Zapier SMS Plugin

TUTORIAL
Integration guide
of the SMS Zapier plugin

This integration guide will show you how to connect smsmode© to your application referenced by Zapier. The integration of this SMS sending automation is easily done in less than 10 minutes by following this step by step tutorial.

For general information on how to use Zapier, see the Zapier product sheet HERE.

Zapier's solution aggregation service offers you numerous interconnection opportunities between the 1,000 or so applications currently available on Zapier. The only prerequisite is to have a smsmode© account and a Zapier account.

In the following guide, we will show you the different steps to follow in order to create your first "Zap", i.e. to automatically send an SMS with our smsmode© service, in response to a trigger that has occurred in another system.

You must have a smsmode© customer account to be able to create zaps with our platform and automate the sending of SMS. The creation of this customer account is free and without commitment.
Create a smsmode© account

To connect smsmode© to Zapier, you will need an API key.
Go to Settings > API Keys. Click on the "Generate API access key" button and save the generated series of characters.

STEP 1
CREATION OF AN SMSMODE© ACCOUNT

Generating an API access key for connecting the Zapier service

STEP 2
CREATE A ZAPIER ACCOUNT

You need to register and login to Zapier on this registration page.
The first 100 shares are free.

STEP 3
CREATE YOUR FIRST ZAP

To create your first ZapClick on the button:
create a zap

1. DEFINE THE TRIGGER.
Select the application you want to connect to smsmode©, Google Calendar in our case.

Selecting the application

Choose the event that should trigger the action of sending SMS (for our example, we have selected "Event Start"). Then click on continue.

Selecting the event

Follow the instructions to connect to your trigger application, and set the trigger options (optional depending on the application). In the case of Google Calendar, you can choose which types of events will trigger the action and fine-tune the trigger time.

Setting up the connection

You can then test the trigger.

workflow test

Congratulations! Your trigger is correctly set up.
The next step will be to configure the action, in our case sending SMS via smsmode©.

2. CHOOSE SMSMODE© AS THE "ACTION" APPLICATION.
Select our application by doing a search. Press "continue" to validate this step.

smsmode service selection

Choose the action of sending SMS by selecting "Send Message". Click on "continue".

Selecting the action sending SMS

Access the smsmode© account configuration by selecting "smsmode© FirstTest" then select "Connect a new account".

login to smsmode account

Connect your smsmode© account to the Zapier application with the string "API Access Key" previously created in your smsmode© customer account (see step 1). The connection is tested.
Once this step is done, click on "Yes, Continue".

Reminder: the ApiKey smsmode© is accessible from the url: https: //ui.smsmode.com/settings/keys.

connection with an smsmode account

Set the content of your SMS message. You can enter manually entered text and/or variable mailing parameters in the fields (see list and image below). The available fields are the following:

  • Message (Required) - Define the body of the SMS you want to send.
    You can personalize the message by clicking on the icon on the right and defining a field, for example: Hello [first name].
    WARNING: if your message exceeds 150 characters, 2 credits will be deducted for each sending (long SMS)!
  • Number list - Set the phone number of the recipient of your messages. Click on the icon on the right to connect the phone number with the customer who has activated the trigger.
  • Group name - Enter the name of a group, previously created in your smsmode© customer account, containing the recipient numbers.
  • Send date - Set the date your messages will be sent.
    If the field is empty, it will be sent immediately.
  • SenderID - Set the custom sender to be displayed instead of the default short code.
    ATTENTION: This custom sender must contain a maximum of 11 characters, without special characters or spaces!

Setting the text message content

When editing, you can use the dynamic elements linked to the action.
For example, in the case of Google Calendar, you have the following elements:

dynamic elements zapier

Test the "Send message" action that you just set up.
Confirm with "Publish and turn On".
Finalize your Zap by naming it and turning it on (On/Off button).

activate a Zapier

Congratulations! Your Zap is now operational and, for each event in the calendar, you will receive an SMS 15 minutes before its date if you have configured your trigger this way.

 

You can deactivate your trigger at any time by clicking on the "On/Off" switch in the Zap list.

OPTION
SETTING OF COMPLEX ZAPS

You can create custom and complex scenarios with Zapier including:

1. THE CREATION OF SCENARIOS IN SEVERAL STEPS.
Thus, after sending an SMS, you can program a new action, such as sending an email, sending a second SMS or any other action.

Simply edit the Zap and click on the (+) at the end of the Zap to add an action.

2. SETTING A FILTER BETWEEN THE 2 STEPS OF THE ZAP.
The filter function allows you to decide whether to continue the Zap steps or not according to different criteria.

Set a filter to a Zap

This way you can configure conditions.
With this configuration, for example, the zap will only continue if the calendar event is about "Christmas".

configuration of complex and conditional zaps

3. SETTING AN ACTION BETWEEN THE 2 STEPS OF THE ZAP.
This option, to be chosen from among the twenty or so options offered by Zapier, will allow you to set a time interval (Delay) before the next action.

Add an action to a Zap

 

To find all the options offered by Zapier, click on the link :
access button to zapier actions

 

You will find the complete list of these actions.

complete list of actions available in Zapier

Need more info?
Do not hesitate to contact us.