How to connect SMS to Postozo
Paste a few details from SMS and start scheduling. This guide shows where to find each detail, each screen in Postozo, and how to fix common errors.
What you need before you start
- A Twilio account with a phone number that can send SMS, or a Messaging Service.
- Written consent from every person on your list. Texting people without consent is illegal in most countries.
SMS connects with details you copy from SMS (a key, token or app password). Postozo checks them with SMS before saving and stores them encrypted.
Connect SMS step by step
Step 1. Open Add Channel
Sign in to Postozo. On the Calendar, press Add Channel at the top of the channel list. A window opens with a tile for every network. Find the SMS (Twilio) tile and press it. Each tile also has a How to connect link that opens this guide.
If the tile says Coming soon on this server, the server you use has not added its SMS app keys yet. Ask the person who runs your Postozo server. On postozo.com this is done for you.
Step 2. Fill in your SMS details
A form opens. It asks for 4 details: Twilio Account SID, Twilio auth token, Your Twilio number, Recipients. Under each field, press Where do I find this? to see the exact steps. We copy those steps below.
Twilio Account SID
- Sign in at console.twilio.com.
- The home page shows Account Info near the bottom.
- Copy the Account SID. It starts with AC.
Twilio auth token
- On the same Twilio Console home page, Auth Token sits next to the Account SID.
- Press the eye icon to show it, then copy it.
- Keep it secret. It works like a password.
Your Twilio number
- In the Twilio Console open Phone Numbers, then Manage, then Active numbers.
- Copy your number with its country code, like +14155552671.
- If you use a Messaging Service instead, copy its SID (it starts with MG) from Messaging, Services.
Recipients
- Type the phone numbers this channel texts, 1 per line.
- Every number needs its country code, like +919876543210.
- Only add people who agreed in writing to get your texts. Anyone who replies STOP is blocked by Twilio automatically.
Step 3. Press Connect
Postozo checks the details with SMS before it saves anything. If something is wrong, the form stays open and shows what to fix. Nothing is saved until the check passes. The details are stored encrypted.
Step 4. Check the new channel
Back on the Calendar, the new channel shows in the channel list on the left, with a small SMS badge on its picture. A message at the bottom says it is connected. You can now pick it in the post editor.
Step 5. Set your preferences
Press the 3 dots next to the channel to open its menu. From here you can set Preferences (default settings for every new post on this channel, like Send only to (this post)), edit time slots, move the channel to a customer, reconnect, turn it off or delete it.
Common errors and how to fix them
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| "Twilio did not accept that Account SID and auth token" | Copy both again from the Twilio Console home page. Press the eye icon to show the auth token. |
| "Your Twilio account is a trial" | A trial account only texts numbers you verified in Twilio. Verify the number there, or upgrade the Twilio account. |
| "This person replied STOP" | Twilio blocks people who opted out. They can text START to your number to opt back in. |
| A red message under a field | The value does not have the right format. The message says what it should look like. |
| "We could not reach SMS right now" | SMS did not answer. Wait 1 minute and press Connect again. |
| "Your plan allows N channels" | You reached the channel limit of your plan. Remove a channel you do not use, or upgrade in Billing. |
How to reconnect
If the SMS details stop working (for example you deleted the key or changed the password), Postozo marks the channel with a warning and pauses its posts. Press the 3 dots next to the channel, then Reconnect channel. The same form opens. Paste the new details and press Reconnect. The channel keeps its posts, time slots and preferences.
How to disconnect SMS
Press the 3 dots next to the channel, then Delete. Postozo removes the channel and deletes its stored details right away. Upcoming and draft posts for that channel are removed too. Posts that are already live stay on SMS. You need the admin or owner role in your workspace to delete a channel.
To cut access on the network side as well, delete the key, token or app password you created there.
Want to pause instead? Choose Disable Channel in the same menu. Its posts wait until you turn it back on.
What you can post on SMS
A text message to every number on the channel list, or only to "Send only to" in Settings. Up to 1600 characters; over 160 characters the message is split into parts and each part costs Twilio money. Plain text, no photos, no markdown, no hashtags. Only text people who opted in.
Read more on the SMS channel page.
What you can do once SMS is connected
Read from the same code that publishes to SMS, so it always matches the app.
| SMS | |
|---|---|
| Text per post | Up to 1,600 characters |
| Pictures or videos per post | Up to 10 |
| A post must have | Text, media or both |
| Settings in the post editor | Send only to (this post) |
| First comment or thread | No |
| Analytics | No, SMS does not share statistics with apps |
| Auto actions | No |
| Bulk upload | Yes, name the channel in the channels column |
| Client reports | Yes, with posts but no network numbers |
Connect a client's SMS without their password
Working for a client? Send them a client connect link instead of asking for their details. On the link page they pick SMS and fill in Twilio Account SID, Twilio auth token, Your Twilio number and Recipients themselves. Postozo checks the details with SMS, and the channel lands under their customer in your workspace. You never see what they typed.
More connection guides
What does a text cost?
Twilio charges your own Twilio account per message and per country. Messages over 160 characters are split into parts, and each part is charged.
Can people reply?
Replies go to your Twilio number, not here. Anyone who replies STOP is blocked by Twilio automatically.
Can I send a photo?
Not yet. SMS posts are text only for now.
How do I text just 1 person?
Open the post settings and fill in Send only to. The channel list is not used for that post.
Does connecting SMS cost extra?
No. There is no extra charge per network. Each connected account counts as 1 channel toward the channel limit of your plan.
What if the SMS tile says Coming soon on this server?
The server you use has no SMS app keys yet. The server admin adds them in Admin, Networks. Press Notify me on the tile and you get 1 email when it opens.
Can a client connect their own SMS account?
Yes. Send them a client connect link. They connect SMS themselves and the channel lands under their customer.
Connect SMS now
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