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An immediately recognizable example of good sms marketing is shortcode texting.
Typically, shortcodes are used by businesses and organizations for their SMS marketing strategy campaigns.
Why?
Using a shortcode makes your brand instantly recognizable to your audience.
What is shortcode texting?
A shortcode is a shortened phone number that you can use to send and receive text messages.
How short are they?
The most common texting shortcodes are around 5 or 6 digits in length.
They were developed by major wireless carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile to provide an alternative to 10-digit phone call numbers.
Chances are, you have received a text message from a specific short codes.
Here’s a prominent example of shortcode texting in the political space.
Then-candidate Barack Obama used a short codes to alert supporters of his choice of running mate in 2008.
An interesting thing to note is Obama’s short codes 62262 spelled “Obama” when entered on a telephone dial pad.
Custom shortcodes like these are called vanity short codes.
Other types of short codes for texting that we’ll discuss further on include shared short codes and dedicated short codes.
Types of short codes
Random Shortcode:
A random shortcode is a 5 or 6-digit number assigned to you at random by the provider when you apply for a shortcode. You don’t get to choose the digits instead; you’re given whatever is available. These are more affordable than vanity shortcodes, making them a popular choice for nonprofits and political SMS campaigns that want to reach large audiences without high costs. It’s like being assigned a random codes/phone number rather than picking a custom one.
Few use cases, a non-profit conducting a disaster relief update can use a randomly assigned shortcode to instantly send messages timely alerts to thousands without extra setup or branding costs.
Vanity Shortcode:
A vanity shortcode is a custom, memorable number that you specifically choose—often because it spells out a word or is easy to remember, like 62262 (“Obama”) or 90999 (used by the Red Cross for “HAITI” donations). This is similar to picking a personalized license plate for your car.
For example, powerful for branded campaigns. A political party might choose 27238 (“CRAFT”) to promote a craft fair initiative or a nonprofit might select a code spelling “GIVE” to make donation drives instantly recognizable and engaging.
How does a shortcode texting help?
They are easy to remember
If you are running an SMS opt-in campaign to gather new subscribers, you want your number to be easy to recall for your audience.
Using a 5-digit text number (or 6 digits) instead of a standard 10-digit one makes it easier for your contacts to remember.
That means your supporters don’t have to worry about memorizing a long, complicated number to opt-in to your text messages.
They offer brand recall
Another advantage of shortcodes, especially dedicated ones that are unique to you (take the example of Obama above), is that they make your texts stand out.
If your audience knows and trusts your brand, they are less likely to miss your text messages in their inbox.
They are professional
Anyone can rent a 10-digit long code for sms marketing messages.
Renting a new short code requires an approval process, and needs you to get an opt-in from the audience you are contacting. That makes receiving message from a short code more trustworthy for the receiver.
Speedier message delivery
Using a short codes for mass texting numbers, allows you to send SMS 100 per second. Long codes on the other hand are limited to 1 text messages per second.
Cost of a shortcode texting campaign
If you want to rent a short codes that is unique to your campaigns, you will want to get a dedicated short codes.
These short codes range in price between 500$-1000$ a month.
- A dedicated shortcode is selected at random and given to you by the Common Short Code Administration (CSCA), available at 500$ per month
- Vanity short codes (shortcodes you select yourself) are available on the higher end of the price scale at 1000$.
For shared short codes, the costs are divided between the organizations using them.
You can rent a shared short code from CallHub at 25$ per month.
Shared vs Dedicated Short Codes vs Long Codes
| Shared codes | Dedicated Shortcodes | 10 Digit Long Code | |
| Cost | 0$ + Cost of Renting Keyword | 500$-1000$ per Month + Setup Cost | 2$ per Month |
| Approval Process | No | Yes | No |
| Time of approval | None | 2-4 Weeks | None |
| MMS message | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keyword Exclusivity | No | Yes | No |
| Suitable for: | Any campaign size | Large Campaigns | Small Campaigns |
Need more information?
Check out our in-depth comparison of dedicated vs shared shortcode texting.
How to use shortcode texting
Since mobile short codes are designed to let you send a high volume of text messages at a time, that opens up plenty of possibilities for your texting campaigns.
You can use short codes texting to:
- Send quick updates to a large contact base
- Update subscribers about a time-limited sale
- Disaster response and recovery
- Get more people to subscribe to your texts with SMS opt-in process.
- Text-based voting
- Text to donate campaigns
- SMS surveys
Shortcode texting compliance
Whether you’re renting a shared short code or a dedicated one, you will need to meet TCPA and CTIA compliance regulations for your message.
If you’re renting through CallHub, we take care of the approval process, as long as the following details are provided:
- Message frequency per contact per month
- The number of messages you will send to each user from this shortcode
- Support Number: This number will be provided to users of the shared shortcode when they send HELP
- Support Email address: This email address will be provided to users of the shared shortcode when they send HELP
Who uses shortcode texting?
Short codes are used by organizations regardless of industry.
That includes:
- Charitable organizations
- Businesses
- Schools
- Religious organizations
- Advocacy groups
How 350.org used shortcode texting to engage supporters
Climate advocacy group 350.org used a shared short code for their SMS opt-in, mass texting, and peer-to-peer texting campaigns.
Asking people to opt-in during a protest, they managed to get almost half of their event attendees to text into their short code, allowing them to have follow-up conversations and get them to come to future events.
Read 350.org’s complete story.
SMS code list
If you are considering renting a dedicated short code, you might want to check if the number you want is available for use.
The easiest way to do that is to look to online resources, such as the US Short Code Directory, run by the Short Code Registry.
The Short Code Registry, along with the ctia’s rules, looks over the operation of common short code functions. They maintain the database of available, reserved, and registered text message short codes.
The directory allows you to check the availability of any short code number in the United States.
If the number you want is taken, the directory tells you who is currently renting the short code.
How to get shortcodes for text messaging
Depending on whether you opt for a shared short code or a dedicated one, the approval and renting process varies.
Renting a shared shortcode with CallHub
CallHub allows you to use a shared shortcode and rent keywords.
Moving an existing short code
Migrating your US short code two different types of providers takes 8-12 weeks.
But if you’re using the same mobile carriers provider as the texting service you are migrating to, such as CallHub, you can get started in a day.
SMS short code service – CallHub
Why choose CallHub?
Renting a short code from CallHub is a cheap and simple process.
The approval takes around 1-2 days, meaning you can start using your short code for texting campaigns in no time.
Learn more about getting a short code with CallHub.
Once you have your short code, you can try it out for your campaigns with the free credits provided upon signing up for an account.
FAQs for shortcode texting
What is a shortcode?
A short code is a 5 or 6-digit number that you can use for your mass texting campaigns.
What other countries does CallHub offer Shortcodes to?
Short codes for sms messages are available for rent in most major countries, including the USA, Canada, and the UK. For a full list, refer to this Wikipedia page.
How long does it take to rent one?
The approval process for dedicated shortcodes can span from 8-12 weeks. A shared short code can take a couple of days depending on your short code service provider.
How many digits can a short code be?
In most cases, you can rent a 5 or 6-digit text short code.
How much do short codes for SMS cost?
Dedicated short codes range from 500$ to 1000$. If you’re renting a shared short code from CallHub, it will only cost 25$ per month.
How to get an SMS short code?
In the US you can rent a short code directly from the US Short Code Registry. Alternatively, you can rent a shared shortcode from CallHub.
Can people send texts to short codes?
Yes, people can reply to your short code texts. They cannot however make a call to a short code.
Carrier regulations for shortcode texting
You can check the full list of short code regulations from the CTIA website.
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