117 Most Popular Text Abbreviations & How to Use Them

Most Common Business Text Abbreviations & Acronyms
 

Let’s face it: The business world is fast-paced. You want to get your messages out there quickly and efficiently, and your readers want to engage with you at record speeds. To help save time when texting with your colleagues, clients, or customers, turn to these well-known business text abbreviations and acronyms.

1. What does AFAIK mean?

AFAIK means “as far as I know.” For example, if your coworker asks you if the printer is still down, you might respond with “Yes, AFAIK.”

2. What does AKA mean?

You probably recognize this text abbreviation, which is sometimes used to refer to someone or something’s nickname. AKA stands for “also known as.” For instance, your name might be Catherine, AKA Cat or Cathy.

3. What does AMA mean?

AMA is an acronym meaning “ask me anything.” If you just joined a new job, you might introduce yourself to your colleagues in a text or email saying, “Hi, I’m Mike, the new copywriter. AMA!”

4. What does ASAP mean?

ASAP is probably one of the most recognizable text marketing abbreviations on this list, as we often use it in our everyday conversations. ASAP means “as soon as possible.” So, if a colleague asks you to complete a task, you might respond with, “Received. I’ll do it ASAP!”

5. What does ATM mean?

You might know ATM as an “automated teller machine,” but that’s not the correct meaning in the business world. For our purposes, ATM means “at the moment.” If your boss is asking about your current workload, you could respond with, ”ATM, I have time to take on two more assignments.”

6. What does ATTN mean?

ATTN is another abbreviation that goes beyond just business texting and emailing. It means “attention” and is used to denote an important or urgent message. An example text message with this abbreviation could say:

Stef (Office Manager): ATTN: The office will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

7. What does BTW mean?

BTW is a simple but popular text marketing abbreviation that means “by the way.” You’ll see people use this acronym as a way to add on another thought or mention something that just popped up. For example, “BTW, you did a great job presenting this morning!” or “BTW, I’m leaving early this afternoon for a doctor’s appointment.”

8. What does COB mean?

COB is an acronym for “close of business.” If you receive a text saying your assignment is due by COB, you must turn it in by the end of the workday, which is usually around 5 or 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

9. What does DIY mean?

If you like to make art or build things from scratch, you’re probably familiar with the abbreviation DIY, which stands for “do it yourself.” For example, maybe your boss messaged you about writing a DIY guide on making Instagramable posts.

10. What does EOD mean?

EOD is often used interchangeably with COB, as it means “end of day.” Therefore, you might text your colleague saying, “Just a reminder, we need those meeting notes by EOD Friday!”

11. What does EOW mean?

Similar to COB and EOB, EOW is a time-centric acronym meaning “end of the week.” A text exchange using EWO might look like this:

Manager: Liz, when will your assignment be ready for me to review?

Liz: I’ll have it completed by EOW!

12. What does ETA mean?

If you’ve traveled on a plane or train, you’re probably familiar with the ETA abbreviation, which stands for “estimated time of arrival.” When texting with a client who’s visiting, you might say, “Jim, we’re looking forward to meeting up when you’re in LA. What is your ETA?”

13. What does FAQ mean?

FAQ is another common abbreviation, meaning “frequently asked questions.” For example, if you’re instructing your new employee on how to use your portal, you might text her, “For additional guidance, check our FAQ guide on the dashboard.”

14. What does FTE mean?

FTE means “full-time employee.” In this case, your HR department may send an email to your company saying, “I’d like to introduce our newest FTE, Frank Water, who is joining our team as an account manager.”

15. What does FWIW mean?

FWIW means “for what it’s worth.” If you wanted to insert your professional opinion into a text conversation, you could say, “FWIW, I love the new business logo!”

16. What does FYI mean?

You’ve probably used FYI at least once in your life. It means “for your information.” You might have said, “FYI, the office is closed tomorrow,” or “FYI, I’ll be on vacation next week.”

17. What does ICYMI mean?

ICYMI is an acronym meaning “in case you missed it.” An example message with ICYMI might say, “ICYMI, we’re hosting a happy hour to celebrate our new product launch.”

18. What does IMHO mean?

IMHO is a fun abbreviation that means “in my humble opinion.” If you want to give your two cents, you might text, “IMHO, I think that this was the best presentation we’ve ever given!”

