Confusing, I know.

Fortunately, I can help. I’ll explain how carrier fees work and how much you can expect to pay. Plus, I’ll walk you through how it works for SimpleTexting customers and what other charges you should expect to pay for SMS marketing.

What’s the difference between SMS and MMS carrier fees?

The carrier fee you’ll pay per message depends on whether you’re sending a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) text. Let’s break each type down:

• SMS: SMS messages are 160 characters or shorter and only contain text. Carriers charge lower fees for this message type.
• MMS: MMS texts can go up to a whopping 1600 characters and include media like videos, GIFs, or music. Because of these extra capabilities, carriers have higher fees for MMS messages.

So, it’s a matter of balancing complexity versus cost. Since SMS texts also tend to cost fewer credits in text messaging services, they can be the more economical choice. But, looking at our own tests, MMS messages with pictures can perform better than SMS, so consider how your strategy fits into your budget.

What other factors go into SMS fees?

The differences in carrier fees don’t stop at message type. Two more factors determine how much you’ll pay carriers to send a text:

• Carrier: Of course, carrier fees will depend on the carrier your message recipient uses. The differences are a fraction of a cent, but they do differ.
• Number type: The type of number you have also affects your carrier charges. Toll-free and local numbers tend to have lower charges than short codes. Short codes have a higher cost because they can send 400 messages per second versus the other two types’ 30 to 75 messages per second.

Most texting services track all of the fees for you, so you don’t have to do the math yourself. But it is helpful to know what goes into the charges you get every billing cycle.

SMS fees by carrier and number type

Now that you know everything that goes into carrier fees, you can find the exact carrier fees you can expect in the charts below. Find your number type and country to see what you would pay as a SimpleTexting user. All these rates are subject to change.

(Note: Canadian fees are listed in CAD, but SimpleTexting bills these fees in USD based on a trailing-average exchange rate.)

Local numbers

United States (USD)

The current U.S. fees for SMS and MMS are below. All rates are subject to change.

Canada (CAD)

The current Canadian fees for SMS and MMS are listed below. The fees below are listed in CAD, but will be charged in US Dollars (based on a trailing-average CAD to USD exchange rate). All rates are subject to change.

Toll-free numbers

United States (USD)

In July 1, 2021, several mobile carriers= introduced additional fees for toll-free numbers. This is an industry-wide change that affects all SMS service providers. We posted these surcharges here early to be as transparent as possible.

Canada (CAD)

In early 2021, Canadian carriers also applied surcharges on outgoing messages to Canadian phone numbers from toll-free numbers. Canadian carriers charge the below rates for SMS messages and twice the rate for MMS.

Short codes

Canada (CAD)

Note: SimpleTexting users only have to pay short code carrier fees for some Canadian carriers.

Do SimpleTexting users pay carrier fees?

SimpleTexting passes through the following carrier fees:

1. Outgoing messages from local and toll-free phone numbers in the U.S.
2. Outgoing messages from local and toll-free numbers to Canadian cell phones
3. Outgoing and incoming messages handled by some Canadian carriers

Each time SimpleTexting communicates with carriers to send out a message, they check what type of message it is and what kind of number it’s coming from—then charge us the applicable fees. SimpleTexting then passes on those fees with no extra markup.

In the United States, you don’t have to worry about carrier charges for shortcode numbers and incoming messages. Businesses that text Canadian numbers will have to deal with these charges for some carriers, though.

Most SimpleTexting users pay their carrier fees during their monthly or annual billing date. But if your charges add up to 500 USD before billing time, we’ll ask for payment once you reach that number.

What other fees do I need to pay for mass texting?

Phone carriers and your text messaging service have a stake in your business texting, so you’ll have to pay additional fees to them. Here are the other costs involved in mass texting:

Your texting service subscription

If you use an SMS marketing platform to send your mass texts, you’ll need to pay them a subscription to keep using it. This price covers the service the platform provides to you and operating costs like SMS aggregator fees.

Most services price these subscriptions based on the number of messaging credits you get per billing period. The credits you use per message depend on the message type. SimpleTexting, for example, charges one credit for SMS and three for MMS.

The exact price of your subscription will depend on how much you text per month and the service you choose. SimpleTexting charges $29.00/month for toll-free numbers, and local numbers pay $10 extra per month for the registration fee I mentioned before. Check out our Pricing page to estimate your monthly costs before SMS carrier fees are applied.

Platform fees

Certain texting services add platform fees to their subscription prices. SimpleTexting only charges you by the number of credits you need, but this isn’t always the case. Check a service’s pricing terms for a breakdown of its monthly fee before you sign up.

Number registration fees

In recent years, carriers started requiring number registration or verification for businesses to prevent disruptions for you and protect consumers. Businesses and local numbers have to pay initial and ongoing fees for this registration. Toll-free numbers go through a free verification process and don’t pay an ongoing fee.

Let’s look at the costs for registering local numbers and shortcodes as a SimpleTexting user:

• Local numbers: Businesses with local numbers pay a one-time activation fee of $4 during registration. From there, they’ll pay $10/month to maintain their registration.
• Short codes: Short codes have much higher fees. You’ll need to pay a one-time setup fee of $2,500 and a monthly fee that starts at $1,000. Vanity short codes – short codes you choose – tend to have higher monthly charges.

Advanced features and software

You may have to pay a higher subscription price or for additional software if you want advanced features in your texting.

For example, some texting services gate features like certain number types behind specific subscription plans. SimpleTexting only charges for credits and registration fees, meaning you’ll get all of its features on any plan.

But even with a service like SimpleTexting, you might need to pay extra costs for software that offers additional services, like Zapier and its automations. Zapier is free to use for up to 100 tasks per month. But if you use Zapier a lot, you’ll need to pay for one of its plans as well.

Fines and fees

Here’s a charge you’ll hopefully never have to pay. Businesses that don’t follow texting laws and rules can face big fines.

In the United States, for instance, businesses that don’t follow the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) can pay $500-$1500 per text. So, if you send a lot of noncompliant texts, you could reach 5 digits quickly.

Fortunately, it’s free to be compliant – you just have to do your due diligence. Some of the main principles of compliant texting are getting your customers’ consent to text them and communicating what kinds of messages you’ll send. Our guide to text message compliance will help you get started.

Do customer texting fees get passed onto businesses?

Businesses don’t have to worry about customers passing on any costs to them. You may see the phrase “message and data rates may apply” in texting-related materials and wonder what role businesses play. Good news – that message simply tells customers to expect to pay their phone plan’s texting fees when they receive texts from you.

Transparently priced SMS marketing with SimpleTexting

Long story short: There are quite a few charges involved in mass texting, including SMS and carrier fees. But a text messaging service with transparent pricing can make them easier to deal with.

SimpleTexting keeps its pricing straightforward so you can plan your texting budget clearly. It also has a two-week free trial for you to try all of its features before you buy. Start a free trial today – no credit card needed – and see it for yourself.

The post What Are SMS and MMS Carrier Fees? appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

These are questions we hear every day from business owners starting out their text marketing strategy. The good news is, both SMS and MMS are easily accessible text marketing tools.

We’ll walk you through the differences between SMS and MMS text messages along with instructions for using both to send audio, video, GIFs, and more.

What is SMS?

SMS, which stands for Short Message Service, is a fancy term for text messages under 160 characters. If you want to get technical, it’s a special communications protocol created to send and receive text messages over cellular networks. 

The first text message was sent via the SMS protocol way back in 1992. It is the most widespread and frequently used texting technology.

What is MMS messaging?

MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service, and it’s a type of texting that involves media (like videos, images, GIFs, and audio) and up to 1,600 characters. 

MMS is an extension of the core SMS protocol, and it was developed to enable the transmission of multimedia content via text message. 

What is the difference between SMS and MMS?

TL;DR: SMS comes with a 160-character limit, while MMS allows for 1,600 characters as well as media such as pictures, videos, or audio.

The main difference between SMS and MMS messages is the type of content you can send. With SMS, you can only use plain text under 160 characters. (With extended SMS, you can send up to 306 characters.) 

MMS allows you to send images, videos, audio, GIFs, PDFs, and text up to 1,600 characters. However, because of the increased character length, MMS messages typically cost more to send.

You’ll run into these two terms most often in the phrases “SMS marketing” and “MMS marketing.”

Let’s get into some more specifics about both.

SMS vs. MMS at a glance

Almost all devices support both SMS and MMS, so you usually don’t need to stick to one over the other. Realistically, a good text marketing strategy should include a combination of the two for variety.

As you can see here, SMS and MMS text messages can look quite different, meaning you can match the message type to the text you’re sending.

The biggest differences between SMS and MMS messages go beyond the visual elements and MMS’ ability to include media. 

SMS messages are best for quick text-based alerts or notices, while MMS messages are perfect for highlighting products, sales, or anything that needs a visual element.

The table below highlights some of the practical differences between MMS and SMS messages to help you pick the best option for each scenario.

You can group the main differences between SMS and MMS into three areas:

• Character limits
• Supported media
• Pricing

MMS gives you more characters

Where SMS marketing only allows for up to 160 characters per text, MMS marketing allows for an unlimited number of characters per text, technically speaking.

Practically speaking, wireless carriers tend to limit the length of MMS messages, but the result is still roomier than SMS.

At SimpleTexting, for example, you get up to 1,600 characters per MMS message.

MMS lets you embed rich media

MMS also gives you the ability to embed rich media like images, audio files, baby elephant GIFs, and short video clips. 

With SMS, you can only include links to your media — you can’t add it directly to the text itself.

SMS and MMS messages have different pricing

MMS messages cost a bit more than SMS messages because they involve transmitting more data.

The difference in cost varies from provider to provider. With SimpleTexting’s text messaging platform, MMS costs 3 credits per message. SMS, on the other hand, costs 1 credit per message.

The nice thing is that you can mix and match your MMS and SMS messages to suit your messaging strategy. 

For example, if you buy a 1,000-credit plan, you can send 400 SMS messages and 200 MMS messages. (400 + [200*3] = 400 + 600 = 1,000.)

In case you’re wondering, “Why should I pay more for MMS?”, the answer is simple: MMS campaigns have a 20% higher opt-in rate than SMS campaigns. MMS messages are also 8x more likely to be shared on social media.

Don’t take our word for it, though. Check out these SimpleTexting customers who got amazing results using MMS.

• Whisker Seeker Tackle Uses MMS to Achieve a 25% Conversion Rate
• This Upscale Dollar Store Keeps Customers Coming Back with Exclusive Texts
• Using MMS Messaging, Life is Beautiful Delivers a Sharable Lineup Poster Image

When to use SMS messages

We recommend choosing SMS for messages where “short and sweet” makes the most sense. SMS is perfect for communicating important details, from order confirmations to time-sensitive alerts.

SMS messages are also great for campaigns where you’re bringing contacts in using a keyword. 

