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Twilio Setup Guide

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Updated 4 months ago
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Twilio Setup Guide

Quick Reference: Connect your Twilio account to Aestheticc for SMS functionality

šŸ“‹ TL;DR - Quick Start

  1. Create free Twilio account at twilio.com/try-twilio
  2. Get Ā£15 free trial credit (no credit card required)
  3. Buy UK phone number in Twilio Console (~Ā£1/month)
  4. Copy Account SID and Auth Token from Twilio Console
  5. Navigate to Aestheticc ā†’ Settings ā†’ Integrations ā†’ Twilio
  6. Paste credentials and phone number
  7. Complete A2P 10DLC registration
  8. Send test SMS to verify setup
  9. Enable appointment reminders

Total Time: 15-20 minutes Total Cost: Ā£0 (free trial) or Ā£1/month (phone number rental)

What is Twilio?

Definition

Twilio is a cloud communications platform that provides SMS, voice, and messaging APIs. Think of it as the "engine" that powers Aestheticc's SMS features.

Why Twilio?

  • Industry Standard: Used by Uber, Airbnb, Stripe, WhatsApp
  • Reliable: 99.95% uptime SLA, delivers billions of messages monthly
  • Global Reach: Send SMS to 180+ countries
  • Developer-Friendly: Simple API, excellent documentation
  • Pay-As-You-Go: No monthly fees, only pay per message sent

BYOT Model

Aestheticc uses Bring Your Own Twilio (BYOT) - you create your own Twilio account and connect it to Aestheticc. This gives you:

  • Lower costs (wholesale rates)
  • Full billing transparency
  • Own your phone number forever
  • Compliance control (your business is the sender)

Step 1: Create Twilio Account

Navigate to Twilio

  1. Go to https://www.twilio.com/try-twilio
  2. Click Start your free trial button

Sign Up Form

Required Information: | Field | What to Enter | Example | |-------|---------------|---------| | First Name | Your first name | Sarah | | Last Name | Your last name | Johnson | | Email | Your business email | sarah@glowaesthetics.co.uk | | Password | Secure password (12+ chars) | Use password manager | | Phone Number | Your mobile (for verification) | +44 7700 900123 |

Important: Use a business email you have access to (verification required).

Phone Verification

  1. Twilio sends 6-digit code to your phone via SMS
  2. Enter code on verification screen
  3. Account activated immediately

Troubleshooting:

  • Code not received? Check spam folder, try "Resend code"
  • Wrong number? Click "Use a different number"

Step 2: Get Free Trial Credit

Trial Credit Details

What You Get:

  • Ā£15 free credit (no credit card required)
  • Enough for ~375 UK SMS messages (Ā£0.04 each)
  • Valid for 7 days (upgrades extend expiration)

Trial Limitations:

  • Can only send SMS to verified phone numbers
  • "Trial Account" watermark in messages
  • Limited to 100 messages/day

How to Verify Phone Numbers (Trial Only):

  1. In Twilio Console, go to Phone Numbers ā†’ Verified Caller IDs
  2. Click Add a new number
  3. Enter client's phone number
  4. Twilio calls the number with verification code
  5. Enter code to verify

Upgrade to Remove Limitations:

  • Add credit card (no charge until trial credit runs out)
  • Removes watermark
  • Unlimited sending (rate limits still apply)
  • Can send to any phone number

Step 3: Purchase UK Phone Number

Navigate to Phone Numbers

  1. In Twilio Console, click Phone Numbers in left sidebar
  2. Click Buy a number button

Number Search

Search Criteria: | Option | Recommendation | Why | |--------|----------------|-----| | Country | United Kingdom | For UK clinic, use UK number | | Number Type | Mobile | Best deliverability for SMS | | Capabilities | SMS (required), Voice (optional) | SMS is mandatory | | Area Code | Leave blank | Not important for SMS |

Search Tips:

  • Click Search to see available numbers
  • Filter by: Starts with, Contains specific digits
  • UK mobile numbers start with +447

Purchase Number

Cost: ~Ā£1.00/month (billed monthly)

  1. Click Buy next to chosen number
  2. Confirm purchase
  3. Number appears in Active Numbers list

Example UK Number: +44 7700 900123

āš ļø Important: Copy this number - you'll need it in Aestheticc setup!

