> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fanaura.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Blasts Overview
> Send one-time broadcast messages to your fans via email or SMS. Learn about the Blasts page, campaign types, and when to use blasts vs automated flows.
Blasts are one-time broadcast messages you send to a targeted group of fans. Think of them as your direct megaphone -- when you have something important to say, blasts get the word out fast.
Whether it's a new album announcement, a merch drop, a last-minute show addition, or a simple "thank you" to your most loyal supporters, blasts let you reach exactly the right fans at exactly the right time.
## What You'll See on the Blasts Page
The Blasts page has two modes, and you can switch between them with the tabs at the top:
The Inbox is your unified conversation view. Every SMS thread and Instagram DM conversation with your fans lives here, grouped by fan. You can:
* **Browse all conversations** across SMS and Instagram DM in one place
* **Search** for a specific fan by name or phone number
* **Read full thread history** -- see every message you've sent and received
* **Reply directly** to fans from within the inbox
* **See timestamps** and delivery status on every message
This is your command center for one-on-one fan conversations. If a fan replies to one of your blasts, their response shows up here.
The Blasts tab shows your **campaign history** -- every broadcast you've ever sent. Each campaign card displays:
* Campaign name and type (Email or SMS)
* Date sent
* Audience size (how many fans received it)
* Key stats (open rate, click rate, delivery rate)
* Status (Sent, Scheduled, Draft)
You can click into any past campaign to see its full analytics breakdown.
## Blast Types
Rich, beautifully designed emails with artwork, tour dates, links, and more. Perfect for album announcements, tour reveals, merch launches, newsletters, and fan exclusives.
Short, punchy text messages that land directly on your fan's phone. Perfect for last-minute shows, flash sales, presave reminders, and time-sensitive drops.
SMS messages have a much higher open rate than email (98% vs \~20%), so use them for your most important, time-sensitive announcements. Save email for richer content with artwork and multiple links.
## When to Use Blasts vs Flows
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is simple:
| Scenario | Use a Blast | Use a Flow |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------- | ---------- |
| New album announcement | Yes | -- |
| Tour dates just dropped | Yes | -- |
| Flash merch sale (48 hours) | Yes | -- |
| Welcome message when a fan signs up | -- | Yes |
| Presave reminder sequence (3 emails) | -- | Yes |
| Thank-you after someone buys merch | -- | Yes |
| Monthly newsletter | Yes | -- |
| Drip campaign for new fans | -- | Yes |
**The rule of thumb**: If it's a one-time announcement you're sending right now (or scheduling for a specific date), use a blast. If it's an automated sequence triggered by a fan action (like signing up, presaving, or buying merch), use a flow.
## Key Features
### Audience Targeting
Don't blast everyone every time. Target the fans who actually care:
* **All fans** -- your entire audience
* **Fan lists** -- curated groups you've created
* **Location filters** -- fans in specific cities, states, or countries
* **VIP tiers** -- Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze fans
* **Engagement filters** -- fans who opened your last email, clicked a link, etc.
* **Activity filters** -- fans who presaved, bought merch, RSVPed to a show
As you apply filters, the estimated audience count updates in real time so you always know how many fans will receive your blast before you send it.
### Scheduling
Send your blast right now, or schedule it for the perfect moment:
* **Send now** -- goes out immediately
* **Schedule** -- pick a date and time
* **Timezone options** -- send at the fan's local time (so everyone gets it at 10 AM their time) or your timezone
### Merge Tags
Personalize every message with dynamic content:
* `{fan_first_name}` -- the fan's first name
* `{artist_name}` -- your artist name
* `{latest_title}` -- your most recent release title
A message like "Hey `{fan_first_name}`, my new single drops Friday!" becomes "Hey Sarah, my new single drops Friday!" for each fan.
### Analytics
After every blast, you get a full breakdown of how it performed. See open rates, click rates, delivery stats, and per-recipient tracking. More on this in the [Blast Analytics](/blasts/analytics) guide.
## Getting Started
Step-by-step guide to building and sending a beautiful email.
Step-by-step guide to sending a text message campaign.
Understanding your campaign performance metrics.
## Tips
Don't over-blast. Respect your fans' attention. One or two blasts per week is a good cadence. Save SMS for the moments that really matter.
**Use blasts and flows together.** Send a blast announcing your new single, and set up a flow that follows up with fans who presaved. They work best as a team.
* **Segment your audience.** A merch sale blast performs better when sent to fans who've bought merch before. Use your filters.
* **A/B test subject lines.** Try different subject lines on small groups before sending to your full list.
* **Check your preview.** Always send yourself a test email before blasting your entire fanbase. Typos in a blast to 10,000 fans are not fun.