SMS integration for alerts with Twilio

Introduction

This guide will walk you through the process of integrating Twilio with the WisePub platform to enable SMS alerts for your users. Following these steps will allow you to send timely notifications directly to your subscribers’ mobile devices.

Prerequisites

• An active Twilio account
• Access to your WisePub platform
• Admin privileges on both platforms

Integration Process

Step 1: Gather Twilio Account Information

1. Log in to your Twilio account
2. Locate your Account SID and Authorization Token in the account info section
3. Share these credentials with a WisePub support representative so they can install them on your WisePub account

Step 2: Set Up a Twilio Messaging Service

1. In your Twilio dashboard, navigate to “Messaging”
2. Click on “Services”
3. Click “Create a new service”
4. Name your service (e.g., “WisePub Alerts”)
5. Select “Notify my users” as the use case
6. Click “Next”
7. Add a sender:
   • Select “Phone Numbers” as your sender type
   • Click “Continue”
   • Either select an existing phone number or click “Create a new phone number”
8. For the Integration step, leave the default settings
9. Complete the compliance information section
10. Click “Complete”

Step 3: Register for A2P 10DLC (Important for Bulk Messaging)

1. In your Messaging Service, look for the “Register for A2P” option
2. Complete the registration process by providing the requested information
3. Note: This process may take a few days for approval but is essential for sending bulk SMS without being blocked

Step 4: Create a Twilio Notify Service

1. In your Twilio dashboard, navigate to “Notify”
   • If you don’t see it, click “Explore products” and search for “Notify”
2. Click “Create a service”
3. Name your service (e.g., “WisePub Alerts”)
4. Select the Messaging Service you created in Step 2
5. Click “Save”
6. Copy the Service SID that appears (you’ll need this for WisePub)

Step 5: Configure Twilio in WisePub

1. Log in to your WisePub admin panel
2. Navigate to “Settings”
3. Select “Twilio” from the options
   • If you don’t see a Twilio option, create one
4. Enable Twilio by checking the “Enable Twilio” option
5. Paste the Service SID from Step 4 into the appropriate field
6. Configure your Default SMS Body:
   • Recommended: Use a generic message with a link to view the full alert
   • Example: “There’s a new alert posted. Click here to see it: {link}”
   • Make sure to include the {link} shortcode which will be replaced with the actual alert URL
7. Click “Update Settings”

Step 6: Enable SMS Alerts in WisePub General Settings

1. While still in the WisePub admin panel, navigate to “Settings” > “General Settings”
2. Locate the “Alert Service” section
3. Ensure “SMS Alert” is enabled
4. Save your changes

Important Considerations

SMS Content Best Practices

• Using a default SMS body with a link to the full alert is highly recommended
• Avoid sending full alerts with stock tickers or “buy/sell” language directly in SMS as this may trigger spam filters
• The default SMS body approach helps prevent your phone number from being flagged or blocked

A2P 10DLC Compliance

• The A2P (Application-to-Person) registration is crucial for sending bulk messages
• Without proper registration, your messages may be blocked when sent at scale
• Complete this registration as early as possible as it may take several days for approval

Troubleshooting

• If your phone number was previously associated with another service, you may need to disassociate it first
• Ensure both your Twilio account and WisePub account have the correct configurations
• For any issues, contact WisePub support for assistance

By following these steps, you’ll successfully integrate Twilio with WisePub, allowing you to send SMS alerts to your subscribers effectively.