Connect your SMS channel via Twilio to send messages and interact with your customers. In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up your Twilio account and connecting it to SleekFlow to configure your SMS channel.

Setting up a Twilio account

Before connecting your SMS channel to SleekFlow. You will need to set up your Twilio account. You can follow the steps below to set up your Twilio account:

1. Register a free account on Twilio
   
2. Verify your Twilio account with email and phone number for security purposes
3. Once you have verified your email and phone number, you will receive a recovery code. Keep this code in a safe and accessible place for recovery purposes.
   

Getting a Twilio phone number

Once you have created a Twilio account, you can then access Twilio’s Account Dashboard. All new accounts are created with $15 of free credit that you can use to buy phone numbers and test the platform. You can follow Twilio's guide to getting your Twilio phone number.

 Notes on getting a Twilio phone number

• Twilio SMS supporting countries and regions: To ensure that Twilio SMS is available in your country/region, you can visit this page. 
• Choosing a number: You can select a number from any country available on Twilio. However, if you plan to use SMS with SleekFlow, ensure the number has SMS capability. 
• Meeting regulatory requirements: In some countries or regions, such as Hong Kong, regulatory compliance is required. You may need to provide a regulatory bundle and proof of business address. Follow Twilio’s instructions to submit your business registration supporting document.
• Adding payment information: Before making your SMS channel public, be sure to add a credit card to your Twilio account. Message charges vary by country, so check the rates for your specific location.

Connecting your Twilio SMS phone number to SleekFlow

Once you have finished getting your Twilio phone number, you can follow the steps below to connect your Twilio SMS phone number to SleekFlow: 

1. Go to “Channels” page by clicking on the icon on the left navigation bar
2. on the left-side menu, click “SMS” to go to the SMS channel settings page
3. Click “Connect” to connect your SMS channel
   
    
4. You will be redirected to the “Connect SMS” page
   
    
5. In the “Connect SMS” page, you will find your webhook URL. Copy this webhook URL and paste it in the Twilio settings and follow the steps below:
   1. Copy this webhook URL and paste it in the Twilio settings.
   2. Go to Manage Numbers. Click the number that you want to use for SMS.
   3. Under "Configure", go all the way down to Messaging.
   4. Change the webhook under "A Message comes in" to the Webhook to the link below: 
      https://sleekflow-prod-api.azurewebsites.net/sms/twilio/webhook
6. Once you have finished pasting the webhook URL in the Twilio settings, head back to the “Connect SMS” page 
7. Enter the phone number and the country code you have applied for
8. Enter the “Account SID”. You can find your Account SID in your Twilio console dashboard
9. Enter your channel name. This channel name is the display name on SleekFlow and will only be visible to your teammates in SleekFlow
10. Enter the Twilio authentication token. You can find your authentication token in Twilio console dashboard. Click "view" to reveal the "Auth Token" and paste it in the form above.
11. When you have all the fields filled in, just click the “Connect” button.
12. Your channel is successfully connected! All future SMS messages sent to the phone number will appear on the SleekFlow Platform.