How to Test SMS Notifications Before Launch

Verify your SMS setup works perfectly before going live #

Testing your SMS configurations before launching your form is essential to ensure messages deliver correctly, dynamic fields populate properly, and your recipients receive clear, professional communications. A quick test can catch formatting issues, incorrect phone numbers, authentication problems, or provider configuration errors—preventing embarrassing mistakes or missed notifications when your form goes live. Think of testing as your safety net, giving you confidence that every message will work exactly as intended.

FORMEPIC makes testing simple with built-in test functionality for each SMS type. Send test messages to real phone numbers, verify that personalization fields display correctly, check message length and formatting, and ensure your provider credentials are working—all without needing actual form submissions. This proactive approach saves time, money, and protects your professional reputation.

Requirements #

• Configured SMS Provider: At least one SMS provider must be set up with valid credentials
• Test Phone Number: A valid phone number in international format where you can receive test messages
• SMS Configuration: At least one SMS type (notification, autoresponder, or digest) must be configured
• Provider Balance: Sufficient credits in your SMS provider account (test messages count toward usage)
• Active Form: Form must be saved (doesn’t need to be published) before testing

Why Test Your SMS Settings #

Catch Errors Early #

• Verify provider authentication is working
• Confirm phone numbers are formatted correctly
• Check that messages aren’t truncated or split unexpectedly
• Ensure dynamic fields populate correctly

Verify Delivery #

• Confirm messages actually arrive at recipient phones
• Check delivery speed (should be seconds to minutes)
• Test different carriers if possible (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.)
• Verify international delivery if sending globally

Check Formatting #

• Review how messages appear on actual phones
• Verify special characters display correctly
• Ensure line breaks and spacing look professional
• Confirm URLs are clickable and correctly formatted

Validate Personalization #

• Test that dynamic fields show actual data, not placeholders
• Verify conditional content works as expected
• Check that empty fields don’t create awkward gaps
• Ensure all merge tags are recognized

How to Test SMS Notifications #

SMS Notifications alert your team members when forms are submitted. Here’s how to test them:

1. Navigate to Settings: Open your form and click the Settings icon in the sidebar
2. Find Configured Notification: In the SMS section, locate your configured SMS notification
3. Click Test Button: Next to the notification, click the “Test” button
4. Enter Test Phone Number: Enter a phone number in international format (e.g., +12025551234)
5. Send Test: Click “Send Test SMS”
6. Check Delivery: Within seconds to minutes, check the phone for the test message
7. Verify Content: Confirm the message text, dynamic fields, and formatting appear correctly
8. Review Results: You’ll see a success or error message in FORMEPIC

What to Check:

• Message arrived on the test phone
• Sender ID or from-number displays correctly
• Message content is complete and properly formatted
• Dynamic fields show sample data, not {placeholder} text
• No unexpected characters or encoding issues

How to Test SMS Autoresponders #

Autoresponders send messages to people who submit your form. Testing requires simulating a submission:

1. Navigate to Settings: Open form settings and find the SMS section
2. Find Autoresponder: Locate your configured autoresponder
3. Click Test Button: Click the “Test” button for the autoresponder
4. Enter Test Phone Number: Provide the phone number where you want to receive the test
5. Send Test: Click “Send Test SMS”
6. Receive Test: Check the phone for the autoresponder message
7. Verify Personalization: Confirm dynamic fields are replaced with sample or actual data

What to Check:

• Message received by test phone number
• Personalization fields (like {name}) show actual data
• Tone and message content are appropriate for respondents
• Any links or URLs work correctly
• Message length isn’t causing splits

Additional Testing:

• Submit the actual form with your test phone number in the recipient field
• This provides the most realistic test of the full workflow
• Verify the autoresponder triggers automatically after submission
• Check timing—message should arrive within seconds

How to Test SMS Digests #

Digests send periodic summaries on a schedule. Testing digests requires a manual send:

1. Navigate to Settings: Open form settings and find the SMS section
2. Find Digest Configuration: Locate your SMS digest
3. Click Test Button: Click the “Test” button next to the digest
4. Enter Test Phone Number: Provide a phone number to receive the test digest
5. Send Test: Click “Send Test SMS”
6. Review Content: Check that the digest summary format makes sense
7. Verify Delivery: Confirm the message arrives at the test phone

