No doubt you’ve received text messages from six-digit short codes on your phone. 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 exactly what text messaging 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 36%. (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 36% 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 very 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 an old school, 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. 

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 also allow you to send up to 100 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. 

Easier 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. You can 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. 

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.

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.

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.