We continually get clients that want to use their business name as the sender ID when sending messages. The reason for this is that they feel it is better to be identified as coming from the business name rather than from some random phone number.


While we do not disagree with the logic, we would like to make a case that using a traditional number is superior.


The benefit of using a Response Number over a Custom Sender ID is that recipients can easily respond to your campaign and easily opt-out with a reply.


Most modern phones show the first few lines of the message in the notification, so even before the customer has opened the SMS, they can know who has sent the SMS and what the SMS migth be about.


As an example, here is a message delivered on an iPhone. You can see that the number is displayed but also the identifying business name on the first line and part of the promotion.



If you have your heart set on a Custom Sender ID it is possible to create a spam compliant campaign using a dedicated response number and our Global Opt Out (GOO) List. You can accomplish this by using our opt-out-reply-stop feature.


Dedicated numbers cost $25 per month and come with unlimited keywords. Also when a recipient texts STOP to a dedicated number they are automatically added to the Global Opt Out list for that account. 


The drawback of a custom sender id is that you cannot get replies, if you want people to reply or opt-out they must contact you separately, such as texting a separate number, or making contact in another medium.

Whatever you do, if you are sending a marketing message it is imperative that you include the opt-out instruction, if replies are not important then the Custom Sender ID method is OK.

To set up custom Sender ID


1. Purchase a dedicated number
2. Select "Define a new Sender ID" in your SEND SMS setup screen. Sender ID (cannot be replied to) can have a maximum of 11 characters. Only letters, numbers, underscore, hyphen, space allowed and included in total character count.
3. Add the message Opt-out text STOP to 04XXXXXXXX (your dedicated number) to the bottom of your message as shown in example above.


If you have any marketing questions for our SMS Marketing Guru post them on our Facebook Page or over at our Community Help section.