Cheapest Texting FAQ

Getting Started Guide

First time using the CheapestTexting dashboard? Here's some tips to get you started.

• How do I edit a campaign or keyword?
• How do I capture my customer responses to my messages?
• How do I get more keywords and subkeywords?
• How do I upload a list of subscribers?
• How do I send a Microblog?
• How do I download a report?

SMS Marketing / Group Text Messaging Basics

New to group text messaging? We've got the answers to all of your questions.

• What is a text message (SMS)?
• Can my phone receive text messages?
• Does my carrier (or my contact's carrier) charge for received messages?
• How many characters may I include in a text message?
• How long does it take to deliver a text message?
• What is a short code?
• Can you guarantee delivery of every text message that I send?
• Can I change the number or set a name that you send my text messages from?

Questions About CheapestTexting's SMS Marketing Service

Have questions about how CheapestTexting works? Explore some common questions that new clients have asked us in the past.

• What is the advantage of using text messaging for marketing/communications?
• How much do text messages cost to send using CheapestTexting?
• Am I required to sign a monthly contract?
• Can I receive replies to the group text messages that I send?
• Can I send a single text message?
• How come some of my contacts didn't receive a text that I sent them?
• Do I pay for text messages that my recipients do not receive?
• What is a Keyword?
• How do Keywords work?
• Can I have any Keyword I want? Are there any limitations?
• Are there rules for how I can promote my Keyword online or in print?
• Why would I need more than 1 Keyword?
• What are 'Available Keywords'?
• Where does CheapestTexting work?
• Do I need to know the provider of my contacts?

Questions About Privacy & Security

CheapestTexting takes your privacy very seriously. We've provided the answers to a number of common privacy questions. You also can read our Privacy Policy.

• Where is my data stored? How do you protect my data?
• Who owns my data?
• Will you send advertisements via text messages to my contacts?
• Is my list of contacts secure? How do you protect my privacy?

Q. How do I edit a campaign or keyword?

A. Click on the Campaigns tab at the top of the page, select a campaign you'd like to edit, click "edit" on the right-hand campaign controls. This will open the campaign wizard. You can click next to go through all of the steps. You can edit each step as needed. When you have made all of your edits, click 'finish'. You can go to the Videos page to watch a walk-through for this.

Q. How do I capture my customer responses to my messages?

A. This is what "subkeywords" are for. Create a subkeyword (example: YES) for one of your campaigns. Then, when you send a message to that campaign, the recipients can reply YES to join that subkeyword. You can then send segmented messages to that subkeyword!

Q. How do I get more keywords and subkeywords?

A. Click on the "+ New Campaign" button on the Campaigns tab at the top of the page to add a keyword, or click on the + in the Subkeywords tab to add a subkeyword. If you do not see these controls, you must enable "Add/Delete Keywords" on your home page.

Q. How do I upload a list of subscribers?

A. Click on the Campaigns tab at the top of the page, select a campaign you'd like to upload subscribers to, click "Subscribers" on top the right-hand panel, click on the "+" button, browse to your list of subscribers (in .csv format), then click "OK.". You can go to the Videos page to watch a walk-through for this.

Q. How do I send a Microblog?

A. Click on the Microblog tab at the top of the page, select a campaign you'd like to send a microblog to, enter your message on the right panel, click send. You can go to the Videos page to watch a walk-through for this.

Q. How do I download a report?

A. Click on the Reports tab at the top of the page, select a campaign you'd like a report for, choose the report you'd like from the right-hand panel. The report will load automatically once selected. To download a report, click the "down arrow" in the upper right. You can go to the Videos page to watch a walk-through for this.

Q: What is a text message (SMS)?

SMS stands for Short Message Service, and it is synonymous with text message, Text, TXT, etc. An SMS (text message) is a short message, which can be sent to and from a cellular phone.

Q: Can my phone receive text messages?

Nearly all phones purchased in the last ten years are capable of sending and receiving text messages.

Q: Does my carrier (or my contact's carrier) charge for received messages?

Every carrier offers different text messaging packages.

Q: How many characters may I include in a text message?

A text message is limited to 160 characters. Characters means letters, numbers, spaces, symbols and punctuation. Messages over 160 characters will be split into multiple messages.

Q: How long does it take to deliver a text message?

Text messages are usually delivered to mobile phones in a few seconds to a few minutes. During peak hours, there could be a short delay. Please note that additional delays may occur if recipient's phone is turned off or out of the coverage area. When this happens a carrier will attempt to deliver your message for up to 72 hours.

Q: What is a Short Code?

A Short Code is a 5 digit or 6 digit number, to which text messages can be sent from a mobile phone. Wireless subscribers send text messages to short codes to access a wide variety of mobile content. Common short codes are easy to remember and they are compatible across all participating carriers.

Q: Can you guarantee delivery of every text message that I send?

No. As text messaging is a store-and-forward technology dependent on carriers and their networks, it is impossible to guarantee delivery of a text message.

Q: Can I change the number or set a name that you send my text messages from?

Unfortunately it isn't possible to send a message from a name as phone calls and text messages always come from a phone number. There are two different kinds of phone numbers: a regular ten digit number like the one you have on your cell phone and a short code, which is a special five or six digit number like ours. For a message to appear from a name it must be stored in the address book of your phone. If you notice when you get a text message or call from a person who is not in your phone book, it shows up as from their ten digit number and not a name since it is not stored on your phone; the same applies to a short code.

