Can You Put Hyperlinks In Text Messages?

Looking to find a trick for including hyperlinks in your next text?

If you’re here, you’ve probably been searching for a way to add hyperlinks into your text messages.

Well, we have good news and bad news. 

The bad news is, you can’t technically put a hyperlink into a text message. 

The good news? You can still add a link to almost any text message. If you’re feeling a little confused about the difference between links and hyperlinks, you’re not alone.

We’ll explain the difference between the two, show you how easy texting links can be, and give you some inside information on how to use links to perfect future campaigns.

What’s The Difference Between Links and Hyperlinks?

While links and hyperlinks both direct you to a web page when you click on them, the difference is in the look of the link itself.

A hyperlink is activated by clicking on a highlighted word or phrase. A regular link is simply a URL that’s not embedded in any text. 

To give you an example, here are two versions of the link to our Ultimate SMS Marketing Guide:

No matter how you format them, adding links to your texts gives you the chance to extend your messages beyond the character limits and deepen your customer connection.

How to Add a Link to a Text Message

The big question is, how do you send a link over text? There’s just one easy step to follow. To include a link in any text message, just type or paste the full URL into your text.

Most messaging platforms will automatically turn the URL into a link that allows contacts to click and access the linked page.

Shortening Links 

You can also use a URL shortener to reduce the length of the URL you include in your message.

For SimpleTexting users, including short URL links in your texts is as easy as copying and pasting your link, then pressing the paperclip icon at the top of the message box.

Not only does the link shortener save you valuable characters, it converts your link into a tracking tool accessible from your analytics dashboard.

Let’s say we want to share a new blog post with our contacts.

So, we’d insert the link right into the message box. If you’re adding a link to a message with other information in it, write your text out as usual, then paste in the link. 

Then, click the URL shortener button.

And that’s that. Your contacts will receive a shortened version of the link you included.

How to Track Link Click-through Rate

Once you text out a shortened URL, you can track your message in real-time to see who has clicked on your link.

To find your click-through rate (CTR), click on “Analytics” from the side menu. Then, scroll down to the bottom of the page and find your text campaign.

This page will give you all the information you need, including how many messages were successfully sent, delivered, and opened. 

You’ll also be able to see how many people responded to your campaign or unsubscribed. 

To view your CTR, scroll all the way to the right until you see “Clicked” and “CTR.”

Knowing your campaign’s CTR will help you measure its success based on how many people clicked.

That knowledge means you can refine your future campaigns by segmenting your list based on which contacts interacted with the last campaign. You can then send follow-up messages based on that behavior.

Why Include Hyperlinks in Your SMS Strategy?

Many of our customers across various industries have found that sending links is an easy way to communicate lots of information with very few characters. That’s always a good thing when you’re texting.

People value low-effort ways to access the content they want. If you text out a valuable link, you’ve just helped them get the information they need with one click.

Putting hyperlinks in your messages is a great way to get your contacts to engage with your messages, and it will ultimately deepen your connection with your audience.

The Final Word on Texting Links

Links are the Marie Kondo method of textingーthey help you fit lots of good stuff into a small space. 

They’re easy to use, helpful for tracking message success in the long term, and you can use them in any business for any reason. 

Ready to start sending short and sweet links to your contacts? Give SimpleTexting a test drive for 14 days, no credit card required.