A keyword is simply a short word or phrase that contacts can text to your number to agree to receive texts from you. If you’re expecting a lot of new contacts, using SMS for your confirmation message can help keep your costs low. 

Here’s an example:

SMS messages also work well for transactional texts like:

• Order confirmations and delivery tracking
• Appointment reminders and updates
• Updates
• Password resets and two-factor authentication (2FA)

Finally, many of our awesome customers also use SMS for marketing and promotions, generating new sales, and improving engagement with coupons and other offers.

When to use MMS messages

Most promotional text messages benefit from photos, GIFs, or videos. 

The reason is simple: Those who use visual communication to get their message across to an audience are more successful than those who rely on words alone. 

We ran an A/B test with a SimpleTexting customer to prove the concept, and the test found that the MMS message in the test received a 52% higher click-through rate (CTR) than the SMS message. 

Consider sending MMS when you want to:

• Show off your product
• Offer a mobile coupon
• Invite your contacts to an event
• Send a birthday or anniversary message
• Run a competition

The first 50 people who show this image on their phone at checkout receive 20% off their entire purchase. 

Send your contact card with a welcome message

Texting out your contact card with your welcome message encourages your subscribers to save your contact info right off the bat so they recognize and trust your texts going forward.

First thing, you’ll need to create and download a virtual business card (you can design a free one in Canva).

Once you’ve created your card, you’ll attach it to a message. People do this most often with a keyword. 

Keywords are words or phrases that new contacts can text to your number to sign up for your texts. A dog grooming business might use the keyword “GROOMER.”

Your keyword setup will require an auto-confirmation message that automatically replies to new subscribers. You’ll use this message to send your business card.

Send images or animated GIFs for promotions (and beyond)

Images and GIFs help communicate your message more effectively and add an engaging visual component.

If you’re sending a GIF from your phone’s messaging app, you’ll only need to follow a few steps.

1. Copy your GIF from an app or website like GIPHY.
2. Launch your texting app.
3. Paste your GIF.
4. Hit “send.”

The process is just as easy within your SimpleTexting account.

1. Head to the Campaigns tab and start a new campaign.
2. Select MMS as the message type.

3. Hit the paperclip icon above the message box and add your GIF. Highlight the GIF in your media library and click the blue “Include” button.

4. Fill out and send or schedule your campaign as usual. Your subscribers will see the full-size GIF in the body of the text.

Sending an image in your text takes a few more steps.

1. Start a new campaign in the Campaigns tab.
2. Choose “MMS” as the campaign type.

3. Click the paperclip button.

4. Upload the desired image or paste in the URL where it’s located.

5. Click the image once it’s uploaded and hit the blue “include” button.

6. Send your campaign as usual.

Send pictures as links in SMS text messages

It’s still possible to send photos without using MMS, but your image won’t appear in the text message itself. 

With SMS, you can instead include links that, when clicked, send recipients to the photo online.

Here are six steps to attach an image to an SMS message as a link:

1. Open a new campaign.
2. Ensure SMS is selected as your campaign type.
3. Select the image icon.

4. Paste the image’s URL or upload a file from your computer. Any JPG, PNG, or GIF file up to 10MB will work.

5. Hit the “insert” button.

6. Send your campaign.

Send PDFs for invoices or additional information

Texts (even MMS messages) are a super concise way to communicate, and what you have to say might not always fit within 1600 or 160 characters.

In those cases, you can text a PDF that includes the information you couldn’t include in the body of your message.

1. From your SimpleTexting account, go to Campaigns and select SMS as your message type.
2. Click the media icon.

3. Upload your PDF as a URL or a file, then press the blue Include button.

4. Your PDF will appear in your message as a link that will send recipients to the document online.

Send PDFs with two-way business texting

That’s the campaign PDF setup, but you also have the option of sending PDF files through your two-way messaging Inbox. 

Simply open the conversation where you want to send the file and click the paperclip icon below the message box.

Click Upload and add your desired PDF with the blue Include button.

Your PDF will show up in your message as a link just like in a campaign.

How to text a PDF via MMS

While the steps here are the same, PDFs sent with an MMS message will show directly in the message body instead of as a link.

When a subscriber clicks on the PDF, it opens within the text message, where the recipient can save the PDF like a photo.

1. Start a new campaign and select MMS as the message type.

2. Choose the paperclip icon.

3. Follow the steps to upload your PDF as a file or from a URL.

4. Your PDF will show up directly in your message and can open without the need for an internet connection.

Send audio files 

Maybe you’re sending out some content meant for the audio learners on your subscriber lists, like a podcast or a voice memo announcement. Piece of cake.

If you want to send an audio file bigger than 1 MB, you’ll do so via a link in an SMS message.

1. Start a new campaign with SMS as the type.
2. In the message box, paste a link to your audio file.
3. Click the chain link button above your text to shorten your URL. This will help you save space and characters as well as allow you to track who did and did not click on your link for each campaign.
4. Your audio file will show up as a link in the message box. The URL will be automatically shortened, and it will show in the preview box on the right the way your subscribers will see it.
5. Type out your message and send your campaign.

The resulting message will look like this to recipients. When they click the link, they will be redirected to listen to your audio.

How to send audio files via MMS

To use this method, your file must be 1 MB or less. 

If your file is bigger than that, you can try to compress it. There are a few different ways to do so.

The easiest way is by using Adobe Premiere or Audition. You can set your compression to a significant amount (aka 1 MB). There are other free tools out there with a few extra steps, like HandBrake.

Once you’re ready to text your audio file, follow these steps.

1. Start a campaign with MMS as the type.
2. Choose the paperclip icon.
3. Upload and include your desired 1 MB audio file. 
4. Your file will show up in the body of your text where recipients can click to open it.

Send videos

Sending a video text message is one of our top tips for standing out in subscribers’ inboxes and showing off your brand’s voice.

And you don’t have to take our word for it. Let me show you how one of our customers does this. 

Our customer Casey regularly sends texts with a video and a discount on monthly services to customers who book a single cleaning with his company.

Here’s how to replicate the process using SimpleTexting.

1. From your inbox, open a conversation and type a message in the box.
2. Click the media icon.
3. Upload your video and include it.
4. Send or schedule your text. 

MMS vs. SMS FAQs

Still have questions? We don’t blame you. Check out these FAQs from business owners like you.

Start using SMS and MMS messages in your marketing strategy

We all love exciting visuals, so it’s not surprising that text messages with pictures typically drive more engagement. However, with conversion rates from SMS campaigns as high as 45%, your text marketing strategy should include a mixture of both.

If you’re interested in SMS or MMS marketing, here are some helpful links to get you started:

• Pricing and Plans
• Schedule a Demo
• Try Us Free

If you’d prefer to chat with someone, our team of SMS marketing experts would love to help. We’re available 7 days a week. Text or call us at (866) 450-4185 or use the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.

The post SMS vs MMS text messages: definition & differences appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Don’t worry – we’ve got your back. Let’s start with types of numbers and one you can use for mass texting known as a short code.

What is SMS short code?

An SMS short code is an abbreviated phone number that is 5 or 6 digits in length. These texting numbers are convenient, versatile, and short.

SMS short codes allow easy communication with customers ー most of whom prefer getting texts from businesses rather than emails or calls. 

They are also one of the optimal ways of reaching larger audiences, thanks to their capability of sending extremely high volumes of text messages within a short time period.

We’ll give you all the most important details on the world of short codes, including how they’re used, whether they’re right for you, and how you can get set up with one of your own.

Interested in using SMS short codes already? SimpleTexting’s dedicated short codes services allow you to easily set up SMS and MMS mobile marketing campaigns with zero hassle and expert help from our experienced team.

This hypothetical car wash flier shows what a short code looks like in the real world. The car wash uses the short code 711711 to make it easier for customers to text keywords.

What’s the difference between short codes and long codes?

Alongside short codes, you’ll likely see the two types of long codes mentioned when looking into business texting numbers. These numbers aren’t just longer, but they also fit different uses best. Here’s how each one works:

• Local numbers are 10-digit long codes that represent a local area. For example, 320-293-XXXX is a 10-digit long code number for central Minnesota in the St. Cloud region. They’re the same type of number that individual people use for texting, and now businesses can also text with them to establish trust.
• Toll-free numbers are another 10-digit long code format that works well for marketing purposes since businesses can run text messaging campaigns through them.

Compared to these number types, short codes have freer reign to send mass numbers of texts. You can learn more about the differences in our guide to short codes vs. long codes.

What are the benefits of a short code texting service?

Short code texting services offer a powerful and versatile tool for businesses to connect with their customers. Here’s a deep dive into the key benefits that make them stand out:

Enhanced deliverability: reaching your audience every time

• Bypass Carrier Filtering: Unlike long codes (10-digit phone numbers), short codes (typically 5 or 6 digits) are pre-approved by carriers, experiencing minimal filtering or blocking. This significantly increases the chances of your messages reaching their intended recipients.
• Dedicated Infrastructure: Short code providers maintain robust infrastructure specifically designed for high-volume SMS delivery. This ensures your messages get sent and received reliably, even during peak usage periods.

Superior throughput: sending messages at scale

• High Message Rates: Short codes are built to handle large volumes of messages per second, making them ideal for mass communication campaigns like marketing blasts, appointment reminders, or two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Scalability for Growth: As your business needs evolve, a short code texting service seamlessly scales to accommodate increasing message traffic. You won’t have to worry about limitations on sending capacity.

Boosted response rates: conversations made easy

• Memorable & Convenient: Short codes are easy to remember and type compared to long codes, encouraging customers to participate in SMS interactions.
• Two-Way Communication: Short code texting facilitates two-way conversations, allowing customers to respond to your messages, ask questions, or initiate transactions directly through SMS. This fosters deeper engagement and strengthens customer relationships.

Types of short codes

If short codes end up being the right choice for your business, you can choose between two types:

• Vanity short codes: You can pick a vanity short code that spells out a word that corresponds to the letters on a traditional telephone number pad. For example, a dance studio may choose the code 32623, which spells out DANCE when you look at the corresponding numbers on a phone dialer.
• Random short codes: If you choose a random short code, you’ll get a randomly chosen number to text from. These numbers cost less than vanity short codes, making them a friendlier option for your budget if you aren’t picky about what your number looks like.

Before 2022, there was also a third type of short code – shared short codes. Brands could share the same short code and split their contacts through texting keywords. But, you can’t choose this type anymore.

Short codes and geography

Short codes are not universal to every country. For example, text short codes acquired in the U.S. have a separate acquisition process from short codes in Canada. 

The CSCA (Common Short Code Administration) governs short codes in the United States. Canadian short codes are governed by the CWTA (Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association). 

A North America-based texting service like SimpleTexting can help you get set up with the right registry in both the United States and Canada. If you’re located outside either of these countries, you’ll work with another organization. SimpleTexting’s parent company, Sinch, provides short codes for texting and may be able to assist you in other countries for your business texting purposes.