19. What does IMO mean?

A shortened version of IMHO, IMO simply means “in my opinion.” Again, you’d use this to express your thoughts on a certain matter, such as, “IMO, the new interface looks like it’ll be a success.”

20. What does JLMK mean?

JLMK means “just let me know,” such as, “JLMK when you plan to review those files.”

21. What does LMK mean?

Like JLMK, LMK is a simpler version, meaning “let me know.” Using it the same way, you might text your report saying, “LMK if you can complete this assignment by Friday.”

22. What does MoM mean?

MoM is short for “month over month,” which is a business metric used to describe performance from one month to the next. For example, “Our business has seen a 4% increase in MoM sales!”

23. What does MTD mean?

MTD is another business abbreviation used to track performance, meaning “month-to-date.” A message with MTD could say something along the lines of, “We’ve seen an increase in conversion rates, MTD.”

24. What does N/A mean?

N/A means “not available” or “not applicable.” An example text exchange with N/A could read: “Sorry, the projections aren’t showing up on the graph. That data is N/A right now.”

25. What does NP mean?

NP is a quick way to say “no problem.” If your coworker messages you apologizing for being late to the meeting, you might respond with, “NP! It’s totally fine.”

26. What does NSFW mean?

NSFW is a text warning that means “not safe for work.” If you receive a link, photo, or video clip from someone with the text abbreviation NSFW, save it for later and open it when you’re not on company time—or a company computer, for that matter!

27. What does OOO mean?

OOO is a common business text abbreviation signaling when someone is on leave, on vacation, or out sick. OOO means “out of office.” You might see OOO marked on someone’s calendar or used in a business text change. For example, “Sorry, I can’t make that meeting—I’ll be OOO.”

28. What does OOTO mean?

OTO is just a longer version of the previously mentioned OOO. An example of this in a message might say, “Just a reminder, I’ll be OOTO on Monday.”

29. What does OS mean?

OS means “operating system.” In this case, if you’re texting or emailing with the IT department about an issue with your computer, they might ask you, “What OS are you currently using?”

30. What does PLMK mean?

PLMK is an acronym meaning “please let me know.” It’s used to politely inquire about information. An example could include a message that says, “Jess, PLMK when you can complete this deliverable.”

31. What does POC mean?

POC means “point of contact,” which refers to the person who coordinates information or oversees a specific project or department. Let’s say you just joined a new task force at work. You might receive a text that says something like, “Welcome to the team! Meg Marsh is the POC for the green initiative. Please contact her with any questions or concerns.”

32. What does POV mean?

The abbreviation for “point of view” is POV. It’s a term used to reveal who is telling the story. So, if you were pitching a feature article for your editor, you might send a text saying, “I’d love to cover the grand opening of that Michelin-star restaurant from the POV of the chef.”

33. What does PTE mean?

PTE means part-time employee. Your manager might message you with something like, “This project is a bigger undertaking than we initially expected, so we’ve hired a PTE to give you a hand.”

34. What does PTO mean?

PTO is a term used to describe “paid-time off” or “personal time off,” in which the employee receives pay while away from work. If you’re looking to request those hours, you might email your boss and say, “I’d like to use my PTO for my upcoming trip to Hawaii.”

35. What does QA mean?

QA stands for “quality assurance,” which means reviewing or editing something to ensure it meets certain standards. For instance, you might text your team asking them to QA your new website before launching it to the public.

36. What does Re: mean?

Re: is short for “referring to” or sometimes “regarding.” An example of this text abbreviation in a message could look like this, “Re: Wi-FI access, a tech is coming in this afternoon to sort it out.”

37. What does ROI mean?

ROI is a business marketing term that means “return on investment.” Therefore, you might receive a mass email from your boss saying something like, “Team, we’re hopeful that our new platform will help improve our marketing ROI in 2024.”

38. What does SME mean?

You’ve probably heard the term SME used in the business world to refer to a “subject matter expert.” If your team just hired a green energy guru, they might send this message: “We’re pleased to introduce Kaily Loo, our new environmental SME.”

39. What does TBD mean?

TBD is short for “to be determined.” A text exchange between you and your team might use TBD in this way:

“Team, when are the new parts arriving?”

“TBD—we should know by Monday, though.”

