RCS broadcasts let you send interactive, media-rich messages (with images, cards, carousels, and tappable buttons) to your subscribers from Mobile Commons. Every broadcast includes an SMS/MMS fallback so all recipients get a message regardless of device.
How to create and send a broadcast
1. Start a new broadcast
- Go to Broadcasts → New Broadcast.
- Enter the broadcast name, campaign, and any required fields.
- Select Save.
2. Select RCS
- In the Conversation stepper, open the message actions dropdown.
- Select Send as RCS.
3. Choose a message type
| Type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Basic | Text-only messages with replies, phone, or URL buttons |
| Enhanced | Text messages that need Calendar or Location actions |
| Rich Card | A single visual card with media and up to 4 suggestions |
| Carousel | 2-10 swipeable cards for showcasing options |
For card and carousel setup, see Build A Rich Card and Build A Carousel.
4. Compose your message
Type your content in the composer. The mobile preview on the right updates as you go.
Dynamic fields: Insert Liquid merge tags ({{first_name}}) into message bodies and Rich Card/Carousel descriptions (not titles). When merge tags are present, the character counter shows "UNKNOWN" with a pricing note, since final length depends on each subscriber's data.
5. Add suggestions (optional)
Add interactive buttons to your message. See Add Suggested Actions And Replies for the full walkthrough.
6. Configure the fallback
The Fallback stepper appears after you complete the Conversation step. Configure it so non-RCS devices still receive a message.
Fallback options:
- Use RCS message as SMS fallback. The RCS body auto-converts to SMS. No extra work.
- Use custom message as SMS fallback. Write a separate message (up to 1,000 characters).
MMS fallback:
- Rich Card: title, description, and attachment auto-populate the fallback.
- Carousel: only the first card populates the fallback.
- Removing the attachment reverts to SMS.
You can personalize the fallback with merge tags. If you edit the RCS message later, the fallback doesn't auto-update. Select the Reset icon to repopulate it from current RCS content.
7. Review and send
- In the Review stepper, toggle between Preview - RCS and Preview - Fallback.
- Select Edit to return to any stepper if you need changes.
- Choose a sending option:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Send Immediately | Delivers to all recipients now |
| Schedule | Set date, time (AM/PM), and timezone |
| Throttled | Spread delivery over a window using start/end time and frequency |
| Send Test | Deliver to a test device first to verify formatting and fallback |
Always send a test before launching to confirm formatting, dynamic fields, and fallback behavior.
Multiple message containers
You can add several RCS containers in a single broadcast to send a sequence of messages. Each container has its own type, content, and fallback. You can't mix RCS and non-RCS containers in the same broadcast. Reorder with move up/down controls or delete individually.
Cloning broadcasts
Use the Clone action to duplicate an existing RCS broadcast. Cloning deep-copies all content: cards, carousel cards, media, suggested actions, suggested replies (including nested hierarchies). The system recalculates the billing tier on the clone.
A/B testing
You can test several RCS variants within one broadcast, compare performance, then send the winner to the remaining audience.
Setting up an A/B test
- Create a new broadcast and select Save.
- Enable A/B Test mode.
- Configure each variant independently. Each can use a different message type, content, media, and suggestions.
- Configure a fallback for each variant.
Splitting your audience
| Split type | How it works |
|---|---|
| All Recipients | Divides the full audience by percentage (must total 100%) |
| Test Group | Sends variants to a sample first, then sends the winner to the rest |
Choosing the winning metric
| Metric | Measures |
|---|---|
| Response Rate | % of recipients who responded |
| Click Rate | % who selected a suggested action |
| Positive Response Rate | % of positive responses |
| Opt-Out Rate | % who opted out (lower wins) |
Winner selection
- Manual. Review results and pick the winner yourself.
- Automated. System picks the winner after a wait period (minimum 1 hour).
Per-variant reporting
Each variant gets its own metrics in the report: Sent, Delivered, Read, Rich count, Rich Media count, SMS Fallback, MMS Fallback.
Tips
- Link tracking works the same as SMS. Tracked links count toward the 3,072 character limit.
- API limitation. RCS broadcasts must be created via the UI. The public API doesn't currently support creating or managing RCS broadcasts.
- Test different types. Compare Basic vs. Rich Card to see if visual content drives higher engagement. Compare suggestion strategies to find the optimal configuration.
- Watch billing. Different A/B variants may bill at different tiers. Check per-variant billing in the report.