diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5dcb99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+Matrix Plugin
+===================
+
+Send Matrix messages for new alerts.
+
+Installation
+------------
+
+Clone the GitHub repo and run:
+
+    $ python setup.py install
+
+Or, to install remotely from GitHub run:
+
+    $ pip install git+https://github.com/alerta/alerta-contrib.git#subdirectory=plugins/matrix
+
+Note: If Alerta is installed in a python virtual environment then plugins
+need to be installed into the same environment for Alerta to dynamically
+discover them.
+
+Configuration
+-------------
+
+Add `matrix` to the list of enabled `PLUGINS` in `alertad.conf` server
+configuration file and set plugin-specific variables either in the
+server configuration file or as environment variables.
+
+```python
+PLUGINS = ['matrix']
+MATRIX_HOMESERVER = ''    # default="not set"
+MATRIX_ROOM = ''          # default="not set"
+MATRIX_ACCESS_TOKEN = ''  # default="not set"
+MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE = ''  # default="notice" | can be "notice" or "text"
+```
+
+The `DASHBOARD_URL` setting should be configured to link matrix messages to
+the Alerta console:
+
+```python
+DASHBOARD_URL = ''  # default="not set"
+```
+
+**Example**
+
+```python
+PLUGINS = ['reject','matrix']
+MATRIX_HOMESERVER = 'https://matrix.org'
+MATRIX_ROOM = '!VMKjBnKVghpiiBqwjEg:matrix.org'
+MATRIX_ACCESS_TOKEN = '4yHuHptP2crTWvLdzUzvhPmoArz6mLTqN9DnpvY5mFDLEW8yxWEJLU8kg6nLUdDcxHS6SwXNrchKM2pmscgoAue2XxUfCrhWBtGtP7QtECTtQiE6h4HuSGu6Vj8F9Zdge'
+MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE = 'notice'
+DASHBOARD_URL = 'https://try.alerta.io'
+```
+
+References
+----------
+
+  * How to get an access token: https://www.matrix.org/docs/guides/client-server-api#login
+  * Matrix message types: https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/latest#m-room-message-msgtypes
+
+License
+-------
+
+Copyright (c) 2021 Magnus Walbeck. Available under the MIT License.
diff --git a/alerta_matrix.py b/alerta_matrix.py
index 4177ccd..ac75e39 100644
--- a/alerta_matrix.py
+++ b/alerta_matrix.py
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@ MATRIX_HOMESERVER_URL = [
     "/send/m.room.message"
 ]
 MATRIX_ACCESS_TOKEN = os.environ.get("MATRIX_ACCESS_TOKEN") or app.config["MATRIX_ACCESS_TOKEN"]
-MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE = os.environ.get("MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE") or app.config.get("MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE", "m.notice")
+MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE = os.environ.get("MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE") or app.config.get("MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE", "notice")
+MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPES = {
+    "text": "m.text",
+    "notice": "m.notice"
+}
 DASHBOARD_URL = os.environ.get("DASHBOARD_URL") or app.config.get("DASHBOARD_URL", "")
 SEVERITY_ICON = {
     "critical": "🔴 ",
@@ -68,7 +72,7 @@ class SendMessage(PluginBase):
         )
 
         payload = {
-            "msgtype": MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE,
+            "msgtype": MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPES.get(MATRIX_MESSAGE_TYPE, "m.notice"),
             "format": "org.matrix.custom.html",
             "body": body,
             "formatted_body": formatted_body,