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SMS Marketing: How to Use Short Links for SMS?

Hassaan Khan
7 minutes
short links for SMS

Looking for a way to reach your customers and increase engagement in a way that doesn’t get lost in their inboxes? Enter SMS marketing! With an incredible average open rate of 98%, SMS marketing offers a direct, effective, and engaging way to reach your target audience.

But why stop there? You can take your SMS marketing to the next level with the use of short links. By integrating shortened URLs into your SMS messages, you can not only save valuable character space but also gain valuable insights into your audience’s behavior.

So, whether you’re a small business owner looking to reach more customers or a marketer looking to take your campaigns to the next level, SMS marketing with short links can help you achieve your goals. 

Get ready to discover how short links can help you revolutionize your SMS marketing campaigns and reach your target audience with an even greater impact. So, let’s jump in and explore the possibilities!

Also Read: 17 Successful Black Friday Marketing Strategies

What is SMS marketing?

SMS marketing is a digital marketing strategy that involves sending promotional text messages to customers and potential customers. SMS stands for Short Message Service, which is the technical term for text messaging. SMS marketing allows businesses to communicate with their customers in a direct and immediate way, without the need for email, social media, or other forms of digital marketing.

What are short links for SMS marketing?

Short links for SMS are shortened URLs that are used in SMS marketing messages to save valuable character space and improve tracking and analytics. Short links work by redirecting the user to the intended landing page or website while tracking data such as clicks, time spent on the page, and conversion rates.

When sending SMS messages, businesses often have a limited number of characters to work with. By using short links, they can include more information in their messages while still maintaining a clear and concise message. Short links also allow businesses to track click-through rates and other valuable data that can be used to optimize their SMS marketing campaigns.

To create a short link, businesses can use a URL shortening tool, which takes a long URL and converts it into a faster, more manageable link. Many of these tools also offer analytics and tracking capabilities to help businesses gain insights into their SMS marketing campaigns. Short links are an essential component of SMS marketing, helping businesses to engage customers, drive traffic, and ultimately increase sales.

Also Read: Benefits of Using Branded Short Links

How to get started with short links for SMS marketing?

Getting started with short links for SMS marketing has never been easier! All you need to do is sign up for a link shortener tool and you’re good to go. But, with so many options out there, how do you know which one to choose? 

  • Choose a link-shortening tool: 

Replug is the best choice! As an industry leader, Replug offers a range of powerful features for link shortening, tracking, and analysis, making it an ideal tool for SMS marketing. Don’t settle for less when it comes to your SMS marketing – sign up for Replug today and start seeing results!

URL shortener tool

  • Create your shortened link: 

Let’s say you choose Replug as your link-shortening tool. You can create a shortened link for your SMS campaign by simply pasting your original URL into Replug’s dashboard and generating a new, shortened link.

shortened the URL

If you are promoting a sale on your website, for example, your shortened link could look like this: Replug.link/spring-sale. This link is short, memorable, and clearly communicates the purpose of the campaign.

Here’s how to create a shortened link with Replug!

  • Use custom domain: 

You can further personalize your shortened links by using custom domains or branded links. This involves creating a custom domain that reflects your brand name and using that domain to create shortened links. 

custom domain

For example, if your brand name is “ABC Pizza,” you could create a custom domain like “abcpizza.link” and use it to create shortened links for your SMS campaigns, like “abcpizza.link/newflavor.” 

This adds an extra layer of personalization to your SMS marketing efforts and can help increase brand recognition and trust. 

Here’s how to create a custom domain with Replug! 

  • Track your links: 

Once you have sent out your SMS campaign, you can use Replug’s analytics features to track the performance of your link. For example, you can see how many clicks your link received and where those clicks came from.

links analytics

  • Include a call to action: 

To encourage customers to click on your shortened link, include a clear call-to-action in your SMS message. For example, you could say “Click here to try our new pizza flavor!” with the shortened link included in the message.

  • Test your links: 

Before sending out your SMS campaign, test your shortened link by clicking on it and making sure it takes you to the correct destination. You can also use Replug’s link testing tool to check if your link is working properly.

Also Read: Benefits Of A Link Rotator: Why & When To Use Rotating Links?

Why use short links for SMS marketing?

