Messages & Communication
Using the Messaging System
The messaging system lets you communicate directly with customers, professionals, and your Account Manager — all in one place within Automate America.
Accessing Messages
- Click the Messages icon in the header (envelope icon)
- Or go to Dashboard > Messages
- Your inbox shows all conversations
Message Features
- Text messages — Quick written communication
- File attachments — Share documents, images, PDFs
- Read receipts — Know when messages are read
- Search — Find past conversations
- Notifications — Get alerted to new messages
Starting a Conversation
From a Profile
- View a professional's or company's profile
- Click the Message or Contact button
- Write your message and send
From a Contract
- Go to Dashboard > Contracts
- Select the contract
- Click Message to contact the other party
From an Application
When viewing applications or applying to contracts, you can include a message to introduce yourself or ask questions.
Pro Tip
Personalized messages get better responses. Reference specific details from their profile or job posting to show you've done your research.
Message Notifications
Email Notifications
Configure when you receive email alerts:
- Immediately — Get notified for every message
- Digest — Daily summary of unread messages
- Important Only — Only from active contract partners
- Off — No email notifications
Push Notifications
For instant alerts on your device:
- Go to Settings > Notifications
- Enable Push Notifications
- Toggle New Messages on
Customizing Notifications
Fine-tune your preferences:
- Mute specific conversations
- Set quiet hours (no notifications during certain times)
- Prioritize notifications from certain users
Blocking & Reporting Users
Blocking a User
If someone is bothering you:
- Open the conversation
- Click the ⋮ menu (three dots)
- Select Block User
- Confirm the block
What happens when you block:
- They can't send you messages
- They can't see your profile
- You won't appear in their searches
- Existing contracts remain active (contact support for issues)
Reporting a User
For serious violations (harassment, spam, fraud):
- Open the conversation
- Click the ⋮ menu
- Select Report User
- Choose the reason for reporting
- Add details if needed
- Submit the report
Report Serious Issues
If you experience harassment, threats, or fraudulent behavior, report immediately. Our trust & safety team reviews all reports within 24 hours.
Message Etiquette Guidelines
Professional communication helps build trust and gets better results:
Do
- ✅ Be professional and courteous
- ✅ Respond promptly (within 24-48 hours)
- ✅ Be clear and specific in your requests
- ✅ Keep work-related discussions on platform
- ✅ Use proper grammar and spelling
- ✅ Respect time zones and working hours
Don't
- ❌ Send spam or unsolicited promotions
- ❌ Share personal contact info to bypass the platform
- ❌ Use inappropriate or offensive language
- ❌ Harass users who don't respond
- ❌ Share confidential client information
- ❌ Make threats or intimidating statements
Sharing Files in Messages
How to Attach Files
- Open the conversation
- Click the 📎 attachment icon
- Select files from your device
- Add a message (optional)
- Click Send
Supported File Types
| Type | Formats |
|---|---|
| Documents | PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT |
| Spreadsheets | XLS, XLSX, CSV |
| Images | JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP |
| Other | ZIP (up to 25MB) |
File Size Limits
- Maximum per file: 25MB
- Maximum per message: 5 files
- For larger files, use a cloud storage link (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
Security Tip
Never share sensitive documents like Social Security numbers, bank passwords, or client confidential data through messages. Use secure document upload features for sensitive materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can message users you have a business relationship with: customers you've applied to, professionals who've applied to you, or active contract partners. To prevent spam, messaging strangers is limited. Use the "Contact" button on profiles when available.
Messages are private between you and the recipient. However, for safety and dispute resolution, messages may be reviewed by Automate America support if either party reports an issue. Illegal content or terms violations may be flagged automatically.
Read receipts show when your message has been viewed. Look for a small checkmark or "Read" indicator below your message. Note: some users may have read receipts disabled in their privacy settings.
You can delete messages from your view, but the recipient will still see their copy. To unsend a message (remove it for everyone), you have a 5-minute window after sending. After that, only your copy can be deleted.
You can share PDFs, images (JPG, PNG, GIF), and common document formats (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX). Maximum file size is 25MB. For larger files, consider using a cloud storage link.
Need help with messaging?
Contact Support