Step 4: Get Twilio Credentials

Locate Account SID and Auth Token

  1. In Twilio Console, go to Dashboard (home page)
  2. Scroll to Account Info section
  3. You'll see two important values:

| Credential | Format | Example | Purpose | |------------|--------|---------|---------| | Account SID | Starts with "AC", 34 chars | AC1234567890abcdef1234567890abcd | Your Twilio account ID | | Auth Token | 32-character string | 1a2b3c4d5e6f7g8h9i0j1k2l3m4n5o6p | Secret password for API |

Copy Credentials

Account SID:

  1. Click Copy icon next to Account SID
  2. Paste somewhere safe (Notes app, password manager)

Auth Token:

  1. Click Show to reveal Auth Token
  2. Click Copy icon
  3. Paste somewhere safe

āš ļø Security Warning:

  • Auth Token is like a password - keep it secret!
  • Never share in email, Slack, or GitHub
  • If compromised, regenerate in Twilio Console ā†’ Settings ā†’ API Keys

Step 5: Configure Twilio in Aestheticc

Navigate to Integrations

  1. Log in to Aestheticc dashboard
  2. Click Settings in left sidebar
  3. Click Integrations tab
  4. Find Twilio section
  5. Click Connect Twilio

Enter Credentials

Twilio Configuration Form:

| Field | What to Enter | Where to Find It | |-------|---------------|------------------| | Account SID | AC1234... (34 chars) | Twilio Console ā†’ Dashboard ā†’ Account Info | | Auth Token | 1a2b3c4d... (32 chars) | Twilio Console ā†’ Dashboard ā†’ Account Info (click "Show") | | Phone Number | +447700900123 | Twilio Console ā†’ Phone Numbers ā†’ Active Numbers |

Phone Number Format:

  • āœ… Correct: +447700900123 (starts with +, includes country code)
  • āŒ Incorrect: 07700900123 (missing +44)
  • āŒ Incorrect: +44 7700 900123 (spaces not allowed)

Validation

When you click Save, Aestheticc performs automatic checks:

Validation Steps (takes ~3 seconds):

  1. āœ… Format Check: Account SID starts with "AC", 34 characters
  2. āœ… Phone Format Check: Number starts with "+", valid format
  3. āœ… Credential Test: Aestheticc connects to Twilio API using your credentials
  4. āœ… Account Verification: Fetches account info to confirm credentials are valid

Success Message:

"Twilio configuration saved successfully! Status: pending_a2p"

Error Messages: | Error | Cause | Fix | |-------|-------|-----| | "Invalid Account SID format" | Account SID doesn't start with "AC" or wrong length | Check you copied entire SID (34 chars) | | "Invalid phone number format" | Phone number missing "+" or country code | Add + and country code (e.g., +44) | | "Twilio credentials are invalid" | Wrong Account SID or Auth Token | Double-check credentials in Twilio Console | | "Failed to save configuration" | Server error | Try again, contact support if persists |

Step 6: Complete A2P 10DLC Registration

What is A2P 10DLC?

Definition: A2P 10DLC = Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code

Purpose: Combat SMS spam by requiring businesses to register their brand and messaging use cases with mobile carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.)

Why Required:

  • Twilio mandates A2P 10DLC for ALL business SMS globally (not just US)
  • Improves message deliverability (fewer spam filters)
  • Higher sending limits (60 msg/sec vs 1 msg/sec unregistered)
  • Prevents phone number suspension

Registration Steps (In Aestheticc)

After saving Twilio credentials, Aestheticc shows A2P 10DLC Registration Wizard.

Step 6.1: Register Your Brand

Brand Information Required:

| Field | What to Enter | Example | |-------|---------------|---------| | Business Legal Name | Exact name on business registration | "Glow Aesthetics Ltd" | | Business Type | Select from dropdown | "Private Company" or "Sole Proprietor" | | Country | United Kingdom | UK | | Tax ID | UTR or Company Number | 1234567890 (UTR) or 12345678 (Co. Number) | | Business Website | Your clinic's website | https://glowaesthetics.co.uk | | Industry | Select "Healthcare" or "Beauty & Personal Care" | Healthcare | | Business Address | Physical address (not PO Box) | 123 High Street, London, SW1A 1AA |

Where to Find Tax ID:

  • Limited Company: Companies House registration number (8 digits)
  • Sole Trader: Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) from HMRC (10 digits)

Brand Registration Cost: ~Ā£4 one-time fee (billed by Twilio)

Processing Time: 1-5 business days (usually 1-2 days)

Step 6.2: Register Your Campaign

Campaign = Your Use Case for SMS (e.g., "Appointment Reminders")

