## Video guide

Learn how to create an effective SMS campaign to engage your customers through text messaging. Follow these steps to:

- Create new SMS campaigns
- Add audiences
- Setup communication attributes
- Build SMS content
- Review and launch

## Step-by-step guide

SMS campaigns are a powerful way to drive quick engagement. Here's how to set one up from start to finish.

**What you'll need**

- An installed SMS channel instance.
- An SMS message template.
- A [list](https://docs.bird.com/applications/audience-and-contacts/lists-and-segments/concepts/lists) or [segment](https://docs.bird.com/applications/audience-and-contacts/lists-and-segments/concepts/segments) of customers that have opted-in to receive marketing messages on SMS.

## Step 1: Create Your Campaign

1.  Go to the Marketing Dashboard
2.  Navigate to Campaigns > Create
3.  Select SMS as your channel

## Step 2: Set Up Campaign Details

- Campaign Name:
  - For this example, we’ll name it "Abandoned cart recovery".

- Tags:
  - Add tags to organize your campaigns—for instance, "Promotions".

- Audience:
  - Select your pre-built audience list. We’ll use the "Cart abandoners" list.

- Additional Options:
  - Skip recently messaged profiles to avoid over-messaging.
  - Customize tracking parameters to help measure performance.

Click Continue to Content once you're done.

## Step 3: Build Your SMS Content

Use the **inline SMS builder** to craft your message.

- **Message Body Example**:  
  "Don't miss out! The items in your cart are waiting for you. Quick checkout here: \[link\]"
- **Add a URL**:  
  Paste in your checkout link—Bird will automatically shorten it to save characters.
- **Optional**:  
  Add an image with the **"Click to upload"** button.
- **Template Variables**:  
  For legal compliance, include your organization name.  
  Example:  
  "– Bird"

Click **Continue to Review** when ready.

## Step 4: Review and Test

Review campaign details:

- Recipients
- Sending rules
- Tracking parameters
- Send a test message to your mobile device to verify how the message looks and behaves.

## Step 5: Schedule or Send

- Send Now:
  - Sends the campaign immediately.

- Schedule Message:
  - Choose a future date and time, select a time zone, and click Schedule.
  - Ideal for planning or avoiding quiet hours in certain regions.