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Creating SMS and MMS templates

Reach your customers with picture messages as well as text by adding SMS or MMS content to an Accelerator template. MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) lets you send an image alongside your message body, from the same short code you already use for SMS.

You author SMS and MMS content on the same SMS/MMS content page of a template. The short code you select decides which kind of message the template sends: an MMS-capable short code lets you add an image, and an SMS-only short code sends text only. You then use the template in marketing campaigns, transactional campaigns, and journeys in the same way as any SMS template.

Before you begin​

To send MMS, your account needs at least one MMS-capable short code. MessageGears enables MMS on a short code for you; you can't turn it on from Accelerator. To request MMS on one of your short codes, contact your MessageGears account team.

MMS is available for US and Canadian short codes only. Short codes for other countries continue to send SMS.

For more information about short codes and toll-free numbers, see SMS messaging.

Add SMS or MMS content to a template​

To add SMS or MMS content to a template:

  1. In the MessageGears navigation, select Content > Templates, then open the template you want to edit or create a new one.
  2. On the Template overview page, select the SMS/MMS content option to open the SMS/MMS content page.
  3. In the Message section, select a short code, then enter your message. For details, see Select a short code and Write your message.
  4. (Optional) Expand the Keyword & Country code section to review the short code's keywords and country codes.
  5. Select Save.
Message section with an MMS short code selected, showing the MMS badge, Body and Image URL fields, and the expanded Keyword & country code section
Message section with an MMS-capable short code selected

After you save, Accelerator saves the template as an SMS template or an MMS template based on the short code you selected. If you selected an MMS-capable short code, the template displays an MMS badge in the template list.

Select a short code​

The Short codes dropdown lists all of your short codes, SMS and MMS, in a single list. When you select a short code, the dropdown shows whether it's MMS-capable, and the helper text under the dropdown changes to describe what that short code supports.

Short codes dropdown open, listing Dynamic short code and each short code with its description and an SMS or MMS badge
Short codes dropdown with SMS and MMS badges

Dynamic short codes​

If you set the short code per recipient with personalization, select Dynamic short code in the Short codes dropdown. Then select SMS or MMS to choose which kind of message the template sends, and enter your personalization expression in the Dynamic short code field.

Write your message​

The Message section contains the following fields:

FieldPresenceDescription
Short codesRequiredThe short code that sends the message. An MMS-capable short code enables the Image URL field.
BodyRequiredThe text of your message. Use FreeMarker to personalize the body.
Image URLOptionalThe absolute URL of the image to send with the message. Available only when the selected short code is MMS-capable. You can personalize the URL so that each recipient receives a different image.

To personalize your message body or image URL, use FreeMarker. For more information, see Intermediate personalization in MessageGears using FreeMarker.

Switching between SMS and MMS short codes​

If you change the short code from an MMS-capable short code to an SMS-only short code, Accelerator clears the Image URL field and the template reverts to SMS-only content. To keep your image, select another MMS-capable short code.

Message section with an SMS short code selected, showing the SMS badge and the Body field without an Image URL field
Message section with an SMS-only short code selected

Keyword and country code​

The Keyword & Country code section displays the auto-responder keywords and country codes for the selected short code. The section is collapsed by default and works the same way for SMS and MMS templates. To view the details, expand the section.

For more information about keywords, see SMS messaging.

Preview and test​

The phone preview on the SMS/MMS content page shows your message as it appears on a recipient's device, including the image for MMS templates. The preview opens in an iOS device frame. To see how the message appears on Android, select Android in the device selector.

If your image URL contains personalization, the preview displays a placeholder image in place of the media. If the image URL can't be reached, the preview also displays a placeholder.

Phone preview in an iOS device frame showing an MMS message with text and an image, with the iOS and Android selector above it
MMS phone preview on iOS

To preview personalized content and send a test message:

  1. Select Preview & test.
  2. Select a sample recipient to see that recipient's personalized message body and image.
  3. To send a test, enter a mobile number and send the test message.

Accelerator sends a real SMS or MMS to the test number from the template's short code, with personalization resolved.

Preview & Test showing an MMS message in an iOS preview, the Mobile number field and Send button, and a sample recipient's data
Preview and test an MMS message

Find MMS templates​

To help you tell MMS templates apart from SMS templates, Accelerator marks them with an MMS badge in the following places:

  • The template list on the Templates page
  • A template's details panel
  • The Recently viewed templates on your dashboard

To show only MMS templates on the Templates page, filter the list by channel and select MMS. SMS and MMS are separate options in the channel filter, so you can also select SMS to show SMS-only templates, or select both.

Templates list row with Email, Push, Inbox, and MMS channel icons and a tooltip reading Email, Push, Inbox & MMS
MMS icon in the Channel(s) column of the Templates list

Send MMS templates​

Campaigns and journeys don't have a separate MMS channel. Wherever you previously selected SMS, the channel is now labeled SMS/MMS, and the template you attach decides whether recipients receive an SMS or an MMS.

  • Marketing campaigns - Select the SMS/MMS sending channel, then attach an SMS or MMS template. For more information, see Marketing campaigns.
  • Transactional campaigns - Attach an MMS template and turn on the SMS/MMS channel. Your existing transactional API calls don't change. For more information, see Transactional campaigns.
  • Journeys - Add an SMS/MMS tile and select an SMS or MMS template. For more information, see Journey tiles.

MMS messages use the same recipient phone number field (SmsAddress) and the same opt-in records as SMS. If Accelerator can't deliver an MMS to a recipient, it counts the message as a failed send and doesn't send a plain SMS in its place. MMS sends and failures appear in your existing SMS reporting.

Next steps​