Short code texting is a useful marketing tool that your business shouldn’t overlook. By using a short code number to send SMS to your subscribers, you can boost your sales and build stronger relationships with your customers. Take your marketing to the next level by using a dedicated or shared short code.

What is Short Code Texting?

A short code is an abbreviated four to six digit phone number that’s only used for texting. You can also think of it as a short phone number that is used to send SMS/MMS text messages. Short code texting is commonly used in one-way communication, for example, when a business needs to send a large number of texts to customers and doesn’t need a reply. You’ve probably received a text from a short code when booking a doctor’s appointment or resetting a password, but there are many useful business applications too.

When Should You Use Short Code Texting?

Short code texting can be useful for everything from promoting your brand to letting your customer know their order status. Let’s take a look at some scenarios where short code texting can help your marketing.

Promotional Discounts

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Short code texting is a great way to give your loyal customers base an extra incentive to make another purchase. You can use short codes to send out mass texts to your subscribers with promotional discounts when launching a new product or service.

Announcements

Short code texting can be used to announce events or news to anyone who opts in. A good example of this is to send a text blast that announces an upcoming performance at your business’s venue.

Video Marketing

Video marketing has became one of the most effective forms of marketing, with 54% of consumers wanting to see more video content from brands they support. You can use short code texting to draw attention to your recent videos by sending links straight to your subscribers’ devices.

Shared vs Dedicated: Which SMS Short Code is Better?

There are two different types of short code numbers to choose from, known as shared and dedicated. Each has its own pros and cons when it comes to marketing.

A Dedicated Short Code

A dedicated short code is owned by one specific business and used exclusively by them. Dedicated short codes offer better messaging capabilities, such as detail reporting and faster message throughput. This comes at a cost though, as they are more expensive than shared short codes, starting at around $500 per month in the USA.

A Shared Short Code

A shared short code is owned by an SMS service provider, who shares it between hundreds or even thousands of different brands. The service provider assigns keywords to businesses using the same short code to avoid any crossed wires. Because multiple businesses are sharing one number, the costs are considerably lower than dedicated short codes, with a single business able to rent from just a few dollars per month.

How to Use Short Code Texting for Marketing Campaigns

Text messaging isn’t exactly a new technology, but you may feel surprised at how useful it can be for your marketing campaigns. Remember that your subscribers must opt into text marketing, as sending unsolicited brand messages is against the law.

1. Customer Loyalty Programs

Whether you run an online store or a physical location like a salon, you can use short code texting to send out messages to repeat customers with offers and incentives on their next booking or purchase. 90% of subscribers to short code loyalty programs agree that they feel they’ve gained value from it.

2. Competitions

Running a competition is an effective way to use short code texting as part of your marketing campaign. Customers like to enter these competitions because of how easy it is to do so; there’s no need for them to sign up and enter any details, they can simply text a word like WIN to your shortcode.

3. Service Enquiries

Let’s say you run a plumbing business. With short code texting, you can promote your services with keywords. For example, you might send out a message to your subscribers that says “text BATH to 135425 to get a free quote on your next bathtub installation.” It’s a simple and effective way to generate leads.

Apps for Short Code Texting

Once you’ve applied for your short code, you can go ahead and use a messaging app to start marketing with short code texts. Here are some examples of popular apps that allow short code texting:

1. TextMagic

TextMagic is a messaging service designed for business. It allows you to schedule and send text messages online with additional features such as SMS opt-out management and reports and analytics. Creating an account is free and it costs $0.04 per text.

2. SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is an all-in-one message service that offers dedicated short code pricing. A random short code will cost $500 per month in addition to a setup fee and a minimum spend of $500 per month in messaging costs. You can also select a vanity short code for $1,000 per month.

3. Twilio

Twilio is a customizable marketing service for SMS messaging, phone number redirection, and more. You can apply for a short code straight from their website and begin sending and receiving short code messages at $0.0075 per message.

Strengthen Your Customer Relationships with Textr

Textr is an app designed to improve the way your business responds to its customers. It works by enabling texting on your business landline and allowing you to purchase local, toll-free numbers to assign to your remote teams. By responding to inquiries together as a team,  you can easily share information and improve your customer experience.

Local numbers give your customers a sense of familiarity and help to build trust. With Textr, you can assign the same local number to multiple members of your team. Releasing soon, the next version will allow your business to send mass texts. Download Textr today and see how you can improve your customer relationships.

FAQs

Q: How do I use an SMS short code with keywords?

A: When using a shared short code, each business has its own unique keyword. These must be placed at the start of a text to direct the message to the correct business’ inbox. The user will be charged their standard network rate.

Q: How do I unsubscribe from a short code number?

A: You can unsubscribe short code messages by sending an opt-out keyword. The industry standard for the USA is STOP or a synonym such as END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT.

Q: Can I make a call to a short code number?

A: No, shortcodes are designed for texting only.