40. What does TIA mean?

TIA is another polite abbreviation used in place of writing out “thanks in advance.” When your manager asks you to perform a task, they might include TIA in their message. For instance, “Can you please fill out this form? TIA!”

41. What does TL;DR mean?

If you’ve ever been on Reddit, you’ve probably seen “TL;DR” followed by a summary or synopsis of a larger text. It means “too long; didn’t read.” Maybe your CEO sent out a lengthy email with details about business metrics, and at the bottom, it included, “TL;DR: We saw a 30% increase in sales in the past three months—go team!”

42. What does TOS mean?

TOS means “terms of service,” and it’s often used when referencing an agreement. For instance, “What are the TOS outlined in the document?”

43. What does UI mean?

UI stands for “user interface,” and it’s often used to describe the interactive elements of technology. If you work with web designers, programmers, or developers, you might see them using UI in messages that say something like, “Have you tested the protocol’s UI yet?”

44. What does UX mean?

Often associated with UI, UX refers to the “user experience.” Again, you might see web designers, programmers, or developers messaging about the UX features of their latest designs. For example, “The current UX is clunky and difficult to navigate.”

45. What does VPN mean?

If you’re messaging someone in the IT department or working in cybersecurity, you may see this text abbreviation. VPN means “virtual private network,” which refers to a safe and secure connection. For example, an employee might ask if you’re connected to the VPN.

46. What does WFH mean?

The business abbreviation WFH definitely gained traction during the pandemic when nearly everyone seemed to be WFH, as it means “working from home.” To notify your team you won’t be in the office, you could send a text that says, “My kid’s sick so I’ll be WFH today. I’ll be online and available as usual.”

47. What does WYSIWYG mean?

WYSIWYG is a bit of a mouthful, but it’s short for “what you see is what you get.” You might text a colleague about your recent project saying, “That’s the entire report. It’s all in there— WYSIWYG.”

48. What does YoY mean?

YoY or “year-over-year” is a metric that describes performance, comparing one year to the next. Your boss might message the company saying, “We saw a 3% dip in YoY sales.”

49. What does YTD mean?

The abbreviation “YTD” means “year to date.” It’s a metric that spans the period from the start of the year to the current date. After analyzing a report, you might message your team: “YTD, our numbers are continuing to trend in the right direction.”

Business SMS Marketing Text Abbreviations & Acronyms

The business marketing environment is full of abbreviations. In fact, you might even hear some of these used during conference calls and presentations, like CTR and RFI. But what do they mean? Check out this business SMS marketing cheat sheet for answers and discover how you can use them in messages between clients, colleagues, and customers.

50. What does API mean?

API stands for “application program interface,” which describes how two devices communicate and share data. For example, “What API is the app using to pull in weather data?”

51. What does CLV mean?

CLV means “customer lifetime value,” which describes the revenue an individual customer generates over the course of their relationship with your business. A message with this text marketing abbreviation could look like this: “Paula, can you please round up our latest CLV numbers to share on today’s client call?”

52. What does CMS mean?

CMS is short for “Content Management System,” referring to the platform you use to manage and oversee your website. An example message with this text marketing abbreviation might be, “Can you pull up the analytics dashboard on the CMS during our next client call?”

53. What does CPA mean?

CPA is another advertising term meaning “cost per acquisition/action.” It refers to the payment received when certain actions are completed, like if a customer fills out a form or requests an appointment. You might text your colleague, “What CPA should I set up for the new client?”

54. What does CPC mean?

CPC is used in place of “cost per click.” In marketing, you might text your coworker, “The CPC for our latest campaign ad was $5.25.”

55. What does CPL mean?

CPL is a text marketing abbreviation that means “cost per lead.” Again, this refers to the price of lead generation. If you receive a message with this abbreviation, it might say something like, “Please determine your CPL so we can move forward.”

56. What does CPM mean?

CPM can mean “cost per thousand” or “cost per mile,” referring to when a company pays a fee for every 1,000 impressions an ad receives. Using this in a message might look like this: “Nic, the client would like to discuss lowering the CPM on their next call. Can you please add it to the agenda?”

57. What does CPV mean?

CPV is “cost per view.” It's the price an advertiser pays when a customer views their video ad. After a call, your manager might message you asking if the client agreed to the CPV you set up this morning.

58. What does CR mean?

CR is “conversion rate.” It’s a marketing term used to describe the percentage of customers who perform a desired action, like submitting a form or making a purchase. As an example, your team lead may text you asking if you can compile this quarter’s CR to share during the all-hands meeting.

