SMS Character Limit Optimizer: Fit More in 160 Characters

SMS messages cost money per segment. Going over 160 characters doubles your cost. Here's how to compress SMS campaigns without losing conversion power.

Why SMS Character Limits Matter

SMS (text messages) have a strict 160-character limit per segment. If your message exceeds 160 characters:

• Cost doubles - You pay for 2 segments (320 chars)
• Deliverability drops - Multi-part messages have higher failure rates
• User experience suffers - Messages arrive out of order or incomplete
• Conversion rates fall - Longer messages feel like spam

The 160-Character Breakdown

SMS uses GSM-7 encoding, which allows 160 characters per segment. However:

• Special characters (é, ñ, €) count as 2 characters
• Emojis force Unicode encoding (70 chars per segment)
• Links consume 20-30 characters
• Opt-out text ("Reply STOP to unsubscribe") takes 30+ chars

This leaves you with ~100-130 characters for your actual message.

Smart SMS Optimization Techniques

1. Remove Filler Words

Just like email, SMS is full of verbal bloat:

• "just wanted to say" → "wanted to say"
• "really excited" → "excited"
• "very important" → "important"
• "actually available" → "available"

2. Use Symbols Instead of Words

• "and" → "&" (saves 2 chars)
• "percent" → "%" (saves 6 chars)
• "dollars" → "$" (saves 6 chars)
• "at" → "@" (saves 1 char)

3. Front-Load the Value

Put the offer first. If the message gets truncated, the important part survives.

Weak (value buried):

"Hi Sarah, we wanted to let you know that we're having a special promotion this week where you can save 30% on your next purchase."

Strong (value first):

"Sarah: 30% off your next purchase this week. Shop now: bit.ly/sale"

Use Textrim for SMS Optimization

Textrim helps you hit the 160-character limit:

• Paste your SMS message
• Set character limit to 160
• See what filler words get removed
• Copy the optimized version

ROI Calculator

Example: 50,000 SMS per month

Before optimization (180 chars avg):

50,000 × 2 segments × $0.01 = $1,000/month

After optimization (155 chars avg):

50,000 × 1 segment × $0.01 = $500/month

💰 Savings: $500/month = $6,000/year

Conclusion

SMS character limits aren't just a technical constraint — they directly impact your marketing budget. By optimizing messages to fit within 160 characters:

• Cut SMS costs by 30-50%
• Improve deliverability rates
• Increase open and click-through rates
• Provide better user experience