Short-code registration is a crucial step in the overall process of launching your short-code program. A short code, which is a 5- to 6-digit number, such as 12345, is used by opt-in texting programs to send large volumes of messages from a single, memorable number. A well-run registration can be the difference between your organization texting subscribers in only a few weeks or having to wait a few months or longer.
The good news? The Scale to Win registration experts are here to help you through this complex process and get you texting faster than any other short-code provider.
By working closely with the Scale to Win registration team, you can effectively manage timelines and avoid potential delays, allowing you to focus on your core communication and fundraising mission.
In this blog post, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about short-code registration from our clients and partners, plus some more basic questions about short code generally. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact our team. If you’re looking for more information on short codes generally, check out our blog post on how to get started with short-code texting.
FAQs about short-code registration:
What’s different about short-code texting with Scale to Win?
What is unique about the Scale to Win registration process?
How do I get a short-code number?
What is the process for creating a new short-code number?
How does a short-code number transfer work?
What’s different about short-code texting with Scale to Win?
Unlike other short-code tools, Scale to Win Text is an all-in-one platform that allows you to manage all of your texting in one place, whether sending with a short code, 10DLC, or toll-free number.
With Scale to Win Text, your scripts, subscribers, and opt-out lists are right in the tool, so you won’t waste time constantly importing and exporting information. If one of your campaigns in short code is performing well, you can easily copy it and send it to your toll-free list. Plus, you can easily suppress your short-code subscribers from your long-code texting campaigns, so that you can avoid over-texting your most important contacts while scaling your texting efforts efficiently.
While short-code registrations and transfers can be challenging, our best-in-class registration team has processed thousands of 10DLC, toll-free, and short-code registrations and is uniquely positioned to help you register your short code faster than any other provider.
What is unique about the Scale to Win registration process for a short code?
We might be biased, but we believe the Scale to Win registration team is truly the best in the business, both in terms of their skills and detailed processes.
Due to our tried-and-tested process, Scale to Win short-code applications have a higher success rate and faster approval times than the industry average.
Here are the specific strategies that our team uses to help ensure our clients have the best success rate with short-code registrations ➡️
👥Have a dedicated and experienced registration team
Few organizations in the political and advocacy space offer a dedicated team to help clients with the registration process, with hands-on help and phone support. Our team provides 1:1 support via phone calls, Zoom meetings, email, and ticket help. Additionally, the team has experience in the specialized area of phone number registration.
Registration is a complex and specialized topic, and we’ve invested in training and skill development for our team. They have experience with unique edge cases within the space, including—but not limited to—migrations with different aggregators, migrations within the same aggregators, and launching a short code before a live website or all materials are available. This specialized knowledge within our team about short-code registrations is crucial to client success, enabling your short code to get up and running faster.
📝Manage the entire registration process for clients from end to end
Our dedicated registration team guides clients through each step of the process to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. We advise clients as they start the application and provide examples of previous successful registrations.
If the phone carriers or vendors have questions about any client application, we handle all of the back-and-forth with those groups so the client isn’t bothered by the details. This means that you spend more time texting and less time waiting for your short code to be approved.
🤝Utilize relationships with vendors, aggregators, and carriers
Our team works closely with the key vendors within the space to understand the unique details and advocate for our clients. We’ve done work to explain the political and advocacy use case for texting, so we don’t waste time explaining our clients' unique voter outreach needs.
We are also attentive to carrier feedback and requests. Our registration team will apply the latest knowledge from carriers to each short-code registration case.
Our team has processed thousands of 10DLC, toll-free, and short-code registrations, more than any other texting provider in the campaign and advocacy space. The deep relationships our team has developed allow us to set your program up for success.
📏Provide a precise review of all client applications
Given the complex nature of short-code registrations, our registration team must be precise and accurate with all information they collect and submit to the phone carriers.
Before submitting the client application for a short code, our registration team closely proofreads all documentation to ensure it meets the carriers' standards. We then work with clients to adjust or answer any outstanding questions until we feel confident about the results.
Other vendors typically pass your information directly to the carriers without independent review, which can result in basic mistakes on your submission. These common mistakes can lead to costly delays. Our team’s internal vetting process means your short-code materials are best positioned for quick approval.
How do I get a short-code number?
At Scale to Win, we can help you register for a new short code or transfer an existing one. Registering for a new short code usually takes about six weeks. Check out the FAQ below that outlines the full process for creating a new short-code number.
If you have a short code with another provider and want to migrate, the timeline can vary depending on your current vendor.
On average, we migrate existing short codes within 3 to 4 weeks. However, certain transfer cases may take less time; please contact us for a more detailed estimate.
We make the migration process as quick and easy as possible. For every client, we can help review, proofread, and refine documentation before sending it to the carriers, ensuring the fastest possible acceptance.
What is the process for creating a new short-code number?
With Scale to Win, we guide you through the entire process. Here is the general order of events ➡️
- If you haven’t yet, please meet with our sales team to address any questions about our texting tool and, if applicable, discuss potential enterprise pricing discounts.
- Meet with our compliance team to answer any final questions you may have about the registration process.
- Fill out the new short-code registration form (you’ll need to provide organization info, describe your texting program, explain your opt-in process, submit your website and terms of service links, and choose your short-code lease type).
- The Scale to Win registration team reviews your application and works with you if any changes are required. Our experienced team has worked on every type of use case, ensuring your application has the best chance of approval. We are also happy to provide examples of ideal applications.
- Our team submits your application to the aggregators and carriers
- We work directly with the aggregator and carriers to address any questions they may have or resolve any potential issues. We can review and resubmit any additional information on your behalf.
- Your short code is approved!
For more details on the short-code registration process, check out our guide to short-code registration.
How does a short-code number transfer work?
With Scale to Win, we guide you through the entire process. Here is the general order of events ➡️
- Schedule a call with our registration team to determine the best course of action based on your current provider.
- Request a transfer of your short code and receive confirmation and a lease receipt from your current provider.
- Sign a migration letter to authorize the transfer.
- Fill out the short-code registration form and choose migration (you’ll need to provide your lease receipt, a letter of migration, organization info, description of your texting program, explanation of your opt-in process, submission of your website and terms of service links, and choice of short-code lease type).
- The Scale to Win registration team reviews your application and works with you to address any required changes. Our experienced team has worked on every type of use case, ensuring your application has the best chance of approval. We are happy to provide examples of ideal applications as well.
- Our team submits your transfer application to the aggregators and carriers.
- We work directly with the aggregator and carriers to address any questions they may have or resolve any potential issues.
- Your short code is transferred!
For more details on the short-code registration process, check out our guide to short-code registration.