Reived promotional SMS messages from five- or six-digit numbers? There’s a good chance that those texts are from short codes.

Ways you can use a short code texting app

Short code texting apps unlock a world of possibilities for businesses to connect and engage with their customers. Here are some key ways you can leverage this powerful tool:

Marketing messages

• Promotions & Offers: Drive sales and customer engagement by sending exclusive deals, coupons, and flash sales via text message. Short codes make it easy for customers to opt-in and receive these promotional messages directly on their mobile devices.
• Contests & Giveaways: Generate excitement and brand awareness by hosting text message contests and giveaways. Short codes simplify participation and allow you to collect valuable customer data during the process.
• Event Marketing: Promote upcoming events, share registration links, and send real-time updates directly to your audience’s mobile phones using a short code.

Transactional messages

• Order & Appointment Confirmations: Provide instant confirmation for online purchases, appointments, or reservations via SMS. Short codes ensure timely delivery and improve customer experience.
• Shipping & Delivery Updates: Keep customers informed about their orders with real-time shipping notifications and estimated delivery timelines. Short code texting allows for quick and convenient updates.
• Two-Factor Authentication: Enhance security by implementing two-factor authentication for logins or financial transactions. Short codes can be used to send one-time passcodes for added security.

Member notices

• Loyalty Programs & Rewards: Engage members of your loyalty program with exclusive updates, points reminders, and special offers delivered conveniently via text message.
• Important Announcements: Broadcast critical information or service updates to your members quickly and efficiently through short code texting.
• Surveys & Feedback: Gather valuable customer insights and feedback by sending surveys or polls directly to your members’ mobile phones using a short code.

Pros and cons of short codes in texting for business

Since short codes suit some uses better than others, you’ll get the most value out of them if their specific pros outweigh the cons for you.

Here are a few perks of using short codes:

• Short codes are easier than local and toll-free numbers (which are known as long codes) to remember when sending a text message.
• You’ll experience little to no carrier filtering with short codes, as long as you stick with the use cases you outlined in your application.
• Messages sent via short codes are delivered extremely quickly, meaning you can reach more people in less time.

But, you’ll also deal with these downsides:

• They’re more expensive to use than local and toll-free numbers.
• You can only send mass text messages with short codes (which means you should choose a different number type if you want to have two-way conversations).
• The approval time is higher for short codes (six to eight weeks) than 10-digit codes (one to 10 days, on average).

So, if you plan to invest in mass texting, you’ll mostly benefit from short codes. But they might not fit your business if you text on a smaller scale.

How much do SMS short codes cost?

Since short codes work at such a large scale, your texting provider will likely work with you to create a custom plan based on how many texts you plan to send per month. At SimpleTexting, we provide every short code customer with a unique setup, with prices starting at:

• $1,000 per month (with vanity short codes tending to cost more)
• One-time setup fee of $2,500

How to get an SMS short code

Dedicated short codes are leased, not sold. You’re paying for the exclusive right to use the number. 

When you partner with SimpleTexting to lease a short code, we’ll help you fill out the right forms to provision your number. Here’s how the process works:

1. Pick a short code. Choose your exact number with a higher-cost vanity short code, or save money by leaving it up to the short code registry with a random short code.
2. Complete the application. With your short code preference in mind, fill out the application for your country’s short code registry. If you have a SimpleTexting account, we will walk you through the process. Schedule a call through our pricing page by clicking Dedicated short code > Schedule a Call or click the blue button in the lower-right corner of the screen to chat with customer support.
3. Provision your new short code. After the registry approves your short code, you’ll need to provision it – in other words, connect it to the carrier network. This is another step we can handle for you. At this point, you’ll also need to create a compliance plan, which we can offer advice for.

You’ll have the easiest time completing these steps when you have professionals to help you like the SimpleTexting team. We can take care of the steps you don’t have to touch and guide you through the ones you have to complete yourself.

As far as the timeline to get started goes, dedicated short codes take 6–8 weeks to be approved by the CTIA and various telecom carriers. So, if you want to use an SMS short code for a specific seasonal campaign, make sure to apply at least two months ahead of time.

SMS short code compliance rules, restrictions, and regulations

We talk a lot about keeping your texts TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) compliant. Since short codes are governed by a different set of rules, there are a few specific things you need to know about short code compliance in addition to the usual TCPA regulations.

Like I mentioned earlier, the CTIA governs the usage of short codes, and they help manage the Short Code Registry (the database of all registered and available short codes).

That all might sound pretty intimidating, but there’s good news: The CTIA has a handy guide to help you navigate the do’s and don’ts of short codes. That’s the CTIA Short Code Monitoring Program Handbook.

In this handbook, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to responsibly and legally text on a short code. Highlights include:

• Make sure the opt-in method you use (like a keyword or web form) clearly states how many messages your customers can expect to receive, how to opt out of messages, your brand name, how to get help, and that they may incur data or messaging charges.
• Honor contact opt-outs.
• Send a confirmation message to contacts who opt in.

How do SMS short codes work?

Short codes work on three levels: The organizations and directories behind the scenes, the steps your customers take to sign up for short code messages, and the ways they unsubscribe from short code messages. Let’s look at each one:

The organizations behind short codes

To know how businesses can lease and use SMS short codes, you need to know the key players:

• CTIA — An organization that governs the U.S. wireless industry
• Short Code Registry — A database of registered short codes
• iconectiv — The official provider of the Short Code Registry

The CTIA partners with iconectiv to maintain the Short Code Registry, which keeps a record of which short codes are available for leasing. Businesses like yours sign up with the Short Code Registry to use short codes in a fair way to consumers.

Signing up for short code texts

Signing up for messages from a short code is easy ー all your customers need to do is text you the SMS keyword you give them or complete a web form.

Let’s take a look at an example with a keyword:

In this case, the keyword is “Burger” and the short code is “711711.” 

When you set up a keyword for your business, contacts who text in the word will automatically receive your confirmation message.

BURGER

Thank you for signing up for weekly discounts from Burger Bistro! Show this text to your server for a free side of fries.

When you set up a keyword for your business, contacts who text in the word will automatically receive your confirmation message.

Unsubscribing from short code texts

If your contacts no longer want to get texts from an SMS short code, they can stop receiving messages by replying with the word STOP. 

The sender will then have to stop texting them, just like when you unsubscribe from emails.

Stop

You have been unsubscribed from keyword BURGER.

Examples of SMS short codes in action

The uses for SMS codes go way beyond your typical text blast. Let’s check out some real-life examples of short codes in action:

Domino’s text offers

Domino’s invites customers to text PIZZA to 366466 to sign up for exclusive discounts. If you try this strategy, make sure to include the right opt-in disclaimer language in your promotional materials.

In-Telligent’s text-to-download links

In-Telligent, an emergency alert platform, used to have issues sharing download links with its clients. So, they partnered with SimpleTexting to enable clients’ employees to text a keyword to a short code to get a download link. Now, they’ll get the emergency alerts they need for safer workplaces.

Paypal’s two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to app logins, which is especially important for a payment platform like PayPal. If you turn two-factor authentication on for your PayPal account, you’ll get a one-time passcode from one of PayPal’s short codes every time you log in.

Gifyyy’s text-enabled phonebooth

The team behind Gifyyy, a photo booth that creates GIFs for event attendees, needed a way to quickly share the GIFs with users. They turned to SimpleTexting when they started using short codes to make the process as fast as possible.

CVS’s order updates and reminders

CVS Pharmacy provides multiple ways for you to get your prescriptions, including pre-paid pickup, drive-through pickup, and shipping. Whichever method you prefer, you’ll get text updates on your order if you opt into the company’s SMS updates via short code.

Life Chapel’s anonymous texting

Life Chapel, a church in New Jersey, sends out texts reminding congregation members about upcoming events. The team enjoys using a short code to text these reminders and off-the-cuff communications because it adds an extra boundary compared to using personal devices. Church staff and families can feel safe in their communications through SimpleTexting.

Get packed for Winter Retreat!! Don’t forget Bible/Notebook/Pen and toothbrush Meeting at the church tomorrow at 4. See you all then!

Find the right number for your business with SimpleTexting

Short codes have a lot of attractive potential for businesses. 

They’re easy to remember and can be customized for your brand. You can use them for large campaigns or individual conversations, and they are ideal for keyword setup.

But, getting started with a short code might initially seem more complicated than the other number types you could choose from. 

Don’t worry. The SimpleTexting platform, along with our support team, makes the whole process smooth and easy. 

Step one: give SimpleTexting a free 14-day test drive. From there, you can add a short code number through your dashboard, and we’ll support you the whole way.

FAQs

The post SMS short codes explained appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

There’s a little more to it than that.

While these numbers may look odd next to your 10-digit phone number, they’re actually quite powerful–and popular. Every day, these shortened phone numbers enable Amazon to send verification codes to confirm new accounts, FedEx to share delivery notifications, and SouthWest to promote its flash sales.

So, what’s special about a 6-digit phone number, and how can you put this type of number to use in your business?

What is a 6-digit phone number?

A six-digit phone number is referred to as a short code (there are also some instances of 5-digit short codes). These short code numbers were created by the major wireless carriers in 2003 to allow marketers to easily communicate things like promotional offers or important alerts to consumers.

If you want to know more about these numbers, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll cover the following FAQs in this article:

• How do 6-digit phone numbers work?
• How is a 10-digit phone number different from a 6-digit number?
• How do you get a 6-digit phone number?

How do 6-digit phone numbers work?

6-digit phone numbers are used by companies of all sizes to send marketing blasts, conduct two-factor authentication, and send out notifications and alerts. 

Six-digit phone numbers are leased from the Common Short Code Administration, and once this happens, organizations can send and receive SMS and MMS messages. It’s not a free-for-all, though, and there are several rules businesses must follow to be TCPA compliant.

The most important thing to remember here is that customers must give you explicit permission to send them text messages. We put strong emphasis on making sure you can avoid looking spammy to your customers.

Getting subscribers with a 6-digit phone number

One of the most common ways for customers to provide this permission is by texting in a keyword. For example, a burger chain might use the keyword “BURGER.” A customer would send a text to the 6-digit number with the keyword “BURGER” to subscribe. The chain can then send this customer text messages. 

Keywords are arguably the most popular opt-in method to ensure customers are providing their explicit permission. If you want to learn more about keywords and compliance, we recommend checking out the following resources:

• The complete guide to SMS compliance
• Setting up a keyword
• 10 places to advertise your keyword

What is the difference between a 10-digit phone number and a 6-digit number?

The biggest difference between a 10-digit phone number and a 6-digit number is that 10-digit numbers can also make calls and send faxes (if anyone still sends faxes). So, with a 10-digit phone number, your customers can both text and call you. 

