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Chicken Licken bravely debones a rare phobia with their latest campaign
Joe Public 2 days



We've all seen and heard about them. They're advertised on the back of cars, on billboards, as entry points for most radio and reality show competitions, used to drive magazine subscriptions, and retailers use them to share billing and in-store promotions. The Premium Rate SMS or Short Code, as it's commonly referred to, is that five digit set of numbers we've all used at one time or another. But, as with most techno-driven trends, how familiar are you with how the Short Code system actual works, and all its associated benefits for your company, brand or service?
Well, you must already know that there are key benefits to using the Premium Rate SMS if so many companies and brands use them recurrently. And you would be right.
A successful Premium Rate SMS campaign will easily expand your brand's exposure, increase sales and deliver on your strategic marketing goals - if done well that is.
So here are five important steps to consider when putting together a Premium Rate SMS or Short Code campaign:
Dedicated short codes are just that - dedicated to one client. It's more costly to set up, but the benefits are that you hold the same short code for multiple campaigns. What this allows is easy brand association. Your customers will automatically associate this short code with your company and allow them to enjoy a single digital touch point with your company.
A shared short code, while less costly to set up, doesn't offer the same assurance that your customers have a direct digital touch point with your company or brand. If they miss the associated keyword, their messages and personal data will end up in someone else's report. Your customers have lost out on communicating with you, lost money in the process, and you have lost those customers messages to you.
Most short codes used for donations work well with a R10 tariff band, while the trend for dealerships, which regularly have customers requesting information, will generally have a R1 tariff band associated with that short code service. South African law demands that all tariff bands be advertised clearly to all potential customers.