Message Composing Insights

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Real-Time Message Composing Insights

Enhance your SMS experience with our real-time message composing insights! As you craft your message, you'll see immediate information about: 

  • Encoding Type: Understand the character encoding being used for your message.
  • Character Count: Keep track of the total number of characters in your message. 
  • Segment Count: See an estimate of how many SMS segments your message will be divided into.
  • Message Channel Instructions and Limitations: Be informed of any specific guidelines or restrictions for your chosen messaging channel.
  • Informative Tooltips: Access additional details and explanations by hovering over the insights.


Note: This new feature was released in Mogli v.5.113.3. Contact us at help@mogli.com if you'd like to upgrade!


Understanding Character and Segment Estimates

The character and segment counts displayed during message composition are designed to provide helpful, real-time feedback. However, it's important to understand that these values are initial estimates. Certain dynamic features are processed after you compose your message and can affect the final character count and the number of segments into which your message is divided upon sending. These factors include:

  • Merge fields: When you insert a merge field (e.g., {{Contact.Name}}, our system initially counts the literal characters of the merge field syntax (in this example, 16 characters). The actual character count will be determined after the merge field is processed and the specific recipient's information is inserted. 
  • Mogli URLs with Personalized Engagement: If you've enabled personalized engagement for a Mogli URL, a unique 6-character identifier (slug) is generated. During SMS creation, this slug is counted as 7 characters (including the forward slash, e.g., /aBCdEf). This count remains consistent as the slug is generated at the time of SMS creation. 
  • Mogli Scheduling Links with Pre-fill Data: When using Mogli scheduling links with pre-filled information, the initial, longer link (e.g., https://scheduler.mogli.com/booking/mike-45, counted as 43 characters) is shown during message composition. Upon sending, this link is automatically shortened (e.g. https://scheduler.mogli.com/u/aBcdEf, which is 36 characters.) The final segment calculation will be based on this shorter, actual URL.
  • Toll-Free Numbers: When an SMS exceeds the single-segment character limit, it is split into multiple segments for delivery. The maximum number of characters that can fit into a single segment has a slight difference (1 character) between standard 10-digit long code numbers and toll-free numbers. Our real-time segment counter currently assumes all messages are being sent from a standard 10-digit long code and does not factor in this minor difference when toll-free numbers are used. 
    • Segment Lengths:
      • GSM-7 Encoding (Standard Characters): Messages exceeding 160 characters are split into segments containing a maximum of 153 characters when sent from a 10-digit long code and 152 characters when sent from a toll-free number.
      • UCS-2 Encoding (Special Characters): Messages containing one or more special characters and exceeding 70 characters when sent from a 10-digit long code and 66 characters when sent from a toll-free number.

Initial vs. Verified Segment Value

This feature also provides insight into how segment counts are recorded:

  • When an SMS record is initially created and sent, the segment count displayed at that moment is automatically saved in the SMS.Message Segments field. This represents the initial estimate.
  • After the message is successfully processed and delivered by our messaging partner, they send a status update back to Salesforce. This update typically includes the actual number of segments the message was divided into for delivery. 
  • At this point, the SMS.Message Segments field in Salesforce is updated with this verified segment count received from the messaging partner.


Message character and segment counting and GSM-7/UCS-2/MMS encoding recognition.



Message Length Information

Twilio: 1,600 characters

Telnyx: 10 segments


WhatsApp 24-Hour Window Information


Mogli Voice Instructions


By understanding these real-time insights and the factors that can influence final message segmentation, you can optimize your SMS communication for better delivery and cost management.