10-digit phone numbers also allow you to send out mass text messages if they are text-enabled. If you’d like to learn more, we’ve written about how to pick the right number for SMS marketing and a guide to short codes vs. long codes.

“If you’re considering SimpleTexting, I highly recommend it. As a marketer, and someone who consults with multiple different types of businesses, the support that you get is wonderful. And I find the design of the platform allows you to move and experiment very quickly.”

How do you get a 6-digit phone number?

You’ll lease your 6-digit phone number. This can run your business anywhere from $1000-$1500 a month. 

If you have the budget and want to learn more about setting up a dedicated short code, then we recommend you check out our dedicated short code texting services. 

The first step involves deciding between a dedicated vanity short code (a code that spells a word, as in Kmart’s SMS short code 56278 that spells out “Kmart”) or a random short code. 

Vanity short codes can make your 6-digit number even more memorable and, therefore, more trusted by your customers. However, this comes with extra costs, and random 6-digit numbers are more affordable.

Setting up your short code

The process of getting either a vanity short code or a random short code goes like this:

1. Choose whether you’ll lease a random or vanity code based on your desired budget and goals.
2. Work with us to complete a service approval form and provide details on what type of messages you’ll send, how you’ll use your 6-digit phone number, and your organization in general.
3. We’ll get connected with an aggregator and get your help in submitting a joint form. This form will include information on how you’ll stay in compliance. You’ll then get either approval or feedback so we can re-submit.
4. Once you’re approved, you can get started using your number for campaigns.

We get that leasing a 6-digit number can be an intimidating process. Never fear. With over a decade of experience with short code texting, we can guide you through the entire process to make it as smooth as possible. 

Get started by visiting our contact page or clicking on the blue chat button at the bottom of your screen to get started.

The post What to know about 6-digit phone numbers appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

The hitch here is that there’s a lot of static to cut through first. Currently, the average US smartphone user receives nearly 50 notifications per day. So, how can you stand out? 

Digital marketers need to be aware of all the tools they have at their disposal to reach their audiences. Two of the most effective tools out there are SMS notifications and push notifications.

Pus notifications vs. SMS notifications

Let’s go over what they are, when to use them, and how to choose between the two.

What are SMS notifications?

SMS notifications are notifications that are sent when you receive a text message. Basically, if you’ve ever seen your phone light up with a preview of a text message you just got, that’s an SMS notification.

SMS stands for “Short Message Service.” SMS notifications are sent the same way as any other text message. Usually, they’re limited to 160 characters. 

With our expanded messaging feature, however, you can send SMS notifications that are up to 306 characters long. While SMS can be used as a marketing tool, SMS notifications can be used for time-sensitive and safety purposes also.

Why use SMS notifications?

Many businesses and organizations choose to use SMS notifications because they work on every device. There’s no app to download or software to install. Nearly all cell phones can receive SMS. 

Consider the following: your friend needs to inform you about something quickly. Would you rather them send you a quick text, call you, or email you? If you’re like most consumers, you answered text.

When to use SMS notifications

SMS notifications can be used to send emergency text alerts, inform users about new features, and send out advertising messages—among other things. Here are just a few of the most common use cases:

• Spread the word about upcoming events
• Send internal messages to employees
• Increase profits with sales and cart abandonment texts
• Inform patients about upcoming appointments
• Fundraise or find volunteers for nonprofit organizations
• Let customers know about reservation confirmations

What are push notifications?

Sometimes mistaken for SMS notifications, push notifications are pop-ups that appear on a mobile device. These messages may appear while customers are on their phones, or on the lock screen if the device isn’t in use. 

The biggest difference is that push notifications come from an app or website, not as a result of a text being sent. 

The maximum character count of a push notification varies from device to device, but the usual length is between 100 and 200 characters.

Why use push notifications?

The main benefit of push notifications is that users don’t need to be in a particular app or on a site in order to see them. App or website publishers can send them at any time. Plus, many people opt into push notifications when they download an app. 

Data from Moengage tells us that push Notifications carry an impressive delivery rate of 90%. Not to mention that 40% of users engage with push notifications less than an hour after they pop up.

When to use push notifications

Push notifications can be used for many things: to ask users to take an action, let them know about new updates, and send them promotions. The most compelling reason to use push notifications is to make sure users don’t forget about your brand.

You can also simply encourage customers to return to your site or app to see new content or product drops or restock on products.

When used correctly, push notifications can help retention rates. In fact, Notify Visitors reports that push notifications generate a 39% retention rate.

3 key differences between push notifications and SMS notifications

A push notification is a notification itself that can come from any app and most websites and will appear on your phone’s lock screen. It is quite literally ‘pushing’ you to open your phone and read the notification.

SMS notifications, meanwhile, are specific to your native messaging app. An SMS notification appears on your lock screen, usually with an opening snippet of the text message you’ve received. 

Push notifications and SMS notifications can be used for similar purposes. However, the platforms used to send them are vastly different. 

When deciding between the two, here are three points to consider:

1. SMS notifications don’t require apps or websites

If your business offers a mobile app or hosts a website, you may want to send out push notifications. If you don’t, SMS notifications are perfect for you. 

To add push notifications to a web app, you must have a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. SMS notifications, on the other hand, can be sent without any coding experience. You can send your first message in just minutes.

2. Push notifications require just one tap 

When sending a text, the idea is to have customers read and respond to the message.

Push notifications take some of the effort off your customers’ plates by encouraging them to just tap the notification to head to your app or landing page.

3. Customers can reply to SMS notifications

Push notifications are convenient for one-way communication. If you need to provide customer service or want your users to be able to reply with questions or requests, you should probably use SMS notifications. 

Our platform allows for two-way conversations. And, all incoming SMS messages are free!

4. Push notifications are cost-effective

While you’ll need an SMS marketing service to set up SMS notifications, push notifications simply require some coding to get started. 

That represents a little more work on your part, but for brands on a budget, this could be a plus.p

5. SMS notifications can be triggered by other software

Effective notifications need to be sent to the right people at the right time. With our Zapier integration, you can trigger messages to be sent when events occur in other pieces of software that you use. For example, you can send SMS notifications via SimpleTexting to new Constant Contact contacts. Or send SMS notifications via SimpleTexting to new Shopify customers.

Try our SMS notification service for free

It’s easy to add SMS notifications to your brand. Our platform was designed from the ground up to be as simple to use as possible. 

Sign up for a free 14-day trial to see how texts can benefit your business. With our SMS API, you can plug your website or app directly into our platform.

Alfredo Salkeld wrote this piece on 12/27/18. Lily Norton contributed.

The post Difference between push notifications and SMS notifications appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

What are abbreviations for texting?

Text abbreviations are shortened versions of a word or phrase used to save time. They’re also helpful when you have to stay within a limited character count.

In the past, deciphering text-speak abbreviations was for cool moms and dads who wanted to fit in with their teens.

Today, businesses of every size are starting to recognize the value of incorporating text abbreviations into their campaigns to attract, engage, and foster relationships with their customers.

Learning text abbreviations is a must for any marketer who wants to keep up with the speed and brevity of today’s bite-sized communication style.

The challenge is to adapt to text-ese (an evolving language by itself) and be able to use abbreviations while maintaining proper texting etiquette and providing value at the same time.

If you’re still baffled every time you read IIRC, BRB, and IDK, this cheat sheet of SMS abbreviations and internet acronyms commonly used is for you.

Why your business needs text abbreviations

Sure, text abbreviations might make your brand look and sound a little cooler, but that’s not the real reason you’ll want to use them. Text abbreviations reduce the character count of SMS messages, and that can save your business money.

You see, when you’re sending SMS, you are limited to just 160 characters per message. If your text exceeds 160 characters, it gets split into multiple messages. Of course, if you send more text messages than necessary, you may incur unnecessary costs as well. Text abbreviations help you get your message across without using up valuable characters.

Note: MMS messages provide a much higher character count of 1,600, but they also cost a bit more than sending SMS messages.
You can totally overuse text abbreviations and make a mess of your messaging. However, if you add them strategically and make sure they’re clear to your recipients, they are a helpful tool in your SMS marketing playbook.

The most popular SMS abbreviations

1. Asap – As soon as possible: Can you send me that report asap?
2. Atm – At the moment: I can’t talk, I’m at work atm
3. BRB – Be right back: Sorry, just grabbing a coffee – BRB!
4. Brt – Be right there: Found the place, brt!
5. BTW – By the way: I’m on the way, BTW should I bring anything?
6. FTW – For the win: Did you see the game last night? Bills FTW!
7. FWIW – For what it’s worth: FWIW, I think it’s going to rain anyway.
8. Fyi – For your information: Fyi, the meeting is at 2 pm today
9. Hbu – How about you: I’m doing great, hbu?
10. HMU – Hit me up: If you need anything just HMU!
11. IDK – I don’t know: The traffic’s delayed me, IDK what time I’ll get there!
12. Ig – I guess: I mean if you’re going too ig I will
13. IIRC – If I remember correctly: IIRC, he still works there.
14. IMHO/IMO – In my humble opinion/in my opinion: IMHO, coffee is way better than tea.
15. Istg – I swear to god: If this traffic doesn’t let up I’m gonna be late, istg
16. Iykyk – If you know, you know: That deli down the street is the best lunch place around. Iykyk
17. LMK – Let me know: LMK if you need anything from the grocery store.
18. LOL – Laugh out loud: That’s so funny, LOL!
19. Ngl – Not gonna lie: Ngl, I’m ready for Friday
20. NVM – Nevermind: NVM about grabbing the chips, I found some at home!
21. OG – Original gangsters (used for old friends): You’ll love her, she’s one of my OGs!
22. OMG – Oh my God/goodness: OMG I can’t believe that happened!
23. OMW – On my way: I’ve just left, OMW now!
24. Ong – On god (I swear): I’m way too sick to work today, ong
25. OOTD – Outfit of the day: What’s your OOTD? I don’t know which shoes to wear!
26. Rq – real quick: Can you check the deadline for me rq?
27. Sm – So much: You’re a lifesaver, thank you sm
28. SMH/SMDH – Shaking my head/shaking my darn head: I can’t believe you just said that, SMH.
29. TBD – To be determined: The time and place is TBD!
30. TTYL – Talk to you later: I’ve got to run, TTYL.
31. Wya – Where you at: Just got here, wya?
32. Yw – You’re welcome: Thanks for the help, yw

Romantic text abbreviations

Texting abbreviations can be casual, but you’ll also need quick and easy ways to tell that special someone you’re thinking about them.

1. BF – Boyfriend
2. GF – Girlfriend
3. ILY – I Love You
4. MCM – Man Crush Monday
5. WCW – Woman Crush Wednesday

Other common text abbreviations and acronyms

This list of SMS abbreviations and Internet acronyms is far from complete. Like culture, text-ese evolves over time. As a result, new acronyms and SMS abbreviations are introduced and used every day.

