6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Short Codes or Long Codes?

by winjo2280
5 replies
Just starting out in the mobile marketing business and trying to decide which SMS text vendor to use. I'm hearing and reading different things from different people about Short Codes vs. Long Codes, can anyone help clarify this for me?

I have a fairly good understanding about short codes but would like more information on using long codes.

Thanks in advance for your comments.
Winnie
#codes #long #short
  • Profile picture of the author MaxReferrals
    Welcome and congratulations!

    In it's simplest sense, a long code is just a phone number: eg: 2125551234
    Whereas a short code, is a shortened phone #12345. Short codes depend on the country you're in. (In US they are either 5 or 6 digits, UK 6-8) There are also two type of SC: dialing and messaging (another discussion in itself.)

    Here's further info (no affiliation) with pros and cons:

    HIH
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3921510].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TheLocalCoach
      There's a lot of misinformation out there about Long Codes. Twice in the past week, I heard both a consultant and a CEO of a short code company make completely inaccurate statements about Long Codes!

      Long Codes are regular ten-digit phone numbers that have been provisioned for commercial text traffic. Long codes are not delivered via SMTP and are true SMS.

      And unlike SMTP or Short Codes, Long Codes have 100% deliverability, because they are not carrier-specific. There are 100+ wireless carriers in the U.S. alone, and it's a very expensive and time-consuming process to register each Short Code with each carrier. Thus, most Short Codes neglect some of the smaller, regional wireless carriers. There may a few Short Codes registered with all 100+ carriers, but we have clients who regularly report deliverabiltiy issues over their Short Codes.

      The other big difference is that traffic over Long Codes is slower- like a garden hose vs. a fire hose. Long Codes are no good if you're opting in at a baseball stadium or trying to broadcast a tornado alert. Most small businesses, however, will have no problem with the speed of a Long Code.

      Because you can give each client their own long code, Keywords are free and there's no sharing of Keywords, so it gives businesses the ability to segment their customer base so you are not just building one big list. Segmenting allows you to target your text blasts and track your ROI, increasing your response rates and decreasing your opt-out rates.

      There is a place for both Long Codes and Short Codes in the market, and each has specialized uses. YeeZ Mobile offers customers the choice, each time they send or receive, to pick whether they want the traffic to go over a Short or a Long Code.

      Hope this helps Winnie!
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3927176].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author winjo2280
        Thanks Jay, great information on the difference of long code vs. short code. As you explained, there is a place to use one or the other and giving the client the ability to choose the long or short code (or both) can be a good selling point.


        Checked out YeeZ Mobile and its really great that you can offer the use of long or short codes. I haven't found any other vendor, as of yet, that offers this. Most just offer the short code.


        Again, thanks for the clarification.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3943400].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author javarog
    hey Jay,, emailed the yeez for info and no return email,, tried calling and no answer back,, was interested and looking for info ,, maybe you can help out with that.
    Signature

    And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

    Abraham Lincoln

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3928314].message }}

Trending Topics