Campaign Information Required:

| Field | What to Enter | Example | |-------|---------------|---------| | Campaign Name | Internal reference | "Appointment Reminders & Marketing" | | Campaign Description | Detailed explanation of SMS use | "Automated appointment reminders sent 24h before appointment. Opt-in marketing campaigns for special offers and new treatments." | | Message Flow | Describe user experience | "Clients receive appointment confirmation when booking. Reminder sent 24h before appointment. Clients can reply CONFIRM or call to reschedule." | | Sample Messages | 2-3 example messages | See examples below | | Opt-In Method | How clients consent | "Checkbox on client signup form. Verbal confirmation during appointment booking." | | Opt-Out Method | How clients can stop messages | "Reply STOP to any message. Request via phone/email." | | Help Message | What clients see when replying HELP | "Glow Aesthetics: Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Call 020-1234-5678 for help." | | Privacy Policy URL | Link to privacy policy | https://glowaesthetics.co.uk/privacy |

Sample Messages to Provide:

1. "Hi Sarah! Reminder: Botox appointment tomorrow at 2:00 PM with Dr. Smith. Reply CONFIRM or call 020-1234-5678. - Glow Aesthetics"

2. "Thanks for booking, Sarah! Your lip filler consultation is confirmed for Mon 15th March at 10:00 AM. See you soon! - Glow Aesthetics"

3. "Spring Special: 20% off all Botox treatments this week! Book now: glowaesthetics.co.uk or call 020-1234-5678. Reply STOP to opt out."

Campaign Registration Cost: ~Ā£10-15 one-time fee per campaign (billed by Twilio)

Processing Time: 1-5 business days (usually 1-2 days)

Step 6.3: Trust Score

After registration, carriers assign a Trust Score based on:

  • Business legitimacy (website, tax ID verification)
  • Industry reputation (healthcare = higher trust)
  • Campaign clarity (clear opt-in/opt-out = higher trust)

Trust Score Impact: | Score | Daily Sending Limit | What It Means | |-------|---------------------|---------------| | High (75-100) | 2,000-6,000 messages/day | Excellent - new business with legitimate website | | Medium (50-75) | 500-2,000 messages/day | Good - most clinics land here | | Low (1-50) | 100-500 messages/day | Limited - improve business info | | Unregistered | 1 message/second (~200/day) | Not sustainable for business use |

Most UK aesthetic clinics get Medium-High scores (sufficient for 100-500 appointments/day).

Step 7: Test SMS

Send Test Message

After A2P 10DLC registration completes (or while pending):

  1. In Aestheticc, go to Settings ā†’ Integrations ā†’ Twilio
  2. Click Send Test SMS button
  3. Enter your mobile number: +44 7700 900123
  4. Click Send

Expected Message (arrives within 5-30 seconds):

Test message from Aestheticc! Your Twilio integration is working correctly. šŸŽ‰

Troubleshooting: | Issue | Cause | Fix | |-------|-------|-----| | Message not received after 1 minute | Wrong phone number format | Check number starts with + and country code | | "Failed to send" error | Twilio credentials invalid | Re-check Account SID and Auth Token | | "Trial account" warning in message | Using trial account | Upgrade Twilio account (add credit card) | | "Insufficient funds" error | No credit in Twilio account | Add funds or enable auto-recharge |

Step 8: Enable Appointment Reminders

Configure Reminder Settings

  1. Navigate to Settings ā†’ Appointments ā†’ Reminders
  2. Toggle Enable SMS Reminders to ON
  3. Configure timing:

Timing Options: | Reminder | When Sent | Recommended For | |----------|-----------|-----------------| | 24 hours before | 1 day before appointment | All appointments | | 3 hours before | 3 hours before appointment | Standard (most clinics use this) | | 1 hour before | 1 hour before appointment | High-value or frequently-rescheduled clients |

Template Selection:

  • Choose from pre-built templates or create custom template
  • Preview message with merge tags replaced
  • Test by booking fake appointment for yourself

Monitor Reminder Delivery

  1. Go to Messages ā†’ SMS Log
  2. Filter by Type: Appointment Reminder
  3. Check delivery status:
    • āœ… Delivered: Successfully sent
    • ā³ Queued: Waiting to send
    • āŒ Failed: Check client's phone number

