Get started with RCS for Business

RCS for Business is an update to traditional SMS and MMS messaging. It’s the business-to-consumer (B2C) version of Rich Communication Services (RCS), a messaging protocol that operates over a data network instead of a cellular network. This allows you to send messages with more advanced, interactive features. For your subscribers, RCS messages are delivered to the same messaging app they use for regular SMS and MMS messaging. 

Benefits of RCS for Business

RCS for Business offers several advantages over SMS and MMS messaging:

• Build consumer trust: You can use custom branding to display your brand’s name, logo, and colors. Senders are also verified, which helps build subscriber trust.

• Share new media types: You can send rich media like high-resolution images, GIFs, and videos up to 100 MB total. Rich media carousels let you combine multiple products into a single interactive unit.

  Note: GIFs sent via RCS don't currently animate on iOS due to a known bug (Android is unaffected) — see our RCS for Business Best Practices guide for details.

• Interact intuitively: You can add clickable buttons for suggested replies and actions, which makes it easier for subscribers to respond or visit a link.
• Access extended metrics: You can access enhanced data on click-through rates and subscriber engagement to help inform your future messaging strategy. To track how shoppers behave on your own website after clicking an RCS message, see "Tracking RCS traffic to your website with UTMs" in our RCS reporting guide.

More about how RCS for Business works

RCS for Business Agent

An RCS for Business Agent is a branded sender that’s been verified by carriers and Google. It includes pre-populated information about your brand, like your name and contact information. This agent replaces the short or long code that brands typically send messages from, and appears as a separate thread in the subscriber’s messaging app. The Agent is a sender ID; it’s not a live person.

An RCS for Business Agent is required in order to send messages with RCS for Business. Reach out to our Support team here to begin the application process. 

Fallback for ineligible subscribers

If a subscriber’s device can’t receive RCS messages, they’ll receive a fallback SMS or MMS message instead. This ensures that subscribers still receive messages even if their device or carrier doesn’t support RCS. You’ll configure the fallback message in the campaign/journey creation flow.

Create messages with RCS for Business 

Follow these steps to compose an RCS message. Keep in mind that when you create RCS messages, you must also create an SMS/MMS fallback message.

1. Create or edit a campaign or journey text message.
2. Select the RCS tab.
   
3. Under the RCS tab, select a content type and compose your message:
   • Text: Send a text-only message. See Create a text-only RCS message for more information.
   • Rich card(s): Rich Cards are the fundamental building blocks of RCS messages and use media like high-resolution images and videos. You can combine multiple rich cards to create a carousel. See Create an RCS message with rich cards for more information.

4. Under the SMS fallback tab, compose your SMS/MMS fallback message. 
   
5. Continue creating or editing your campaign or journey.

Create a text-only RCS message

Select the Text content type to send a message that is primarily text-based. You can add buttons to help subscribers engage with your message.

1. Select Text as the content type.

2. Enter your message in the text box.

   Note: Links that you include in the body of a text-only RCS message may not be clickable on some devices. To ensure every subscriber has a clickable link, Attentive recommends adding any link from your text as a button below your message, so that messages have both a link and a button.

3. Below the text box, click + Add button to add a CTA button with a link.

Create an RCS message with rich cards

Use rich cards to send images or videos. You can use a single card or add multiple cards to create a carousel.

1. Select Rich card(s) as the content type. The Rich card(s) content panel appears.
   
2. Click Add media to upload an image or video or select one from your asset library.
   • Supported file types: PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, or MP4.
   • File size: Individual files must be 10 MB or less. For a carousel, the total media file size must be under 100 MB.
   • Image dimensions: For a single Rich Card, the message preview will match the dimensions of your uploaded image. For a carousel with multiple cards, all images should have a 16:9 aspect ratio for best results.
3. In the Message field, enter the title for your card (up to 80 characters). The title is the main message of your card.
4. (Optional) In the Additional text field, enter a description for your card (up to 110 characters are shown by default). The description appears in a lighter text and is best for non-essential information.
5. Click + Add button to add a CTA, like "Shop now."
6. (Optional) To create a carousel, click the + icon to add another card. If you have multiple cards, you can click and drag a card to change its position in the carousel.
   
   

Create a SMS/MMS fallback message

You must also compose an SMS fallback message. This message is sent to subscribers who are in an RCS control group or whose devices can't receive RCS messages. 

1. Click the SMS/MMS fallback tab.
2. Your message content will be automatically copied from your RCS content.
   1. For RCS “text only”, the exact message will be copied over.
   2. For RCS rich cards or carousels, the image, copy, and link from the button of the first “rich card” will be copied over.
3. By clicking into the message, you can edit this content and compose your message as you would for any standard SMS or MMS campaign.

Frequently asked questions

Is RCS available to all my subscribers? 

Not yet. The rollout of RCS is ongoing. For a subscriber to receive RCS messages, they must:

• Have a device with a supporting operating system (iOS 18.1+ or a recent version of Android).
• Be with a carrier that has enabled RCS.
• Have cellular data or wifi turned on when the message is sent.

Do my subscribers need to opt in to RCS separately from SMS? 

No. If a subscriber has opted in to receive text messages from your brand, they are eligible to receive messages from you via RCS. Opt-outs function the same way—if a subscriber opts out of an RCS message, they’ll be opted out of all text messages (i.e., RCS, SMS, and MMS) from your brand.