# SMS/MMS/RCS content

Send messages to your SMS channel.

See also the [SMS/MMS/RCS](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/features/messaging/sms/) in the feature guide.

##  Create SMS content

In the *Content* step, select **Text Message (SMS)**:
   ![SMS/MMS/RCS content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/content-sms_hu_d5ec464d14e0adc6.webp)

Now you can configure the body of the message:
   ![SMS/MMS/RCS content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/content-body-sms_hu_1a7e8cfb787dba87.webp)

1. <p>Enter the message text. If you are using [Handlebars](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#handlebars), you can test how the content will appear. See <a href="https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/personalization/previewing/">Previewing personalized content</a>.</p>
   * The character count and the total number of SMS messages update as you type.
   * Include [Merge Fields](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#merge_field) or [Dynamic Content](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#dynamic_content) if you selected *Upload Users* in the *Audience* step. The character and notification counts do not account for the varying lengths of merge values, so they should only be used as an estimate when using merge fields.

1. (Optional) If your message includes links, you can enable/disable *Shorten Links*. When enabled, the message and character counts reflect your message with shortened link URLs.

1. (Optional) If your message includes links and *Shorten Links* is enabled, you can add or remove tags for members of your audience who engage with your link.

   1. Select **Set tags**.
   1. Select *Add* or *Remove*, then search for tags that exist in the system, or create a new tag.
   1. (Optional) Select **Set another tag** and repeat the previous step.
   > **Note:** If you create a new tag when adding tag actions, it will belong to the `device` tag group for associated SMS channels.


<!-- Replace the last step with <ol>
<li>Click <strong>Configure options</strong>.</li>
<li>Select <em>Add tag</em> or <em>Remove tag</em>, then search for tags that exist in the system, or create a new tag.</li>
<li>(Optional) Click <strong>Configure another option</strong> and repeat the previous step.</li>
</ol>
> **Tip:** Setting one or more tags when a user interacts with a message can help you track user interactions for follow-on retargeting campaigns. For example, if you set a tag `responded-campaign1`, you can target users bearing the `responded-campaign1` tag with another message at a later date, knowing that they are active users. Alternatively, you can re-engage users with this tag using an automated message if they are inactive for a period of time. after button label is updated to "Set a tag" in UX-354 ? Maybe kill image from the include too. It's used for SMS below too.-->

Now you are ready to complete the remaining steps in the composer.

## Create MMS content

In the Content step, select **Multimedia Message (MMS)**:
   ![SMS/MMS/RCS content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/content-mms_hu_a42237bac81c7e46.webp)

Now you can configure the body of the message:
   ![SMS/MMS/RCS content](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/content-body-mms_hu_cc4639bf5cf21376.webp)

1. Provide the media for your message. See [Media guidelines](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/messages/media-guidelines/).
   * **URL** — Enter the address of your image or vCard, beginning with HTTP or HTTPS and ending with the image or vCard extension.
   * **Upload** — Select **Choose file** and select your image or vCard.
   
1. (Optional) Enter text for **Subject**, **Text Message**, and/or **SMS Fallback Text**. If you are using [Handlebars](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#handlebars), you can preview how your content will appear. See [Previewing personalized content](https://www.airship.com/docs/guides/personalization/previewing/).

   Include [Merge Fields](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#merge_field) or [Dynamic Content](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#dynamic_content) if you selected *Upload Users* in the *Audience* step. The fallback text character count does not account for the varying lengths of merge values, so it should only be used as an estimate when using merge fields.

1. (Optional) If *Text Message* or *SMS Fallback Text* includes links, you can enable/disable *Shorten Links*. When enabled, the fallback text character count reflects your message with shortened link URLs.

1. (Optional) If *Text Message* or *SMS Fallback Text* includes links and *Shorten Links* is enabled, you can add or remove tags for members of your audience who engage with your link.

   1. Select **Set tags**.
   1. Select *Add* or *Remove*, then search for tags that exist in the system, or create a new tag.
   1. (Optional) Select **Set another tag** and repeat the previous step.
   > **Note:** If you create a new tag when adding tag actions, it will belong to the `device` tag group for associated SMS channels.


Now you are ready to complete the remaining steps in the composer.

## Link Shortening

<!-- some of this is duplicated in platform/sms/link-shortening.md. Handle edits in next round. -->

When you enable link shortening, Airship replaces your URL with unique, shortened URLs for each member of your audience. Shortened URLs:

* Reduce the total number of characters in your messages to exactly 25 characters.
* Track engagement with SMS messages.
* Support [tag actions](#tag-actions) — adding or removing tags from your audience when they tap a link.
* Expire 60 days after they are sent.

For Airship to recognize and shorten your links, your URLs must:

* Begin with `http://` or `https://`.
* Begin and end with a space. Your URL cannot contain beginning or trailing punctuation or space characters; spaces determine the beginning and end of the URL.

For more information, see [Link Shortening](https://www.airship.com/docs/developer/api-integrations/sms/link-shortening/) in our SMS platform guide.

In the dashboard, you enable link shortening in the *Content* step in a composer. You can also set your project to automatically shorten links in all messages created using the dashboard:

1. Next to your project name, select the dropdown menu (
), then **Settings**.
1. Under **Project settings**, select **Dashboard Settings**.
1. Enable **SMS Link Shortening**.

> **Note:** Your project's link shortening setting does not affect operations in the API.


## Tag Actions {#tag-actions}

<!-- some of this is duplicated in platform/sms/link-shortening.md. Handle edits in next round. -->

You can add or remove tags from users who engage with Airship-shortened links in your SMS messages. Shortened links with tag actions are the same length as URLs without. You can also use tag change events to kick off automation rules or sequences, making it easier to integrate SMS messaging campaigns into your larger messaging strategy.

Tag actions add query parameters to your URL, but users will still see the shortened URL in your SMS messages. You can perform up to 100 total tag actions (add and remove) per SMS message.

In the dashboard, a **Set tags** button appears when you add a URL in your SMS text (or SMS fallback text) and enable link shortening.

<!-- this is all part of the platform getting started.

## Configuration and requirements

[Contact Airship Sales](https://www.airship.com/contact-us/) to provision your project for SMS messages.

Your SMS channel requires a A sender ID is an originating phone number or string identifier used to indicate who an SMS message comes from. Members of your audience subscribe (opt in) to each sender ID they want to receive messages from.. Each individual user is represented by their `msisdn` (phone number) registered to a particular Sender ID.
-->

<!-- discuss opt in to individual sender ID? How many sender IDs per project? -->