Compose & Send New Messages in MessageDesk
You can send a quick 1-on-1, a small group text, or a one-to-many broadcast right from the New message composer. This guide shows you what each field does, the limits to keep in mind, and a few power-tips so you can move fast.At a Glance: What Makes up a New Message
- Recipients – who you’re sending to
- Send from – which connected phone number you’re sending from
- Message – your text, plus options for template, media, and emoji
- Send options – send now or schedule for later
How to Compose and Send a New Message from MessageDesk
1. Click the New Message button from the Inbox
2. Add recipients
Search and add people by name, phone number, label, or assigned teammate. As you add them, you’ll see each recipient appear as a chip beneath the field to confirm they’re included.Recipient types
You can send messages to:- Individual contacts – Search by name or phone number to add specific people
- Labels – Select a label to send to all conversations with that label attached (up to 100 conversations)
- Assigned teammates – Select a teammate to send to all conversations assigned to them (up to 100 conversations)
Filter your search
Use the filter icon to narrow your search results. You can filter by:- Conversations (individual contacts)
- Labels
- Assigned teammates
Recipient selection rules
- Only one label or assigned teammate can be selected per message
- Once you select a label or assigned teammate, the search box is disabled
- The message will be sent to the first 100 conversations with that label or assigned to that teammate
- Once you select an individual contact, labels and assigned teammates no longer appear in search results
- Mix individual contacts freely – Add up to 100 individual contacts by name or phone number
- Copy/Paste a list of numbers: You can copy/paste a list of phone numbers directly into the Recipients field. This works great for quick broadcasts.
- Per-send limit: You can add up to 100 recipients to a single message send. When using labels or assigned teammates, only the first 100 conversations will receive the message.
- Editing: Remove anyone by clicking the “x” on their chip before you send.
- More: click + more to view all recipient phone numbers
3. Select the phone number you want to send from
Choose the connected phone number you want to send from. You’ll see a dropdown of the active numbers available in your workspace.- Pick the number your contacts expect to hear from.
- If you don’t see a number, confirm it’s connected and active for your workspace.
4. Compose your message
This is where you compose and configure what you’re sending.Select a message type
- Send individually
- Sends one message to each recipient.
- Replies come back as private 1-on-1 threads.
- Best for announcements, reminders, updates at scale (up to 100 per send).
- Group SMS
- Creates one shared thread where everyone sees all messages.
- Best for small, collaborative conversations.
- Note: Group SMS is only supported on 10-digit numbers. Toll-free numbers do not support group texting due to carrier limitations.
Message types
Learn more about the various types of messages MessageDesk supports.
Write your message
- Type your text as usual.
- Apply a template to save time and maintain consistent wording.
- Add media (MMS) to include images, PDFs, or other supported files.
- Insert emoji for tone and clarity when it makes sense.
Schedule or Send Now
Choose when your message goes out.- Send now to send your message immediately.
- Schedule to send later.
- Pick from preset send times or select any date/time from the picker.
- Scheduled messages show the chosen send time so you can verify before confirming.
- Note: Scheduling is currently one-time only (not recurring). You can create as many scheduled messages as you like in advance and view them all in the Scheduled view in your inbox.
Tip: Schedule broadcasts during business hours for higher response rates and a better messaging experience.
New Message Examples
1-on-1 confirmation- Recipients: Add a single contact
- Send from: Your main business number
- Message: “Hi Alex, we have you for 2:00 PM today. Reply YES to confirm or 1 to reschedule.”
- Send: Now
- Recipients: Paste your list of today’s appointments
- Send individually: On
- Message: “Heads up: Our office is closing early today at 4 PM. Text us here with any questions.”
- Schedule: 9:00 AM today
- Recipients: Select the “VIP Customers” label
- Send individually: On
- Message: “Exclusive offer for our VIP customers: 20% off your next service. Reply to book!”
- Send: Now
- Recipients: Select teammate “Sarah”
- Send individually: On
- Message: “Quick reminder: Please follow up on your open conversations by end of day.”
- Send: Now
- Recipients: Add your field techs
- Send type: Group SMS
- Message: “Quick update: job 1842 running 20 min behind. Anyone nearby to swap?”
- Send: Now
Frequently Asked Message Compose Questions
What happens if I try to add more than 100 recipients?
What happens if I try to add more than 100 recipients?
You’ll be capped at 100 recipients per send. Create another message for the next batch.
Do replies to a broadcast go to everyone?
Do replies to a broadcast go to everyone?
No. Each reply creates a private 1-on-1 thread with you, not the whole list.
When should I use Group SMS instead of a broadcast?
When should I use Group SMS instead of a broadcast?
Use Group SMS when you want a short, collaborative thread where everyone can see replies. Use a broadcast when you want scale and private replies.
Can I edit or cancel a scheduled message?
Can I edit or cancel a scheduled message?
Yes—you visit the inbox and view Scheduled messages. Click to open the scheduled message to reschedule or cancel the message before its send time.
What happens if a label or assigned teammate has more than 100 conversations?
What happens if a label or assigned teammate has more than 100 conversations?
Only the first 100 conversations with that label or assigned to that teammate will receive the message.
Can I select multiple labels or assigned teammates?
Can I select multiple labels or assigned teammates?
No. You can only select one label or one assigned teammate per message. However, you can add multiple individual contacts (up to 100 total).