SMS Marketing: What is a Short Code?

If you are looking to send text messages in bulk to your customers, you may have heard the term ‘Short Code’ and be wondering exactly what it is and how it applies to your text message campaign. In this post we aim to explain clearly what a Short Code is and how you can use it effectively to improve your SMS marketing.

In short, a Short Code is a five-digit number. A five-digit Short Code allows people to text you back regarding the offer, competition or vote that you originally text out to your customer. It might not strictly be an offer, contest or voting (it could also be used to opt in or opt out of marketing), but Short Codes are widely used for such marketing. If you were wondering how customers can get back in touch once you had text them an offer then you’ll be pleased to know this is exactly what a Short Code is used for.

Short Codes are great because they're memorable. With only five numbers to think about your customers will be able to contact you quickly and easily - exactly what any marketing campaign needs. If Short Codes were made up of 11 numbers it would undoubtedly lose the effect and wouldn’t exactly be ‘short’.

Stay on top

Remembering a 5-digit number is something most of us can manage. Once your customers have seen your SMS campaign they'll know how to get in touch using a Short Code. Make it easy for customers to contact you, and customers are far more likely to do so.

Set up automatic responses

It simply isn’t practical to reply to every customer individually if you are sending out hundreds, possibly thousands, of text messages at scale. It is, however, important to acknowledge that people have taken time to get in touch, so you can set up auto responses to your campaigns based on your keywords. We can send your chosen SMS response every time someone texts your Short Code with the keyword you've assigned.

Customer Support

Earlier we mentioned that Short Codes are often used for competitions, offers and voting, but your own creativity is the only limits for what the Short Code can be used for. Why not let a customer text you back using the five digit Short Code (and their account number) if they ever have a problem. One of your team can then call the customer back as soon as they are free.

It is also worth mentioning that there are two types of Short Codes: a dedicated Short Code or a shared Short Code. A dedicated Short Code is set up for a single company to enable the running of multiple campaigns or services. A shared Short Code is used and ‘shared’ by several businesses. A shared Short Code can be used by two or more companies, but a different reply keywords will be used.

If you would like more information, including price, on the difference between our dedicated and shared Short Code options please get in contact and we will happily explain this to you.