GroupMe Tips and Tricks

Purpose:

This guide provides a set of practical tips for using GroupMe within the Esplanade Resident Advisory Groups. While this website offers structure and reference material, GroupMe is where day-to-day collaboration, discussion, document sharing, and coordination take place. The tips below focus on simple techniques to help you use GroupMe effectively and confidently.

This guide assumes you have already downloaded the GroupMe app, created an account, and joined the Esplanade RAG group. The sections below highlight a few key techniques that will help you follow conversations, post effectively, and stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

Tip: Understand the GroupMe Home Screen (Topics View)

This is the main screen you’ll see when you open GroupMe for the Esplanade RAG group.

Think of it as the table of contents for all group conversations.

How to read this screen

  • Main Chat

    This is the general discussion area for announcements or items that don’t belong to a specific topic.

  • Topics (with the # icon)

    Each topic represents a specific Resident Advisory Group or focus area,Tap a topic to see only messages related to that subject.

New message indicators

  • Numbers next to a topic mean there are new messages you haven’t read yet.

  • Topics with no number have no new activity since the last time you opened them.

  • The topic with the most recent activity appears closer to the top.

Why this matters

Using topics helps keep conversations organized and prevents important information from getting lost in a long message stream.

Before posting or reading messages, always ask yourself:

“Which topic does this belong in?”

Tip: Access Your GroupMe Settings

How to get to Settings

To change how GroupMe works for you, you first need to access the Settings screen.

 

  1. Tap the profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen (the circle with your initials).

  2. From the menu that appears, tap Settings.

 

This opens the main Settings page, where you can control notifications, messaging preferences, and other account options.

Tip: Check Your Notification & Message Settings

This screen controls how GroupMe delivers messages and how often your phone alerts you.

You don’t need to change everything here — but one setting is very important.

 

⚠️ Turn OFF SMS Delivery (Recommended)

Enable SMS delivery sends GroupMe messages as regular text messages.

For active groups, this quickly becomes overwhelming.

What to do:

  • Find Enable SMS delivery

  • Make sure it is OFF (gray)

 

Other settings (optional)

  • Notifications and sounds: Adjust if alerts are too loud or frequent

  • Pinned Chats: Helpful for keeping important groups at the top

 

Tip: Use @ Mentions to Get Someone’s Attention

GroupMe does not support threaded replies or linked comments.

If you want to be sure someone sees your message, you need to @ mention them.

How it works

  • Type @ in the message box

  • Select the person’s name from the list

  • Finish your message and send

That person will receive a direct notification, even if they have other notifications muted.

Best practice

Use @ mentions sparingly and only when:

  • You’re asking a specific person a question

  • You need a response or action from someone

  • You’re clarifying or following up on their earlier comment

Think of @ mentions as saying someone’s name out loud in a meeting — useful, but best used intentionally

Tip: Use the “+” Button to Do More Than Just Type

The “+” button next to the message box is your shortcut to everything beyond plain text.

Tap + to:

  • Add photos or videos from your phone

  • Attach files (PDFs, documents, images)

  • Create a poll to quickly gather input or make decisions

Rule of thumb:

  • If the information should be referenced later, attach it.
  • If it needs a decision, use a poll.
  • If it’s conversation, post a message.

  • Share links or other content supported by GroupMe

Use the + button whenever a message would benefit from visuals, documents, or quick feedback instead of a long text explanation.

Tip: Use the Group Info Screen to Find Everything in One Place

Tap the group name at the top of the chat to open the Group Info screen.

From here you can:

  • See all members in the group

  • View shared photos and files (Gallery & Albums)

  • Find all polls that have been created

  • Check the group calendar, if used

  • Mute the group without leaving it

  • Access group-level settings

This screen is the fastest way to find information that may be buried in the message stream—especially documents, photos, or past polls.