Today’s businesses have to leverage sophisticated communication tools to engage their customers in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. Customers don’t want boring SMS text messages anymore. Instead, customers want richer, interactive, and engaging experiences right in their messaging applications on their mobile devices. That’s where RCS (Rich Communication Services) Business Messaging comes in – it’s a powerful solution that allows businesses to send interactive messages, rich media (images, carousels, and actionable buttons) through the native messaging applications.
At RCS Brand Rise, we want to be here to assist businesses in setting up RCS Business Messaging so they can communicate seamlessly and make a larger impact. Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide for setting up RCS Business Messaging for your brand.
Step 1: Understand what RCS Business Messaging can do for your brand
First and foremost, you must understand how to set up an RCS Business Messaging implementation for your brand, and before you get started, we want you to consider the value of RCS Business Messaging. In comparison to SMS, RCS actually allows for
- Rich media (pictures, GIFs, videos)
- Interactive message templates
- Suggested replies and action buttons
- Read receipts and typing indicators.
- Branding with the business name and logo
The branding capabilities provide businesses with unique and engaging opportunities to communicate with their customers in a conversational way. This can help businesses to stand out and drive engagement with their customers.
Step 2: Select the Right RCS Messaging Provider
Bringing RCS Business Messaging to life requires robust infrastructure and compliance with regulations. Selecting the appropriate RCS messaging provider is critical. RCS Brand Rise delivers a fully equipped RCS platform that offers:
- Pre-approved message templates
- RCS-enabled business numbers
- Easy API integration
- Real-time analytics dashboard
When you select a trusted partner, you’ll have confidence in deliverability, template approvals, and your access to authentic RCS features.
Step 3: Verify and approve your Brand
Brand verification is a requirement for RCS Business Messaging. Brand verification helps telecom operators determine what is authentic.
- Validate and Approve your Brand
- Submitting business documentation (business registration, tax ID, etc.)
- Verifying your brand identity
- Describing your use case
Once your brand is verified, it will appear in the customer’s messaging app, along with your business name and logo. This means a lot in terms of trust and credibility.
Step 4: Create Engaging Message Templates
The success of RCS Business Messaging depends on effective message templates. Here are some important principles regarding design for message templates:
- Keep messages brief and clear.
- Incorporate rich media (photos, videos, etc.) to enhance the visual element.
- Include actionable buttons (e.g., track order, shop now, contact support, etc..
- Include suggested replies to make it easy for customers to respond.
For instance, the order confirmation can include images of the product, order details, and an action button to track the shipment.
Step 5: Integrate RCS API with Your Systems
Now that you have the template ready, it’s time to integrate everything. Using the APIs provided by your RCS messaging services provider, connect your CRM, eCommerce, or customer support system with the RCS platform. The integration will send automatic messages based on your customers’ triggers, e.g:
- Purchase confirmation
- Appointment reminder
- Support ticket update
Automation will ensure you send these messages at the right time with no human interaction, allowing for better efficiency and satisfaction for your customers.
Step 6: Test Your Message Flow
Before you go live, you will want to thoroughly test your message flow:
View how your template looks across a few different devices and messaging apps.
- Test the actionable buttons and suggested replies.
- Confirm that you have the correct personalisation (e.g., customer name, order number).
- Check that read receipts and typing indicators work.
Testing gives you the opportunity to avoid mistakes, create a better experience for the user, fill any gaps in your flow, and ensure your RCS implementation starts.
Conclusion
Implementing RCS Business Messaging is revolutionary for contemporary customer communication. By following this guide—choosing a provider, designing interactive templates, implementing the APIs, testing, and monitoring performance—your business can deliver rich messaging and engaging experiences with customers that strengthen their relationships.
RCS Brand Rise delivers enterprise-ready RCS implementation, allowing your brand to reach customers in the most cutting-edge way. You can start your RCS journey today and revolutionize how your business communicates.
