Text appointment reminders from Google Calendar automatically

Short answer: Use a free Google Apps Script that texts each customer a reminder before their appointment, using the phone number in the calendar event. Sent through your own Twilio account. It runs in your own Google account; nothing is sent to us. Setup takes 6 steps: Put the number in the event; Make a Settings tab; Write the message; Paste the script; Add your Twilio details; Turn it on.

How to set it up

1. Put the number in the event. When you book an appointment in Google Calendar, type the customer's mobile number anywhere in the description or the location, such as 617 555 0100.
2. Make a Settings tab. Open a new Google Sheet and add a tab called Settings. B1 is the calendar ID (blank for your main calendar). B2 is how many hours before the appointment to text, such as 24.
3. Write the message. In B3, write the text, using {title}, {day} and {time} where they should go, such as: Reminder: {title} on {day} at {time}. Call us if you need to change it.
4. Paste the script. Open Extensions, then Apps Script, paste in the code from our email, and save. Reload the sheet and a Reminders menu appears.
5. Add your Twilio details. In the Apps Script editor, open Project Settings and add three Script properties: TWILIO_SID and TWILIO_TOKEN from your Twilio console, and TWILIO_FROM (your Twilio number, like +15551234567).
6. Turn it on. Choose Reminders, then Start reminder texts. Every hour the script looks for appointments starting within your window and texts each one once. The Sent tab logs every text and whether it went.

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Good to know

• Numbers are read as US numbers and sent with +1.
• Each event is marked once it is texted, so moving it later doesn't send a second reminder.
• Events without a phone number are skipped, so your own meetings never get a text.

Questions

What does this script do?

It is a free Google Apps Script that texts each customer a reminder before their appointment, using the phone number in the calendar event. Sent through your own Twilio account.

How do I set it up?

In 6 steps: 1. Put the number in the event; 2. Make a Settings tab; 3. Write the message; 4. Paste the script; 5. Add your Twilio details; 6. Turn it on. The full steps are on this page.

Is it free, and does it send my data anywhere?

It is free: enter your email on this page and we email you the script (Code.gs). It runs in your own Google account; nothing is sent to us.

Can you install it for me?

Yes. We set it up in your Google account in a short Connect session, connect it to your sheet and check that it runs.

Want this connected to the rest of your tools? Send us a short brief.