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shortcode Tag

News, tips & advice from FastSMS

An SMS shortcode is a 4, 5 or 6 digit number which can receive text messages but not voice calls. Mostly they have 5 digits starting with 6 or 8 – e.g. 87007 or 61612. Whilst it is possible to have your own dedicated shortcode, this is relatively expensive both in setup costs and monthly rental fees. So it is most normal to rent a keyword on a shared shortcode from an agent such as Fastsms.

A keyword can be any combination of letters and numbers. The keyword defines who the message is for and also the actions prompted by the keyword. For example the keyword “QUIZ” might be related to a text based competition by a specific party and their user base might be invited to text QUIZ followed by the answer to the quiz question. Equally the keyword FASTSMS might simply be used to indicate that the message following the keyword is intended for Fastsms.

For a while now we've had keywords on shortcodes and virtual mobile numbers (VMNs). This latest update lets you manage your keywords on our shortcode and your VMNs in exactly the same way. We've made it easy to search and reserve your keywords from right in NetMessenger. And because...

Keywords are a big deal in SMS marketing. They’re more important than ever, whether you use a shortcode or a virtual mobile number (VMN) if you’re planning on using two-way messaging. Here's what you need to know to help you choose the right keyword for your SMS marketing campaign.

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SMS messaging can be a one-way, or a two-way affair. Sending coupons, sale notifications, or event announcements are all one-way messaging. The recipient doesn’t need to reply in order to use the information sent. In two-way messaging though, recipients can reply to your messages. And that makes it much more interesting, engaging, and potentially a lot more work to manage.

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In many ways, SMS messaging is so commonplace people don’t think about it. They just do it. For example, using SMS for mobile marketing in retail is a fairly standard use case whether you’re a company or the consumer. But there are always exceptions – those who innovate when it seems there’s nothing new to be had. Here are two examples of companies from the US using SMS in ways no one else is – yet.

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Go Auto, a car dealership in Edmonton Canada, was using SMS messaging in their business for marketing. And their sales staff used text messaging on their mobiles to connect with customers. But it was all getting a bit out of control. They wanted something that would let them manage their SMS messaging better.

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