Short Code SMS: What Is It and Who Use It? The Ultimate Guide

“Short code SMS enables businesses to connect with customers instantly, offering fast, high-volume communication and strong brand recognition.” — Emily Carter🧛

Short code SMS is a powerful messaging tool that allows businesses to send quick, bulk messages to their audience using 5-6 digit numbers. It is commonly used for mobile marketing, customer interaction, and various business communications.

Because it can quickly reach many people, short code SMS has become a key tool in many marketing plans. In this article, we’ll explore short code SMS, its different types, advantages and disadvantages, and practical applications in various industries.

Let’s dive in!!!!🚀🚀

What Is Short Code SMS?

Short code SMS is a text messaging tool for businesses requiring a mass texting service with extremely high message throughput capacity. These short numbers are mainly used by large organizations to convey organizational messages to their customers.

Short codes are great for letting people join SMS campaigns or engage through customer feedback SMS  by sending code text keywords. Their shorter length makes them easy to remember, so customers can quickly sign up for updates or offers.

These numbers are closely monitored to ensure SMS compliance to prevent misuse. In the U.S., the Common Short Code Administration (CSCA) manages them to ensure they’re used properly.

While short code SMS is great for certain types of marketing, it might not be the best choice for smaller businesses or those that don’t send large amounts of messages.

Types of Short Code SMS

There are three main types of short code SMS. Here’s a bit more detail on each one:

1. Dedicated Short Codes (Phased Out In 2021)

Shared short codes let many businesses share the same 5- or 6-digit number. Each business would have its own keyword to send messages, making it an affordable option for small businesses. 

However, shared short codes were phased out in 2021 because they were hard to manage and stopped spam. Mobile carriers decided to remove them to improve security and control over text message campaigns.

2. Random Short Codes

Random short codes are given to businesses without any particular order. They don’t follow a specific pattern. These codes are usually cheaper, costing about $500 each month. 

Although they aren’t as easy to remember as vanity phone numbers, they still let businesses send many messages without much filtering by phone companies.

 Random short codes are a good option for businesses that want a simple and affordable solution without worrying too much about brand recognition.

3. Vanity Short Codes

Vanity short codes are special 5 or 6-digit numbers that companies pick to spell out a word, phrase, or brand name. For example, a pet store could select “PETSS” (73877). These codes are easy for customers to remember and help with branding.

 Vanity short codes are more expensive, often around $1,000 per month, but they are perfect for businesses looking to build their brand and connect better with customers, especially during big marketing strategies. 

Advantages of Short Code SMS

Short code SMS offers several advantages for businesses and organizations looking to engage with their audience. Here are some of the advantages of short code sms:

I. High Throughput and Timely Delivery

One of the important benefits of using short code SMS is its ability to send a large volume of messages quickly. Short codes can manage a large number of messages in a very short period, which is perfect for businesses that need to send out many messages quickly. 

Whether it’s for promotions, urgent updates, or campaigns, short codes help businesses reach a large number of people quickly. While long codes can also send messages fast, short codes do this even quicker, helping businesses meet tight deadlines or quickly respond to customer demands for speed.

II. Easy Memorability and Brand Recognition

Short codes are more memorable than regular phone numbers, and vanity short codes even more. Their shorter length makes them simple for customers to recall, which is important for SMS marketing.  When customers can easily remember your number, it will raise engagement for your business. 

Vanity short codes go even further by allowing businesses to choose a number that spells out a word or reflects their brand. This helps companies in brand recognition because the number itself becomes part of the brand identity.

 For example, a gym may use a code such as “FITNESS.” However, businesses can also pick vanity long codes, which cost less but still help with brand recognition.

III. Spam Prevention and Building Trust

Short codes have a big advantage when it comes to preventing spam. Carriers closely monitor and regulate short codes, ensuring that only verified businesses can use them. This really helps in stopping spoof or spammy messages from going out. Since messages from short codes are carefully checked, customers tend to trust them more. This trust can lead to better engagement with your messages.

While short codes are extensively monitored and protected, based on the spammy history of some short codes, customers will still feel more comfortable using traditional phone numbers. However, thanks to current regulations, short code texting is far less likely to be misused than it was in the past.

Disadvantages of Shortcode SMS

Here are the following disadvantages of shortcode SMS:

1. Cost and Accessibility

One of the biggest drawbacks of using short code SMS is the cost. Getting a short code, especially a personalized one, can be quite pricey. Typically, renting a short code ranges from $500 up to $1,000, which, for small businesses or recently developed ones with limited budgets, may be too high. 

The process of obtaining a short code can also take time and require approval from network carriers, as well as following strict rules. But, with services like DialMyCalls, you can use a free long-code phone number, which is a cheaper option.

2.  Geographical Limitations

Short codes can only be used in specific countries. This means they are not a good option for businesses running international campaigns. If a business works in many countries, it must get different short codes for each country. This makes it more expensive and harder to manage a messaging plan.

On the other hand, long codes are great for international messaging. They let businesses send messages worldwide 

using one number, making things simpler and more affordable.

3. Limited Personalization and Engagement

 Short codes are perfect for sending messages to a large group all at once. This works for bulk messaging, but it is bad for personal communication. Short codes can’t handle two-way, one-on-one interactions with customers, which many businesses need to create a more personal connection with their audience.

On the other hand, long codes, like the ones from DialMyCalls, allow two-way messaging. This means businesses can have direct, private conversations with customers. It helps to build better relations and also makes it easier to channel the set process of communication and make it creative.

