Short Code – All You Need to Know for Successful Use

Jacob Morrow

Updated: 2025-12-26

4399 Views, 5 min read

If you are running a business, you're well aware that SMS marketing can bring amazing results. Interestingly enough, last year, more than 70% of users decided to subscribe and receive promotional texts from various businesses. This is where short codes come into play. In this article, you'll learn what a short code is and how to get it.

Part 1: Short Code Explained

What is a Short Code?

The most important question that we need to answer is what is a short code in the first place.

In essence, a short code is a type of phone number that is shorter than the regular ones, typically ranging from 5 to 6 digits. You can utilize this special number to send and receive SMS and MMS messages, and that's why we often refer to it as the SMS short code.

This tool has proven to be invaluable for businesses as it facilitates communication with consumers. For instance, you can set it up to use it in your marketing campaigns, send notifications to your customers, and even for two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of protection. Being this versatile, it is easy to understand why the short code SMS has become such a popular tool.

Different Types of SMS Short Codes

Since a short code number is so versatile, it is only logical that there are different types of it to satisfy every possible use case. Namely, there are four main types of short codes that you can get, which are:

Shared Short Codes
As their name suggests, these codes are used by multiple businesses at the same time. However, there are slight differences as each business can use unique keywords. For example, you might be using the SMS short code “12345” for your pizza restaurant, along with other businesses. Your brand might use the keyword “PIZZA” while a clothing brand might use “FASHION”. Many business owners prefer shared short codes as they are an affordable option, even though some mobile carriers have started phasing them out.
Dedicated Short Codes
A dedicated short code is a five- or six-digit phone number that belongs to a single business. This means that you are no longer restricted to a specific keyword, meaning that you gain flexibility over your SMS marketing campaigns. At the same time, they are one of the most secure options since you don't share the short code number with any other brand.
Vanity Short Codes
A vanity short code is a number that you select for your business. With this type of number, you have the option to select a memorable short code that will remain in the minds of your customers. For instance, you might select an easy number with the same digits repeating or select a number that ties to your business in a way, such as the year it was founded.
Random Short Codes
Contrary to vanity short codes, random ones are assigned to you randomly by your service provider. The main reason to get a random number is its price as it is significantly more affordable. However, you have no power to make it memorable.

Part 2: Why and When to Use Short Codes

Pros of SMS short codes

We have briefly mentioned that short codes are versatile tools with many advantages. But what exactly are these benefits? Here is what this tool offers:

Scalability – this tool has been designed to satisfy the needs of every business, even large corporations. For this reason, they can easily handle the high volumes of messages that you must send in large-scale marketing campaigns.
Memorability – these numbers are short in length and easy to remember. Especially if you go for a vanity and dedicated short code, you can make it very memorable for your customers.
Enhanced open rates – consumers nowadays are mostly on their phones, and that's why mobile marketing seems to work better than printed ads. In addition to this, SMS messages have significantly higher open rates compared to other mediums, such as emails. Your customers are more likely to open your text message within a few minutes since they receive it.
Boost engagement – an SMS is a low-pressure communication method. This means that your customers can interact with your business whenever they feel like it. Moreover, you can use this tool to conduct polls and surveys without putting pressure on your clients.
Speed – you can rest assured that the messages you will send through a short code SMS will be delivered almost instantly to your subscribers. This is crucial for your time-sensitive campaigns, such as flash sales.
Security – Many companies are utilizing this tool for implementing two-factor authentication. Therefore, you can add an extra layer of protection to your processes, a fact that can also boost your customers' trust.
Cost-effective – when it comes to marketing campaigns, you need to consider the cost. Compared to other marketing channels, SMS marketing is a rather affordable option that can fit even in your tight budget.

When to Use a Short Code?

