Sender ID Guide: How to Send SMS from Your Business Name (Not a Number)

What Sender ID is and why it matters

The difference between a message from "054XXXXXXX" and a message from "PizzaMax" is the difference between a message that gets ignored and one that gets opened. Sender ID is the name that appears on the recipient's phone screen instead of the phone number.

When a customer sees your business name — they immediately know who sent it, feel safer, and are more likely to open and respond.

The different types of Sender ID

Alphanumeric Sender ID (text name)

Your business name in letters — up to 11 English characters. The most common in Israel.

• Examples: Vibrate, PizzaMax, DrCohen, SalonTLV

• Pro: professional, clear, builds brand

• Con: the recipient can't reply directly to the message

Numeric Sender ID (phone number)

A regular phone number (landline or mobile) as the sender ID.

• Pro: the recipient can reply and call back

• Con: less professional, unclear who's sending

Short Code

A short 4–6 digit number (like *1234). Usually for large organizations.

• Pro: easy to remember, supports two-way messaging

• Con: expensive, long approval process

How to pick the right Sender ID

Rules for picking a name

• Up to 11 characters in English (spaces included)

• Clear and identifiable — the customer should immediately know who sent it

• Consistent — use the same name on every message

• No special characters — only letters and numbers

Good examples

• Store: "CastroIL", "FoxHome"

• Clinic: "DrLevy", "DentCare"

• Restaurant: "Oshi-Oshi", "Cafe65"

• Services: "MovingIL", "CleanPro"

Problematic examples

• "SpecialOffer!" — not a business name, looks like spam

• "A1B2C3D4E5F6" — too long (over 11 characters)

• "$$$SALE$$$" — special characters, not allowed

The registration process in Israel

In Israel, Sender ID has to be approved by the carriers. The process:

1. Pick a name — registered business name or a known brand

2. Submit a request — through your SMS provider (like Vibrate)

3. Verification — the provider verifies the name belongs to your business

4. Approval — within 1–5 business days

5. Start sending — the name automatically appears on every message

Impact on open rates

Data from our system shows:

• Messages with a text Sender ID get a 28% higher click rate than messages from a phone number

• Spam reports drop 45% when there's a clear business name

• Opt-out rates are 35% lower — people trust messages from an identified business more

Advanced tips

Using different Sender IDs

Larger businesses can use different Sender IDs for different message types:

• "BrandName" — for marketing messages

• "BrandInfo" — for updates and reminders

• "BrandOTP" — for verification codes

Pre-send checks

• Send a test message to yourself and see how the name renders

• Check on different device types (iPhone, Android, older devices)

• Make sure the name isn't cut off or looks odd

Setting up Sender ID in Vibrate

In Vibrate, setting up a Sender ID is a simple process: go to settings → senders → add a new name — we handle the carrier approval. Within a few days you'll be sending messages with your business name on them. Sign up free and get started.