SMS might be the new kid on the marketing block, but event promoters are quickly seeing its value. With high engagement rates, broad reach, and affordability, it’s no wonder SMS marketing generates $71 in revenue on average for every dollar spent.
But before you dive into your first campaign, there's an important choice to make: which SMS number type to use. It might seem like a small detail, but this decision is crucial to your campaigns’ success, affecting everything from message deliverability to fan engagement. While some may assume there’s only one default option, knowing that you have a choice can make all the difference in improving your results.
To make this decision easier, we'll break down the different number types, their pros and cons, and Hive’s recommended approach.
Overview of SMS number types
SMS numbers come in various forms, each serving a unique purpose. For text marketing, event promoters have three main options: toll-free numbers, short codes, and 10-digit long codes (10DLC). Understanding the differences between these types is key to making the most of SMS marketing for your events. But before we dive into number types, here are some key terms you’ll want to know to help you navigate the world of SMS marketing:
- MPS: Stands for ‘messages per second’, which represents the number of messages your SMS number can send per second.
- Filtering: A process conducted by cell phone carriers to check the content of SMS messages and "filter" messages they think are spam or don't comply with regulations.
- Campaign: The specific types of messages that are sent to your subscribers, such as promotions, alerts, or updates.
1. Toll-free numbers
Toll-free numbers are a versatile and cost-effective choice for SMS marketing, provided to all Hive clients at no extra cost. This makes them an appealing alternative to short codes and 10DLC, which often come with setup and registration fees.
These numbers are flexible enough to scale with your needs, whether you’re managing low- or high-volume messaging. Thanks to Hive’s custom agreements with service providers, verification is quick—typically within one business day, but Hive guarantees it won’t take longer than three. This speed is unique to Hive, unlike other providers, which often take longer and may come with additional fees.
Performance-wise, toll-free numbers offer a strong starting throughput of 3 MPS, and can be scaled past 100 MPS when needed for high-volume senders or extremely time-sensitive campaigns. Meanwhile, filtering is automatically detected and resolved by Hive’s service provider rather than being done at the carrier level. This means issues are handled faster than other SMS options. This makes toll-free numbers a reliable and efficient choice for event promoters who need a scalable and cost-effective SMS solution.