> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.blujay.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sharing links, photos and videos

> When to send them, how to send them, and what each type of message can carry.

Links, photos and videos are often the most useful thing you can send. They're also what spam filters watch most closely when they come from a number someone doesn't know yet. Timing is what makes the difference.

## Dos and don'ts

| Do | Don't |
| - | - |
| ✅ Wait until they've replied before sending a link or file | ❌ Put a link in your first text |
| ✅ Say what the link is and why you're sending it | ❌ Send a link on its own |
| ✅ Link to your own website | ❌ Use link shorteners |
| ✅ Attach photos and videos to the message | ❌ Send a link to a photo or video |
| ✅ Keep files small for green-bubble contacts | ❌ Send large videos over SMS |

## Wait for a reply first

A link or file from an unknown number looks like spam, both to the person and to their phone. Once they've replied, you're a conversation, not a stranger, and sharing is natural. Until they reply to that number, Blujay won't send a text that contains a link, and asks you to confirm before sending a photo, video or file.

* ✅ *"Want me to send over the details?"* then, after they reply, *"Here you go: \[link]"*
* ❌ *"Hi Sam, here's our latest price list: \[link]"*

## Give every link a reason

Tell them what they're about to open and why it's useful to them. A bare link is harder to trust.

* ✅ *"Here's the quote we talked about, with the options side by side: \[link]"*
* ❌ *"\[link]"*

Use the full address of your own website. Link shorteners hide where a link goes, so people trust them less and spam filters flag them more often.

## Attach photos and videos

Send photos and videos as attachments, not as links to them. They show up right in the conversation, and the person doesn't have to tap through to a website.

* **Web app:** click **+** next to the message box, then **Files**.
* **iPhone app:** tap **+** next to the message box, then **Photos** or **Files**.

You can attach up to 10 files to one message.

## What each type of message can carry

What you can send depends on whether the conversation is on iMessage or a text message. The message box shows which one it is before you send.

* **iMessage** (blue bubbles): photos, videos, voice messages, contact cards, PDFs and other files. Up to 50 MB per file.
* **RCS** (green bubbles): photos, videos, voice messages and contact cards. Up to 50 MB per file.
* **SMS** (green bubbles): photos, videos and contact cards. Up to 5 MB in total per message.

For SMS contacts, keep videos short and photos to one or two per message so they stay under 5 MB. For everyone, shorter videos send faster and are more likely to get watched.

## Common messages

> [accordion] "Attachments must be 50MB or smaller."
>
> The file is too large. Trim or compress the video, or send a smaller file.

> [accordion] "SMS/MMS attachments must total 5 MiB or less."
>
> This contact gets text messages (SMS), which are limited to about 5 MB per message. Send fewer or smaller files, or split them across several messages.

> [accordion] "This messaging service does not support one or more selected attachments."
>
> The conversation is on SMS or RCS, which can't carry this type of file. Send photos or videos instead, or share a link to the file once they've replied.

## Next

> [card] [Keeping the conversation going](https://support.blujay.io/messaging/keep-it-going.md)
>
> What to do once they reply.

> [card] [Following up](https://support.blujay.io/messaging/follow-ups.md)
>
> How often to follow up, and when to stop.


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