4. Confusing Regulatory Environment

Short codes need strict approvals from phone companies and must follow specific rules. Getting approval can be hard and take a lot of time. If the rules change from phone companies or the government, it can cause problems for messages that are already being sent or slow down message delivery. This can make things uncertain for businesses that rely on short codes to talk to people.

On the other hand, long codes usually work with rules that are more stable and predictable. This makes long codes a better and more dependable choice for businesses that want to make their messaging easier and smoother.

Who Uses SMS Short Codes?

While long code SMS will be appropriate for most mass texting, there are many scenarios in which short code SMS is more effective. Here are some examples of how different businesses and industries benefit from using SMS short codes:

I. Marketing and Retail

Short codes increase sales and interact with customers in the marketing and retail industries.  Businesses use the channel to pass information about new products, special discounts, or time-limited sales, among other news, rapidly. These messages encourage customers to act fast because they feel urgent.

Short code SMS works best for offers that need to reach many people quickly. While long code SMS is fine for smaller businesses, short code texting is better for big companies that send a lot of messages.

II. Media and Entertainment

Short codes have been widely used in media and entertainment to get in contact with the audience directly. For example, TV shows and radio stations have short codes for live voting, where a listener or viewer can participate right on the spot.

This type of direct interaction increases engagement within the audience. It also gives important feedback to the companies and helps them make more engaging content for their viewer’s satisfaction.

III. Financial Services

In financial service industries, short code SMS is used in sending important alerts to customers for any transactions, frauds that may be detected, or even account updates. These quick updates make sure that customers are always aware of what’s happening with their finances, especially when security is important.

It is crucial for fast communication through short code SMS in fraud prevention and to keep customers updated about any changes made to their respective accounts.

IV. Travel and Hospitality

Travel and hospitality is another big industry that relies on short-code texting to get in touch easily. These are used by airlines, hotels and travel agencies to convey to customers information such as confirmations, changes of flight, and special offers. 

These guaranteed instant deliveries of updated travel information ensure customer satisfaction and reduce pressure on travelers by keeping them more informed about their plans.

Business Industries use short code SMS to enable real-time notifications to keep customers updated about all the latest information concerning their travels.

Short Code SMS Examples

Here are some practical examples of how short code SMS can be used in different situations:

• Text-to-Vote Campaigns: “Vote for your favorite artist! Text WIN to 54321.”
• Customer Feedback Requests: “How was your experience? Text 1 for Excellent, 2 for Average, 3 for Poor to 12345.”
• Exclusive Promotions: “Flash Sale! Get 20% off when you text SAVE to 67890.”
• Appointment Reminders: “Reminder: Your dental appointment is scheduled for tomorrow at 3 PM. Reply CONFIRM to confirm.”
• Event Registration: “Sign up for the conference today! Text REGISTER to 112233 to reserve your spot.”
• Contest Entries: “Enter to win a free vacation! Text WINNER to 44455.”
• Loyalty Program Updates: “You’ve earned 50 points! Text LOYALTY to 56789 to check your balance.”
• Product Launch Announcements: “New product alert! Text NEW to 78901 to learn more about our latest release.”
• Survey Participation: “Help us improve! Text SURVEY to 98765 and let us know your thoughts.”
• Subscription Management: “Want to unsubscribe? Text STOP to 12345 to stop getting messages.”

Short Code SMS vs Long Code SMS

Here’s a comparison between Short Code SMS and Long Code SMS in a table format:

Final Words 

Short Code SMS helps businesses connect with a large number of people quickly and easily. It is very efficient for marketing purposes, getting customer feedback, and even for sending SMS alerts. The short code makes it easy to send messages to many people at once. 

However, before using them, it’s important to think about the costs, the rules you need to follow, and any limits when sending messages internationally. By understanding both the good and bad sides of Short Code SMS, you can use it in the best way to improve how you talk to your customers.

FAQs

What is the difference between a short code and a long code?

A short code is a 5-6 digit number used for SMS marketing and mass messaging, while a long code is a standard 10-digit phone number used for person-to-person communication and basic messaging. Short codes are faster and more suitable for large-scale campaigns.

How much does a short code cost?

Short codes typically cost between $500 to $1,000 per month, depending on the country and type (dedicated or shared). Additional setup fees and usage charges may also apply.

Can a short code be used internationally?

Yes, short codes can be used internationally, but they are usually country-specific. To reach audiences in different countries, businesses may need to acquire separate short codes for each region.

How do I choose the best keywords for my short code SMS campaign?

To choose the best keywords for your short code SMS campaign, focus on terms that are relevant to your business, easy to remember, and clear for your audience. Keep them short, simple, and directly related to your campaign’s goal.

What is a short code used for?

A short code is used for sending and receiving SMS or MMS messages in high volumes. It’s commonly used for marketing campaigns, two-factor authentication, customer support, and voting or polling.

What is your short code?

A short code is a 5-6 digit phone number used for sending and receiving SMS or MMS messages, typically for marketing, customer service, or informational purposes.

How can I get my short code?

To get a short code, contact a messaging provider or mobile carrier. You’ll need to apply, choose between a dedicated or shared short code, and follow any necessary rules and regulations. The process can take a few weeks.

Who uses short codes?

Short codes are used by businesses, marketers, charities, and government agencies for things like promotions, customer support, surveys, and voting in contests.