Short links are a must-have tool for businesses looking to up their SMS marketing game. By using shortened links in SMS marketing, businesses can save space in messages, track engagement, provide a better user experience, increase brand recognition, and optimize campaigns for better results. Here are some compelling reasons why use short links for SMS marketing!

  • Save space in SMS messages: 

SMS messages have a 160-character limit, so every character counts. Shortened links take up less space, giving businesses more room to communicate their message effectively. For example, a retailer can send a message with a shortened link to a product page, allowing them to provide a brief description and the link in one message.

  • Track engagement: 

Shortened links can be used to track clicks and engagement, giving businesses valuable data on the effectiveness of their campaigns. For instance, a charity can send an SMS message with a shortened link to a donation page. By tracking clicks on the link, they can determine the success of the campaign and adjust future campaigns accordingly.

  • Provide a better mobile user experience: 

Most people access SMS messages on their mobile devices, and shortened links can lead to a better user experience on these devices. For example, an airline can send an SMS message with a shortened link to a mobile boarding pass, making it easy for passengers to access and use the pass on their mobile devices.

  • Increase brand recognition: 

Shortened links can be customized with branded domains, helping to increase brand recognition and trust. A fashion brand can send an SMS message with a shortened link to a new collection, using a branded domain like “www.fashionbrandname.com/newcollection“.

  • A/B testing: 

Shortened links can be used for A/B testing and optimization of SMS campaigns. For example, an online retailer can send two different SMS messages with different shortened links to a product page and track which link receives more clicks. They can then optimize future campaigns for increased engagement.

Also Read: Brand Consistency:  Build Brand Consistency Using Branded Links

Short link success stories: Brands that have aced SMS marketing with short links

Here are some examples of how brands are using short links for SMS marketing:

Dunkin’ Donuts: 

Dunkin’ Donuts uses SMS marketing to send exclusive deals and promotions to its customers. To track the success of their campaigns, they use shortened links that lead customers to a landing page with the offer. This allows Dunkin’ Donuts to measure the engagement and optimize their campaigns for better results.

Subway: 

Subway uses SMS marketing to send coupons and special offers to its customers. To provide a better user experience, they use shortened links that lead customers to a mobile-friendly coupon page. This allows customers to easily redeem the offer on their mobile devices.

Coca-Cola: 

Coca-Cola uses SMS marketing to promote new products and events to its customers. To increase brand recognition, they use custom domains for their shortened links. For example, they might use a link like “www.coke.com/newproduct” to promote a new product launch.

Nordstrom: 

Nordstrom uses SMS marketing to send personalized recommendations to its customers. To track engagement and improve their recommendations, they use shortened links that lead customers to a product page with more information about the recommended item.

Zara: 

Zara uses SMS marketing to promote new collections and limited-time offers to its customers. To increase engagement and drive sales, they use shortened links that lead customers to a product page with the featured collection or offer.

These are just a few examples of how brands are using short links for SMS marketing to enhance their campaigns and achieve their marketing goals.

Also Read: Top 22 Personal Branding Tools To Upscale Your Marketing

FAQs

What is a short link?

A short link is a condensed URL that redirects to a longer destination URL. It is typically used to save space in messages and track link clicks.

Also Read: How to Disguise a Link Using a URL Shortener?

How do I create a short link for SMS marketing?

To create a short link for SMS marketing, you can use link shortener tools such as Replug, or TinyURL. Simply paste your long URL into the tool and it will generate a shortened link for you to use in your SMS messages.

How do I track engagement with short links in SMS marketing?

Most link shortener tools provide analytics and tracking features that allow you to track clicks and engagement on your shortened links. This can give you valuable data on the effectiveness of your campaigns and help you optimize future campaigns for better results.

Can I customize my short links with a branded domain?

Yes, many link shortener tools allow you to customize your short links with a branded domain, which can help increase brand recognition and trust.

How can I optimize my SMS marketing campaigns using short links?

You can optimize your SMS marketing campaigns using short links by conducting A/B testing, analyzing engagement data, and adjusting your campaigns based on the insights you gain. This can help you improve the effectiveness of your campaigns and achieve better results.

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Hassaan Khan
Hassaan Khan is a freelance writer for SAAS companies, e-commerce stores, and niche websites. He has contributed to SEMrush, ThriveGlobal, BloggingCage, AllBloggingTips, and several other publications. He builds niche websites, publishes e-books, and helps website investors with his done-for-you niche site-building service.

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