SMS Short Code
An SMS Short Code is a 5 digit number (e.g. 60777) like those used in Press, Television & Radio. Due to their ease of use they are excellent for receiving texts, generating leads and building opt-in lists from potential customers.
Short Codes can be set up to charge the customer either their Standard Network Rate (which could be free if they have free texts) or a Premium Rate SMS of 25p, 50p, £1.00, £1.50, £3.00, £5.00 or £10.00.
Short Codes can be set up to work however you want them to, for instance:
- Lead Generation
The short code can be set up at Standard Network Rate (which could be free if the respondent has free texts) - Revenue Generation
The short code can be set up as a Premium Rate Short Code and charge the customer either 25p, 50p, £1.00, £1.50, £3.00, £5.00 or £10.00. - Charity Donations
Charity Short Codes (beginning with a 7) work the same way as Premium Short Codes but pay out more. They can be set up at £1.50, £5.00 or £10.00. Only Registered Charities can use these.
Example Uses
There are thousands of example uses for SMS texting, below are just a few.
- Lead Generation & Opt In Lists
Add a Short Code to your marketing literature and you instantly provide an additional channel for potential customers to respond to. Build your opt in list of people that have chosen to receive SMS messages from you on their phones. - Brochure Request Service
A brochure request service can easily be set up where people text in their email address. They are then automatically sent both an auto reply thank you text and an e-mail containing your PDF brochure. - Store / Branch Finder
A Short Code can be set up, in conjunction with our Location Based Service, to enable customers to text in and immediately receive an automated reply containing details of their closest store, telephone number, opening times and a map of how to get there.
- Sell Goods & Services
By setting up the Premium Rate Short Code with a tariff of up to £10.00 you can earn revenue from people texting in. - Text 2 Win
You can run Text 2 Win competitions to either generate mobile numbers for future marketing activity (using a standard rate short code) or to earn revenue (using a premium rate short code). - Provide Content Such As Ringtones, Wallpapers, Videos, Games etc
A Premium Rate Short Code combined with our free SMS API Gateway can be used to automatically deliver paid for content directly to the customer's phone. - Voting Competitions
These can be set up and through the use of our free SMS API Gateway you can even show the results live online.
- Advertising Literature
Using a short code on all your marketing literature (TV, press, leaflets, billboards, direct mail etc.) is a MUST these days. A short code gives the person the ability to immediately text in and donate. It is perfect for those individuals who don't have time to make a phone call or fill in a form but would like to donate. The Charity can then use the mobile number to convert to a direct debit donation at a later date. - Door Step Collectors
Many charities use door step collectors to acquire new direct debit donors. However, thousands of people already have direct debits with other charities and don't want to set up another one but would still like to make a donation. Obviously the collector can't take a donation at the door - so collector, donor and charity all lose out. With a short code everyone wins! The collector simply tells the individual to text the Keyword and their unique collector number to the short code to donate say £5.00. The individual is happy as he can now help the charity out. The collector is much more motivated as he can walk away with a sense of accomplishment. The charity can track each collector's performance, they also receive a donation and more importantly they now have a mobile number of a customer who they may be able to convert to a direct debit at a later date.
Features
We think Short Codes are the best way to get potential customers and clients to contact you. Here's what our SMS Short Code service includes:
- Quick Set Up
- A shared Short Code can be set up within a few hours of receipt of payment.
- Email Notifications
- All incoming texts can be immediately forwarded to your email address/s.
- Inbox
- All incoming texts are also stored in your Inbox which contains the mobile number, message and time and date of receipt. This can then be exported to Excel at the click of a button.
The numbers collected can then be used to run future SMS campaigns - Contact Building
- You can easily send messages to anyone who's texted you in, and they have an always-available opt-out path, complying with data protection laws.
- Auto Reply
- You can set up an auto-reply message to immediately go back to anyone who texts in.
- Multiple Short Codes
- Have as many Short Codes as you wish all linked to one account, each will have its own inbox and auto-reply message.
- WAP URL
- In conjunction with our SMS API Gateway you can send back a WAP URL used for ringtone or other product downloads and charge for this content.
- No Lengthy Contracts
- You can run a Shared Short Code for either 3, 6 or 12 months.
All the features of a standard-rate Short Code, plus:
- Set Up
- These can be set up within a few hours of receiving payment and a signed copy of the terms and conditions.
- Premium Short Code Tariffs
- Short Codes can be set up with a choice of tariff either 25p, 50p, £1.00, £1.50, £3.00, £5.00 or £10.00.
- Reverse Billing
- Our Premium Short Codes work as follows. The customer texts in your Keyword to 60777 which costs them their standard network rate (could be free if they have free texts). An auto-reply text is then sent straight back to their mobile phone which is billed at the tariff you choose.
This text can say whatever it is you want it to. This text can either be sent via your Settings in your account or using our SMS API Gateway.
If the customer is on a Monthly Payment plan or Pay As You Go (PAYG) mobile with enough credit on it, you will immediately receive a Delivered Delivery Receipt which is your payment confirmation. If however, they are on a PAYG mobile without enough credit the relevant network will try and deliver the message for 24 hours. If they top up in this time you'll receive a Delivered Delivery Receipt if not you will receive an Undelivered Delivery Receipt. - Payment Rates
- Our Payment Rates for each table can be found on our Prices page.
- Payment Dates
- We send you a report on or before the 15th of every month with all your responses for the month 6 weeks previous. So you will receive a report on 15th March for all activity that took place in January.
You then email us your invoice (including VAT if registered) which we then pay directly into your bank account.
All the features of a standard-rate Short Code, plus:
- Set Up
- These can be set up within two weeks of receiving payment and a signed copy of both our terms and conditions and the self-billing agreement (so we can make payment directly into your bank account). This delay is due to each Networks own Charity validation process.
- Premium Short Code Tariffs
- Shared Charity Short Codes can be set up with a choice of tariff either £1.50, £5.00 or £10.00. If you wish to purchase your own Dedicated Charity Short Code then in addition to the above tariffs you can also choose to have 50p, £1.00 or £3.00.
- Reverse Billing
- Our Charity Short Codes work as follows. The customer texts in your Keyword to one of our specific Charity Short Codes which costs them their standard network rate (could be free if they have free texts). An auto-reply text is then sent straight back to their mobile phone which is billed at the tariff you choose.
This text can say whatever it is you want it to. This text can either be sent via your Settings in your account or using our SMS API Gateway.
If the customer is on a Monthly Payment plan or Pay As You Go (PAYG) mobile with enough credit on it, you will immediately receive a Delivered Delivery Receipt which is your payment confirmation. If however, they are on a PAYG mobile without enough credit the relevant network will try and deliver the message for 24 hours. If they top up in this time you'll receive a Delivered Delivery Receipt if not you will receive an Undelivered Delivery Receipt. - Charity Payment Rates
- Charity Payments work differently from normal Premium Payments. The Charity will receive the FULL tariff (for every Delivered message) less the Network Handling Charge. The Network Handling Charge is subject to VAT which the Charity may be able to claim back depending on its status.
The Network Handling Charges for each tariff can be found on our Prices page. - Payment Dates
- We send you a report and automatically deposit your payment into your bank account on or before the 21st of each month for all your responses for the month 7 weeks previous. So you will receive a report and your payment on 21st March for all activity that took place in January.
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