Short Codes vs. Long Codes for SMS Marketing
Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 6:11 am
Understanding the fundamental differences between short codes and long codes is crucial for businesses in Bangladesh when planning and executing their SMS marketing strategy. Each type of number offers distinct advantages and is best suited for specific use cases, impacting deliverability, cost, and campaign type.
Short Codes are typically 5 or 6-digit numbers (e.g., 20000, 30000) specifically designed for high-volume, application-to-person (A2P) SMS messaging.
Advantages:
Higher Throughput: Can send significantly more messages per second, making them ideal for mass campaigns or urgent alerts.
Enhanced Deliverability: Less likely to be filtered as spam by mobile operators, due to their official registration and association with legitimate businesses.
Memorability: Easy to remember and use for "text-to-join" campaigns or public responses (e.g., "Text 'JOIN' to 20000").
Trust and Professionalism: Often associated with reputable organizations, building consumer trust.
Disadvantages:
Higher Cost: More expensive to lease and set up (often involving monthly fees and per-message costs).
Rigorous Approval: Require a phone number data more extensive approval process by mobile operators.
SMS Only: Typically support only SMS (not voice calls).
Best Use Cases: Mass marketing campaigns, high-volume transactional alerts (e.g., bank OTPs, emergency notifications), loyalty programs, two-factor authentication, and large-scale public promotions requiring quick, widespread reach.
Long Codes are standard 10-digit phone numbers (e.g., +880 1XXXXXXXXX) commonly used for individual, person-to-person (P2P) communication, but also adapted for A2P.
Advantages:
More Affordable: Generally less expensive to lease or acquire.
SMS and Voice: Can support both SMS messaging and voice calls, offering versatility.
Two-Way Conversations: Ideal for personalized, two-way interactions (e.g., customer support, sales follow-ups).
Local Feel: A standard local number can feel more personal or less "marketing-oriented" to recipients.
Disadvantages:
Lower Throughput: Significantly slower for bulk messaging compared to short codes.
Higher Spam Risk: More likely to be filtered or flagged as spam if used for high-volume, generic marketing.
Less Memorable: Not as easily remembered for public opt-in campaigns.
Best Use Cases: Customer service, one-to-one sales interactions, appointment reminders, small-scale personalized marketing, providing direct support, and conversational marketing.
Choosing between a short code and a long code depends on your specific campaign's volume requirements, the purpose of your communication, your budget, and the desired level of personalization and interaction. Many businesses in Bangladesh effectively utilize a combination of both for different communication needs.
Short Codes are typically 5 or 6-digit numbers (e.g., 20000, 30000) specifically designed for high-volume, application-to-person (A2P) SMS messaging.
Advantages:
Higher Throughput: Can send significantly more messages per second, making them ideal for mass campaigns or urgent alerts.
Enhanced Deliverability: Less likely to be filtered as spam by mobile operators, due to their official registration and association with legitimate businesses.
Memorability: Easy to remember and use for "text-to-join" campaigns or public responses (e.g., "Text 'JOIN' to 20000").
Trust and Professionalism: Often associated with reputable organizations, building consumer trust.
Disadvantages:
Higher Cost: More expensive to lease and set up (often involving monthly fees and per-message costs).
Rigorous Approval: Require a phone number data more extensive approval process by mobile operators.
SMS Only: Typically support only SMS (not voice calls).
Best Use Cases: Mass marketing campaigns, high-volume transactional alerts (e.g., bank OTPs, emergency notifications), loyalty programs, two-factor authentication, and large-scale public promotions requiring quick, widespread reach.
Long Codes are standard 10-digit phone numbers (e.g., +880 1XXXXXXXXX) commonly used for individual, person-to-person (P2P) communication, but also adapted for A2P.
Advantages:
More Affordable: Generally less expensive to lease or acquire.
SMS and Voice: Can support both SMS messaging and voice calls, offering versatility.
Two-Way Conversations: Ideal for personalized, two-way interactions (e.g., customer support, sales follow-ups).
Local Feel: A standard local number can feel more personal or less "marketing-oriented" to recipients.
Disadvantages:
Lower Throughput: Significantly slower for bulk messaging compared to short codes.
Higher Spam Risk: More likely to be filtered or flagged as spam if used for high-volume, generic marketing.
Less Memorable: Not as easily remembered for public opt-in campaigns.
Best Use Cases: Customer service, one-to-one sales interactions, appointment reminders, small-scale personalized marketing, providing direct support, and conversational marketing.
Choosing between a short code and a long code depends on your specific campaign's volume requirements, the purpose of your communication, your budget, and the desired level of personalization and interaction. Many businesses in Bangladesh effectively utilize a combination of both for different communication needs.