 These are a few of our favorite text abbreviations that you can be confident most people will know. Give one a try today!

Common texting slang

Like text abbreviations, texting slang can be confusing if you’ve never encountered them before. Take a look at the most common slang examples below.

1. Gucci – Good, cool. Ex. “I got us tickets to the concert.” “Gucci.”
2. It gives/it’s not giving – It’s good (or “It reminds me of…”)/It’s not good. Ex. “Yeah, I saw the weather for tomorrow, it’s not giving.”
3. Lowkey – Moderately; kind of. Ex. “This new song is lowkey my favorite.
4. Mid – Mediocre. Ex. “I don’t know, that movie was kind of mid.”
5. No cap – No lie; I’m not lying. Ex. “Did you get tickets to the concert for real?” “No cap.”
6. Sending me – Used to describe something that excites or humors you. Ex. “This new song is sending me!”
7. Slay – Good (or an acknowledgment like “okay”). Ex. “Did you see Lady Gaga’s Oscar look? Such a slay.”
8. Sus – Suspicious or suspect. Ex. “I got us tickets to the concert that’s sold out.” “That’s sus.”
9. Vibe – A general feeling, a mood (usually a good one). Ex. “We had a great time, it was a total vibe.”

Social media text abbreviations

1. AMA – Ask me anything
2. BR – BeReal
3. DM – Direct Message
4. ELI5 – Explain like I’m 5
5. FB – Facebook
6. FBF – Flashback Friday
7. FF – Follow Friday (Twitter)
8. FYP – For You Page
9. GRWM – Get ready with me
10. HMU – Hit me up
11. HT  – Hat Tip (Twitter)
12. IG – Instagram (Append this to “Insta”)
13. IM – Instant Message
14. Insta – A shortened name for Instagram
15. LI – Short for “LinkedIn”
16. MFW – My feeling when
17. MT – Modified Tweet
18. OOTD – Outfit of the day
19. OP – Original Post
20. PM – Personal Message or Private Message
21. QOTD – Quote of the day
22. RT – Retweet
23. SC – Snapchat
24. SM – Social Media
25. SMP – Social media platform
26. TBT – Throwback Thursday
27. TIL – Today I learned
28. TT – TikTok
29. Twits – Short for “Twitter”
30. UGC – User-Generated Content
31. WA – WhatsApp
32. X – previously named Twitter
33. YT  – YouTube

Business text abbreviations

Texting is also common among coworkers and customers. These abbreviations will help you navigate the world of professional texting.

1. AFK – Away From Keyboard
2. B2C – Business To Consumer
3. B2C – Business to Consumer
   We serve all kinds of B2C companies, from ecommerce to tech support.
4. DSC – Dedicated Short Code
   A unique 5- to 6-digit number that your business can use to send SMS or MMS messages (this article provides more information on all our number types.
5. EOD – End Of Day
6. EOD – End of Day
   Good morning! Our year-end sale is only until EOD. See you at our store!
7. EOM – End Of Month
8. EOW – End Of Week
9. F2F – Face To Face
10. FTFY – Fixed That For You
    Thank you for calling customer support! We’ve addressed your concern as of 9 PM today. FTFY!
11. FW – Forward
12. ICYMI – In Case You Missed It
    ICYMI, The Expanse Season 3 is now on our archives. Upgrade your account today to get access!
13. MMS – Multimedia Messaging Service
    MMS messaging allows you to add media like audio, video, and GIFs to your texts.
14. NRN – No Reply Necessary
15. OOO – Out Of Office
16. P2P – Peer To Peer
17. SaaS – Software As A Service
18. SMS – Short Message Service
    SMS is a message type you can use to send and receive texts over a cell network.
19. TL;DR – Too Long; Didn’t Read
    Good day! You will be receiving an in-depth explanation on how to file your claim with us in your email today. For a TL;DR version, call us at 555-123-4567 between 9 am- 5 pm Mon-Fri.
20. TYVM– Thank You Very Much
    TYVM for your purchase! See you at our next sale in the fall.
21. WFH – Work From Home
22. WIP – Work in Progress – If you’re having trouble exporting files, contact customer support at email@email.com. Bug fixes are a WIP by the dev team.
23. YTD – Year To Date

Business texting compliance approved abbreviations

As with any industry, the world of business texting and text marketing is rich with jargon and abbreviations. And when you’re up against a tight character limit, the temptation to shorten your words is real.

In an effort to help you avoid confusion or misdirection with any of your SMS compliance messaging, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (CTIA) developed a list of approved abbreviations you can use in your text marketing that will help you save space without sacrificing clarity.

Approved CTIA abbreviations include:

• Msg instead of Message
• / instead of Per
• Txt instead of Text
• mo, ea. mo. or /mth instead of Per Month
• Msg&Data Rates May Apply instead of Message and Data Rates May Apply

Marketing abbreviation

1. AOV – Average Order Value
2. BOGO – Buy One Get One
3. CLV – Customer Lifetime Value
4. CMS – Content Management System
5. CPA – Cost Per Acquisition
6. CPV – Cost Per View
7. CR  – Conversion Rate
8. CRM – Customer Relationship Management
9. CRO – Conversion Rate Optimization
10. ICP – Ideal Customer Profile
11. LTV – Lifetime Value
12. PPC – Pay Per Click
13. SCN – Short Code Number
14. SEM – Search Engine Marketing
15. SEO – Search Engine Optimization
16. SERP – Search Engine Results Page
17. SMB – Small/medium business
18. SOV – Share Of Voice
19. TOS – Terms of service
20. WOM – Word Of Mouth

Romantic/Relationship text abbreviations

1. BAE – Before Anyone Else
2. BFF – Best Friend Forever
3. DTR – Define the relationship
4. FWB – Friends With Benefits
5. ILYSM – I Love You So Much
6. LOML  – Love Of My Life
7. LTR – Long-term relationship
8. LYLAS – Love You Like A Sister
9. OTP – One true pairing
10. PDA – Public display of affection
11. SO – Significant Other
12. XOXO – Hugs and kisses

Examples of text abbreviations in SMS marketing

Now that you’ve reviewed our comprehensive list of abbreviations for text messages, let’s look at a few examples. Here are some ways you might use text abbreviations in real life to manage your SMS character count and communicate a clear message.

Promotional campaign reminder

Let’s say you want to notify customers they’ve got one last chance to take advantage of your store’s buy-one–get-one-free promotion. Your text could read something like this:

How to incorporate texting abbreviations in a business context

Now that you’re an expert in business text abbreviations, your next step is to familiarize yourself with the do’s and don’ts of using them.

Our lists are a great way to keep on top of the must-know text speak for your professional and personal life.

1. Don’t cram too many texting abbreviations in one text.
   What would it feel like if you receive a text from your insurance company saying: Sup! ICYMI, CYE for instrux on policy renewal. SSIA. Sounds rude, right?
   
2. Be creative, but not unprofessional. When appropriate, add images and GIFs using MMS marketing.
   Your words and acronyms don’t have to do all of the talking. It’s easy to attach images and graphics to your messages as well. Use these to make your messages more engaging.
   
3. Text like an adult. Don’t use shorthand like “2” for “to” or “U” for “you.”
   Texting like this does save precious characters—but it also looks unprofessional. Compare these two texts:
   
   “Go2 Meg’s 2day asap 4 a gr8 deal! 20% off ne slice wen u sho dis text.”
   
   “Visit Meg’s ASAP for a great deal! 20% off any slice when you show this text.”
   
   Which text looks like it’s from a respectable business?
   
4. Only use text abbreviations your audience will understand.
   Knowing your audience helps you decide which abbreviations are appropriate and which ones aren’t.
   
   For instance, you wouldn’t want to text “Hello, this is Joe, tech support for X Cable. Responding to your query, FTFY!” to a 70-year old needing help with his cable. In this instance it would be better to write out, “Be seeing you.”
5. Proofread before you hit send! A simple typo with an abbreviation can completely change the meaning of your text.  A quick double-check can save you from embarrassing misunderstandings.
   
   By integrating these additional facts into your existing content, you’ll provide a richer resource for readers interested in text abbreviations, enhancing their understanding and practical application of these terms in both personal and professional contexts.

Text abbreviation mistakes to avoid

There are hundreds of word abbreviations out there, so any fear of using slang abbreviations for texting is warranted. The best thing to do is play it safe. Nobody’s going to be on your case if you type out the full phrase.

However, if you do want to start incorporating more abbreviation in your text messages these are two key things to avoid:

Avoid using dated text slang or abbreviations when texting

In a communication method that’s only a decade old, it’s hard to imagine text abbreviations going out of date.

But meanings change, just as they do in our everyday language. Keep an eye out for text message abbreviations that others around you are using. This is not only to gauge appropriateness, but also to keep on top of what phrases are still commonly used.

Avoid overusing text abbreviations to communicate

Sure, most young people can understand text abbreviations just fine. But nobody wants to read a full message written in them. Avoid:

When in doubt simply take your time to type out the full word. It’s the fail-safe way of making sure your text messaging is read in the correct context.

Recognizing your audience

Just like addressing different people in day to day life, SMS requires you to adapt your speech based on who you’re talking to. Some of the popular SMS abbreviations you use on your friends might not be appropriate for your boss or a client.

Event announcements

Let’s say you’re hosting an in-person event and you want to let your contacts know about it by sending out a text blast. A few text abbreviations can help you craft a concise SMS message:

Welcome text messages

When you first get new SMS subscribers to opt in to your text messages, a quick note to confirm, say thanks, and welcome them is important. Using text abbreviations not only helps limit character count, it also comes across as friendly and conversational.

Let’s say someone uses an SMS keyword to subscribe to daily tips you send via text. Your welcome message could read like this:

Besides being friendly this example also uses abbreviations to help ensure you follow rules for SMS compliance.

Schedule changes

Text messages are a good way for local businesses to let loyal customers know if there are changes in hours of operations or disruptions to the normal schedule. Text abbreviations help you communicate with people quickly and concisely:

Requesting customer feedback

Finally, here’s how you could take advantage of text abbreviations when using SMS to collect customer feedback:

The post Common text abbreviations and how to use them appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

In reality, though, it’s a pretty simple concept. It’s the practice of sending customized texts to subscribers based on their location.

SMS geofencing can be done in a few different ways depending on your text marketing provider and tools.

If you’re using SimpleTexting, you won’t be able to track your customers in real time to text them based on where they are, but all is not lost. You can still run geofencing effectively with us (and I’ll get to that shortly).

Let’s get into all things geofencing.

What is SMS geofencing?

SMS geofencing works by sending out text messages when a customer enters a specific location.

With that said, we need to lay out two very important rules before you get started. 

1. You must get consent to send SMS marketing messages to your customer.  If you are new to business text messaging, the first thing you learn is that every one of your subscribers must opt-in to receive text messages from you.
   