Q: What is the advantage of using text messaging?

Text messages are a brief, effective, inexpensive means of communication. Most people carry their cellular phones with them wherever they go, so unlike email, text messages can reach people when they are away from their desks.

Q: How much do text messages cost to send using CheapestTexting?

Incoming messages are free. Your outbound messages can be as cheap as $0.0039. This is our pricing on the PRO plan, and it is the lowest rate you will see on the internet.

Certain mobile carriers charge a small fee for each SMS message. This fee is called a carrier fee. You pay these fees at the end of each billing period. Current carrier fees are shown here:

Carrier	Fee in USD
AT&T	0.002500
Verizon	0.002500
T-Mobile/MetroPCS	0.002500
US Cellular	0.003500
Sprint/Boost/Virgin	0.005000
Interop Carrier Group	0.001500
Clear Sky Carrier Group	0.001500

Q: Am I required to sign a monthly contract?

CheapestTexting will never require you to sign a contract. CheapestTexting is a prepaid service. You may cancel your plan at any time.

Q: Can I receive replies to the group text messages that I send?

Yes! This is what subkeywords are for. Subkeywords let you use common, short keywords like 1,2,3 or a,b,c (that are not available as regular keywords) as a suggested response to your outbound group text message. In your message entice your customers to respond to your group message with that subkeyword, e.g. "... reply 'YES' if you will be attending tonight." Viola! Your customer response will appear as an entry in your new subkeyword. You can change your keywords and subkeywords at any time to meet your needs. Watch the "How do I edit a campaign" video on the Videos page to see how easy it is to customize your keywords and their bounceback messages.

Q: Can I send a single text message?

Yes. You have the ability to enter a single telephone number when you compose your message and select "Send Test Microblog".

Q: How come some of my contacts didn't receive a text that I sent them?

First, please make sure that the recipient has text messaging enabled with his/her carrier. Next, if your recipient uses a pre-paid mobile phone service, his/her balance may be too low (assuming he/she pays for incoming text messages). Other reasons that a recipient may not receive a text message include (but are not limited to): memory full, out of network, and a number typed incorrectly.

Q: Do I pay for text messages that my recipients do not receive?

Yes. We charge you one credit every time our system sends a text message on your behalf.

Q: What is a Keyword?

A Keyword is a unique term (letters and/or numbers) that people can use to communicate with you via a Short Code.

Q: How do Keywords work?

Text KEYWORD to 94253. That is an example of a keyword in action. Watch the video called "How to Edit a Campaign" on the Videos page to learn how to edit your keywords at any time. Let's say that you have changed one of your keywords to APPLESAUCE by following the directions in our videos. Your friends and customers can then send a message beginning with the Keyword APPLESAUCE to 94253 to automatically join your Group Messaging list. Our software will respond to them for you, with a customizable message, confirming that they have joined (Opted-In) to your Group SMS list.

Q: Can I have any Keyword I want? Are there any limitations?

As long as the Keyword you want is available, you can register it through your account panel. You can use any combination of letters and numbers.

Q: Are there rules for how I can promote my Keyword online or in print?

According to carrier guidelines you must include the following:

• Msg&data rates may apply
• Frequency (ex: Max 2 messages per week)
• Opt out instructions (ex: To unsubscribe reply STOP to 94253)
• Help instructions (ex: For help reply HELP to 94253)

Q: Why would I need more than 1 Keyword?

If you're running multiple campaigns targeting different groups of people you might want to use different Keywords to segment those groups - or to segment the performance of different advertisements. You can use your subkeywords to capture responses to your outbound group messages. Our simple and flexible system allows you to intuitively create these campaigns, with the flexibility that your marketing and compliance needs require.

Q: What are 'Available Keywords'?

Available Keywords is the quantity of keywords and subkeywords that you are able to use at the current time, with no additional cost. You will incur additional cost if you add additional keywords or subkeywords in excess of your plan allotment. At the end of each billing period, your Available Keywords will update to reflect the number of active keywords you have. Fees and costs associated with additional keywords are associated with your plan and are shown on your account home page.

Q: Where Does CheapestTexting Work?

CheapestTexting works in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). Our US Short Code is 94253.

Q: Do I need to know the provider of my contacts?

No. Our software will automatically figure out your contacts' providers. All you need to do is add them to your campaign by uploading a list.

Q: Where is my data stored? How do you protect my data?

When you create an CheapestTexting account we store your information on our secure database server. No one has access to your data (personal information and your contacts). If you would like to share the data in your account with someone else, you may choose to provide them with your login information.

Our database server is co-located at a data center that is secured via multiple perimeter access systems and fire-proof heavy-duty doors. The data center is equipped with 24x7x365 live video surveillance and multiple level independent fire-suppression systems. The data center is staffed 24x7x365.

Q: Who owns my data?

You own your data. We will never contact the people on your lists, nor will we do anything else with your data without your consent.

Q: Will you send advertisements via text message to my contacts?

No. We will never send messages (including advertising) to your contacts.

Q: Is my list of contacts secure? How do you protect my privacy?

Your contacts are kept in strict confidentiality. We do not share, rent, or sell the contacts belonging to our clients with any third parties. Data (including contacts) that you enter in your account belongs to you, and you alone.