Choose a good keyword
A good keyword is short, easy to spell after hearing it once, and says what people get, such as SLIDES or GUIDE.
Pick a word someone can hear once from the back of the room and type correctly on the first try. Short, real words that say what people get work best.
What makes a good keyword
- Short. One word, ideally under 10 letters. Every extra letter is a chance to mistype.
- A real word. Phone keyboards change unfamiliar words. SLIDES survives autocorrect; SLYDZ doesn't. See Beat autocorrect.
- Easy to spell out loud. If you have to spell it when you say it, try another word.
- Says what they get. SLIDES, GUIDE, NOTES, or CHECKLIST tells people why they're texting.
- One spelling. Avoid words with common alternate spellings or homophones (COLOR/COLOUR, THEIR/THERE).
What to avoid
- Numbers mixed into words, such as GR8 or SUMMIT26. People type them differently. Numbers alone aren't allowed.
- Spaces, hyphens, and punctuation. Keywords are letters and numbers only. "TEAM-BUILD" can't be a keyword; TEAMBUILD can.
- Generic words. Words like FREE, WIN, JOIN, TEXT, and TEST are reserved for everyone on the short code.
- Long names and acronyms nobody can say quickly.
Matching your keyword to the event
You have one keyword per flow. One keyword is included on your plan, and each extra one is $10/month. If you speak often, one keyword such as SLIDES can stay with the same flow, and you update the handout or steps between events. If you want each event to report on its own, give each event its own flow and trigger. A free QR code is an easy way to add a second trigger. See Keyword or QR code? Use both.
If your first choice is taken
Try the other short code, or a close variation. See Keyword taken? What to try instead.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I use my brand name as the keyword?
- Only if it's short and easy to spell. A word that says what people get, such as SLIDES, is usually easier to remember than a name.