   One of the quickest and easiest ways to obtain consent is by setting up a keyword (pictured below). A keyword is a specific word or phrase which, when texted into your allocated number, signs up the customer to receive your marketing SMS.
   
   If one of your opt-in methods is a keyword, you can trigger a message immediately to request the location of your customer. This, as you’ll see in point 2, is critical.
   
2. You must get permission to use their location. Once your customer has opted in, you then need to request permission for their location. Location is not automatically enabled via message, so to track your subscribers they need to enable it.

ICECREAMSUNDAZE

Thank you for becoming a Sundaze Icecream subscriber! Would you like to share your location with us to receive local offers and promos? Reply YES or NO.

We get it, most businesses would love to send out a blanket SMS to anyone within a 5-mile radius, but unfortunately, that is not possible.

How does SMS geofencing work?

Once you have both types of permission from your customer, you’re ready to go.

To track your customer’s location, your SMS provider will have to tap into the customer’s GPS or RFID signals. As most messaging apps do not permanently have location information switched on, this ‘location lookup’ process is necessary to determine when your customer enters the geofence. 

This means that instead of tracking your customers 24/7—which is both costly and time-consuming—you can optimize your chances of successful SMS geofencing by choosing when to look up their location.

For example, if you’re a coffee shop using geofencing, you’ll want to check customers’ locations in the morning and at lunchtime. You can then send out a local promotion to customers within your geofence.

If you’re a sushi restaurant, you would check customer locations just before lunch and dinner, to catch customers when they’re in the mood for food and in your geofence.

How to use SMS geofencing

If you’re ready to introduce SMS geofencing to your marketing strategy, here’s how to set it up.  

1. Set up custom fields for your preferred location details. Use zip codes, cities, or your various locations. 

1. Use Data Collection to collect your subscribers’ location. You’ll use those custom fields you set up to fill in an automated series of data collection questions for your subscribers to answer. 

1. Put that data to work and create segments for each location you need to communicate with. A segment is a group of subscribers with something in common (like their zip code or local store). You can send messages to each individual segment so your subscribers only get messages relevant to them. 

Why is SMS geofencing effective?

There’s a reason SMS geofencing is used by Uber, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and more. It’s one of the most effective ways to increase marketing performance.

Pizza Hut trialed sending out a text promotion to customers within half a mile of its restaurants. The result? A 142% increase in sales.

That isn’t just a fluke either. The data tells us that: 

• Mobile location-based coupons may boost additional mobile sales by more than 99%.
• Marketers who use location-based data say they’ve found more engagement and responsiveness of 48% each.
• 72% of computer, tablet, and smartphone users are interested in advertising customized to their location or zip code.
• Per 90% of marketers, location-based advertising and marketing boosted customer base expansion (86%) revenue, and consumer engagement (84%).

Leveraging geofencing for marketing is simply about contacting your customers at the right time and place. By knowing their location, there’s no need to guess when or if it’s the best time to contact them.

Use location-based SMS marketing to optimize your marketing efforts

Though SimpleTexting doesn’t have a built-in feature for geofencing, you can use several location-based SMS marketing tactics within our SMS platform.

To get started, sign up for our free two-week free trial, no credit card required. If you like what you see, you can take full advantage of our suite of SMS marketing features when you upgrade.

The post SMS geofencing: What it is and how it works appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Promotional messaging, or “promos” are messages sent to sell, upsell, or advertise a product, business, or service. But when these messages slide toward the overly promotional end of the scale, it gets a little dicey.
This example below is a no-no.

DEAL$ DEALS DEAL$!!! Come on DOWN to MIKES CRAB SHACK, there’s a FREE BAG O’CRABS and meet and greet with SALTY CRABBO for the kiddos

Such SMS messages can turn off customers.

But you can still share deals, coupons, products, and more with promotional messages. We’ll show you how and give you some helpful examples.

Disclaimer: Please note that this advice is for informational purposes only and is neither intended as nor should be substituted for consultation with appropriate legal counsel and/or your organization’s regulatory compliance team.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a promotional message?
• Promotional message examples and templates
• Real examples of promotional SMS
• How to send a promotional text message
• Promotional text message best practices

What is a promotional message?

A promotional message is a text that advertises a deal, sale, or special offer. For example, you might send a message that promotes an upcoming flash sale, a holiday discount, or a personalized coupon—something that will lead to sales and new customers. 

The trick to an excellent promotional message, however, is not to come off too salesy.

What do we mean by salesy?

• Messages that don’t provide clear value to a customer
• Messages that come across as overly promotional (think “BUY RIGHT NOW”)
• Messages without a clear call to action
• Messages that overuse caps lock or include buzzwords like “free”

A good promotional message is the kind of text you’d want to receive from a business. It should be conversational, stick to one topic, be timely/topical, provide a clear call to action, and deliver value/information like this:

Hey Anthro lovers! In honor of Earth Day use code Earth2020 for a free silicone straw pack with a purchase of $50+.

Learn more: 20 sales promotion examples from real brands (and why they boost response and conversion rates)

18 promotional message examples (and 50+ copy/paste templates)

There are many scenarios where sending a promotional text message will be great for your business.

When you need inspiration, you can gain some from these marketing and promotional SMS templates:

1. Mobile coupons

Sharing discounts directly to customers’ phones is a great way to translate messages into actions quickly. 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile devices in the last six months.

Shopping from your phone is the new norm, so why not drive more mobile purchases with text message coupons?

• Happy birthday, Lindsay! As a gift from us, take 20% off your next purchase with code HTY65.
• Summer is coming, so shine on with 15% off spray tans this month with code GLOW23.

2. Traditional advertisements

Sometimes your business may go through a slow period, in which case you may want to give people a reason to visit.
Because 98% of texts are read, text ads are a great way to push people to your business right when you need them.

Rain got you down this afternoon ? It’s warm and dry here at Regal Cinemas! Come join us for a movie: check out our schedule and new releases here: [LINK]

• Craving a self-care day? Book a brow appointment with us at [link]
• Every day is a good day for ice cream! Come in and see us for a sweet treat (and some brand-new flavors) today.

Check it out: 50+ must-know texting & SMS marketing statistics in 2024

3. Product/service announcement

If you’ve recently launched a new product or service, it’s a newsworthy event for your customers. Build up some momentum by texting your audience before, during, and after the big release.

• Today’s the day! Our new swimwear line is officially live. Check it out at [link] and get yours!
• Are you ready? The CherryBomb collection is out and on sale on our site! Grab your favorites before they’re gone.

4. Sales alert

Another event worth noting to customers is sales and clearance events. Your sales alerts must include what’s discounted, for how long, and specific price points to draw the most intrigue.

If it’s a larger sale, like an annual or semi-annual event, priming your customers with texts leading up to it can also help build anticipation.

Patagonia’s annual sale is only 2 days away! Set your alarms for 12pm EST for special early access for our text club members!

• It’s our favorite time of year. Our annual PriceSlash sale is coming up on Friday! Join us for the best deals of the season.
• Ready for major deals? Shop our semi-annual sale this Saturday (and don’t forget, Platinum members get in an hour early at 9 AM).

5. Bundle promo

Bundles are a great way to introduce customers to new products and increase Average Order Value (AOV). Group together relevant or similar items and send a message to your customers giving them the chance to invest. 

Get your hands on our Sleep Tight bundle for a limited time It includes a face mask, brushed cotton pajamas, a cinnamon candle, and a pair of wool slippers — everything you need for a cozy night in.

• The Christmas Candle bundle is here! Get 20% off our bestselling collection when you buy before MIDNIGHT. 
• It’s tea time! Our tasty tea bundle is on offer for 48 hours ONLY. Use code TEATIME to unlock your discount.

6. Holiday promotion

According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. holiday shoppers spent a record $211.7 billion online holiday shopping last year. The rules go out the door when it comes to the holidays because spending habits aren’t the same.

To help you break through the noisiest marketing season of the year, send customers promotional text messages. With texts, the open rate is significantly higher than email, giving your message a better chance of getting noticed.

Also, be sure to include a photo whenever possible. Research shows that messages with photos have higher click-through rates.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 15% off cashmere! Shop JCPenny today and gift your loved ones something luxurious.

• Ho ho holiday savings! Shop our warmest winter gear online at [link] and use code SANTA at checkout for 10% off.
• What’s on your wishlist? Take 20% off beauty collections at [link], now through the 21st!

Check it out: Holiday SMS ideas to increase revenue

7. Flash sale

A flash sale is a promotion that runs for a short amount of time and features a specific product/service.

Another common hallmark of flash sales is a limited quantity of items up for grabs. Flash sales are great for offloading old products that may be out of season. They can also be an exciting way to drive new or more traffic to your site.

Either way, texts are a fantastic way to announce a flash sale because they’re read so quickly. The odds of your customer seeing the text right when the flash sale is happening is exponentially higher.

Lunch hour flash sale at Vintage Records! All 1970’s records are BOGO.

Don’t miss out on the Cher, Dylan, or Zeppelin you’ve been eyeing !

• The flash sale is on tomorrow from 9 AM to noon at Katy’s Boutique! Take an extra 15% off our biggest deals of the year when you show this text at checkout.
• Ready, set, sale! Our Spring flash sale is coming up from 2-4pm on Sunday — stock up on warm weather styles.

8. Daily deals

Daily deals keep your brand front-of-mind and encourage fresh sales every day. Send reminders to your customers to make sure they have the opportunity to buy the daily deals that suit them best. 

It’s important to keep these messages short and sweet—after all, you’re going to be landing in your customer’s inboxes a lot.

TODAY’S DEAL

25% off our matcha coffee beans. Get it before it goes with code MATCHAME.

• We’ve got something special for you today. Get 50% off our Very Berry collection of prebiotic sodas. Claim your fizz before MIDNIGHT. 
• 50% price slash —TODAY ONLY! Use code Nov11 to claim your discount on our sturdy leather walking boots.

9. Early access offer

Offering early access to new product arrivals is a great way to thank customers for subscribing to your SMS list. 

If you like, use this offer to reward a select number of customers in your text message loyalty program and make them feel special. Done right, this will boost conversions and grow sales for your new product. 

Be sure to emphasize that your early access offer won’t last. This ensures your customers take action by grabbing the offer fast.

New product alert! Members of our loyalty program can get the new {product name} for only $25.99 today.

Tomorrow, it’ll be $33.99. Get early access. Save 15%. [LINK]

• Look what’s just In! Spice up your {type of season: example, Easter} with our latest collection of {product name}. Shop with your early access, which ends in 2 days. {link}
• New stylish {product name} just hit our shelves. Grab yours today! Early shoppers get 10% off until {day/month/year}. {link}

10. Pre-sale promos

Pre-selling your upcoming collection or new service will help you measure interest in it and generate a buzz before it goes live. Send a message to customers in the lead up to your sale or launch to give them the chance to sign up early. 

