What is a Six-Digit Short Code and How to Get One in 2025

No doubt you’ve received text messages from six-digit short codes on your phone. Short codes are a key tool in a comprehensive SMS marketing strategy.

To understand the bigger picture, you might want to explore what is SMS marketing. Many businesses use six-digit phone numbers to send SMS or MMS broadcasts to larger audiences.

If you have thousands of contacts you want to text for your business, you can apply for a six-digit short code number to send these text messages.

Once you have a six-digit code or six-digit phone number, you can use it to send:

• SMS broadcasts
• MMS broadcasts (texts with videos, images, PDFs.)
• Two-way text messages
• Alerts and notifications
• Automated texts through your CRM
• And more.
  

Below, you'll learn everything you need to know about six-digit codes. We'll dive deep into texting with six-digit short codes, the benefits of using six-digit short codes, and how you can start using six-digit short codes throughout your business texting strategy. 

Why Texts Outshine Other Marketing Channels

Before we move on, I want to show you what texting can do for your business. 

So why is SMS such an effective channel for marketing?

1. Text messages grab your customers’ attention. The average text message has an open rate of 98%. Compare that to email with a 20% open rate, on a good day.
   
2. Text messages encourage your customers to respond. The average click-through rate on links in text messages is 45%. (Compare that to the “good” click-through rate of 3.2% on an email.)

In other words, 98% of your customers are likely to see your text message. Then 45% of those customers will likely click on whatever you’re texting in the first place.

Beyond getting your messages opened and clicked, potential customers also engage very differently with text messages compared to other forms of communication.

Think about it. When you send your customers an email, they usually have to see and open your email immediately, or it gets lost in their inboxes. By comparison, text messages don’t get lost in phones. Customers may see them and read them immediately, or read them hours later. Either way, your message gets read.

Texts also feel more personal. For many of us, texts are the primary way we communicate with family and friends, so we have that built-in association. 

Short text messages are easy to consume and respond to. At Salesmsg, we recommend that text messages be only 160 characters. Compare that to long-winded, overly formal emails you receive from businesses—and you’ll understand why texting is winning for all kinds of markets.

If you're a marketer, you need to stand out in the sea of a crowded inbox. The average person receives 121 emails per day. Trying to rise above that noise is like trying to find a friend on the other side of a Taylor Swift concert just by shouting their name. 

Looking at the numbers of how would-be customers engage with text messages, it's no wonder why so many businesses choose to send SMS messages to connect with customers and market their products and services.

There are many ways to use texting to communicate with your leads and customers, but one of the best is using a six-digit code. This unique and powerful phone number lets you text at scale.

What is a Six-Digit Code?

A six-digit code, also known as a short code, is a six-digit phone number created by major wireless carriers. These five or six-digit phone numbers allow you to send large numbers of text messages about promotional offers, new products, and services to potential customers.

Short codes are much easier for customers to remember and let you send a high volume of messages at scale. 

They have a ton of uses, but here are some of the most common:

• Sending out SMS or MMS broadcasts for promotions
• Sending alerts or confirmations
• Sending weekly/monthly reminder text messages
• Being used in text-to-join campaigns to encourage opt-ins
• And much more.

You can get very creative with how you use your SMS short code.

Let’s say you want to grow your SMS list. You can use a text-to-join keyword along with your six-digit short code to capture leads from anywhere.

For example, you can use a text-to-join keyword and six-digit short code to grow your SMS list on social media. You can add a call-to-action to your Instagram reels, LinkedIn carousels or YouTube videos that says: “Text the word ‘JOIN’ to my number ‘123456’ to join my list, and get a copy of all my viral social media posts.”
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Short codes can also be useful for in-person businesses like retail or restaurants.

Let’s say you run an up-and-coming bistro. You could use a short code and text-to-join keyword to encourage customers to join your loyalty program. Perhaps you post a sign in your restaurant that says: “Text the word ‘loyalty" to 678910 to join our loyalty program and get 20% off your next dinner."

Two Types of Six-Digit Short Codes

You should know the two main types of six-digit codes or SMS short codes. Although they perform the same function, they differ in a few important ways.

1. Random Short Codes

First, we have random short codes. These are a random string of five or six-digit numbers. They're typically used because they're more affordable. When you apply for a short code, a random SMS short code will be assigned to you. 

