Short codes and long codes differ in their purpose and functionality. Short codes are typically used for marketing campaigns and to build brand recognition and loyalty with customers. Long codes are typically used for customer care messages such as alerts, surveys, reminders, and notifications.
Short Code Use Cases
Companies can use short codes to help build brand recognition, trust, and loyalty. By using the same 4-digit code that is dedicated to your business, it allows customers to initiate conversations with your business and to save the name of your brand to their phone.
Here are a few ways you can incorporate short codes into your business:
- Marketing Campaigns - create engaging SMS campaigns to promote your company's products, services, and events. Plus, send discounts, promotions and competitions to help drive engagement.
- Customer Service - with a dedicated short code, customers can easily send businesses inquiries, complaints or feedback allowing representatives to respond in real-time.
- Business Information - with a short code, business can easily set up specific keywords that allow customers to retrieve information quickly such as product details, store locations, business hours, or event details.
- Event Registration & Ticketing - short codes can simplify event registration and ticketing processes for companies. Customers can text a specific keyword to a short code to register for an event, purchase tickets, or receive event-related information.
- Surveys & Feedback - use short codes to quickly gather valuable insights and feedback from customers and use this to improve your products or services.
- HR & Recruitment - use short codes to advertise your open positions to potential candidates.
To find out the differences between a short code and a long code, check out this article.
Where can you advertise short codes?
Businesses can advertise short codes in various channels, including:
- Online Platforms - advertise short codes on websites, landing pages, and online ads encouraging customers to text in a keyword.
- Social Media - create posts or stories which include a short code, and publish them on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
- Digital Ads - advertise short codes on Google ads, social media ads, and websites that align with your business.
- Email Campaigns - include short codes in email campaigns, newsletters, or marketing automation sequences.
- Print & Outdoor Advertising - companies can advertise their short codes on print materials such as billboards brochures, flyers, posters, billboards, and signage.
- In-store Signage & Packaging - advertise short codes on in-store signage, point-of-sale displays, and packaging inviting customers to text for discounts or updates.
- Broadcast Media - promote short codes on TV, radio, and podcast ads. Provide a clear CTA for listeners or viewers to text for special offers or participate in campaigns.
- Events & Tradeshows - short codes can be advertised at events, tradeshows, and conferences. They can use banners, booth displays, or promotional materials with the short code and keyword, encouraging attendees to text for exclusive content, promotions, or event updates.
Long codes aren't suitable for advertising purposes because they require a business to send a message to the recipient first before they can receive a reply.
A short code strategy enables customers to initiate conversations which helps to drive customer engagement and brand recognition, and builds customer relationships.