How to Send and Receive SMS Notifications for Google Forms with Pabbly Connect

Learn how to integrate Google Forms with SMS notifications using Pabbly Connect. Step-by-step guide to automate responses for form submissions. Discover how to seamlessly connect your essential tools through accessible instructions that make powerful automation available to professionals at every skill level.

Watch Step By Step Video Tutorial Below

1. Setting Up Pabbly Connect for Google Forms Integration

To begin with, the integration of Google Forms with SMS notifications requires using Pabbly Connect. Start by visiting the Pabbly Connect website and signing up for a free account. This step is crucial for accessing the automation features that will allow you to connect Google Forms with SMS services.

Once you have your account ready, navigate to the dashboard and click on the ‘Create Workflow’ button. You will need to name your workflow, for instance, ‘Google Forms to SMS Notifications’. By doing this, you set the stage for automating your form submission notifications.

2. Creating a Google Sheet for Form Responses

The next step involves linking your Google Form to a Google Sheet. This is essential because Pabbly Connect will retrieve form responses from this sheet. Open your Google Form, go to the ‘Responses’ tab, and click on the green Sheets icon to create a new Google Sheet. This sheet will automatically collect all responses from the form.

• Click on the green Sheets icon to create a Google Sheet.
• Name your sheet appropriately, such as ‘Library Form Responses’.
• Ensure that the last column of your sheet is designated for triggering actions in Pabbly Connect.

After creating the sheet, ensure you have the necessary fields like name, phone number, and book preference set up. This will allow Pabbly Connect to access the data needed for sending SMS notifications.

3. Integrating Google Forms with Pabbly Connect

Now that your Google Sheet is ready, the next step is to integrate it with Pabbly Connect. This involves using the Pabbly Connect Webhooks add-on in your Google Sheet. Go to ‘Add-ons’ in your Google Sheet, select ‘Get Add-ons’, and search for ‘Pabbly Connect Webhooks’ to install it.

Once installed, refresh your Google Sheet and go back to the Add-ons menu. Select ‘Pabbly Connect Webhooks’ and then click on ‘Initial Setup’. Here, you will need to enter the webhook URL provided by Pabbly Connect and specify the trigger column, which should be the last column of your sheet.

4. Sending SMS Notifications Using Pabbly Connect

With the integration set, it’s time to configure SMS notifications. In the Pabbly Connect dashboard, choose Twilio as the action app. You will need to connect your Twilio account by entering your Account SID, Auth Token, and Account ID from your Twilio console.

• Select ‘Send SMS’ as the action event in Twilio.
• Map the recipient’s phone number from the Google Sheet.
• Compose your SMS message, confirming the submission.

After configuring the SMS settings, click ‘Save’ and send a test request to ensure everything is working correctly. This will send an SMS to the respondent confirming their form submission, demonstrating how Pabbly Connect automates the process seamlessly.

5. Alerting Yourself of New Submissions

To keep track of submissions, you can set up another SMS notification for yourself. In Pabbly Connect, clone the previous action step you created for sending SMS to the respondent. This allows you to maintain the same settings while changing the recipient number to your own.

Modify the SMS body to include details about the new submission, such as the name of the respondent and their book preference. This ensures that you receive timely alerts whenever someone submits the form, enhancing your workflow efficiency with Pabbly Connect.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored how to use Pabbly Connect to automate SMS notifications for Google Forms submissions. By integrating Google Forms with SMS services, you can enhance communication and streamline your processes effectively. With this setup, both you and your respondents receive instant notifications, ensuring everyone stays informed.