2. Vanity Short Codes

Vanity short codes are also five or six-digit numbers, but you can customize these short codes to match your brand. For example, Target uses the six-digit short code 827438 because these numbers spell out TARGET on a push-button phone. 

Vanity numbers are much easier to remember. They can be used throughout your marketing campaigns, like text-to-join, in-person events, and more. However, with this added functionality, vanity short codes are more expensive. 

Compliance and Best Practices

TCPA Compliance

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) requires businesses to obtain explicit permission from customers before sending marketing messages. This ensures that businesses comply with legal requirements and respect consumer privacy. If you don't follow these rules, you can face fines and damage to your business's reputation.

Opt-Out Instructions

If your business is using a short code or six-digit phone number, you must give your leads and customers an easy way to opt-out from your SMS list.

The best practice is to include easy-to-follow opt-out instructions in every text message. (For example: "Reply STOP to quit.") This allows your customers or leads to stop receiving SMS and MMS messages if they choose. This helps your business maintain trust and compliance.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Non-compliance with the TCPA can lead to serious consequences. Businesses may face fines, be blocked by major wireless carriers, or lose the ability to use their digit short codes for marketing campaigns. Staying compliant protects both businesses and their customers.

Why Use a Six-Digit Short Code

The benefits of using a six-digit code aren't limited to specific businesses or types of industries. Being creative with using six-digit short codes can help you improve your customer experience, connect deeper with your audience, and elevate how you communicate with your customers. 

High Deliverability

Short codes have the highest deliverability out of every type of phone number you can use for SMS. This means a higher percentage of the messages you send will actually reach your audience. 

Less Message Filtering

If you’d like to send text messages with a short code, you have to fill out a more in-depth application process with the mobile carriers than using other types of numbers to text (like a 10-digit number or local number.) Although you're doing more work up front, there's very little filtering by the carrier when sending your messages. This means your messages get through. 

High Message Volume

Short codes allow you to send up to 100 text messages per second, with no limit on the number of messages you can send. This works great for companies with a large SMS list or businesses that don't want to run into limits when running SMS campaigns. 

Better for Your Brand

Customers like short codes. These five or six-digit numbers can give your brand a higher perceived value, because people often see short codes as more trustworthy than your typical 10-digit or toll-free number. (Of course, 10-digit and toll-free numbers are just as trustworthy, but this is the perception.)

Easier for People to Remember

A short code only has five or six numbers, so it'll be easier for your target audience to remember and use. Over time, short codes will be associated with your brand, improving brand recognition.

Better Customer Engagement 

You can use a short code to increase engagement with your potential customers. For example, you might send personalized reminders, custom coupons, and critical alerts and encourage two-way messaging. This versatility of messaging helps you get to know your customers better and determine their needs without relying on different communication channels.

Database Portability

You can continue using a dedicated short code even if you move to another SMS provider. This prevents confusion among your customers and minimizes marketing disruptions in your SMS.

Your target audience can continue using the same six-digit code even as you make the switch, resulting in a consistent brand image and customer satisfaction.

Best for National Brands

Technically speaking, almost any business can use a short code for their SMS marketing. However, we have found at Salesmsg that short codes work best for larger businesses that operate on a regional or national level.

Larger national and regional companies use short codes to send higher-volume SMS broadcasts to their many customers. They also benefit from the higher perceived value, trust and reputation of short codes. (If you only operate locally, you may want to check out a 10-digit long code or toll-free number instead.)

How Does a Six-Digit Code Work?

By now, you already know businesses use six-digit codes to send SMS and MMS broadcasts for marketing, notifications, and alerts like two-factor authentication.

You have to lease these codes from the U.S. Short Code Registry. Once approved, your business can use the short code to send and receive SMS and MMS messages.

Getting a short code for business use isn't free. There’s a one-time fee, plus a quarterly fee to continue using a short code. Also, you'll need to follow a variety of compliance regulations to ensure you can keep texting your customers with your short code.

One of the most important rules when using a six-digit code is asking customers their explicit permission before sending them any messages. Failure to comply can result in fines. 

Since customers need to give their expressed permission, you can ask them to in a variety of ways. For example, if you’re using a text-to-join keyword, you can simply ask would-be leads to text a specific keyword to your six-digit short code. For instance, if your business sells clothes, you can ask them to send the keyword "CLOTHES" to your six-digit phone number to subscribe to your text messages and alerts.

