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How to create RCS designs with the RCS builder

How to create RCS designs with the RCS builder

Objective

The RCS Builder allows you to create Rich Communication Services (RCS) message designs for one-shot campaigns and automated marketing flows. RCS is an advanced form of SMS that supports high-resolution images, videos, interactive buttons, and rich multimedia content - offering conversion rates 2.5 times higher than traditional SMS.

Prerequisites

  • RCS channel configured for your account

  • Media files prepared in supported formats (images, videos)

  • RCS is subject to Google's sector-specific restrictions; for example, adult content is strictly prohibited. For more information, please refer to Google's official documentation.

Step by step

1. Accessing the RCS Builder

  • Navigate to the Designer menu from the left navigation

  • Select RCS to access the new content type

2. Selecting Your RCS Format

Choose from three available message formats:

  • Vertical Format: Media displayed above text content

  • Horizontal Format: Media displayed on the left or right side

  • Carousel Format: Up to 10 cards in vertical format

3. Configuring Your Vertical Format Design

When creating a vertical format:

  • Upload media (image, video, or dynamic media)

  • Select media height: short (112 DP), medium (168 DP), or tall (264 DP)

  • Add a title (up to 200 characters)

  • Add a description (up to 2,000 characters; variables supported)

  • Configure up to 4 buttons with customizable text and static or dynamic URLs

4. Configuring Your Horizontal Format Design

For horizontal layouts:

  • Upload media positioned on the left or right side of the card

  • Add a title (up to 200 characters)

  • Add a description (up to 2,000 characters; variables supported)

  • Configure up to 4 buttons with customizable text and URLs

5. Configuring Your Carousel Format Design

For carousel layouts:

  • Add up to 10 vertical format cards

  • For each card:

    • Upload your media (image, video, or dynamic content)

    • Choose the media size: small (112 DP), medium (168 DP), or large (264 DP)

    • Add a title (up to 200 characters)

    • Add a description (up to 2,000 characters; variables supported)

    • Configure up to 4 buttons with customizable text and URLs

6. Preview and Testing

  • Generate message previews with variable substitution

  • Send test messages to yourself or specific contacts

  • Important: Each test message uses one RCS credit

  • Test messaging is strongly recommended as appearance varies significantly between Android and Apple devices

Use cases

The RCS Builder supports various marketing scenarios

  • Promotional campaigns: Rich media communications with clear call-to-action buttons

  • Product showcases: Using carousel formats to display multiple products

  • Event invitations: Interactive messages with RSVP functionality

  • Store location sharing: Integrated mapping and contact information

Practical Advice/Best Practices

  • Media optimization: Prepare images at recommended sizes - Vertical: 1440 x 720 px, Horizontal: 768 x 1024 px

  • Button strategy: Use up to 4 action buttons effectively to guide user behavior

  • Variable usage: Leverage personalization variables in descriptions

  • Cross-platform testing: Always test on both Android and Apple devices due to rendering differences

  • Fallback planning: Remember that carousel format requires JSON expertise for now

FAQ/Troubleshooting

Q: Do I need separate opt-ins for RCS? A: No, you can use existing SMS opt-ins for RCS campaigns.

Q: Why does my test message consume credits? A: Sending an RCS test message simulates a real delivery to ensure everything works as expected. Because it uses the same infrastructure as a live message, it consumes RCS credits from your account just like a regular send.

Q: What happens if recipients can't receive RCS? A: For devices that aren't RCS-compatible, the RCS message won't be sent, and no credit will be used.

Related Documentation