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V3: Everything Short Code
V3: Everything Short Code

All you need to know about our shared short code SCK

Anne Heath avatar
Written by Anne Heath
Updated over a week ago

2024.01.17

Previously, we offered our PastorsLine shared short code (77411) and toll-free numbers to improve the sending rate of your texts and to help you avoid carriers filtering your text messages to spam.

Since then, all PastorsLine numbers have become ‘recognized’ numbers in the new A2P 10DLC system. As a result, they have been given trust scores. These trust scores mean that mobile carriers should not filter your texts as spam, and the sending rates should be higher.

The recommendation now is to use your local, 10-digit PastorsLine number.

What is a short code vs. long code?

Short codes are usually 5-6 digits in length. A long code is a 10-digit phone number with a local area code. The use of our PastorsLine shared short code is currently available only in the US and is shared by all of our churches. Our PastorsLine shared short code is 77411.

Why do I need to use it?

You may not need to depending on your church's needs and use of texting.

Here are some pros. Do any of them match your texting needs?

1. Easier to remember

Short codes (being shorter) seem easier to say, remember, and may encourage your members or visitors to take action to a greater extent. This is more important when engaging with visitors or people who haven’t yet seen or will repeatedly see your campaign. So, telling someone to text WELCOME to 77411 may be more effective than telling someone to text WELCOME to (844) 285-1815.

This is especially relevant for large, opt-in campaigns. In an opt-in campaign, the person texts a special trigger word (called a “keyword”) in order to be added to your list. If this is being done in front of a live audience, a short code may be the better option for a speedy delivery.

If you are a large organization sending hundreds or thousands of messages at once, this is still your fastest option. You can use the PastorsLine shared short code 77411. If you can afford it and want complete control, you can buy your own short code. Yet, it is expensive.

2. Faster sending rate

Another reason a short code is ideal for mass messaging is because you send the messages faster. With PastorsLine, you can process up to 100 SMS/second with a short code in theory as opposed to 4–75 SMS/sec with local numbers.

3. Avoid carrier filtering

Using a short code is still a great way to significantly reduce carrier filtering. However, it is not the only or even best way.

As we mentioned above, all of PastorsLine’s numbers are successfully registered with the A2P 10DLC number protocol. This means that they are ‘trusted’ numbers, known to the mobile carriers, and should not be filtered as spam.

Read more about short and long codes here.

How do I send group or individual messages from the short code?

How do I use keywords with the short code to trigger automations?

Because the short code number is shared with all of our churches, short code keywords have to be reserved ahead of time.

  1. HERE is how you reserve those keywords. Read more about short code keywords on that page too.

  2. HERE is how you can tell if your keyword will be "free" or you will need to pay for the use of it. HERE is how you can use our estimator to find out exactly how much it will cost you.

  3. HERE is how you can set up those keywords once you have requested them and they have been added to your account.

  4. HERE is how you can remove old short code keywords you no longer want to use.

For more and different options on what you can do when sending links, check out this article HERE.

Who receives notifications when someone replies to a message sent by the PastorsLine shared short code?

Notifications are tied to whichever user sent the message AND what number they are assigned to. Further details HERE.

For more articles related to Short Codes, click HERE.

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