added to the Men's Leadership Group twice. You compose a Message that uses Data Fields to merge in the [Group_Name]. Since both potential copies merge in the same name (and neither copy is unique), one of the duplicates filters out. George will receive one Message.
• George is in both the Men's Leadership and Sunday Volunteer Groups. You compose a Message to the Participants of both Groups, and you use a Data Field to merge in the Group Name. When merged, the Group Name varies, which makes each copy unique. George will receive two Messages.
• George and his wife Susie both have the same email address listed on their Contact records. You send a general volunteer email that contains no Contact Fields or Data Fields. George and Susie will receive one Message at their shared email address.
• You send George and Susie a second email that uses Contact Fields to personalize the Message and greet them by name. When merged, their First Name varies, which makes each copy unique. George will receive one Message and Susie will receive one Message.

Handle Duplicates Using Filters

Let's say George and his wife Susie have two children: Olivia in 4^th Grade, and Jonathan in 5^th Grade. The children's ministry sends an update about summer camp to all parents of current Participants in those two grade groups. You can send parents Messages about each child or send one Message about all their children.

Send Parents a Message About Each Child

In this approach, use the Send to Parents feature and use a Contact or Data Merge Field. This doesn't remove bulk email opt-outs since the children already registered.

Personalize the email and give it a friendly greeting: "Dear parent of [Nickname]". Assuming George and Susie have unique email addresses in the database, they each receive the email twice (one for each child), for a total of four emails between the two of them.

Send Parents One Message for All Children

In this approach, use the Send to Parents feature without using Merge Fields.

Let's say the Children's Ministry decides to send a general Summer Camp update to all parents of 4^th and 5^th graders and don't use Merge Fields. This means the Message is not unique for each child. If George and Susie share the same email address, they will receive just one email. The number of children displays in the To field, but the number of message that will send displays in the badge on the Send button.