What is Twilio?

Action Network integrates with Twilio to power your mobile messaging campaigns. Twilio handles the sending of mobile messages, receiving replies from your activists, purchasing and managing long codes (10 digit phone numbers), toll free numbers, and short codes (6 digit custom numbers) that you will use to send mobile messages from, and more.

What kind of number do I need for the Mobile Messaging tool?

You can use long codes (10 digit phone numbers), toll free numbers, or short codes (custom 5 or 6-digit phone number) for your mobile messaging service.

Long Codes

Choose from available local and mobile SMS-capable phone numbers. You can lease one of these numbers from Twilio to use for your campaign. Learn more about long codes.

Toll Free

Choose from available toll free numbers, which can handle higher SMS volume and have better deliverability. You can lease one of these numbers from Twilio to use for your campaign. Learn more about toll free numbers.

Short Codes

A short code is a 5 or 6-digit number that can send and receive mobile to and from mobile phones. Short codes are recommended for high volume campaigns (200,000+ messages/day or more). You can lease a random or vanity short code from Twilio. Learn more about Short Codes.

Why use a short code instead of a long code or toll free number?

You can only send 200 messages/day per long code (10 digit phone number), and about 400-600/day per toll free number. Sending any more than that will risk your messages being filtered or blocked by mobile phone carriers.
You can have more than one long code or toll free number attached to your messaging service, and Twilio will automatically rotate the long codes/toll free numbers for you. You should purchase as many long codes or toll free number as you need to accommodate your mobile messaging volume. (For example, if your mobile list is 1,000 people, you will want to purchase 5 long codes so you can send to your entire mobile list but not go over 200 messages/day on any long code.)
Short codes can send as many messages as you need per day, and are meant for high volume senders, but are much more expensive (they start at around $1,000/month, whereas long codes are $1/month) and they take 2-3 months to apply for and receive access to.
A good rule of thumb is if you expect to send 200,000 mobile messages/day or more, it makes fiscal sense to get a short code.

Manage your long codes, toll free numbers, and short codes

You can manage your long codes and toll free number and purchase more by going to "All Products and Services" section on your Twilio dashboard (it's the icon on the left that looks like three dots), then "Phone Numbers". You can apply for and manage your short codes by going to "All Products and Services" section on your Twilio dashboard (it's the icon on the left that looks like three dots), then "Programmable SMS", then "SMS", then "Short Codes".

Assigning purchased numbers to your messaging service

After purchasing numbers you can assign them to your messaging service by going to "All Products and Services" section on your Twilio dashboard (it's the icon on the left that looks like three dots), then "Programmable SMS", then "SMS", clicking on your messaging service, and clicking "Add Existing Number" in the "Numbers" section. A number can only be assigned to one messaging service at a time.

Enabling or disabling your mobile messaging

In order to use mobile messaging or call campaigns, you need to enable the mobile messaging setting. You can do this on the 'settings' tab of your group manage page. Scroll down to the 'Mobile Messaging Settings' section, and at the bottom, toggle the button to 'enabled'.

Why aren't my tests coming through?

If you aren't receiving your test mobile messages, make sure you've verified that number on Twilio and have upgraded to a paid account.

I need help with Twilio! Who can I reach out to for support?

You can reach out to us at support@actionnetwork.org, and we'll be able to point you in the right direction.

Twilio/Mobile Messaging Pricing

There are are two fees you'll have to pay monthly for use of the mobile messaging tool. The first fee is a partnership with Action Network to access the mobile messaging features, which is based on how many messages you send per month, similar to a partnership for email features.

Twilio also charges for the services that you use. Pricing is based on the destination and type of message you are sending. They follow a pay-as-you-go pricing model to ensure a fair price no matter what you build. This pricing should be used as a guide. It does not include everything you might be charged for, depending on the features you use, and includes discounts Action Network has negotiated on your behalf. For a full pricing chart, click here.