Keyword (texting)

What is a keyword?

In texting, a keyword is a word someone texts to a short code to start a specific program. "Text DEMO to 33777" asks people to send the keyword DEMO to the short code 33777. On a shared short code, where many organizations use the same number, the keyword is how the system knows which organization and which program a message belongs to. Without it, the text would have nowhere to go.

Keywords are written in capitals in calls to action so people can read them clearly, though most people type them however their phone capitalizes them.

How does it work?

The keyword is the first thing the system reads in an incoming text. It matches the word to a program and starts it: the reply might ask for an email address, send a download link, or ask a poll question. Because each keyword maps to one program, a keyword on a shared code can only be held by one organization at a time.

Picking a keyword is mostly about the room it will be used in. Say it out loud before you commit. Words with odd spellings, words that sound like other words, and anything mixing letters and numbers (O and 0, I and 1) cause failed texts. A word that names what people get, like SLIDES, GUIDE, or FEEDBACK, is easier to remember than a brand name or an acronym.

On Textiful:

• Keywords are texted to shared short code 33777 or 55444.
• A keyword is unique on its short code, so nobody else on Textiful can use it there. If it's taken on one code, it may be free on the other.
• Reserved words (YES, WIN, FREE, VOTE, TEXT, and others), single letters, number-only words, and scam-like brand names are refused.
• One keyword is included on every plan; more are $10/month each. See keywords for more.

Why it matters at live events

A keyword is the only part of a text-to-join call to action that people have to remember, so it carries more weight than it looks. A keynote speaker might put it on the last slide and say it twice. A band calls it out between songs, when the crowd can't see a screen. A booth team prints it in letters big enough to read from the aisle.

Separate keywords also give you separate numbers. Each Textiful flow has one trigger, so a keyword used only in the morning session reports on its own, apart from the one on the afternoon slide or the one on the booth banner. That shows which room or placement brought people in.

Keywords and QR codes do the same job in different spots. A QR code works up close and needs no keyword at all; a keyword works when people are listening or reading from across the room. A QR code and a keyword can each start a copy of the same flow. For help choosing, see Should I use a QR code or a keyword at my event?

Key takeaways

• A keyword is the word texted to a short code that starts one specific program.
• On a shared short code, each keyword belongs to one organization at a time.
• Choose a short word that's easy to say, hear, and spell, ideally naming what people get.
• Using different keywords for different sessions or placements gives you separate reports.

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