Now that you know what is a short code and its main advantages, it's time to explain when you can use it. The most significant use cases of this tool are the following:

Marketing campaigns– SMS short codes are super versatile and you can implement them into your marketing campaigns. For example, you can communicate your sales and discounts, and even organize text-to-win contests.
Interactive campaigns – there might come a time when you want to research your audience and learn more about their preferences and needs, or simply let your audience make a selection. An SMS campaign is a great way to engage with your customer base and learn more about them through voting, polling, and other interactive activities. One of the most well-known cases for this is voting via SMS on reality shows and competitions.
Important notifications – with this tool, you can quickly send important updates and reminders to your customers. For instance, you can send the shipping status of an order and other delivery notifications.
Two-factor authentication – when users need to make payments online, they are always worried about their security. Therefore, implementing two-factor authentication will give them peace of mind. For instance, banks are usually utilizing shortcodes to verify the transaction.

Part 3: Examples of successful marketing campaigns

1. Coca-Cola's Text-to-win Campaign

Coca-Cola is a huge corporation that invests a lot in its marketing campaigns. A prime example of this is the "Share a Coke" campaign, which allowed users to personalize their favorite soda. In this campaign, people could text a keyword to a short code to personalize virtual Coke bottles with their names.

Another great example is Coca-Cola's text-to-win campaigns. For example, consumers could find a unique code on their bottles, which they could send to a short code number to get SMS and data bundles.

short-code-example-coca-cola-kenya-text-to-win

2. Voting on American Idol

One of the most well-known use cases of this tool is in reality TV show voting. Reality competitions ask their viewers to vote for their favorite contestant via an SMS.

"American Idol" is a great example of that, as each week, viewers can vote on which performance and contestant they want to continue on the show. The programs usually show a card with all of the contestants'names, shortcodes, and keywords.

3. Unicef Donations

Many non-profit organizations utilize short codes for donations that will help those in need. For instance, organizations are using this technique for relief during natural disasters.

A great example of this is Unicef's campaign for the children who fled Syria. People that wanted to donate, could text a specific keyword to send a predetermined amount to the cause.

4. Pizza Hut's Text-to-Order Campaign

One more example we are going to examine is Pizza Hut's text-to-order campaign. In this case, the company asked their customers to place their orders via text to take advantage of exclusive deals.

short-code-example-pizza-hut-text-to-order

5. Get Your Guide's Text Confirmation

However, this method isn't used just for marketing purposes. You can set up this number to send important notifications and status updates to your customers.

A great example of that is how the app GetYourGuide sends a text message to confirm the user's reservation and provide a link to the activity tickets that they have purchased.

Expand Your Reach with EngageLab's Global SMS Solutions

While dedicated short codes offer high throughput and brand recognition, they often come with lengthy setup processes and regional limitations. EngageLab provides a powerful, globally-accessible alternative—enabling you to launch SMS campaigns quickly and reliably across over 200 countries and territories, without the wait.

Why Choose EngageLab for Your Business Messaging?

EngageLab delivers a complete suite of SMS tools designed to meet diverse communication needs:

One-Time Passwords (OTP) Two-Factor Authentication for enhanced security
Targeted SMS marketing campaigns with personalization and scheduling
System notifications & transactional alerts to keep users informed

All of this is available through an intuitive platform that helps you automate, track, and optimize every message—so you can focus on engagement, not infrastructure.

With EngageLab, your data security and regulatory compliance are handled proactively. Our platform adheres to international data privacy and cybersecurity standards, supports automation to accelerate workflows, and offers real-time analytics to monitor campaign success.

How to Launch Your First SMS Campaign with EngageLab

Get Started For Free

Configure
User Access Navigate to Authorization settings to add team members as SMS users, specifying names and permissions as needed.
Creat & Submit Your Template
Go to Template Management, choose your SMS type (verification, notification, or marketing), and design your message. Submit for audit—approvals are handled daily on business days.

Set Up and Send Your Campaign
Under SMS Send, select your template, upload or input recipient numbers, choose your sending time, and launch your campaign.

Conclusion

The short code is a powerful tool for businesses looking to enhance their communication strategies and marketing campaigns. With EngageLab, you have the opportunity to get the most out of your SMS strategies by creating effective campaigns that reach your customers globally. Sign up for EngageLab today and take advantage of the free trial to discover its full potential.