
An SMS short code is a combination of numbers (usually 5 to 6 – shorter than a regular phone number) that are especially used for SMS marketing campaigns. These codes are usually embedded into promotional material like TV ads, printed media, social media posts, billboards, and practically anywhere depending on the target audience a business is aiming to.
Through these SMS short codes, customers can opt-in to receive the text messages of each campaign. This opt-in is mandatory in order for companies to send marketing text messages. Users opt-in by texting a text keyword to the short code number.
These keywords are usually related to the campaign you want to promote (example: “Text ‘COFFEE’ to 88555 to get a 10% discount at our cafe”). Text keywords are essential to trigger an automated text message response to opted-in subscribers; which usually contain coupons, offers, or discounts like the mentioned example.
SMS Short Code Benefits and Its Role in SMS Marketing
So as you can see, SMS short codes work as the main channel for people to get into the sales funnel in SMS marketing. Short codes go hand-in-hand with text blasts and mass text messaging, and present several benefits. Some of the main ones are:
- They’re easy for people to remember.
- They are enabled for mass texting campaigns
- Can also be used for users to opt-out.
There are also two types of SMS short codes: dedicated and shared. Dedicated short codes belong to a single company or organization, and can only be used by them. On the other hand, shared codes are owned by a texting software provider who shares those codes with different companies and organizations.
Other less common codes to keep in mind are:
- Vanity Short Codes: a number of your choice that spells a specific word. Example: the code 529937, which spells out LAWYER.
- Random codes: randomly generated dedicated numbers. Usually a more affordable alternative to vanity codes.
- Long codes: your regular 10-digit number. Its main benefit is that it allows phone calls as well as texting.
How Companies Use SMS Short Codes
We’ve already mentioned that SMS short codes are the main channel for people to subscribe to your texting campaigns. Here are a few common examples on those campaigns, and how short codes work in each of them:
Promotion Campaigns
Once your subscribers opted-in, you can lead them to acquire your products by offering something they find valuable and attractive enough to incentivize the purchase. They have an explicit and very specific action for them to take so make sure your audiences are segmented enough to send them relevant promotions.
Text Keyword Campaigns
These types of campaigns are especially good to grow your contacts lists. A text keyword is paired with an SMS short code to make it easy for people to text such keywords to a memorable short code and sign up. Text keywords and short codes can be easily shared on any channel that is relevant to each specific audience; from email blasts and social media posts to business cards, billboards, and even street signs.
Reminder Campaigns
Text appointment reminders are extremely helpful to avoid no-shows and their subsequent waste of time. They can be automated to be sent anytime before the appointment; whether it is a day or an hour before. Appointment reminders can have useful information like hour, date, address, and they should have an option for people to reply and confirm (or re-schedule).
Do You Need Access to Short Codes? We can Help!
As a leading SMS marketing and texting software provider, Trumpia has a convenient short code texting service in which you can add a dedicated short code to any of their plans. That gives you the freedom of building a brand with your own number. Call or text 1-888-707-3030 to talk to our experts about our short codes and other useful SMS marketing services available.