• What’s that on the horizon? Our New Year Sale! Get huge discounts on our bestsellers to brighten up your January. 
• COMING SOON: Flash sale across our entire product catalog. Register now to be the first to know!

11. Birthday offer

Everyone wants to feel special on their birthday. But the thing is, giving a discount on someone’s birthday might feel insincere (at least to me). 

Before sending your birthday offer to a customer, make the customer know that you truly care. 

How? Send at least one message before their birthday. Ask about how they are preparing to celebrate themselves, what they’ll wear, who they are celebrating with, and so on. This makes your promotional text message to seem like it’s coming from a friend (which you or your brand should strive to be).

Happy Birthday from {company name}! Enjoy your day with 20% off anything you purchase today. Use {customer name} at checkout. {link}. XOXO

• Happy Birthday! Celebrate your big day with 20% off your entire purchase as our gift to you. Shop now!
• Another trip around the sun calls for a treat! Enjoy 15% off on your special day.
• It’s your day! Get a birthday discount of 10% on us. Shop and make it a memorable one!

12. Online event announcement

Organizing online events is a great way to interact with your customers if you don’t have a physical store. 

If you run a business with customers in several locations, online events can also help you reach them at once. With promotional text messages, you can announce your online events to not only educate customers on a topic but also sell event tickets.

• {Company name} is hosting an online event with other top fashion stylists. Tickets are available at 10% off until {day}. Learn more by clicking this link.
• RSVP now! Our founder, {name and surname} will be speaking about {topic} at {event name}. Attending is free, but registration before {date} is compulsory. See ya! {Link}.

13. Content promotion

Sending promotional SMS messages is not the be-all and end-all of selling to customers. 

Sometimes, you can halt the direct sales offer and promote content that includes your offer. The outcome? You win on two fronts: share valuable content with your customers and possibly make sales.

Hungry for inspiration? Feast on our latest article!

From gourmet burgers to delectable desserts, these culinary delights will make your taste buds dance. Satisfy your cravings! {Blog link}.

• Looking to elevate your style? Our new article takes you into the world of runway trends, closet essentials, and chic outfit ideas. Unleash your inner fashionista by reading the article at {Blog Link}. Your wardrobe will thank you, pinky swear!
• Time to accessorize! From classic elegance to modern tech, the timepieces in our new post suit all wrists. See what fits your wrist, will ya? {Blog link}

14. Loyalty program invite

Loyal customers are the bosses when it comes to purchasing power. 

If you reward them with a customer loyalty program, you can use promotional text messages to get even more customers into your program.

Join our exclusive loyalty program today and unlock a world of rewards!

Get special discounts, early access to sales, and surprise gifts. Sign up now at [loyalty program link] and start enjoying the perks!

• Love shopping with us? It’s time to get more for your loyalty! Join our loyalty program to earn points for every purchase and redeem them for amazing rewards. Sign up today at {loyalty program link}.
• WOWZA! Your loyalty to {company name} is breathtaking. It’s reward time! Join our loyalty program and enjoy a host of exclusive rewards: personalized offers, bonus points, and more. Ready to be treated like a VIP? Enroll today at {loyalty program link}.

15. Buy one get one (BOGO) free offer

BOGO offers have existed for a long time and customers love it when they’re getting something free. Here are some promotional text message examples of how to alert your customers about a BOGO offer.

• Step into savings! It’s BOGO time for shoes. Buy a pair and snag another for free without stretching your budget. Head to {store link} today to claim your offer!
• Purchase one gadget and receive another one free. From headphones to gadgets, enjoy double the tech for half the price. Dive into {store link} and amp up your collection!

16. Free shipping

Free shipping offers customers an opportunity to save transport fees and they love it. 

Even if they don’t want to buy instantly, they could change their mind to take advantage of your offer and save some cash.

• Ready to shop stress-free? Enjoy free shipping on all orders for a limited time! Get your favorites delivered to your door at no extra cost. Shop at {link} and save on shipping fees!
• It’s your lucky day! Enjoy the convenience of free shipping on all orders. Say goodbye to shipping fees and hello to savings. Visit {store link] to grab your collection and take advantage of this limited-time offer.

17. Personalized promos

People like to feel special—fact. Use personalization to send relevant text message promotions based on a shopper’s unique interests and previous buying behavior. Include their name where possible and create unique discount codes just for them. 

• Because you loved our honey-roasted nuts: get 20% off your next order if you order by midnight tonight! 
• To say thanks for being awesome, we’ve curated a selection of alcohol-free fizz we think you’ll love. Visit your personal collection here. 

18. Sweepstakes

In the world of text marketing, there’s what’s known as a text-to-subscribe keyword. This is a word or phrase that people can text to your number to sign up for your messages.

In a sweepstakes promotion, when someone texts in the word, they’ll be entered for a chance to win a prize. The great part about this type of marketing campaign is that it helps you build your list if you’re just getting started with SMS.

• Spin to win a FREE bedding set in your favorite color! 
• Want to win a month’s supply of herbal teas? Enter our sweepstake by 11pm EST and put your best foot forward. Winner announced next Saturday at 5pm EST.

15 real-life examples of promotional SMS

Example 1: Mobile coupon

Sometimes, short and simple messages from our favorite brands do the trick. This text message by Grinds Coffee Pouches is a brief way to promote coupons.

Example 2: Product announcement

Launching a new product without a good story isn’t great. Olipop knows this and they nail this SMS well. While this product announcement is lengthy, it has a great buildup to the core message and includes a discount to make customers try the new product. 

Example 3: Sales alert

Exclusive offers make people feel special. This sales alert does that by stating it’s for rewards members only. The 50% discount is the icing on the cake for the customer. That said, the limited time offer which ends at Xmas will cause customers to make a purchase fast. 

Example 4: Bundle promo

Pretty Litter speaks the same language as its audience (because who doesn’t love their cat and believe it deserves the best?!). The discount plus a free gift makes this a deal that’s hard to ignore. 

Example 5: Holiday promotion

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping holidays and the perfect opportunity to send a well-timed text message to announce the launch of your sales. Salomon includes the discounts shoppers can expect in a casual message. 

Example 6: Flash sale

If you want to secure an influx of sales in a short space of time, flash sales are the way to go. Do what TRIC does and send a promo message to announce the start of your sale and include the discount percentage and end time to inspire shoppers to take action. 

Example 7: Daily deals promo

Daily deals give you the chance to spotlight some of your best products to new customers. Backcountry is sensitive to its customers’ time and asks them if they’d like to receive all, some, or none of their daily deal promos. This is a great way to build trust and still generate sales. 

Example 8: Early access offer

People like new products, but if you don’t prompt them to purchase, they could bail on you.

Some great ways to make them act is to offer a time-limited discount or inform them of your limited stock like Doe Lashes.

Example 9: Early access offer

This is another great example of an early access offer from Bombas. The sock brand also sends a final reminder to customers to warn them that their time is running out. This creates a sense of urgency and can pull in a few extra last-minute sales. 

Example 10: Pre-sale promo

Pre-sales in a sense give customers a sense of exclusivity—that they’re getting something other people aren’t or, at the very least, are getting it before anyone else. When We Were Young play into this exclusive strategy by reminding customers they’re on a pre-sale list and they’ll be the first to claim their discount. 

Example 11: Content promotion

Asking customers to buy every time won’t look good on your business.

Occasionally share content with no strings attached. If they love this content, they could find your website and make a purchase. 

Example 12: Loyalty program invitation

Who wouldn’t want to get rewarded for being loyal to their favorite brands? A short and snappy SMS is a great way to invite customers to earn rewards they can redeem for products. 

Example 13: Early access product promo

Giving your best customers early access to an upcoming sale strengthens your relationship and makes them feel special. Tailwind Nutrition gives a segment of its best customers early access to its latest product.

These customers can buy the product before it goes on sale to the general public, which again creates a sense of exclusivity (and gets the brand a few early sales to build confidence). 

Example 14: BOGO offer

Buy One Get One Free offers have been a sales tactic for as long as we can remember. S-W promotes theirs with a text message announcing the launch of the deal with the end date and link to the products that customers can browse right away. 

Example 15: Free shipping

Most consumers today expect free shipping — in fact, 73% of shoppers are likely to ditch their cart if they have to pay for shipping. Avoid this by providing free shipping and shouting about it in your text messages like 1-800 Contacts does here. 

How to send a promotional text message with SimpleTexting (video)

Curious what it looks like to send a promotional text message in an easy-to-use SMS platform? Check out the video below.

Promotional text message best practices

Now you know a lot more about what promotional texts are and the creative juices are flowing. Before you start sending, here are a few best practices to keep in mind.

Send SMS messages consistently

By consistently, I don’t mean constantly. 

• Consistently = regular frequency that respects your customer’s time
• Constantly = spammy text messages

Bottom line: ensure your SMS marketing strategy doesn’t include spammy tactics. This will help you stay on top-of-mind for your contacts and in their good graces.

Get consent 

Always have express consent from your contacts to text them. This will keep your texts compliant with industry laws and regulations.

Personalize your SMS

When sending messages to customers, personalize your texts with what they’ve shared with you, like their name, birthday, or location. This makes each message feel like it was written for them.

Hint: Tools like custom fields make personalization a breeze.

Keep it quick and casual

One of the best parts about SMS and its 160-character limit is that you must get the details across in a short space. Even if you’re using the larger MMS format, no one wants to receive a novel over text.

So, stick to the important information and your brand’s voice. There’s no need to be formal unless that’s an integral part of your business.

Don’t send text messages you would be unexcited to receive 

This is hands down the best way to make sure contacts are always happy to hear from you.

Looking at your text, does it sound like a real person wrote it? Is it pushy or too vague? If you said yes to the former and no to the latter, you’re ready to send.

Create a sense of urgency

SMS messages aren’t like emails that people will often re-read. If people don’t take action immediately, chances are they won’t at all.

So tie your offers to a specific time. This instills the fear of missing out on customers and propels them to act on your message.

Include a call to action (CTA)

Promotional messages often have a purpose: to get customers to buy. Make sure recipients know what you want them to do by sharing a clear, concise CTA. For example, you might link directly to a product page or ask customers to “enter a discount code a checkout”. 

Personalize promo messages 

The best promotional messages are personalized to a consumer's interests, shopping behaviors, and preferences. You can send a mass campaign but still make each text unique to the recipient. Use SimpleTexting’s custom fields feature to add in customer names and other details in your messages.

Personalization is also about sending the right texts to the right people. Make sure you segment your audience based on interests, demographics, or other defining characteristics and send promo messages that align with these details. 

Don’t overhype your offer

Obviously you love your offer and you want your customers to love it too, but overhyping it by sending too many texts, writing in all caps, or going overboard on emojis and exclamation marks can have the opposite effect.

Your promotion should speak for itself and, if it does, customers will be able to see the value in it without you having to convince them with words like FREE and NOW. 

