Zapier Integration Setup

Follow this guide to set up the Zapier integration and start automating your SMS marketing workflows.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• An active Echo Texting account
• At least one brand and campaign set up
• A Zapier account (free or paid)

Step 1: Generate an API Key

The Zapier integration uses API keys for authentication. Here's how to create one:

1.1 Navigate to API Keys

1. Log in to your Echo Texting dashboard
2. Select your Brand
3. Select your Campaign
4. Go to Integrations → API Keys

1.2 Create a New API Key

1. Click Create API Key
2. Enter a name (e.g., "Zapier Integration")
3. Select the required scopes:
   • ✅ Zapier Contact Write - For creating/updating contacts
   • ✅ Zapier Text Send - For sending text messages
4. (Optional) Set an expiration date
5. Click Create

1.3 Copy Your API Key

⚠️ Important: Your API key is only shown once. Copy it now and store it securely.

The API key format looks like: etxt_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

• Click Copy to Clipboard
• Store it in a secure location
• Never share your API key publicly

Step 2: Connect Echo Texting in Zapier

2.1 Create a New Zap

1. Log in to Zapier
2. Click Create Zap (or + Create button)
3. Choose your trigger app (the app that starts your workflow)
4. Configure your trigger and test it

2.2 Add Echo Texting Action

1. Click + to add a new step
2. Search for Echo Texting
3. Select Echo Texting from the results
4. Choose an action:
   • Create or Update Contact
   • Send Text Message

2.3 Connect Your Account

1. Click Sign in to Echo Texting
2. Paste your API key when prompted
3. Click Yes, Continue
4. Wait for Zapier to verify your connection

You should see: ✅ Connected to [Your Brand Name]

Step 3: Configure Your Action

Option A: Create or Update Contact

Use this to add contacts to Echo Texting automatically.

Required Fields

• Phone Number: The contact's phone number
  • Format: +1XXXXXXXXXX or 10-digit US number
  • Can map from trigger data

Optional Fields

• First Name: Contact's first name
• Last Name: Contact's last name
• Contact Groups: Select which groups to add the contact to
• Tags: Apply tags for organization and segmentation

Example Configuration

Phone Number: {{Trigger: Phone}}
First Name: {{Trigger: First Name}}
Last Name: {{Trigger: Last Name}}
Contact Groups: Newsletter Subscribers, Website Signups
Tags: New Lead, Q1-2026

Option B: Send Text Message

Use this to send SMS messages automatically.

Required Fields

• Campaign ID: Your Echo Texting campaign ID

  • Find this in your dashboard URL
  • Format: cmpgn_xxxxxxxxxxxx

• Recipients: Choose one:

  • Contact IDs: Specific contact IDs (from previous Zap step)
  • Contact Groups: Send to entire groups

• Message: Your SMS content

  • Write a custom message
  • Use trigger data: Hi {{First Name}}, welcome!
  • Or select an autoresponder template

Optional Fields

• Autoresponder Template: Use a pre-saved message template
• Scheduled Date: Send on a specific date (YYYY-MM-DD)
• Scheduled Time: Send at a specific time (HH:MM in 24-hour format)
• Timezone: Select the timezone for scheduling
• Media URLs: Add images for MMS (coming soon)

Example Configurations

Immediate Send:

Campaign ID: cmpgn_abc123xyz
Message: Hi {{First Name}}, your order #{{Order Number}} has shipped!
Contact IDs: {{Step 1: Contact ID}}

Scheduled Send:

Campaign ID: cmpgn_abc123xyz
Autoresponder Template: Appointment Reminder
Contact Groups: Upcoming Appointments
Scheduled Date: {{Appointment Date}}
Scheduled Time: 09:00
Timezone: America/New_York

Step 4: Test Your Zap

4.1 Test the Action

1. Click Test action (or Test & Continue)
2. Zapier will send a test request to Echo Texting
3. Review the test results:
   • ✅ Success: Action completed
   • ❌ Error: Check error message and fix configuration

4.2 Verify in Echo Texting

After a successful test:

• For Contact Creation: Check your Contacts page for the new contact
• For Text Sending: Check your Texts page for the queued/sent message

Step 5: Activate Your Zap

1. Give your Zap a descriptive name (e.g., "Shopify Orders → Echo Texting")
2. Click Publish (or turn the Zap On)
3. Your automation is now live! 🎉

Multi-Step Zaps (Advanced)

You can combine both actions in a single Zap:

1. Trigger: New form submission
2. Action 1: Create or Update Contact in Echo Texting
3. Action 2: Send Text Message using the contact ID from Step 2

This ensures the contact exists before sending them a message.

Example: Complete Workflow

Trigger: New Row in Google Sheets
  ↓
Action 1: Create or Update Contact
  - Phone: {{Column: Phone}}
  - First Name: {{Column: First Name}}
  - Last Name: {{Column: Last Name}}
  - Groups: Newsletter Subscribers
  ↓
Action 2: Send Text Message
  - Campaign ID: cmpgn_abc123xyz
  - Message: Hi {{Column: First Name}}, thanks for subscribing!
  - Contact IDs: {{Step 2: Contact ID}}

Tips for Success

Phone Number Formatting

• Use E.164 format: +12025551234
• Or 10-digit US format: 2025551234
• Remove dashes, spaces, and parentheses
• Zapier's formatter can help clean phone numbers

Dynamic Content

Use trigger data in your messages:

• Hi {{First Name}} - Personalize with names
• Order #{{Order Number}} - Include order details
• {{Event Date | date: MMM D}} - Format dates

Testing Best Practices

• Always test with a real phone number you control
• Check that messages send successfully
• Verify scheduled sends appear correctly
• Test with different trigger scenarios

Error Handling

If your Zap fails:

1. Check the error message in Zapier
2. Verify your API key is correct and not expired
3. Ensure phone numbers are valid
4. Confirm the campaign ID exists
5. Check that required fields are filled

Next Steps

Now that your integration is set up:

• Explore Common Use Cases
• Learn about Best Practices
• Check Troubleshooting if you encounter issues

Need Help?

Contact our support team if you need assistance:

• Email: [email protected]
• Include your Zap URL and error messages