In text messaging, a keyword is a specific word or phrase that recipients can send to a designated short code, long code, or toll-free number to trigger a predefined action or response. Keywords are commonly used in SMS marketing, customer service, and other text messaging campaigns. Here's what they are typically used for:
1. Opt-In to a Campaign
- Recipients text a keyword (e.g., "JOIN" or "SUBSCRIBE") to a number to opt-in to receive messages or join a specific campaign.
- Example: Text "VOTE" to 12345 to participate in a live poll.
2. Request for Information
- Keywords allow customers to request specific information or services.
- Example: Text "HOURS" to 56789 to receive store hours.
3. Engage with a Promotion or Contest
- Keywords are used to participate in contests, giveaways, or promotions.
- Example: Text "WIN" to 78901 to enter a contest.
4. Customer Support
- Businesses use keywords to direct customers to appropriate support channels.
- Example: Text "HELP" to 12345 for assistance.
5. Conduct Surveys or Collect Feedback
- Recipients can text a keyword to participate in surveys or provide feedback.
- Example: Text "RATE" to 98765 to share your experience.
6. Manage Subscriptions
- Keywords like "STOP" or "UNSUBSCRIBE" let recipients opt out of receiving further messages.
- Example: Text "STOP" to 54321 to unsubscribe from a service.
7. Drive Engagement
- Keywords encourage interaction and engagement with the audience.
- Example: Text "YES" to confirm attendance or "NO" to decline.
Benefits of Keywords
- Easy to Remember: Simple and intuitive for users to interact with.
- Automated Response: Triggers predefined messages, making communication efficient.
- Trackable: Enables businesses to measure the performance of specific campaigns.
If you're setting up keywords for your campaigns, ensure they align with your goals and are easy for users to understand and use. A keyword identifies your campaign and shall be short and intuitive, for example send 'Golf' to register to the Golf club.
Please note that there shall not be any special characters like _, #, $ etc in your keywords.