Experiment with sending times

Text messages have much higher open rates than other forms of marketing—often around 98%.

But if you send your message late at night or at a time when your audience is likely to be at work or doing something else, your open rates can suffer. This is especially true if you’re promoting a limited-time offer, like a daily deal or a flash sale that runs for a couple of hours.

Luckily, with SimpleTexting, you can schedule texts to go out at the best time for your audience so you don’t have to sit around with your finger hovering over the “send” button. 

Send promotional messages for free

Text message promos can be a great, direct way to reach customers and share valuable deals and discounts with them. To have the best success, make sure your promo messages are short, sweet, and timely. Avoid sending too many texts in a row and make sure you include all the valuable information recipients need to know to make their next move. 

Want more inspiration? See how others are using promotional messages to drive sales in our customer success stories. Or, if you’re ready to try it yourself, sign up for a 14-day free trial to start sending promotional messages. 

The post 18 promotional text message examples to steal and send appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

We’ve kind of made it our life’s work to learn everything there is to know about texting. But in all of our exploration, we continually find that people are surprised with how much you can do with SMS!

There’s a lot you can do with texting, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with traditional two-way messaging. This post is all about showing you all the untapped potential of mobile messaging!

So, without any further ado, let’s get into your complete list of everything you need to know about the types of SMS and mobile messages.

1. SMS & MMS messaging

If you’re one of the billions of people who have either sent or received a text message on your cellphone, then you’re familiar with SMS. If that text contained a photo or video, then you’ve either sent or received an MMS message.

Often referred to just as “texting,” SMS and MMS are the communication protocols that make it possible to send texts over cellular networks. The main difference between the two, as demonstrated above, is that MMS enables multimedia messages in addition to pure text, as well as extended character limits.

With the help of text marketing software, you can radically expand the capabilities of traditional SMS and MMS messaging. Here are a few of the most helpful iterations of the kinds of mobile messages you can send with a bit of help.

Autoresponders

Autoresponders are a series of staggered texts automatically spaced out and sent over days, weeks, or months. These automatic messages are received by users after they have subscribed to your text message program. They can do this in a few ways, some of the most popular being keywords and web forms.

With the help of an autoresponder feature, you can create delayed messages with fun facts or coupons to bring in a steady stream of customers. Keep your customers engaged and make sure the newest additions to your list receive text messages that keep them coming back. Bonus, they can also be used along with customer segments to create drip campaigns.

Triggers

When a speedy response rate is of the essence, triggers allow you to automatically respond to FAQs and requests for information right away. For each keyword your business has, you can create an unlimited amount of triggers that, when texted to you, will reply right away with your preset answer.

For example, you can set a CONTACT trigger that will automatically reply with your business’ contact information when a contact texts that keyword to your number or short code.

Polls

You could just text a question out to a group of people, wait for them to answer, count up their answers, and report back with the results. Or, with just a few minutes of setup, you could text out a poll to hundreds within seconds that does all of that for you, automatically. Not to mention, see the results of your vote roll in real time!

Birthday messages

Do you remember everyone’s birthday? It’s tough enough to even keep track of your families, let alone all of your customers and coworkers. But receiving a special birthday wish makes people feel valued and noticed.

Avoid having to take the time out of every day to check for and send these kinds of messages and instead, automate them! Birthday messages are just one of the many in-app features that some SMS marketing platforms provide to help make your life easier.

Need inspiration for your marketing texts? Try the PASTA framework — a method for choosing the types of texts that’ll keep your subscribers engaged.

2. Push notifications

You might think it’s a text message that’s lighting up on your cell’s screen, but that would be a common mistake.

Push notifications are like SMS messages, but instead of appearing in your inbox alongside your other texts, these are pop-ups that appear while you’re on your phone or on your lock screen. They can be sent (or pushed out) by a business at any time, unless a user has opted out of receiving them.

3. In-app messages

To folks with mobile smartphones, the odds are pretty high that you’ve downloaded an app before (some of the most popular being Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Subway Surfers, and so on). With every app download, there comes the potential to receive in-app messages.

Ironically, these are often mistaken for push notifications, but the main difference here is where these messages are received. In-app messages are only received when you’re actively using an application.

Common examples are popups, yes/no prompts, interstitials, etc. They’re commonly used for things like first-time user tutorials, rewards pop-ups mid-game, etc.

4. RCS

RCS, or rich communication services, is the newest form of mobile comms technology—so new it’s still partially in development. RCS is a messaging-as-a-platform (MaaP) technology that works similarly to messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, the big difference being the built-in software.

The idea is that RCS would come with any smartphone when you buy in, with no need for external app downloads. It would work almost the same as traditional text messaging, but with an app-like experience.

There are numerous possibilities for what text messaging can do, mobile marketing in general provides ample opportunity! Still looking for some more inspiration? Check out our ongoing list of copy-and-paste text templates that give you a better idea of how all of this looks in practice!

The post 4 of the most common types of mobile messages appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

That meant disappointed customers, bad reviews, tangled lines of communication within the business and with outside vendors, and the list goes on.

But times have changed. Now, a lot of brands are turning to Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to smooth out workflows and scale up the business. 

But don’t take our word for it–the numbers say that by 2026, VoIP will generate $102.5 billion in global revenue.

What is a VoIP number?

A VoIP number is a type of communication technology that doesn’t depend on a cell network. Instead, calls can be made over any internet connection, and the network works more or less the same as the mobile number or landline you’re already used to. 

That makes VoIP a good option for businesses that work virtually and from multiple locations, even worldwide. This is a huge advantage right now, given how many people work from home.

How VoIP numbers work

When a VoIP call is initiated, the voice data from the caller is transformed into packets using a process called packet-switching. These tiny data parcels can efficiently travel across the internet, breaking geographical barriers that once burdened traditional phone calls.

Once the packets reach their destination, they’re re-assembled. The voice data is extracted and played back, completing the communication. 

The process does require hardware, like a router, and a solid, disruption-free internet connection to work. But the beauty of VoIP is that you don’t need a phone network to pull it off. 

5 benefits of using a VoIP number

Using a VoIP number can feel like stepping into the future, and with a substantial list of benefits, it’s no wonder why. Let’s explore a few of these super-powered perks:

1. Geographic freedom: With a VoIP number, you’re not shackled to your location. You can make and receive calls from any location worldwide.
2. Cost saving: VoIP numbers can be cheaper than landlines, particularly for international calls. Plus, you don’t need multiple phones at various locations. Everything is accessible right from your device.
3. Useful features: Call recording, advanced call reports, and user-friendly management systems are just some of the additional features VoIP brings to the spotlight.
4. Efficiency: VoIP uses packet-switching technology, which means the use of communication lines is optimized, enabling more efficient communication during calls.
5. Integration capabilities: VoIP integrates well with business services such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, email, and text messaging apps, providing seamless cross-platform collaboration.

The difference between VoIP and regular phone numbers

We’ve explained a few of the benefits of a VoIP number, but we also get that lots of longtime business owners are still attached to their tried-and-true phone numbers. 

Let’s compare and contrast between the two number types to better highlight some of the differences.

1. The fundamental difference between VoIP and landline is that the former uses the internet, while the latter requires actual wires.
2. Geographical restrictions are almost zero with a VoIP number. With a landline, calls are limited to your current area. 
3. Landline numbers don’t allow data to be stored in any data warehouses. When you use a VoIP number, conversations and other details can be stored in an onsite warehouse or cloud database.
4. VoIP networks are much faster than landline networks due to 4G and 5G wireless connections.
5. Landlines won’t work where there’s no electricity. VoIP systems can still make calls if they’re connected to a cloud server.
6. Setup cost is another major difference between landline and VoIP numbers. Landlines are expensive because you need multiple phones at different locations. VoIP only requires that you buy your numbers from a provider (which is often cheaper).

Types of VoIP phone numbers

So, you know what VoIP numbers are and why you might want to put them to work in your business. Now we need to talk about the different types of VoIP numbers available to you. 

We’ll break them down by cost per call and location restrictions.

VoIP number types based on cost

• A local virtual phone number allows you to receive or make calls within a specific area close to the business. If your business is based in California, you can set up a number where people from Los Angeles and San Francisco can call you, and vice versa. Costs are minimal for local numbers.
• A toll-free number is one of the most common VoIP numbers often used for B2C businesses. Customers don’t face costs for this type of number. All charges are covered by your business. 
• Vanity VoIP numbers are customized to the business, and are therefore unique to every user. These numbers are used to increase a brand’s online reputation, create an immediate impact on the customers, and improve customer engagement. 

VoIP number types based on distance range

• Onsite VoIP numbers are restricted to the business premises. Though you can make or receive calls from around the world, the VoIP device must be on your business’ property and connected to your wireless network.
• When talking about the cloud VoIP numbers, remote employees can connect to callers without geographical restrictions. You won’t need an onsite LAN connection or business Wi-Fi system. 
• Hybrid models are a combination of onsite and cloud setups where you have bandwidths for employees connected to the base LAN on-premise and those working from remote locations. 

Top VoIP number and service providers

CallHippo

Among the many VoIP numbers and service providers on the market, CallHippo is one of the best. Its super-fast communication channel offers comprehensive solutions to businesses worldwide. 

RingCentral

Another popular VoIP industry standout, RingCentral has an array of features that help organizations manage their call center operations. With plenty of add-ons and integrations, RingCentral is ideal for companies looking to expand their global operations.

Grasshopper

The ideal VoIP service provider for small to medium-sized businesses, GrassHopper provides seamless communication options. It is an omnichannel platform that enables employees to collaborate and provides robust, scalable solutions for all kinds of organizations.

Talkroute

Talkroute excels in providing high-powered features and a user-friendly platform for its customers. It has advanced capabilities to boost contact center operations through functions like call monitoring, call recording, and analytics.

Nextiva

With Nextiva, you can get dedicated virtual phone numbers to make audio and video calls worldwide. This leading VoIP phone service provider offers numerous advanced features and call reporting capabilities.

What you need to support a VoIP number

To set up a VoIP number, you’ll need a few pieces of equipment and software:

1. Hardware: You will need a router, Internet connectivity, and (preferably) a headset for speaking with the customers.
2. Internet connection: Make sure your Internet connection is solid and disruption-free. You can either use a WAN or connect with the base LAN on your business’ property.
3. Bandwidth: You also need a device to control your bandwidth and help you scale it as needed. 
4. Software: Good software will help you manage your VoIP System, from recording calls to rerouting traffic. 

VoIP number FAQs

The wrap on VoIP numbers

Essentially, a VoIP number could be right for your business if you:

• Have a stable internet connection
• Work in multiple locations
• Need to save conversations and call information
• Want to save money on hardware

And finally, it’s important to note that VoIP isn’t just for calling. Learn more about VoIP texting and how it enables businesses to send and receive text messages over the internet.

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