59. What does CRM mean?

CRM means “customer relationship management,” which is a technology businesses use to manage and organize interactions with clients and customers. You could receive a message from your manager asking, “Do you know what CRM the client currently uses?”

60. What does CRO mean?

CRO is short for “conversion rate optimization,” which is a strategy focused on improving conversation rates on a website. To use it in a message, you might write, “Does your team have any ideas on how we can improve the client’s CRO?”

61. What does CSS mean?

CSS is “Cascading Style Sheets,” which is a style sheet language that allows you to add style to a webpage. You might use CSS when texting your coworker about a hiccup: “I’m having trouble getting the CSS to match the font we used on the previous mockup. Can you give me a hand?”

62. What does CTA mean?

CTA means “call to action”—a marketing term for using design elements to encourage customers to do something, like download a link or make a purchase. For instance, “Make the CTA button red and bold, so it’s easy for the visitor to find it on the page.”

63. What does CTR mean?

CTR is “click-through rate,” which is a ratio determined by dividing the number of clicks an ad receives by the number of times it’s seen. To use it in a message, you might say, “Our CTR tripled this week. Let’s review the dashboard to see what’s up.”

64. What does CX mean?

Similar to UX, CX is short for “customer experience,” which describes a customer’s interaction with a company during every touchpoint. As in, “When onboarding a new client, be sure to analyze their CX.”

65. What does DM mean?

DM can mean “direct mail” or “direct message” in X and Instagram circles, which is a private message that the public can’t see. For example, “Did you receive a DM from the CEO of that company, too?”

66. What does FB mean?

FB is short for Facebook. For example, “Did you see the CEO post a video on FB this morning?”

67. What does FTP mean?

FTP is “file transfer protocol,” which is the connection used for sharing files. To give an example, you might see this in a message like this:

“Did you enter your FTP credentials to connect to the server?”

“No, I’ve forgotten my password so I can’t connect!”

68. What does GA mean?

GA is short for “Google Analytics,” the program that tracks and monitors website traffic. Used in a sentence, GA could look like this, “Have you checked GA this morning? Our numbers are all over the place!”

69. What does IM mean?

IM means “instant messaging,” which isn’t a term we hear very often anymore. That said, you might still use it when referring to DMs or chatbots. For example, “I’m going to IM with the customer service team to see if I can troubleshoot this issue. Wish me luck!”

70. What does ISP mean?

ISP is a quick way to say “internet service provider.” If your company is changing internet providers, you might text your coworker saying, “Do you know what ISP the new office is going to use?”

71. What does KPI mean?

KPI, or “key performance indicator,” is a common word in the business world. It’s a measurement used to evaluate the success or progress of specific actions. For instance, your client might message you, “Please include a slide on our current KPIs in this month’s report.”

72. What does LTV mean?

LTV is an acronym for “lifetime value,” another term used to describe customer-generated revenue. However, it differs from CLV in that it encompasses all customers instead of an individual customer. Your teammate might send a message like, “Did you include our LTV projections in your presentation?”

73. What does MMS mean?

MMS is short for “multimedia messaging service,” which is another popular term around here. To use it in a sentence you could say, “Send that link via MMS so we can check it out!” Learn more about MMS messaging.

74. What does PPC mean?

“Pay per click” is what PPC means. It’s a marketing term explaining how much an advertiser pays every time a customer clicks on their link. In the marketing world, you’ll run into all kinds of messages with PPC references, such as, “Can you confirm the current PPC for the healthcare brand?”

75. What does PPL mean?

This one’s similar to PPC, except it means “pay for lead.” It describes the cost of generating specific leads, such as a signup or free trial. For instance, your manager might text you asking, “Did the client agree to the PPL you suggested during the presentation?”

76. What does PPV mean?

PPV means “pay per view,” which refers to the cost of watching something exclusive for an additional charge. For instance, “The client mentioned setting up a PPV video of their latest documentary.”

77. What does PR mean?

PR is “page rank” or the place where your website URL shows up in the Google search results. An example message with this acronym could read, “Let’s focus on optimization so we can improve the website’s PR.”

78. What does PV mean?

PV, or “pageviews,” refers to the number of people who have accessed a specific webpage. For example, your web designer could text, “Your company’s homepage received 25% more PV this month compared to last month!”