Twilio Configuration Settings

Twilio Status

After configuration, Aestheticc tracks your Twilio status:

| Status | Meaning | Actions Available | |--------|---------|-------------------| | not_configured | No Twilio account connected | Connect Twilio | | pending_a2p | Credentials saved, A2P registration in progress | Wait for approval (1-5 days) | | active | Fully configured and operational | Send SMS, create campaigns | | error | Last SMS send failed | Check error details, verify credentials | | suspended | Twilio account suspended (rare) | Contact Twilio support |

View Status: Settings ā†’ Integrations ā†’ Twilio ā†’ Status indicator

Credential Security

How Aestheticc Protects Your Credentials:

  1. Encryption: Account SID and Auth Token encrypted before storage using AES-256
  2. Secure Storage: Encrypted values stored in PostgreSQL database (Google Cloud SQL)
  3. No Display: Credentials never displayed after initial save (only phone number shown)
  4. API-Only Access: Credentials only used server-side for Twilio API calls
  5. Audit Logging: All SMS sends logged with timestamp, recipient, status

Phone Number NOT Encrypted: Your Twilio phone number is stored in plain text (needed for display in UI, not sensitive like credentials).

Disconnect Twilio

When to Disconnect:

  • Switching to different Twilio account
  • No longer using SMS features
  • Testing during development

How to Disconnect:

  1. Settings ā†’ Integrations ā†’ Twilio
  2. Click Disconnect Twilio button
  3. Confirm warning: "This will stop all SMS functionality"
  4. All Twilio fields cleared from database

What Happens:

  • āœ… SMS history preserved (for compliance/records)
  • āœ… Templates preserved (can reuse when reconnecting)
  • āŒ Cannot send new SMS until reconnected
  • āŒ Appointment reminders stop sending

šŸ’” Pro Tips

Twilio Account Management

Enable Auto-Recharge:

  1. In Twilio Console, go to Billing ā†’ Auto Recharge
  2. Set: "When balance falls below Ā£10, add Ā£20"
  3. Prevents service interruption from insufficient funds

Set Usage Alerts:

  1. Twilio Console ā†’ Billing ā†’ Alerts
  2. Set alert at 80% of monthly budget
  3. Receive email before hitting unexpected costs

Monitor Usage:

  • Check Twilio Console ā†’ Usage weekly
  • Look for unexpected spikes (could indicate spam or misconfiguration)

Number Selection

UK Mobile vs Landline:

  • Mobile (starts with +447): Best for SMS (higher deliverability)
  • Landline (starts with +442): NOT recommended for SMS (many carriers block)

Choose Memorable Number (Optional):

  • Search for numbers with repeated digits: +447777777xxx
  • Or numbers that spell words (less common in UK)

Branded Sender ID (Coming Soon): Instead of phone number, clients see "GlowClinic" as sender (higher open rates). Requires:

  • A2P 10DLC registration complete
  • Additional carrier approval
  • UK support limited (works better in US)

A2P 10DLC Tips

Expedite Approval:

  • Use real business website (active, professional design)
  • Provide detailed campaign description (more detail = faster approval)
  • Include clear opt-in/opt-out methods
  • Match business name exactly to registration documents

Multiple Campaigns: If you have distinct use cases, register separate campaigns:

  • Campaign 1: "Appointment Reminders" (transactional)
  • Campaign 2: "Marketing Promotions" (marketing)

This can improve trust scores and deliverability.

šŸŽÆ Use Cases

Use Case 1: New Clinic Setup

Scenario: Just launched clinic, need SMS reminders ASAP.

Twilio Setup Workflow (20 minutes):

  1. 5 min: Create Twilio account, verify phone, get Ā£15 trial credit
  2. 2 min: Buy UK mobile number (+447 number, Ā£1/month)
  3. 3 min: Copy Account SID, Auth Token, phone number
  4. 2 min: Paste credentials into Aestheticc Settings ā†’ Integrations ā†’ Twilio
  5. 5 min: Complete A2P 10DLC brand registration
  6. 2 min: Complete A2P campaign registration
  7. 1 min: Send test SMS to yourself to verify

Result: SMS reminders active immediately (A2P approval pending, but can send during trial with verified numbers).

Use Case 2: Upgrading from Trial

Scenario: Used Ā£15 trial credit, ready to upgrade.