To learn more about SMS compliance and deliverability, check out my post on getting your text messages delivered.

Shared vs. Dedicated Short Codes

Shared Short Codes

In the past, businesses used shared short codes, where multiple companies shared the same digit code to save costs. However, due to wireless carrier regulations and security concerns, shared codes are no longer recommended. There's a much better way: Dedicated short codes.

Dedicated Short Codes 

With dedicated short codes, businesses can lease their own five or six-digit number, offering greater brand recognition and reliability. A dedicated vanity code further enhances customer engagement by making the number memorable, such as "Text 123456 to join."

How Can You Get a Six-Digit Number?

Ready to use your own short code with Salesmsg?

Securing a short code for your business requires several steps. You have to submit an application, make sure you’re in full compliance, before you can get approval to use a short code for texting. The processing time takes 8 to 12 weeks. 

By using Salesmsg, we can help make the entire application process as painless as possible. (This is a service available for our premium clients.) 

Here's an overview of the steps involved in getting your own six-digit short code:

Step 1. Decide on the Type of Short Code You Need

The first step in getting a short code is deciding if you want to use a random six-digit code or a dedicated vanity code. 

After that, the short code is leased from the U.S. Short Code Administration. Note that you never own your short codes: They're leased quarterly. 

This may be inconvenient, but it does allow for flexibility and the ability to change or add new short codes to your SMS campaigns. 

If your budget allows, we recommend getting vanity short codes as they're easier to remember and makes your brand even more memorable. But if you don’t have a larger marketing budget, a random six-digit code is cheaper, making it a better option for small or new companies.

Step 2. Submit Your Application to The Carriers

After that, it's time to submit your application. 
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The short-code application process includes a brief questionnaire. Be prepared to answer questions about your business and how you intended to use the short code. 

You’re also required to provide a visual mock-up that shows where potential customers will see your short code advertised. This can be a mockup of a website, signage or script. If you need help creating a visual mock-up, Salesmsg can walk you through it.

Once you’re ready to submit it, your application will go to the major carriers for their review and approval. Again, this happens because the carriers regulate short codes. 

Step 3. Activate and Test Number

Once your application has been approved, the wireless carrier will activate your number. 

Then, you can send your first test campaign to ensure everything is working properly.  

Step 4. Start Sending Short Code Messages

Once your number is activated and working, you can start sending out short-code text message campaigns using our texting platform, Salesmsg.

With Salesmsg, you can create, send, manage, and automate your SMS campaigns. But, you also get access to in-depth SMS campaign data. This helps you refine your campaigns over time to help improve your conversions and deliver a better experience.

Everything to Know About Six-Digit Codes: Conclusion

Six-digit codes are indeed powerful for your marketing. 

Not only do six-digit codes allow you to get creative with your marketing and SMS lead generation campaigns, but you can also send the highest volume of messages with the least amount of filtering. If your company and your customer base are growing, you'll want this channel to stay in touch, market more efficiently, and ultimately make more sales.

If you're looking for the easiest way to get started using a short code texting app, Salesmsg is your solution. We not only handle the short code texting approval process but also provide you with tips and best practices to maximize your SMS campaigns. 

Start your journey with Salesmsg today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a six-digit short code different from a 10-digit phone number?

A six-digit short code is designed for high-volume messaging. This enables businesses to send hundreds of messages per second. In contrast, a 10-digit phone number is more suitable for smaller-scale, two-way communication, or SMS broadcasts with a smaller audience.

What are the benefits of using a six-digit short code?

Using a short code offers several benefits, including higher deliverability, reduced message filtering, and the ability to send a high volume of messages quickly. It also enhances brand recognition, especially if you use a vanity short code that reflects your business name.

What is the difference between random short codes and vanity short codes?

Random short codes are assigned numbers without customization and are often more affordable. Vanity short codes, on the other hand, are customized to align with your brand. This makes them easier for your customers to remember and boosts your overall impact.

How can businesses ensure compliance when using a six-digit short code?

Businesses must follow the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by obtaining explicit permission from recipients before sending messages. Additionally, you must include opt-out instructions in every message to ensure compliance and maintain trust.