Everything you need to know about messaging your members on Fourthwall
The Messages (or direct messages) feature enables you to connect with members through personal messages, ideal for sharing exclusive updates, perks, or quick thank-you notes. Fans can also send tips with their messages or pay to unlock special content.
Tip: DMs can become a valuable income channel and a unique membership perk.
Why enable messages?
Turning on messages unlocks multiple benefits for you and your members:
- A new way to engage with members - Give your supporters a more personal way to connect by allowing one-on-one messages.
- An additional income stream - Let members attach a tip when they message you—or set a minimum tip amount to help manage your inbox while earning more.
- A valuable membership perk - Messaging access adds real value to your membership offering and can be a compelling benefit to highlight in your tier descriptions.
- A tool to win back former members - Reach out directly with special offers, like a promo code for their first month, to encourage past supporters to rejoin.
How to enable Messages for your site
Go to Memberships > Settings > Messages and click the Enable messages box to enable it.
How to send a message to your members
Step 1: Navigate to Memberships > Messages and click New message or the ➕ icon.
Step 2: Select the message recipients and click Confirm.
You have the following options for recipients:
-
All members
- Include expiring members (those who have canceled their subscription but still have access until the end of their current billing period)
- Include free accounts and former members
- Selected tiers
- Expiring members
- Former members (members who have canceled or whose payment failed, and no longer have access to memberships)
- Free accounts (free account holders and members who have canceled or whose payment failed, and no longer have access to memberships)
Step 3: Type your message in the message window and click Send. You can also include images to enhance your message!
Note: If you select more than one recipient, an individual message will be sent to each person, instead of a group chat.
Managing tips and minimum tip requirements
By default, the option to receive tips is enabled when you turn on Messages. If you'd prefer not to allow tips, you can disable the setting by going to Memberships > Settings > Messages and unchecking "Allow members to send tips."
You can set a minimum tip requirement to help limit low-effort or spammy messages if you want. To do this, check the box for Set minimum tip requirement for members to send a message, enter your desired amount, and click Save.
Tip: Setting a minimum tip ensures your inbox stays focused while giving members a more intentional way to connect and support you.
Let your members know about DMs!
Once you’ve enabled direct messages, it’s a great idea to let your members know the feature is available. The best way to do this is by sending a mass message right away.
This initial message works as both an announcement and a natural entry point! Your members will receive a notification and be taken straight to the message thread.
How members send you messages
When Messages are turned on, your members will see:
- A message icon in the top right corner of your site (on both desktop and mobile)
- A Messages tab in their sidebar menu
From here, they can send you a message anytime, along with an optional tip, if enabled.
Frequently asked questions - Messages
Can I include images in messages?
Yes! You can add one or multiple images per message. Support for audio and video files is coming soon.
Can I turn off messages later?
Absolutely. Go to Memberships > Settings > Messages and uncheck Enable messages. Your members will still be able to see previous messages, but won’t be able to send new ones.
Can former members send me messages?
No. Only active members can initiate new messages. Former members can still read previous messages and receive updates, but they’ll be prompted to rejoin if they want to reply.
Can I send an automatic welcome message?
Not yet, but it’s on the roadmap. However, you can set a welcome post! Learn more here.
Can I edit or delete a message I sent?
Currently, no. Edit and Delete functionality will be coming soon.
What’s the minimum and maximum tip amount?
Members can tip between $1 and $100 per message.
Can my team reply to messages on my behalf?
Yes! Super Admins and Managers on your team can send messages, and they will appear as coming from you.
Can I charge for messages?
Yes! You can send pay-per-view messages, which we call Locked Messages.