How to Send Bulk SMS with Telzio and Zapier: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

Sending the same text message to dozens or even hundreds of customers doesn’t have to be a manual task. With Telzio and Zapier, you can create an automated workflow that delivers personalized bulk SMS messages in seconds.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up the integration from start to finish. You’ll verify that your Telzio number is ready for outbound texting, connect it to Zapier, and log every message sent. By the end, you’ll have a reliable automation that saves time and ensures accuracy across all your communications.

1. Prepare your Telzio account

Before setting up your automation, make sure your Telzio number is approved for outbound SMS. This verification step is essential. Without it, your messages will not send successfully.

• 10DLC (local numbers):
  If you’re using a U.S. local number, you must register a 10DLC brand and use case.
  Go to Account Settings → Regulatory → 10DLC in your Telzio portal to check whether your brand and campaign are approved.
  If not, complete the registration form. Messages cannot be delivered until your 10DLC approval is confirmed.

• Toll-free numbers:
  For toll-free numbers, fill out the Toll-Free SMS Registration Form so Telzio can submit it to the carriers.
  Just like with 10DLC, wait for confirmation before continuing.

Once your Telzio number is fully SMS-enabled, you’re ready to start building your contact list and connect it with Zapier.

2. Build your contact list in Excel or Google Sheets

To automate your text messages, you’ll need a clear and organized list of recipients. Zapier uses this file as the single source of truth for who will receive your bulk SMS messages.

You can create the list in Excel, Google Sheets, or any CSV file. The format is the same for all three.

1. Create a workbook, for example: Zapier SMS Testing.
2. Add a worksheet and name it Client List.
3. Set up three columns:
   • Client Name: The name of the recipient.
   • Client Phone Number: The full phone number, including area code.
   • Message Status: Leave this blank for now. Zapier will automatically update it to “Yes” or “No” with a timestamp after each message is sent.

You can leave the sheet empty at this stage. Once your automation is active, Zapier will populate the Message Status column with real-time delivery updates.

3. Create a new Zap in Zapier

Sign in to Zapier and click Create Zap.

3.1 Set up the trigger

Create a trigger that watches your sheet for new or edited contacts. Follow these steps:

1. In Zapier, choose the Excel app (or Google Sheets) and select the Updated Row event.
   This event runs whenever a row is added or changed. Zapier checks the sheet about once per minute, which is sufficient for most bulk SMS use cases.

   

2. Connect your OneDrive or Google account, then select the workbook and worksheet you created earlier.
   Example: Zapier SMS Testing as the workbook, Client List as the worksheet.

3. Set Trigger Column to Client Name.
   Zapier will monitor this column for new or edited values. When you add a new client, the automation starts.

   

4. Test the trigger with a sample row, for example: Angela Smith and a valid phone number.
   Zapier should pull the sample into the test and confirm that the trigger is working.

   

Tip: If you prefer to start the automation only when a phone number is added, you can set the Trigger Column to Client Phone Number instead.

3.2 Add the Telzio action to send SMS

Now that your trigger is ready, it’s time to connect Telzio and send messages automatically.

1. In Zapier, click “+” to add an action. Choose Telzio, then select Send SMS.
2. Connect your Telzio account, and select the phone number you want to send from. This is usually your main office line or toll-free number.
3. Map the recipient’s phone number. In the To field, open Zapier’s mapping menu and select Client Phone Number from your sheet. This ensures every message is sent to the correct contact.
4. Write your message using field mapping for personalization. Keep it under 160 characters. For example:

   Hey {{Client Name}}, hope you’re doing well!
   

   Insert the Client Name field from your sheet so each recipient sees their own name.
5. Test the action. Zapier will send the SMS to your sample contact. Check your phone to confirm the message was delivered.

Once this step works, your basic bulk SMS setup is complete. Each time you add a new row in your spreadsheet, Zapier will automatically send a personalized text message through Telzio.

4. Log successful messages in your sheet

Keeping track of which messages were sent successfully helps you monitor delivery and maintain accurate records. You can do this by creating a simple success path in Zapier that updates your spreadsheet automatically.

1. Add a Path step after the Telzio action. Name it Update Excel if SMS is successful.

2. In Path conditions, select the success field from the Telzio action and set it to match true.
   When Telzio confirms a successful delivery, this path will run.

   

3. Add an Update Row action using the Excel app.

   • Choose the same workbook and worksheet.
   • Map the Row field from the Updated Row data.
   • In the Message Status column, insert a value such as:
     Yes - {{zap_meta_human_now}}
     This will record “Yes” along with the current timestamp, making it easy for anyone viewing the sheet to see when each text was delivered. Once you test this step, your sheet will automatically log every successful SMS in real time, giving you full visibility into your campaign’s performance.
   

4. Test the step and confirm that the Message Status cell updates correctly in your spreadsheet.

This logging step is optional but highly recommended for keeping track of deliveries.

5. Handle failed messages and send alerts

Not every message will go through successfully. To stay informed and react quickly, you can create a second path in Zapier that tracks failed deliveries and sends alerts to your team.

1. Add another Path step and name it Send alerts if SMS fails.
2. Set the condition to continue only if the success field does not match "true."
   This ensures the path activates only when a message fails to send.
3. Choose how you want Zapier to respond:
   • Update the sheet – Repeat the Update Row step and insert No - {{zap_meta_human_now}} into the Message Status column. This clearly marks failed messages and includes a timestamp.
   • Send an alert – You can also send notifications through a webhook, Slack, or email.
     In the Request Body, include details such as Error: {{Client Name}} at {{Client Phone Number}} failed.
     Zapier will forward this data to your chosen alerting tool whenever a message fails.

Setting up this failure path gives you visibility and control, allowing you to identify delivery issues and take action right away.

6. What happens next?

At this point, your workflow is ready to go:

• Every minute, Zapier checks your spreadsheet for new or updated rows.
• It sends a personalized SMS through Telzio to each client and logs the delivery result automatically.
• If a message fails, your alert system (via webhook, email, or Slack) notifies your team so you can act quickly.

Because this automation is fully customizable, you can easily adjust it to your needs. You might prefer to use Google Sheets instead of Excel, add extra personalization fields such as appointment times, or even record delivery data directly in your CRM.
Just remember to keep your Telzio number compliant with SMS regulations and monitor your Zapier task limits to avoid interruptions.

With this setup in place, you can send bulk SMS messages quickly, reliably, and without having to type each one by hand.