# Send your first message

Create a Test Group, then send your first message from the Airship dashboard.

After you have [set up your messaging project](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/getting-started/messaging/set-up-project/) and configured at least one channel, you're ready to send your first message.

## Create a Test Group

You'll send to a [Test Group](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#preview_test_groups) so you can check the experience yourself before sending to your audience.

When adding users to a group, you must enter one of these IDs: an app or web [Channel ID](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#channel_id), an email address, or an [MSISDN](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#msisdn). MSISDNs must already be registered SMS channels. See [Preview and Test Groups](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/audience/preview-test-groups/) for ID requirements and caveats.

For app and web, your Channel ID is available once the SDK is integrated. Ask your developer for it, or [find it yourself](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/getting-started/developers/identifiers/#find-a-channel-id).

Once you have an ID to add, create a Test Group in your project:

1. Select **Audience**, then **Preview and Test Groups**.
1. Select **Create group**.
1. Enter a name and enable **Test group**.
1. Select **Save and continue**.
1. Select **Add user**, enter your name and your ID, then select **Done**.

## Send the message

Follow these steps to send a message to your Test Group:

1. In the sidebar, select the **Create** dropdown menu (), then **Message**.
1. Enter a message name and save it.
1. Under **Audience selection**, select **Test group** and the group you just created.
1. Under **Channel coordination**, select [Fan Out](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/features/orchestration-experimentation/channel-coordination/#fan-out) and enable the channels included in your Test Group.
1. ![Entering push notification text](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/content-body_hu_47c8439af54bdaa8.webp)

*Entering push notification text*

Select **Content** in the header, then configure your message. See [Content by channel](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/messaging/messages/content/) for details. A device preview updates as you type and make selections.
1. Select **Delivery** in the header, then **Send Now**.
1. Select **Review & Send** in the header, then review the device preview and message summary. Use the arrows to page through the various previews. You can also select a preview directly from the menu.
1. Select **Send Message**.

If everything is configured correctly, your message is on its way to your Test Group members.