How to Send Scheduled SMS from Notion Database Items Using Pabbly Connect

Learn how to automate sending scheduled SMS messages from Notion database items using Pabbly Connect with this step-by-step tutorial. Learn to create powerful connections between your critical applications without requiring specialized programming knowledge or extensive technical background.

Watch Step By Step Video Tutorial Below

1. Accessing Pabbly Connect for SMS Scheduling

To send scheduled SMS from Notion database items, you first need to access Pabbly Connect. Start by signing in or creating an account on the Pabbly website. If you’re a new user, you can sign up for free and get 100 tasks monthly.

Once signed in, navigate to the Pabbly Connect dashboard. Here, click on the ‘Create Workflow’ button located on the right-hand corner. Name your workflow, such as ‘Send Scheduled SMS from Notion Database,’ and select a folder for organization.

2. Setting Up Notion as the Trigger Application

In this step, you’ll configure Notion as the trigger application in Pabbly Connect. Click on the trigger window and search for Notion. Select it as your trigger application, then choose ‘New Database Item’ as the trigger event.

• Select ‘New Database Item’ to trigger SMS when a new entry is added.
• Connect your Notion account by clicking on ‘Connect’ and allowing access.
• Choose the specific database from which Pabbly Connect will pull data.

After selecting the database, click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’ to capture the latest database response. This step is crucial as it ensures that Pabbly Connect successfully connects with Notion and retrieves the required data.

3. Configuring SMS Action with Twilio

Next, set up Twilio as the action application in Pabbly Connect. In the action window, search for Twilio and select it as your action application. Choose the action event ‘Send SMS Message’ to trigger SMS notifications.

To connect Twilio, click on ‘Connect’ and enter your Twilio account SID and authorization token. This connection allows Pabbly Connect to send messages through your Twilio account. After establishing the connection, map the SMS body, sender number, and recipient number from the Notion database response.

• Map the SMS body to include the message content from Notion.
• Specify the sender number from your Twilio account.
• Map the recipient’s phone number from the database entry.

Once all the fields are mapped correctly, click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’ to ensure that the SMS is sent successfully. This step confirms that your setup is working as intended, allowing you to send scheduled SMS from Notion database items.

4. Implementing Delay for Scheduled SMS

To schedule SMS notifications, you need to implement a delay feature in Pabbly Connect. Click on the ‘Add Step’ button and select ‘Delay’. This feature allows you to set a specific date and time for when the SMS should be sent.

In the delay settings, you can specify the date and time by mapping it from the previous step’s response. Ensure the date is in UTC format, as required by Pabbly Connect. This step is crucial for scheduling SMS accurately, especially if you want them sent at a specific time.

Select the appropriate time zone (e.g., Asia/Kolkata for India). Map the date and time fields correctly to ensure accurate scheduling. Test the delay step to confirm it works as expected.

After setting up the delay, you can proceed to send the SMS via Twilio at the scheduled time, completing the automation process.

5. Finalizing the Automation Process

Finally, review and finalize your automation setup in Pabbly Connect. Ensure all connections and mappings are correct. This includes verifying that your Notion database is properly connected, and Twilio is set up to send SMS messages.

Once everything is confirmed, click on ‘Save’ to save your workflow. You can now test the entire process by adding a new customer entry in your Notion database. The SMS should be sent automatically based on the scheduled settings you’ve configured.

With this setup, you can effectively manage customer notifications for events, sales, or updates directly from your Notion database. This automation saves time and ensures timely communication with your customers.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we demonstrated how to use Pabbly Connect to send scheduled SMS from Notion database items. By following the steps outlined, you can automate SMS notifications efficiently, enhancing your customer engagement strategy.