79. What does RFI mean?

RFI means “request for information.” It’s a formal process for gathering information from suppliers. To use this text marketing abbreviation in a message, you could say something like “Are we delivering an RFI with our services and bandwidth?”

80. What does RT mean?

RT is short for “retweet,” which was once the word used to describe when someone shared someone’s tweet on Twitter. For example, “Hey, did you see Snoop Dogg RT my Tweet about my stance on pancakes this morning?”

81. What does SEM mean?

SEM is a text marketing abbreviation that means “search engine marketing,” referring to marketing strategies geared toward getting websites to rank higher in the search results pages. To illustrate this, a message might look like this:

“Quinn, do you know anyone who is looking for a job in SEM? We have some open positions at our marketing agency!”

82. What does SEO mean?

SEO is a business abbreviation for “search engine optimization,” or the process of making changes to a website to help improve its ranking position. An example message using SEO could read, “Mark, has the SEO team had a chance to review those keywords yet for the homepage?”

83. What does SERP mean?

SERP refers to the “search engine results page,” where URLs appear after a user types something in a search bar. A sample message with this abbreviation might say something like, “The client’s goal is to see their website reach the top of the SERP by February.”

84. What does SM mean?

SM is simply short for “social media.” As in, “Have you monitored the client’s SM channels today after their post went viral?”

85. What does SMS mean?

We hope you know this one! SMS means “short message service.” You might send a text saying, “Please set up the client’s SMS automated welcome message today so we can start attracting customers to the text marketing program.”

86. What does SOV mean?

SOV means “share of voice,” which is a marketing metric used to determine how a company’s brand awareness compares to its competitors. You could text a coworker a reminder saying, “During the website teardown, don’t forget to look at the brand’s SOV.”

87. What does T&C mean?

T&C means “terms and conditions,” which is another way of saying TOC (terms of condition). As in, “Did you read the T&C before signing the agreement?”

88. What does UGC mean?

UGC refers to “user-generated content.” This is content that social media users post, like photos and videos. A message using UGC could say, “Let’s encourage our followers to post UGC that we can reshare on our social channels.”

89. What does RCS mean?

RCS is an abbreviation for “rich communication services.” An RCS message is like a more robust version of an SMS message. An example of it in a message could be, “Do you know when Apple is going to adopt RCS?” Learn more about RCS.

Most Common Conversational Text Abbreviations & Acronyms

Not every message you send to your readers has to be serious and straight-laced, especially if you’re looking to create a more friendly, conversational relationship. Depending on your product, market, and those you’re targeting, sometimes it’s OK to let down your hair and be a little more laid back. The following are some definitions and examples of how and when you might come across these causal abbreviations in a professional setting.

Incorporate some of these popular text marketing abbreviations into your messages for a more casual approach.

90. What does ROFL mean?

ROFL stands for “rolling on the floor laughing.” Obviously, you use this abbreviation when something strikes you as extremely funny. If your work bestie just told you about an embarrassing thing that happened to her while on a client call, you might respond with the abbreviation ROFL.

91. What does IRL mean?

IRL is short for “in real life,” which describes something that happens in person, outside of the digital world. As in, “Have you ever met the client IRL? Or have you only seen him on Zoom calls?”

92. What does JK mean?

JK means “just kidding.” Since things can get lost in translation, using JK can help you make sure the recipient knows you’re playing around. For example, “I love it when my client calls last four hours long. JK!”

93. What does TBA mean?

TBA is an abbreviation for “to be announced.” If you ask your manager when your annual review meeting is, they might respond, “TBA. I’ll look at my calendar and select a day this week.”

94. What does NVM mean?

NVM is a text marketing abbreviation that means “nevermind.” For instance, if you realized you asked your report for something they already turned in, you might quickly follow up with, “NVM! I see you already sent it to me.”

95. What does FOMO mean?

FOMO is a trendy abbreviation that became popular a few years ago. It means “fear of missing out.” To use it in a message, you could say something like, “I have FOMO, so I’m signing up for the company retreat!”

96. What does TGIF mean?

Surely, you know this one. TGIF means “Thank goodness it’s Friday.” As in, “TGIF! I can’t wait for the weekend to start!”

