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Can you actually use long codes for bulk sms?

by bigmaz
10 replies
I was still in 2 minds wether to go for short or long numbers for my sms marketing, I came across this snipet:



Seems like long codes are not the way to go for bulk sms?
#bulk #codes #long #sms
  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    I'm not sure in the UK but in the US I would tell people to use a service with a shortcode. A few use long codes but it looks unprofessional. And is not what the carriers want being done even though there are ways to do it.
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    Aaron Doud - Sales & Success
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    • Profile picture of the author bigmaz
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      I'm not sure in the UK but in the US I would tell people to use a service with a shortcode. A few use long codes but it looks unprofessional. And is not what the carriers want being done even though there are ways to do it.
      Yeah, thats what i always thought, but quite a lot of other ppl seemed to be using long codes, so thought it must work. and its a LOT cheaper using Twilio long codes with OpenVBX. I am just going to stick with the provider that I decided on.
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    • Profile picture of the author imsolutionsgroup
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      I'm not sure in the UK but in the US I would tell people to use a service with a shortcode. A few use long codes but it looks unprofessional. And is not what the carriers want being done even though there are ways to do it.
      Why do you think it's more professional to use a short code over a long code? I've done some minimal testing with short codes and long codes for small businesses here in the USA and long codes generated more subscribers than short codes.
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      • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
        Originally Posted by imsolutionsgroup View Post

        Why do you think it's more professional to use a short code over a long code? I've done some minimal testing with short codes and long codes for small businesses here in the USA and long codes generated more subscribers than short codes.
        Customer perceptions.

        When they get a text from a number they don't know they assume it is spam. Thus if they forget they signed up and get it from a long code that will be their thoughts.

        Also the only places that use long codes, at least near me, are very very small businesses. Often texting from a cell phone.

        Short codes help make SMS Marketing seem different from a simple text from friends. It is special and something they want to be part of.

        Beyond perception and Carriers blocking them I really don't have any other reason. But since those two are so big why would you use a long code when short codes are so cheap as long as they are shared?

        I understand that for smaller accounts long codes are often less expensive but in the end how much less? I mean with email it would be cheaper to just send them yourself vs. using a service but most of realize the cost of the service more than pays for itself.
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        • Profile picture of the author imsolutionsgroup
          Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

          Customer perceptions.

          When they get a text from a number they don't know they assume it is spam. Thus if they forget they signed up and get it from a long code that will be their thoughts.

          Also the only places that use long codes, at least near me, are very very small businesses. Often texting from a cell phone.

          Short codes help make SMS Marketing seem different from a simple text from friends. It is special and something they want to be part of.

          Beyond perception and Carriers blocking them I really don't have any other reason. But since those two are so big why would you use a long code when short codes are so cheap as long as they are shared?

          I understand that for smaller accounts long codes are often less expensive but in the end how much less? I mean with email it would be cheaper to just send them yourself vs. using a service but most of realize the cost of the service more than pays for itself.
          I agree that most won't be able to remember the phone number from the business that they signed up for. But that's why its a good practice to send every message beginning with the company name. Example: Company Name: your text goes here...

          Do you think most people remember every single friends number in their cell phone? Or do you think they only remember them because when the text comes through, their name is listed instead of the cell number? If you didn't have that option to add their name...would most of these messages be perceived as spam?


          Also, when you have a shared short code you are limited to many options.

          1. You can only have 1 keyword (unless you keep paying for more). You want an unlimited amount of keywords so you can track your sms marketing efforts. And, you want multiple lists so you can keep the lists targeted in which you can send specific message just to those lists.

          2. On a shared short code, just like email, if someone else is using the short code to spam...that short code can become blacklisted and you may never know this for a while.

          3. You can't have the number redirected to the business phone if someone wants to call you to ask about the text, reserve a table, etc.
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          • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
            Originally Posted by imsolutionsgroup View Post

            1. You can only have 1 keyword (unless you keep paying for more). You want an unlimited amount of keywords so you can track your sms marketing efforts. And, you want multiple lists so you can keep the lists targeted in which you can send specific message just to those lists.
            Most companies allow more than one for free and it's not that expensive to have many.

            2. On a shared short code, just like email, if someone else is using the short code to spam...that short code can become blacklisted and you may never know this for a while.
            But like awebber and other big email companies the big short cord companies work to keep white listed. Also if big enough to can get your own short code which some large companies do.

            3. You can't have the number redirected to the business phone if someone wants to call you to ask about the text, reserve a table, etc.
            This is one that is an advantage for long codes. No way around that and a good idea. I'd pitch this if I was pitching long codes to companies.
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            Aaron Doud - Sales & Success
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  • Profile picture of the author imsolutionsgroup
    "Hello Eric,

    Thanks for the question.

    Using long codes for a business to communicate with their customers is allowed, particularly when customers have opted in to the business list. With that said, if SMS volumes will be high we generally don't recommend the use of long code because your messages may be filtered out and not delivered due to carrier restrictions. If you must send large volumes of traffic over long codes we recommend obtaining multiple long code numbers and distributing your traffic over several numbers.

    Please let me know if you have any other questions we can help answer.

    Thanks!

    Best wishes,
    Nisha
    Twilio Customer Support"



    From that response it's perfectly fine to send messages via long codes and not against their TOS. They most likely put this message on their site to try and generate more short code sales.
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    • Profile picture of the author bigmaz
      Originally Posted by imsolutionsgroup View Post

      "Hello Eric,

      Thanks for the question.

      Using long codes for a business to communicate with their customers is allowed, particularly when customers have opted in to the business list. With that said, if SMS volumes will be high we generally don't recommend the use of long code because your messages may be filtered out and not delivered due to carrier restrictions. If you must send large volumes of traffic over long codes we recommend obtaining multiple long code numbers and distributing your traffic over several numbers.

      Please let me know if you have any other questions we can help answer.

      Thanks!

      Best wishes,
      Nisha
      Twilio Customer Support"



      From that response it's perfectly fine to send messages via long codes and not against their TOS. They most likely put this message on their site to try and generate more short code sales.
      What is a "high volume"? 50, 100, 1,000, 10,000?

      I wouldnt want to even risk getting blocked by the network providers, especially now that they are being more aggresive in their filtering of marketing texts.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnnydio
    Yes I would defiantly stick with short codes, and make sure you keep up on the rules, there are constantly new updated rules about SMS marketing.
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