Short Code? Yes please! 🙋🏼♀️ This article takes you through what a Short Code is, why it might make sense for your messaging needs, and the available Short Code capabilities within Hustle.
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Why register for a Short Code?
How do I register for a Short Code?
How can I use my existing Short Code with Hustle?
What is a Short Code?
Short Codes are a type of phone number with 5 or 6 digits that clients can use to communicate with audiences over text message. Short Codes are notably different from local 10-digit area numbers in a number of important ways:
- Hustle offers short code use for US messaging only; we do not support short code in Canada at this time.
- Short codes are also only available for clients using Broadcast to send messages (they cannot currently be used to send messages in Hustle groups).
- Short Codes only support text messaging. They cannot send or receive phone calls.
- Short Codes support high sending speeds regardless of TCR / trust score.
- A Short Code is only permitted for use by one brand for one type of messaging usecase (promotional marketing, emergency alerts, voting/polling et al.)
- Short Code registration takes weeks or months depending on the detail included in the registration.
- Short Code registration is expensive. In addition to one time registration fees, recurring carrier fees are between $6,000 and $12,000 per year.
Why register for a Short Code?
For organizations that are awarded a Short Code, they enjoy a very fast pace of message delivery, a shorter more memorable number, and a high degree of trust with their audiences.
When using a Short Code with Hustle, higher media file size limits supports use of Hustle’s video messaging features like Clips. Additionally, for Brands with lower TCR / Trust Scores that limit message sending speeds with 10-digit local area numbers, Short Code is not subject to 10DLC Brand Scores and sending speeds are much faster 🔥
How do I register for a Short Code?
✋ Before you start: To acquire a Shortcode, customers must go through a manual registration process that takes anywhere from 3-4 weeks to 3-4 months to receive approval. Use of a Short Code is highly regulated by Mobile Carriers, so their use is narrowly defined during the registration process. Additionally, there are large custodial fees associated with registration and management of a Short Code. These are not small barriers to entry for most organizations.
To register for a new Short Code with Hustle, contact your Client Success Manager. If you do not know who your client success manager is contact support@hustle.com.
🛑 For Registering any Short Code with Hustle, the following information will be required:
- Legal Company Name
- Company Address
- Company Website URL
- Terms and Conditions URL
- Whether you'd like a Vanity Short Code (you get to select it) or a Random Short Code
- Estimated Daily Message Volume
- The Type of Program (e.g. Donation, Emergency Alerts, Promotional Marketing, Political, Voting/Polling)
- How subscribers will opt in (e.g. Web, Point of Sale, Keyword, IVR, Verbal, Other)
- Supporting information for the selected opt in method (e.g. Signup URL, link to screenshot, Keyword to opt-in, IVR phone number and script, etc).
- How mobile subscribers will be made aware of your campaign (e.g. Point of Sale, Print, Radio, TV, Web)
- A 1-2 sentence description of what the campaign promotes
- The Opt-in Interaction / CTA with subscribers (CTA should include: program, brand name or product description, method of opt-in (e.g. keyword), product quantity or recurring message disclosure, 'Msg&Data rates may apply" disclosure, and link to T&Cs & privacy policy)
- The exact behavior the subscriber will take to initiate the opt-in
- The response to subscribers who opt-in to receive messages
- The response provided to subscribers for the Double opt-in requirement
- The confirmation message audiences will receive when they subscribe
- The message audiences receive when they text HELP to your Short Code
- The message audiences will receive when they unsubscribe
- Sample Program-related Messages to Subscribers
How can I use my existing Short Code with Hustle?
To migrate a Short Code to Hustle, in addition to the recurring carrier fees to maintain a Short Code, there is a one-time carrier migration fee of $1,150. If using your Short Code with Hustle, it cannot be used to send messages with any other tools.
To migrate an Existing Short Code to Hustle, contact your Client Success Manager. If you do not know who your client success manager is contact support@hustle.com.
🛑 For Short Code migration, additional information will be required:
- A copy of your most recent CSCA (Common Short Code Administration) lease receipt that demonstrates ownership of a specific Short Code
Once the above information is collected by your Hustle Client Success Manager, Hustle will review and submit the registration or migration request. Those at the Mobile Carriers responsible for reviewing the application may reach out to Hustle with questions and comments that require your attention in order for registration to proceed speedily. Hustle will be in touch as needed when questions and comments are received that require action 🙌
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Short Code to Message audiences in Canada?
Short Codes are not currently available for Canadian Hustle Organizations.
Where do I add my Short Code to Hustle?
Once your Short Code is successfully registered or migrated, Hustle’s support team will add your registered Short Code to a specific Hustle Inbox in an Organization of your choosing. Short Codes are not available for Hustle Groups.
Can I use my existing message allowance with my Short Code?
Yes. Hustle provides customers the flexibility to use your existing message allowance to send messages with, whether the phone number is a 10-digit local area number, toll free number, or Short Code.