97. What does FTW mean?

FTW is short for “for the win,” which is used to describe the success of something. For example, “Team Client Services FTW! The client loved our presentation and wants to move forward with our proposal.”

98. What does TBH mean?

TBH means “to be honest.” Like, “TBH, I was expecting higher numbers after all our efforts this quarter.”

99.What does G2G mean?

G2G is an abbreviation that dates back to the early days of AOL instant messenger (and maybe even earlier). It means “got to go.” An example message with G2G might say, “G2G—leaving work early for a doctor’s appointment.”

100. What does TBF mean?

TBF is similar to TBH as it means “to be frank.” A sample text message with this abbreviation might say,

“June, I wanted to check in on your progress.”

“TBF, I’m struggling to get approval on my latest assignment. Do you have any advice?”

101. What does IYKYK mean?

This text marketing abbreviation translates to “if you know, you know,” referring to an inside joke or reference. For instance, “That happy hour got a little wild last night! IYKYK.”

102. What does RN mean?

RN is a text abbreviation to signify urgency. It means “right now.” If you’re texting with your teammate, you might say, “I have to turn this assignment in RN so I can leave early this afternoon!”

103. What does NBD mean?

NBD is short for “no big deal.” It’s used to express that something isn’t a problem, such as, “Don’t worry about asking for an extension on this project. It’s really NBD.”

104. What does QTD mean?

This is another fun text abbreviation you might use between coworkers. It means “quote of the day,” and it’s often used to call out a funny, interesting, or profound thing someone said. For instance, “Haha! That is the funniest thing I’ve heard all that week. That’s the QTD!”

105. What does NGL mean?

NGL means “not gonna lie.” This is another abbreviation for being upfront and honest about something, just like TBH and TBF. For instance, “NGL, that training course was more challenging than I expected!”

106. What does OOTD mean?

OOTD is short for “outfit of the day,” and it can be used to call out and celebrate someone’s clothes. For instance, “Did you see Mark’s pink suit? Talk about an OOTD!”

107. What does OFC mean?

OFC is a simple text abbreviation for “of course.” A text exchange with it might say:

“Can I swing by your office real quick?”

“Yes, OFC! Stop by any time today.”

108. What does BRB mean?

BRB is another common abbreviation popularized during the days of AIM. It’s short for “be right back.” An example message could say, “I’m grabbing lunch before our next meeting. BRB!”

109. What does OMG mean?

OMG is another text abbreviation you’re likely familiar with as it means “oh my god/gosh.” Your work friend could text you the message, “OMG! I didn’t realize lunch was included in our training session today. Score!”

110. What does OMW mean?

OMW translates to “on my way.” As in, “I’m running behind for our meeting, but I’m OMW! Be there in five.”

111. What does LOL mean?

These days, almost everyone has heard of LOL, meaning “laugh out loud.” You can use it in a message to show humor or sarcasm, like, “Wow, I didn’t realize that meeting was going to take up the entire afternoon. So much for getting any work done! LOL”

112. What does SMH mean?

SMH stands for “shaking my head,” and is often used to express annoyance or disapproval. If one of your employees keeps ending their shift early, you might receive a text from another employee that says, “Just a heads up, Joe dipped out early again today. SMH.”

113. What does TTYL mean?

Chances are, you’ve seen TTYL at least once in your life. It means “talk to you later” and is a common sign-off message when you’re done with your conversation, such as, “I finished my work for the day, so i”m heading out. TTYL!”

114. What does SRSLY mean?

From the looks of it, you can probably guess that SRSLY means “seriously.” For instance, “I SRSLY need to take a break—I’ve been working non-stop since 6 am!”

115. What does HMU mean?

HMU is definitely one of the more casual text abbreviations, as it means “hit me up.” In this case, you might text your work bestie, “HMU, when you finish your assignment, and we can meet for dinner.”

116. What does SUS mean?

SUS is another casual text abbreviation that’s become quite popular with the younger generation. It means “suspicious.” Your close colleague might text you something like, “Did you see they’re closing all the West Coast branches? Seems SUS to me.”

117. What does IDK mean?

And finally, IDK is an acronym for “I don’t know.” If you ask your colleagues when the next company-wide meeting is, they might respond with, “IDK. Maybe next month.”

