Everything You Need to Know About Long Code Service Providers

Just like a Croque Monsieur is a fancy word for grilled cheese with ham, a long code is a fancy name for a 10-digit phone number. 

The reason for the distinction is because, believe it or not, text-enabled phone numbers come in all shapes and sizes. There are… 

• Short codes: short codes and dedicated short codes are five-six digit phone numbers, like 555888, that customers can text to sign up for SMS updates. Learn more about how to lease a short code here.
• Toll-free numbers: 10-digit phone numbers that begin with a three-digit toll-free code (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 or 833). 
• Vanity toll-free numbers: This is a toll-free telephone number that, after the three-digit code, spells a name, word, or acronym. For example, 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-888-NEW-CARS.

A long code is another kind of 10-digit number. But instead of a toll-free code, it begins with a three-digit area code.

While any of the number types above can be text-enabled, there are some distinct benefits of using a long code for your SMS communications. 

And with some help from a long code service provider, you can experience them all. 

What Is a Long Code Service Provider?

Organizations like us are able to take your 10-digit business landline number and enable it to send and receive messages virtually. 

From one dashboard you can do everything:

• Send out texts blasts without reply all (feature coming soon)
• Reply directly to incoming messages 
• Schedule messages to send ahead of time
• Create keywords customers can text in to subscribe to further messages
• Set up autoresponders to send days, week or months later

If your business doesn’t have a landline, a long code service provider can also get you a text-enabled number from the area code of your choice. 

Benefits of Using a Long Code

As we mentioned above, there are some benefits to using a long code for your business SMS needs. 

The first and largest being that long codes are supported by all major mobile carriers for business texting purposes. 

In fact, as shared short codes continue to fall out of favor with major carriers in North America, soon 10 DLC may be the only option for text marketing. 

Additionally, using a long code means that the 10-digit number you choose to text enable is unique to your business. Unlike shared short codes where keywords come on a first-come first-serve basis, all keywords are available to each long code. 

Customers can also save your long code as a contact in their phones due to its exclusivity to your business. When they do that, each message they receive will show up as from your business. 

How to Text-Enable Your Long Code

Getting started with a long code service provider is simple. It begins with nailing down the number you’d like to use. You can either:

• Choose to text-enable your existing business landline
• Receive a new toll-free number
• Select a new long code with the area code of your choice

Long code service providers like us will take care of all three options above in house. 

Add in some keywords, web sign-ups forms, and mobile sign-up widgets to get folks signed up to receive your messages and you’re ready to get going! 

[Read: 10 Tips For Text Marketers With a 10-Digit Number]

Still not sure if a long code is the right choice for your business? Check out this article on picking the right phone number for your needs.