If you’ve ever received a text message from a business or brand, you may have noticed that the message came from a short code. Short codes are five to six-digit numbers that businesses use to send and receive text messages. But have you ever heard of a vanity short code?
A vanity short code is a specific type of short code that businesses can customize to make it easier for customers to remember. Rather than a random combination of numbers, a vanity short code spells out a word or phrase using the letters associated with each number on a phone’s keypad. For example, a pizza restaurant might use the short code 74747, which spells out “PIZZA” on a phone’s keypad.
Vanity short codes can be a powerful tool for businesses looking to engage with customers via text message marketing. By using a short code that’s easy to remember, businesses can increase the likelihood that customers will opt-in to receive text messages and engage with their brand. But how do businesses get a vanity short code, and what are the costs associated with using one?
Read also: How to Get a Short Code Number
What is a Vanity Short Code?
If you’ve ever received a text message from a company asking you to text a keyword to a short number, you’ve interacted with a vanity short code. A vanity short code is a five to six-digit number selected by a brand and typically has some aesthetic appeal. For example, a vanity short code may have repeating numbers or consecutive numbers, making it easier for consumers to remember.
Vanity short codes are often used for marketing campaigns that require users to text in SMS keywords to a short code. For instance, a company might use a vanity short code to promote a product or service, run a text-to-win sweepstakes, or send product discounts or passwords.
Vanity short codes are different from random short codes, which are generated by a third-party provider. Random short codes are not easy to remember and are often used for one-time events or specific campaigns.
One of the benefits of using a vanity short code is that it makes it easier for consumers to remember and interact with your brand. Additionally, vanity short codes are easier to spell on a dial pad, making them more accessible to a wider audience.
Overall, a vanity short code is essential for any business looking to engage with its customers via text message. By selecting a memorable and aesthetically pleasing short code, you can increase brand recognition, drive engagement, and ultimately boost sales.
Read also: 10DLC Number: What It Is and Why It Matters
Benefits of Using a Vanity Short Code
If you’re looking to improve your SMS marketing campaigns, using a vanity short code can be a great option. Here are some benefits of using a vanity short code:
- Easy to Remember: Vanity short codes typically consist of 5-6 digits that are chosen by the brand, making them easy to remember for your customers. This can lead to increased engagement and response rates, as customers are more likely to remember the code and opt-in to your campaigns.
- Brand Recognition: By using a vanity short code, you can reinforce your brand identity and increase brand recognition. Customers will associate your brand with the memorable code, which can lead to increased brand loyalty and awareness.
- Versatility: Vanity short codes can be used across a variety of marketing channels, including print campaigns, billboards, digital campaigns, radios, podcasts, and more. This versatility makes them a valuable tool for reaching customers across multiple touchpoints.
- Customization: With a vanity short code, you have the ability to customize the code to fit your brand and campaign needs. This can include using repeating or consecutive numbers, or incorporating your brand name or message into the code.
- Increased Response Rates: Vanity short codes have been shown to increase response rates compared to traditional long codes. This is likely due to the ease of remembering the code and the association with the brand.
Overall, using a vanity short code can be a valuable tool for improving your SMS marketing campaigns. By choosing a memorable code that reinforces your brand identity and using it across multiple touchpoints, you can increase engagement and response rates among your customers.
How Vanity Short Codes Work
When you sign up for a vanity short code, you select a five to six-digit number that represents your brand and is easy for your customers to remember. This short code will be used to send one-way SMS and MMS messages to your customers, which means that they will receive messages from you, but they won’t be able to respond to them.
To opt-in to your SMS marketing campaigns, your customers will need to text a keyword to your vanity short code. For example, if you’re a pizza restaurant, you might choose the keyword “PIZZA” and ask your customers to text that word to your vanity short code to receive exclusive discounts and promotions.
Once your customer texts the keyword to your vanity short code, they will receive an automated response confirming their opt-in status. From there, you can send them marketing messages, notifications, and other important updates.
One of the benefits of using a vanity short code is that it’s easy for your customers to remember. If you choose a memorable number like “12345” or “411411,” your customers will be more likely to remember it and opt-in to your campaigns. Plus, vanity short codes are versatile and can be used in a variety of marketing channels, including print, digital, and radio campaigns.
However, it’s important to note that vanity short codes can be more expensive than random short codes. If you’re on a tight budget, it might be worth considering a random short code instead.
In summary, a vanity short code is a specialized phone number that represents your brand and is used to send one-way SMS and MMS messages to your customers. To opt-in to your campaigns, your customers will need to text a keyword to your vanity short code. Vanity short codes are memorable and versatile but can be more expensive than random short codes.
Read also: What is a Shared Short Code?
John follows everything happening in the tech industry, from the latest gadget launches to some of the big-name moves in the industry. He covers opinionated pieces and writes on some of the biggest names in the industry. John is also a freelance writer, so he shares articles on freelancing every now and then. email: john@tekpip.com Learn more about tekpip and the team here on our about us page.