SMS Link Tracking for Campaign Setup
TL;DR:
- SMS platforms like QuickSMS automatically shorten links and track clicks when you paste URLs
- Track total clicks, individual users who clicked, and device types used
- Use multiple links in one message to A/B test different approaches
- Real-time analytics show which links perform best so you can adjust future campaigns
- No separate tools needed – tracking is built into most SMS platforms
SMS link tracking shows you exactly how people respond to your messages. When someone clicks a link in your text, you get data on who clicked, when they clicked, and what device they used.
This data helps you understand what works and what doesn't, so you can improve future campaigns.
Setting Up Link Tracking
Most SMS platforms handle link tracking automatically. When you paste a long URL into your message, the platform shortens it and adds tracking.
Here's what happens:
- Your long URL gets shortened to save character space
- The platform creates a tracking wrapper around the link
- When someone clicks, their action gets logged
- You can view the results in your platform's analytics section
The shortened links work exactly like normal links for your recipients. They just click and go to your page as expected.
What You Can Track
SMS link tracking gives you three main types of data:
Click volume – How many total clicks each link received. This shows overall interest levels.
Individual users – Which specific phone numbers clicked your links. Useful for follow-up campaigns or identifying your most engaged contacts.
Device information – Whether people clicked on mobile or desktop. Most SMS clicks happen on mobile, but knowing the split helps you optimise your landing pages.
Some platforms also track timing data, showing when clicks happened throughout the day. This helps you identify the best times to send messages.
Testing Multiple Links
You can include several tracked links in one SMS to test different approaches. For example, you might test:
- Two different product pages
- A direct purchase link vs a "learn more" page
- Different special offers
Each link gets its own tracking data, so you can see which approach works better. This is more direct than traditional A/B testing because recipients choose between options in real-time.
Just make sure your message stays under the character limit when adding multiple links.
Using Your Data
Link tracking data works best when you act on it. Here are practical ways to use what you learn:
Identify engaged users – People who click your links are more interested in your offers. Send them more targeted messages or special deals.
Improve timing – If most clicks happen in the evening, schedule future campaigns for those hours.
Optimise landing pages – If you get lots of clicks but few conversions, the problem might be your website, not your SMS.
Refine your messaging – Compare performance between different message styles to see what resonates with your audience.
The key is to review your data after each campaign and make small improvements for the next one.
FAQs
Do I need separate software for SMS link tracking?
No, most SMS platforms include tracking as a standard feature. You don't need additional tools.
Can I track links in real-time?
Yes, platforms like QuickSMS show click data as it happens. You can watch results come in immediately after sending.
How many links can I track in one message?
Most platforms let you track multiple links per message. The main limit is your character count, not the tracking system.
Will shortened links look suspicious to recipients?
Modern SMS platforms use clean, short domains that don't trigger spam filters. Recipients are used to seeing shortened links in text messages.
Jargon Buster
SMS Platform – Software that sends marketing text messages and tracks results
Link Shortening – Converting long URLs into shorter versions that save character space
Click-through Rate (CTR) – Percentage of message recipients who clicked your links
Real-time Analytics – Data that updates immediately as people interact with your messages
Wrap-up
SMS link tracking turns your text campaigns from guesswork into data-driven marketing. The tracking happens automatically, so you get useful insights without extra work.
Start with basic click tracking to see which messages perform best. Then use that data to send more targeted follow-ups and improve your results over time.
The most important thing is to actually use the data you collect. Check your analytics after each campaign and make one small improvement for the next send.
Learn about QuickSMS: https://www.quicksms.com/