5 Best Practices for Using Abbreviations & Acronyms in SMS Marketing

These text abbreviations can help your SMS messages, but they can also hinder them if you don’t follow some basic guidelines. Follow the following five tips to help guide you as you begin to employ shortened words and phrases when texting.

1. Reign It In

You’ll want to strike a balance when using text abbreviations in SMS marketing messages so your readers aren’t left trying to decode your content. Use them for ease and convenience, but don’t overdo it. If your message looks like alphabet soup, it might be time to ease off the abbreviations and acronyms.

An overstuffed message might look like this:

Meanwhile, this text conveys the same message, using only one abbreviation: Our sale ends today! DM us for your 10% off code.

When in doubt, less is more.

2. Consider Your Audience

While some of these abbreviations may have gotten their start in the early days of AOL Instant Messenger and text messaging, many of them have since become mainstream. That said, there is a time and a place for using them.

Empty Audience Seating

If you’re appealing to a professional or more mature audience, your best bet is to skip conversational slang like OMG, ROFL, SUS, and HMU. In the same vein, if you’re dealing with a younger or more casual crowd, stuffing your messages with business abbreviations like CRO, CSS, and LTV may make their eyes glaze over.

A good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn’t use those phrases or acronyms in normal conversations with them, don’t include them in your SMS messages.

3. Remember to Proofread

Of course, you should always proofread and edit your SMS messages before clicking send, but it’s especially necessary to double-check your abbreviations because it’s easier to not notice when there is an error. For instance, your readers will understand BTW means “by the way,” but if you accidentally type BYW or BTE, your garbled message will likely leave them scratching their heads.

Keep a close eye on those abbreviations, and don’t blindly rely on your spell checker to catch your mistakes for you.

4. Don’t Force It

Text abbreviations are meant to make everyone’s lives easier. If there’s a good natural fit for using one, go for it, but don’t try to cram one in just for the sake of it.

Jamming in a text marketing abbreviation when it does not make sense, or “just because” can convolute your message or make it seem like you’re trying too hard. For example, abbreviations like FYI, TBD, DIY, and ASAP likely have a better chance of finding their way into your messages over lesser-used ones like AFAIK, TBF, and JLMK.

5. Stick to the List

We hate to break it to you, but it’s taken years for many of these abbreviations to take off and become easily recognizable. This means if you’re looking to create a new, trendy abbreviation, it’s probably not going to fly (just yet). Making up your own slang will likely only confuse and potentially frustrate your readers. For now, get the hang of using these familiar abbreviations before going rogue with your own.

Desktop/Work Area

TL;DR: When used correctly, text abbreviations can help make your SMS messages more concise and engaging. And BTW, they can save you time and money, too.

SMS Marketing Terms Worth Mentioning

Although the following phrases are not abbreviations or acronyms, they are often used in conversations around text marketing. Since you will likely encounter at least one of these in your texting lifetime, we thought it would be helpful to include them here.

• Text List: The list of numbers you have legally obtained permission to text
• Text to Join: A method people can use to opt into your text list
• Text to Win: A contest you run through text message
• Text to Landline: When you send or receive text messages over a landline number

The Value of Text Abbreviations and Acronyms in SMS Marketing

These days, we’re all on the go. We’re multitasking—listening to podcasts, scrolling social media, sending emails, and answering text messages all at the same time. Considering this, it’s pretty safe to say that no one has time to write long-winded, wordy text messages—or even read them, for that matter.

That’s why it’s so important to be up to date on the latest text abbreviations and acronyms. And, if you’re part of a business sending out SMS (short message service) messages, it’s even more crucial to be in the know.

Just like emojis in SMS marketing, text acronyms (think ASAP or FOMO) and abbreviations (think TGIF or TBH) help keep your texts short and sweet—not to mention engaging and consumable, too. Not only that, using these shortened words and phrases will help lower your character count. And, as many of you already know, when you’re limited to 160 characters, every word and character counts. If you go over that character limit, you may face extra charges.

BTW, using any type of established shortened word or phrase, whether abbreviation or acronym, can save you time, previous character counts, and money. So, it’s a good idea to learn how to incorporate these space savers into your SMS campaigns.

Upgrade Your Messaging: Get Started With EZ Texting Today

Now that you know how to send SMS messages with text abbreviations, it’s time to set up an all-in-one text messaging solution with EZ Texting. Start a free trial today (no credit card required), and be sure to check out our additional SMS resources for more information.