Putting links in business texts without getting filtered
Links raise reply rates and filtering risk. Why public link shorteners get blocked, how to use your own domain, and how many links a message can carry.
·5 min read
Many business texts need a link: a booking page, a payment form, a document to sign, a review request. Links are also the content carriers scrutinize most closely, because they are how phishing and spam work. How you use them decides whether the message arrives.
Why public shorteners are a problem
Public link shorteners are free for anyone to use, including spammers, so carriers often filter messages containing them. Even a legitimate business can have its texts blocked because a thousand other senders abused the same shortener. Avoid them in business texts entirely.
Use your own domain
A link on your own domain, such as yourbusiness.com/book, tells carriers and recipients who is behind it. The domain should match the business name you registered for 10DLC, and the page should be live and consistent with your campaign description. Mismatched domains are a common reason campaigns draw scrutiny.
- ✓Use a link on your own domain
- ✓Keep the page live and relevant to the message
- ✓Make sure the domain matches your registered business
Fewer links, in plain sight
One link per message is plenty. Multiple links, long tracking parameters, and hidden or oddly formatted URLs look like phishing. Put the link on its own line near the end with a clear explanation of what it leads to.
Do not lead with the link
A message that is only a link, or begins with one, gets filtered more and ignored more. Start with a sentence that identifies you and explains why you are texting, then give the link. For a first message to a new lead, consider asking a question instead and sending the link after they reply.
Keep the destination trustworthy
Recipients check where a link goes. A page that loads quickly, looks like your business, and does what the text said builds trust. Pages that ask for sensitive details immediately or look unrelated to the message lose it. If a page collects personal information, make sure it is secure and has a privacy policy.
Testing a link before you send
Never send a link you have not tried. Text it to your own phone, on both iPhone and Android if you can, and open it. Check that the page loads quickly, uses a secure connection, and works well on a small screen.
Then send a small test batch before the full list and look at delivery results. A sudden drop in delivery on messages with links is an early sign that a domain or format is being filtered, and it is much cheaper to find out on fifty messages than on five thousand.
Key takeaways
- →Avoid public link shorteners; carriers often filter them.
- →Use a link on your own domain that matches your registered business.
- →Send one link per message, plainly formatted.
- →Introduce yourself before the link, never lead with it.
- →Make sure the destination page is fast, relevant and trustworthy.
Put this into practice with Text2Sale
Import leads, create follow-up campaigns, organize replies, and connect texting, calling, and appointments in one workspace.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use bit.ly links in business texts?
It is best to avoid them. Public shorteners are heavily abused and often filtered by carriers. Use a link on your own domain instead.
How many links can a text have?
Technically several, but one is safest. More links raise the chance of filtering.
Should my link domain match my business?
Yes. It should match the business you registered for 10DLC, and the page should be consistent with what your campaign says you send.