Upgrade Workflow (2 minutes):

  1. Twilio Console ā†’ Billing ā†’ Upgrade Account
  2. Add credit card (no charge until trial credit exhausted)
  3. Enable auto-recharge: "Add Ā£20 when balance < Ā£10"
  4. Immediately removes "Trial Account" watermark from messages
  5. Can now send to ANY phone number (not just verified)

Cost After Trial:

  • Phone number rental: Ā£1/month
  • SMS messages: Ā£0.04 per UK SMS
  • Example: 100 appointments/week Ɨ 2 reminders = Ā£32/month

Use Case 3: Multi-Location Clinic

Scenario: 3 clinic locations, want separate SMS numbers per location.

Multi-Account Setup:

  1. Create 3 separate Twilio accounts (one per location)
    • Location 1: +447700 900123
    • Location 2: +447700 900456
    • Location 3: +447700 900789
  2. In Aestheticc, configure Twilio separately for each business profile
  3. Clients receive SMS from their local clinic's number

Alternative: Use one Twilio account with 3 numbers, manually specify sending number per campaign (requires custom development).

ā“ Common Questions

Q: Do I need a credit card to create Twilio account? A: No! Twilio offers Ā£15 free trial credit with no credit card required. You'll only need a credit card when trial credit runs out or to remove "Trial Account" watermark.

Q: How long does Twilio account creation take? A: 2-5 minutes. Phone verification is instant, account activation is immediate.

Q: Can I use my existing business phone number with Twilio? A: Only if it's already a Twilio number. Porting existing numbers to Twilio is complex (can take 7-14 days, requires carrier approval). Easier to buy a new Twilio number (~Ā£1/month).

Q: What if I already have a Twilio account from another app? A: You can use the SAME Twilio account for multiple apps (Aestheticc, Zapier, etc.). Just use the same Account SID and Auth Token. Billing is combined in one Twilio account.

Q: Can I change my Twilio phone number later? A: Yes! Buy new number in Twilio Console, then update phone number in Aestheticc Settings ā†’ Integrations ā†’ Twilio. Clients will receive future SMS from new number.

Q: How long does A2P 10DLC registration take? A: 1-5 business days (usually 1-2 days). Brand registration averages 1 day, campaign registration averages 1-2 days. You can send SMS while registration is pending (limited to verified numbers during trial).

Q: What if A2P 10DLC registration is rejected? A: Rare (>95% approval rate). Rejections usually due to:

  • Incomplete business information
  • Invalid website or tax ID
  • Unclear campaign description

Fix issues and resubmit. Twilio provides rejection reason.

Q: Can I skip A2P 10DLC registration? A: Not recommended. Unregistered numbers have severe limitations:

  • 1 message/second sending limit (~200 messages/day)
  • Higher spam filtering (many messages never delivered)
  • Risk of number suspension by Twilio
  • Lower trust score with carriers

Cost to register (Ā£14-19 one-time) is worth it for business use.

Q: Do I need separate Twilio accounts for testing and production? A: Recommended for developers, optional for clinic owners. If you're just using Aestheticc (not developing), one Twilio account is sufficient. Use Aestheticc's staging environment for testing if available.

Q: What happens if I run out of Twilio credit? A: SMS messages will fail with "Insufficient funds" error. Enable auto-recharge in Twilio Console to prevent this.

Q: Can I send SMS internationally (e.g., to clients traveling abroad)? A: Yes, but costs vary widely (Ā£0.08-0.50 per message depending on country). Check Twilio pricing page for specific countries.

Q: Is Twilio GDPR compliant? A: Yes. Twilio is GDPR compliant and has Data Processing Agreements (DPA) available. SMS messages are stored for compliance but can be deleted per retention policies.

Q: What if Twilio is down? A: Rare (99.95% uptime SLA). If Twilio has outage:

  • SMS sends will fail
  • Aestheticc shows error: "Twilio service unavailable"
  • Check Twilio status page: status.twilio.com
  • Messages will queue and send when service restores

šŸŽÆ Next Steps

After Twilio setup:

šŸ†˜ Need Help?

Aestheticc Support (for integration issues): šŸ“§ support@aestheti.cc

Twilio Support (for account, billing, deliverability): šŸ“§ support@twilio.com šŸŒ twilio.com/help šŸ“ž +1 (415) 123-4567 (24/7 phone support for paid accounts)

Twilio Documentation: šŸŒ twilio.com/docs/sms šŸŒ twilio.com/docs/messaging/guides/a2p-10dlc (A2P 10DLC guide)

Last Updated: 2025-11-10 Related Documentation: SMS Overview, SMS Templates, Appointment Reminders

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Twilio Setup Guide | Aestheticc Docs