Link tracking via API
In inMobile, you have the option to insert links with tracking in your SMS messages. It's called link tracking and it gives you insight into how many of your recipients have actually clicked on the link in your SMS.
This number is called a click through rate (CTA) and this type of data is important if you want to optimise your SMS broadcasts to constantly increase recipient engagement with your messages.
How to use link tracking in SMS via API
Before you get started: Before you can use link tracking in your SMS messages, you need to create a subdomain. See how to do this in our guide: Setting up a subdomain for link tracking.
Once you have created a subdomain, you are ready to use link tracking in your SMS messages via the inMobile API. Here's how you do it:
- In inMobile: Go to the "API" menu item.
- Click "API keys" in the top menu.
- Choose whether you want to edit an existing key by clicking on it or generate a new one using the "Generate new API key" button.
- When you're in your API key's overview, you'll find the heading "Link tracking". Here you click "Edit".
- Here you tick the "Link tracking in the SMS message" box.
- From the list, you can now select the domain you would like to use to shorten your links.Note. Before you can do this, a subdomain must be set up on your account.
- Click "Save".
The link tracking feature is now activated on the selected domain. This means that when you send SMS messages via your API, inMobile will make sure to shorten your links at the recipient's end so that the link takes up a maximum of your subdomain followed by 8-9 characters.
Benefits of link tracking
There are many benefits to shortening your links and tracking the interaction with your links when sending SMS messages.
More conversions
Using links in your SMS messages allows you to direct the recipient to your website or another URL of your choice. For example, it could be a special offer, a specific category, a sign-up form and more. This increases the chance of a conversion.
Access to important data
When you insert links in your SMS messages via inMobile, you can gain insight into how many recipients click on the link. This is called your click-through rate. If you use an unsubscribe link, you can also access your bounce rate - how many people have unsubscribed from your SMS list.
This is important data that you can and should use to optimise future SMS campaigns. Link tracking is particularly relevant for those who work with SMS marketing or SMS for e-commerce, but can also be relevant in other contexts.
Bonus: Fewer signs and increased credibility
As you know, an SMS message is limited to 160 characters. This is why it's a great advantage to use shortened links, as the link doesn't take up as much of the message's characters. You can read more about this in this article about the limitations of the SMS format.
There are many online link shorteners that can shorten your link, but what they have in common is that they often make your links look like spam. inMobile, on the other hand, makes sure that your brand name is still part of your link. This significantly increases credibility and therefore click-through rates.