--- title: "How Sending Works" slug: "how-sending-works" description: "How sending works in Mapp Engage: ways to send a message, the group rules applied at sendout, and where to find drafts, prepared messages, and the Outbox." status: "new" updated: 2026-11-04T15:45:12Z published: 2026-11-04T15:45:12Z canonical: "docs.mapp.com/how-sending-works" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How Sending Works ## Overview Sending is the step between a finished message and the contacts who receive it. In Mapp Engage, every sendout takes place in the context of a group. The group decides who can receive the message and which rules apply at sendout. This page explains the ways to send a message, what Mapp Engage applies at sendout, and where you find your messages afterwards. To create a message in a specific channel, see [Channels](/v1/docs/system-basics-channels). --- ## Ways to Send a Message You can start a sendout in four ways. The sendout itself works the same way in all cases. Only how and when it starts is different. ### Send Immediately or Schedule In the **Configuration** step of message creation, you select the group and, optionally, a segment. You then choose whether the sendout starts immediately or at a scheduled date and time. For details, see [Message Creation: Configuration (Email)](/v1/docs/configuration-for-sendout) and [Message Creation: Configuration (SMS)](/v1/docs/prepare-sms-sendout). The sendout settings for mobile push, in-app, web push, and AMP email differ by channel. For details, see [Channels](/v1/docs/system-basics-channels). ### Save as a Prepared Message Instead of sending an email or SMS message right away, you can save it as a prepared message. A prepared message is assigned to a group and can be sent many times: manually, on a schedule, or automatically. For details, see [Prepared Messages](/v1/docs/messages-prepared-messages). ### Send Automatically Whiteboards send messages automatically, either on a schedule or when an event occurs, for example when a contact subscribes to a group. For details, see [Whiteboards](/v1/docs/whiteboards-1). Automations are the older way to set up automated sendouts. For details, see [Automations](/v1/docs/automations-1). ### Send via API External systems, such as a web shop or a CRM, can trigger a sendout through the Mapp Engage API. This is the usual way to send transactional messages, such as order confirmations. For details, see [Transactional Messages](/v1/docs/transactional-messages). ### Group Messages and Single Messages A sendout to a group creates a **group message**. A sendout to an individual contact, for example triggered by an event or the API, creates a **single message**. The difference affects statistics, the Outbox, and message limitation. For details, see [Group Messages and Single Messages in Mapp Engage](/v1/docs/group-messages-and-single-messages-in-mapp-engage). --- ## What Happens at Sendout When a sendout starts, Mapp Engage applies the settings of the group and the current data of each contact: - **Recipients:** Only active members of the group receive the message. If you selected a segment, only members who match it at sendout time receive the message. Contacts who unsubscribed, were deactivated, or are blacklisted are excluded. For details, see [How a Contact Stops Receiving Messages](/v1/docs/engage-how-contacts-stop-receiving-messages). - **Personalization:** Personalized content is filled in with each contact's data at sendout time. - **Sendout time frame:** A time frame set for the group can delay a sendout or pause it until the next time frame starts. For details, see [Group Creation: Sendout Options](/v1/docs/sendout-options-tab). - **Message limitation:** If the group considers message limitations, contacts who have reached their limit do not receive the message. For details, see [Message Limitation](/v1/docs/message-limitation). - **Moderation:** If message moderation is active, a moderator must approve the message before the sendout starts. For details, see [Message Moderation](/v1/docs/message-moderation). - **Read mode:** Each contact's read mode decides which format they receive, for example an HTML or a text email. For details, see [Read Mode](/v1/docs/read-mode-configure-sent-message-format). Group sendout time frames and message limitation do not apply to single messages. --- ## Optimize Timing and Channel Best Sendout Time sends a message to each contact at the time they are most likely to engage. You select it when you configure the sendout. For details, see [Best Sendout Time](/v1/docs/best-sendout-time-in-mapp-engage). Best Sendout Channel shows which channel a contact uses most. You can use it in segments and Whiteboards to reach each contact on their preferred channel. For details, see [Best Sendout Channel](/v1/docs/best-sendout-channel-in-mapp-engage). --- ## Where to Find Your Messages Mapp Engage lists your messages under *Messages* in the main menu. Where a message appears depends on its channel and status. | Menu | What you find there | Channels | | --- | --- | --- | | [*Messages > Draft Messages*](/v1/docs/draft-messages-overview-window) | Saved messages that are not yet assigned to a group, scheduled, or sent | Email, SMS | | [*Messages > Prepared Messages*](/v1/docs/prepared-messages-overview-window) | Saved messages assigned to a group, ready for repeated or automated sendouts | Email, SMS | | [*Messages > Outbox*](/v1/docs/outbox) | Scheduled, processing, and sent messages with their status and statistics | Email, SMS | | [*Messages > Push Notifications*](/v1/docs/push-notifications-overview), [*In-App Messages*](/v1/docs/in-app-messages-window), [*Web Push Notifications*](/v1/docs/web-push-notifications-overview), [*AMP Emails*](/v1/docs/amp-email-status-and-actions) | All messages of the channel with their status | Mobile push, in-app, web push, AMP email | | [*Messages > Calendar*](/v1/docs/calendar-window) | Scheduled and sent messages on a timeline | Email, SMS, mobile push, web push, in-app | ### Change or Cancel a Scheduled Sendout Until processing starts, you can reschedule or cancel a scheduled email or SMS sendout in the Outbox. A cancelled message is saved as a prepared message, so you can edit it and send it again. For details, see [Reschedule or Cancel a Scheduled Sendout](/v1/docs/reschedule-a-message-sendout).