Forwarding Sent Messages and Reusing Campaigns
When reviewing your message logs in Sinch Engage, you have two ways to resend or repurpose previously sent SMS and MMS messages: Forward (to rerun an entire campaign setup) and Forward message (to send just the specific message text to new contacts).
This guide walks you through the difference between these options, how to use them, and which actions are supported across different channels (SMS, MMS, RCS).
At a Glance: "Forward" vs. "Forward message"
| Feature | Forward | Forward message |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Rerun or clone a previous campaign for a new group of contacts. | Quickly resend specific text to one or more recipients without campaign overhead. |
| Content Copied | Campaign text, attached images (MMS), and active templates. | Only the plain text of the selected message (MMS images are not copied). |
| Personalization Tags | Preserved as placeholders (e.g., #firstname#) ready for a new contact list. |
Flattened to the resolved text sent to that original recipient. |
| Sender ID | Carried over from the original campaign. | Resets to your account default sender ID. |
| Schedule & Campaign Name | Cleared (ready for new scheduling and naming). | Cleared (standard composer view). |
| Channel Support | Campaign-based SMS, MMS, and RCS. | SMS and MMS (both campaign and standalone messages). |
Where to Find Sent Message Options
- In the Sinch Engage navigation menu, go to Messaging > SMS Messaging > Sent.
- Locate the message you want to reuse.
- Click the three-dot action menu (
⋮) at the far right of the message row.
Option 1: Reuse a Campaign with "Forward"
Use Forward when you want to recreate a past broadcast or campaign with the exact same settings, sender profile, and template assets.
How it works:
- From the Sent log, open the three-dot menu (
⋮) on any campaign message row. - Select Forward (Reuse this campaign's template and settings).
- The message composer opens with the following pre-populated:
- Message content: The original text, media (for MMS), or rich cards/carousels (for RCS).
-
Template: If a template was used, it remains linked. Dynamic variables (such as
#firstname#) remain active placeholders. - Sender ID: The original Sender ID or dedicated number used for the campaign is automatically selected.
- Add your new recipients (via contact groups, individual numbers, or file upload).
- Set your schedule, review campaign details, and click Send.
Tip: Campaign names, recipient lists, and schedule dates start blank so you never accidentally resend to the previous audience.
Option 2: Resend Specific Text with "Forward message"
Use Forward message when you simply want to grab the exact wording of a specific message, such as a single customer update, and fire it off to a new contact without loading templates or campaign configurations.
How it works:
- In the Sent log, open the three-dot menu (
⋮) on an SMS or MMS message row. - Select Forward message (Send this message's text to new recipients).
- The composer opens with only the exact message text pre-filled:
- Resolved text: If the original message contained dynamic tags (like personal names or account numbers), the text appears with that contact's specific details already populated. Edit any names or details as needed before sending.
- MMS images: Only text carries across; images are not carried over.
- Sender ID: Reverts to your default account sender rather than the campaign sender.
- Enter your recipient(s) and send or schedule as normal.
Channel & Message Type Availability
The options available in the action menu depend on how the original message was dispatched:
| Message Type | Forward (Reuse Campaign) | Forward message (Text Only) | View campaign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign Message (SMS or MMS) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Campaign Message (RCS) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Standalone Message (SMS or MMS) (e.g., API or automation) | No | Yes | No |
| Standalone Message (RCS) (e.g., API or automation) | No | No | No |
Key notes on channel behavior:
- Standalone Messages: If a message was sent individually via an API trigger or automation (not through a web campaign), Forward and View campaign are unavailable because there is no parent campaign to reference. Only Forward message is displayed for SMS/MMS.
- RCS Messages: Because RCS contains interactive carousels, cards, and rich formats that cannot be rebuilt from plain text, Forward message is disabled. To reuse an RCS broadcast, choose Forward to keep all rich UI components intact. For standalone RCS messages, use New contact instead.
- "View campaign" Update: The previous View broadcast menu option has been renamed to View campaign for consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why don't I see the "Forward" option on every message?
If a message was sent as a standalone transactional message (such as via an API integration or an automated webhook), there is no campaign associated with it. In those instances, only Forward message is displayed.
Will forwarding a message send it immediately?
No. Selecting either Forward or Forward message opens the message composer in edit mode. Nothing is sent until you specify your recipients and confirm the send action.
What happens to dynamic personalization tags?
- With Forward: Variable placeholders (like
#firstname#) remain intact. When you upload a new recipient file or select a group, Sinch Engage populates those placeholders with the new recipients' details. - With Forward message: The text composer loads the exact static text sent to that specific recipient. You can manually edit the text before sending it to someone else.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions about campaign forwarding or require help configuring your sender settings, please reach out to your Sinch Account Team or contact support.