Setup
Choose the setup page you have a question about to learn more.
Profile Setup
The profile page asks you to provide your first name, last name, and optionally, your company name.
All of these can be changed later by visiting the Account Page, which is located by clicking on the three dots in the top right corner.
Create Folder & Activity Sheet
When you click Create, the system will create a folder named SimpleText in the root level of your Google Drive. Inside of that folder, it will create a sheet named 'SimpleText Activity & Responses.' You will use that spreadsheet to interact with the add-on and it will house all of your SimpleText activity.
If you ever delete your account, the folder will remain in your Drive, and so will your activity sheet. If you start a new SimpleText account using the same Google account later, the legacy activity sheet will be renamed 'Inactive- SimpleText Activity & Responses.' That way you will know it is associated with a deleted account.
Do not create a new account while on the legacy activity spreadsheet as it will lead to unexpected results. It won't hurt anything if you happen to do that, just realize to a new sheet as soon as you can and pick up where you left off.
Connect To Twilio
Twilio is a service that allows you to send out text messages programmatically. That costs money, but Twilio usually gives you around $15 of starting credit when you open a new account. SimpleText is unique in that it allows you to connect directly to Twilio and avoid any 'middle man' fees.
Sign up for a new Twilio account here.
After account creation, choose your own phone number in the Twilio console (monthly fee, but covered initially by the Twilio starter credit).
Upgrade your account (so it isn't a Trial account)
Go to the home page of your console. From there, copy the credentials below and paste them into the input fields on the add-on. When you click submit, your credentials will be verified and the connection will be complete.
Try It Completely Free
We get it. This looks interesting but now you're asked to create another account. Ugh. But don't give up hope! Here is your free hack workaround:
SimpleText has a free tier. Stay in it. We're cool with that.
Twilio gives you around $15 in credits to use when you sign up for a new account.
Use that money to choose a phone number (which has a small monthly fee, but again covered by their free credits).
Hold off on adding any credit card details into Twilio which will keep you at the 'trial account' level. Trial accounts can only send to verified numbers (that you will need to verify) and include a watermark. But they will still send so you can see it in action!
Enter the Twilio credentials into SimpleText and try it out. If you don't like it, you can cancel both accounts.
Congrats! You've now tried it out without spending a dime.
Navigate To The Activity Sheet
From this point forward, you need to launch SimpleText from your Activity & Responses Sheet. Clicking Go To Activity Spreadsheet will take you there.
Once you get there, you need to launch the add-on again from the sidebar.
Send Your First SMS (Text Message)
Text message time! This is easy- fill in column A with a phone number, and column B with the body of the message. We recommend that you send this first text message to yourself so you can verify receipt.
If you are outside the US, enter the country code as well. The + sign is not necessary, and Google Sheets makes it harder since it will turn into a formula. If you want to enter the plus sign (it will still take it that way), add an apostrophe before the plus, like this: '+.
Once you have inputted the phone number and body, click Validate. If there are any errors, column D will appear to show you the error on the affected rows. Fix the errors and click Validate again.
Once the messages have been validated, you will see a Send Now button at the bottom of the page. When you are ready, click that button.
Note- When you click validate, the information on the Send page is saved in memory and that is what will send. If you need to make changes, click Cancel, make the changes, and validate again.
Upgrade To Pro (optional)
This step gives you an easy option to upgrade your plan to Pro. The Pro level gives you delivery status confirmations for sent messages, 5000 oubound messages per month, and records inbound responses. This is the plan that most people want.
Compare plans and pricing here.
Click Upgrade To Pro to switch to that plan. Or if you want to give the plans more thought, click Maybe Later which will take you to the Home page.
Complete Your Upgrade
Get ready, because this one is a bit technical.
Twilio needs to send the information for the inbound messages and delivery statuses somewhere, and that somewhere is called a 'webapp.' A webapp is a program that is reached via a URL that you publish. We've already written the code, but you have to publish the webapp. Follow the instructions below.
Before we get started, it should be noted that you will see a scary warning message from Google. This is important as it prevents people from casually installing a malicious program. We will explain what you are doing as clearly as possible so that you feel comfortable with it. Only do what you are comfortable with. Now, back to the instructions, which can be found below.
1. Click on Extensions, Then Apps Script.
2. Click Deploy, then New deployment.
3. Click the gear, then Web app.
4. Description is optional.
Execute as Me.
Change Who has access to *Anyone*.
Click Deploy.
5. Click Authorize access.
6. Click your account
7. Scary warning message! Click Advanced.
8. Click Go to SimpleText Activity & Responses Scripts (unsafe).
The word 'unsafe' protects people from installing malicious programs, which this is not.
9. Click Allow. Detailed explanation of permissions:
Gmail- so we can send email notifications for inbound sms.
Sheets- so we can add those messages to your Activity sheet.
**No other actions will be performed by this script**
10. You are almost there! Click Copy.
11. Close that browser tab.
12. Paste in the copied URL and click Submit.
