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# Send Your First Transactional SMS

> Configure your account to start sending transactional SMS using the Transactional API

## At a glance

This guide will walk you through the essentials of sending your first SMS message using the Mailchimp Transactional API. We'll cover how to set up your account, obtain a phone number, and use the API to send a text message. This will ensure you have everything configured correctly to start sending transactional SMS messages to your customers.

## What you'll need

* A Standard or higher Mailchimp account with Transactional enabled and SMS credits
* A phone number approved for sending SMS
* [Your API key](/developer/transactional/guides/quick-start#generate-your-api-key)

## Create an account

If you don't have a Mailchimp Transactional account, you’ll need to [create a Mailchimp account](https://login.mailchimp.com/signup/) and enable Transactional.

If you have a Mailchimp Standard plan or higher, you can enable Mailchimp Transactional from the [Monthly plans or credits page of your account](https://us1.admin.mailchimp.com/account/billing-plan/).

You can [submit an SMS marketing application](https://mailchimp.com/help/set-up-your-sms-marketing-program/?_gl=1*1xmgqak*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..\&gclid=CjwKCAjwlOrFBhBaEiwAw4bYDcxVp4dg6C6GY9QE3I6euXcHFzPIDo3YvAfeRzHZ7LTHhSiGa0F5DRoCg_QQAvD_BwE\&gclsrc=aw.ds\&gbraid=0AAAAADh1Fp08-HhUOb_Mfg-ZoakwPG80N#Submit_your_SMS_Marketing_application), and purchase SMS credits from the [SMS overview page](https://login.mailchimp.com/?referrer=%2Fsms%2F&_gl=1*1xmgqak*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..\&gclid=CjwKCAjwlOrFBhBaEiwAw4bYDcxVp4dg6C6GY9QE3I6euXcHFzPIDo3YvAfeRzHZ7LTHhSiGa0F5DRoCg_QQAvD_BwE\&gclsrc=aw.ds\&gbraid=0AAAAADh1Fp08-HhUOb_Mfg-ZoakwPG80N), the [SMS settings page](https://login.mailchimp.com/?referrer=%2Fsms%2Fsettings%2F&_gl=1*ci3fic*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..\&gclid=CjwKCAjwlOrFBhBaEiwAw4bYDcxVp4dg6C6GY9QE3I6euXcHFzPIDo3YvAfeRzHZ7LTHhSiGa0F5DRoCg_QQAvD_BwE\&gclsrc=aw.ds\&gbraid=0AAAAADh1Fp08-HhUOb_Mfg-ZoakwPG80N), or the SMS editor in Mailchimp. Transactional SMS messages may be sent from programs tied to your account.

## Setup your API key

To find out how to create an API key and make your first API call, see the [Transactional API Quick Start guide](/developer/transactional/guides/quick-start).

## Send your first SMS

With everything set up, we can start sending SMS messages.

Using the [send-sms API endpoint](/developer/transactional/api/messages/send-sms), the minimum **required** fields to make an SMS send are:

* `key` (string field): valid Mailchimp Transactional API key
* `message` (object field): body of the message that must include the following parameters: `to` (string field): valid phone # of recipient. Required format: E.164 `from` (string field): valid phone # of approved SMS program. Required format: alphanumeric. Must be one of three: 1) E.164 phone number, 2) short code, 3) alphanumeric sender string in EU`text` (string field): SMS content to be sent`consent` (string field): consent type for the message. Possible values: "`onetime`", "`recurring`", or "`recurring-no-confirm`"

An example SMS send may look like this:

```bash
MESSAGE='{"key": "$YOUR_API_KEY","message": {"sms": {"text": "Hello from Mandrill SMS! Visit https://example.com for more info.","to": "+0000000000", "from": "+0000000000", "consent": "onetime","track_clicks": true}}}' 
  
curl -X POST https://mandrillapp.com/api/1.1/messages/send-sms \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d "$MESSAGE"
```

For more information about this endpoint and accepted parameters, review the [API reference documentation](/developer/transactional/api/messages/send-sms).