Have you ever received a text with a code on your phone? If you have been using a mobile device anytime during the last decade, chances are that you are quite familiar with these numbers. SMS short codes are an indispensable part of atext message marketing strategy. Businesses realized its potential as an easy and far-reaching marketing tool, and soon enough, they were everywhere.
What is a Text Message Short Code?
SMS short codes are a combination of five to six digits—shorter than phone numbers—that marketers use in their multimedia and short messaging services, as well as SMS marketing campaigns. The number of digitsvaries from country to country.
Short codes for avirtual number SMS are mainly embedded in promotional materials such as TV ads, printed media, billboards, and so on. Marketers use them for value-added services like charity donations, television contest voting, ordering services, confirmation of services, two-factor authentication, and more. Short code text messaging goes hand in hand with SMS campaigns andtwo-way messaging; it’s also pretty affordable.
Customers interact with your SMS codes by responding with a keyword. It’s up to the businesses to determine which keywords to use for each specific case. For instance, if customers send messages saying “Stop” or “End," it means they want to opt out of your SMS campaign. Remember to send back a text to confirm that your customer has successfully unsubscribed.
2 Main Types of Short Codes
Dedicated Short Code
Adedicated SMS short code is specific to a brand. This allows the company to have complete control over its messaging, in addition to benefiting from security and reliability when communicating with customers. Businesses can use short numbers to send and receive SMS messages, set up automated responses, leverage specific keywords, and create unique text marketing campaigns that drivecustomer engagement.
Dedicated numbers fall under two subcategories: vanity and random codes. Vanity short numbers are custom ones that you can choose for your business. These are ideal for building brand recognition and creating an identity that lets your brand stand out from the crowd.
If form isn’t as important as function for your business, you can opt for a random short code instead (also known as non-vanity). They offer the same technical features as vanityand are cheaper to obtain. The main difference is that non-vanity numbers are—as the name suggests—generated at random and are not as easy to remember.
Shared Code
Shared numbers are exactly what the name implies: codes that are used by several businesses at the same time. A unique keyword is assigned to each brand that uses the same one. By texting the keyword to the shared code, customers can opt in to receive text messages from that particular company.
Suppose a bakery, a car dealership, and a tourism agency are sharing the code 12345. Each of these businesses would identify itself with a unique keyword when reaching out to its customers from the shared number. For example, the keywords would be, respectively, CAKE, AUTO, and TRAVEL. Due to the risk of spam, however, most carriers no longer provide shared numbers to protect consumers.
How to Use Short Codes Effectively
Advertise Your Number
What good is a short number if nobody knows about it? To make the most of your campaigns, you’ll want to promote your code and get people to subscribe. A clever way to do so is by running a giveaway that requires participants to opt in to your SMS marketing campaign with a keyword.
Another strategy is to create a loyalty program where subscribers receive exclusive offers and early access to new releases via text.
Use Keywords to Monitor SMS Campaigns
Results normally differ from one marketing campaign to the next. See which of your text message campaigns is generating more opt-ins by using a different keyword for each. This allows you to measure the performance of your individual campaigns. It’s also a good idea to evaluate the ROI of your marketing tactics and re-strategize accordingly.
Go for a Memorable Code
If your budget permits, consider going for a vanity code that’s easy for your customers to memorize. Suppose a potential customer sees your code on your website or social media. You’ll want them to remember it easily should they choose to sign up at a later time.
A memorable SMS short code number, such as 12121, can also do wonders for brand recognition.
Comply With Local Regulations
Perhaps the most important marketing practice is to be compliant with local regulations regarding text campaigns, such as theTelephone Consumer Protection Act. This means you’ll need to get permission from customers before sending them messages.
You’ll also want to avoid spamming people with endless waves of texts—even if the recipients have opted in. Overwhelming your audience with excessive messages is a surefire way to spike opt-out rates.
Top 4 Benefits of Using Short Codes
1. Easy to Remember
Five or six-digit numbers, especially vanity numbers, are easier for customers to remember than 10-digitlong codes or toll-free numbers. This makes it more convenient for recipients to engage with your campaigns.
2. Scalable and Flexible
Short numbers can handle a great deal of SMS traffic, making them ideal for large-scale campaigns that have extremely high volumes of incoming texts. Dedicated short codes are also flexible in the sense that you can use them for anything from promotional texts to customer support.
3. Reinforces Brand Recognition
You can customize your short SMS code number to reflect your brand. Using branded numbers as yoursender ID allows you to paint a consistent image in your customers’ minds and boost brand recognition.
4. Improves Analytics
By linking text message short codes to analytics platforms, you can track the performance of your campaigns and gain insight into response rates and other valuable metrics.
Common SMS Code Numbers
Almost all leading companies have dedicated text messaging short codes that are a unique sequence of digits to communicate with their customers.
Certain directories, such as theShort Code Registry, offer a list of numbers for more than thousands of companies online. The database is public, and people can search through a specific company’s short code, view the code owner’s information, or get their own number.
We went through the short code SMS databases and picked out the dedicated codes used by renowned companies and brands.
Facebook uses the 32665 code to engage with its users. This is a dedicated one registered with the Common Short Code Administration
Google uses 23333 generated by the CSCA
The 262966 non-vanity short number belongs to eCommerce giant Amazon. The multi-billion-dollar online retailer uses its dedicated short SMS code for sending retail coupons and promotions
Pizza Hut sends text message coupon from 69488
How to Get a Short Code for SMS
Suppose you’re planning to launch anSMS marketing campaign and are considering getting a code. Here are the basic steps you’ll need to take to obtain an SMS short number:
1. Choose a Provider
Opt for a business messaging provider with a good reputation to assist you in getting a short code for SMS marketing. Make sure to account for factors like pricing, features, compliance, and customer support.
2. Submit an Application
This step involves working with your provider to carry out the application process. You’ll want to provide details such as information about your business and the intended use case of the number.
3. Compliance and Approval
This is where your application is reviewed by the provider as well as the network operator. They will make sure all the necessary information is there and your intended use doesn’t go against any regulations.
4. Provisioning and Testing
Once your application is approved, the code will be provisioned for you to use. Consider testing its functionality and whether it connects with your provider to ensure it meets your expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Carriers Filter Short Code Text Messages?
Short code messages do not get filtered by wireless carriers. This is mainly because the SMS text content already gets approval in the application phase. After getting approved, you can sendSMS and MMS messages from your number without going through filters.
How Much Does an SMS Short Code Cost?
When it comes to pricing, it is an affordable component of a bulk and mass texting strategy with sky-high effectiveness. The cost depends on whether it is vanity or non-vanity. A non-vanity code can cost you $500 monthly. As for a vanity number, you can expect that price to double.
How Long Does It Take to Obtain Random Short Codes?
The average time it takes for a business to obtain a short number ranges between six to eight weeks. This includes the time needed for the carriers to review the application and check whether the information is adequate and the use cases meet all therequirements.
