SMS campaigns help communicate promotions, sales and valuable information to your customers. But when you have a lot to say, it can be tough to keep your message short and to the point.
Texting acronyms help you stay within character limits without diluting your message’s value. They allow you to convey valuable information while creating customer connections via SMS, social media posts and instant messaging.
In this guide, we’ll share how to use texting acronyms for business the right way:
Why Should Your Business Use Acronyms in Text Messages?
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Texting acronyms have become so mainstream that you might not remember a time when you didn’t use them.
In the early days of texting, mobile phones required multiple presses on the number keypad to generate each letter. So it wasn’t long before texting abbreviations became commonplace to save keystrokes and avoid additional phone charges for lengthy messages.
Once mass texting came along, it was only a matter of time before marketers adopted texting acronyms for relevance and brevity.
What’s the Difference Between Texting Acronyms and Text Abbreviations?
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Texting acronyms are shortened versions of words or phrases expressed as letters to save time, like BRB for “be right back.” Likewise, common text slang abbreviations shorten singular words, like “4,” “2,” and “C” (for, to and see).
Keep in mind that too many text acronyms and abbreviations can be distracting, hard to read, and look unprofessional. Therefore, limit your usage of both acronyms and abbreviations in your SMS messages.
Learn more SMS terms in our SMS Marketing Glossary.
Popular Acronyms for Business Texts
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Are you regularly Googling text acronyms? Many standard texting abbreviations
are natural and make sense, especially considering limited text real estate and audience attention span. Using popular text acronyms correctly can help get your message across naturally, achieving your communication goals while saving time.
Here’s an alphabetized list of popular text abbreviations you can use in your business communications.
Popular Business Texting Acronyms
Acronym
Meaning
Acronym
Meaning
AKA
Also known as
ASAP
As soon as possible
ATM
At the moment
BRB
Be right back
BTW
By the way
CTA
Call to action
DIY
Do it yourself
DM
Direct message
DND
Do not disturb
EOD
End of day
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
FYI
For your information
ICYMI
In case you missed it
IDK
I don’t know
JIC
Just in case
IMO
In my opinion
IRL
In real life
JK
Just kidding
LMK
Let me know
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service
MSG
Message
N/A
Not applicable or not available
NP
No problem
NSFW
Not safe for work
NVM
Nevermind
OOO
Out of office
POV
Point of view
QOTD
Quote of the day
RFP
Request for proposal
RN
Right now
ROI
Return on investment
SME
Subject matter expert
SMS
Short Message Service
T&C
Terms and conditions
TBA
To be announced
TBD
To be determined
TBH
To be honest
TIA
Thanks in advance
TL;DR
Too long; didn’t read
TMI
Too much information
TTYL
Talk to you later
TY
Thank you
TYT
Take your time
WDYM
What do you mean?
WFH
Work from home
W/O
Without
PRO TIP: While it’s not mandatory to use text acronyms in all caps (as shown above), it’s often helpful to set them apart from the text for easy reading.
Want to share this list with your organization? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a downloadable version for your team!
Text Acronym Templates
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Now that you have almost 50 text acronyms to choose from, how do you use them successfully? Here are some text acronym usage templates you can use today.
Promotional SMS Texts
ICYMI, our weekend sale has been extended until the end of the month! Show this message at any of our retail stores and get an extra 20% off your purchase.
Appointment Reminders
[First Name], thank you for booking a cut and color at [Time] on [Date]. Please text CONFIRM or CANCEL. LMK if you need to reschedule by calling [Phone Number]. [Business Name].
Customer Service Texts
Thank you for contacting [Company Name] customer service. One of our support specialists will reach out to you shortly. Also, feel free to check out our FAQ at [link].
Event Promotion Texts
[Music artist] will be returning to the concert stage next year! Tour dates are TBA but stay tuned for more information and updates.
Business Texting Acronym DOs and DON’Ts
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If you plan on using texting acronyms in your SMS marketing campaigns, you should be mindful of a few guidelines for maximum impact.
Here are six DOs and DON’Ts for using abbreviations and acronyms in business texting.
1. DO Assess Your Audience
Remember to use acronyms and text lingo that your target market understands. If you have a broad customer base, segment your text marketing to tailor messages to each group so that your language and messaging are appropriate.
Younger audiences (aged 18-34) generally text more than any other age group. Therefore, you might consider lowering the text frequency and use of text acronyms for older customers.
2. DO Keep it Simple
Using too many acronyms in a single text message can look like a word traffic jam. If your recipient has trouble “decoding” your message, they’ll skip or delete it. So limit the usage of acronyms to one or two per text message.
Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. If sending a photo or image illustrates your point better, attach or link to one rather than being too wordy or using too many abbreviations.
3. DON'T Use Outdated Acronyms and Slang
As tempting as it is to use the latest acronyms, they’re often the ones that become dated the fastest. Sticking to standard text abbreviations (like the ones listed above) keeps you from defeating the purpose of communicating quickly and concisely. When in doubt, spell it out.
4. DO Watch Your Spelling
It’s easy to confuse acronyms with similar spellings. Avoid potentially embarrassing misunderstandings by double-checking your message before hitting “send.”
5. DO Be Professional
You should never use acronyms that include obscenities in business scenarios, whether via a group text to employees or an SMS marketing promo. There are plenty of creative ways to express your message.
Not only is profanity unprofessional, but it’s also offensive to many people, detracting from your message and tarnishing your reputation. Err on the side of caution and keep your texts on-brand but family-friendly.
6. DON'T Abbreviate Gratitude
While various forms of “thank you” exist (TY, TYVM, TIA — thank you, thank you very much, thanks in advance) and are widely used, reconsider shortening expressions of gratitude. In our fast-paced world, saying thank you often gets brushed aside.
Spelling out “thank you” consistently may help set your business apart by fostering teamwork, bolstering your brand and strengthening customer loyalty.
Connect With Your Customers Through Textedly
TL;DR: Using texting acronyms for business can breathe new life into your customer communications. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform for text message marketing, you’ve come to the right place.
Running text campaigns that get results can seem complicated – but they don’t have to be! Textedly offers simple SMS and MMS solutions for businesses in every industry.
Why limit yourself to 160 characters? Textedly offers a 300+ character limit message, allowing you to communicate in various text lengths that drive engagement and sales.