What to Check:

• Digest format is clear and readable
• Summary information makes sense
• Links or references work correctly
• Message isn’t too long or split awkwardly
• Scheduled frequency is set correctly (though test sends immediately)

Note on Scheduling:

• Test sends immediately, but actual digests send on schedule
• Verify the schedule settings after testing
• Consider setting a near-future test schedule to verify automatic sending

Testing Multiple Providers #

If you have multiple SMS providers configured, test each one:

1. Select Different Providers: Configure different SMS types with different providers
2. Test Each Provider: Send test messages from each provider configuration
3. Compare Delivery: Note differences in delivery speed, sender ID, or formatting
4. Document Results: Keep track of which providers work best for your needs

Why Test Multiple Providers:

• Delivery rates vary by provider and destination
• Costs differ between providers
• Some providers may not support certain regions
• Redundancy options if one provider has issues

Testing Checklist #

Before launching your form with SMS enabled, complete this checklist:

Pre-Test Setup #

• [ ] SMS provider credentials are entered and saved
• [ ] From phone number is verified with your provider
• [ ] At least one SMS type is configured and enabled
• [ ] Dynamic fields are inserted where desired
• [ ] Message content is written and reviewed

Notification Tests #

• [ ] Test notification sent to your phone successfully
• [ ] Message arrived within 5 minutes
• [ ] Content is accurate and complete
• [ ] Dynamic fields populated correctly
• [ ] From-number displays as expected

Autoresponder Tests #

• [ ] Test autoresponder sent successfully
• [ ] Personalization fields work correctly
• [ ] Tone is appropriate for respondents
• [ ] Message length is acceptable (under 160 chars ideally)
• [ ] Full form submission test completed (if possible)

Digest Tests #

• [ ] Test digest sent successfully
• [ ] Summary format is clear
• [ ] Schedule settings are correct
• [ ] Content provides useful information
• [ ] Recipients are correct

Provider & Delivery Tests #

• [ ] Tested with different phone carriers if possible
• [ ] International numbers tested if needed
• [ ] Multiple providers tested if configured
• [ ] Delivery speed is acceptable
• [ ] No unexpected errors in provider dashboard

Final Checks #

• [ ] All SMS types are enabled (toggle ON)
• [ ] Settings saved after any changes
• [ ] Provider account has sufficient balance
• [ ] No error messages or warnings present
• [ ] Documentation of test results completed

Tips and Tricks #

• Test with Real Numbers: Always test with actual phone numbers, not simulated ones
• Multiple Carriers: If possible, test with phones on different carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile)
• International Testing: If sending internationally, test to those regions specifically
• Team Testing: Have team members test to verify notifications work for everyone
• Time of Day: Test at different times to check for delivery delays
• Weekend Testing: Some providers have different performance on weekends
• Keep Test Log: Document test results with timestamps for troubleshooting
• Real Submission Test: Beyond the test button, submit the actual form to test end-to-end
• Check Spam Filters: Some carriers filter SMS; test with different numbers if messages don’t arrive
• Provider Dashboard: Always check your SMS provider’s dashboard for detailed delivery logs
• Character Count: Count characters in your message; 160 is the standard SMS limit
• URL Shorteners: Use URL shorteners in messages to save characters and track clicks
• Opt-Out Language: Test that any required opt-out language displays correctly
• Cost Tracking: Monitor test message costs to estimate production expenses

Important Notes #

• Test Messages Count: Test SMS messages count toward your provider usage and costs
• Real Delivery: Test messages are actually sent—they’re not free simulations
• Dynamic Fields in Tests: Test messages may show generic data for dynamic fields, not actual form data
• Timing Differences: Test sends immediately; actual digests follow schedule
• Provider Logs: Delivery confirmation details are in your SMS provider dashboard, not FORMEPIC
• Rate Limits: Excessive testing could hit rate limits—space out tests
• Test Mode: SMS still sends even when form is in Test Mode—be cautious
• Phone Number Privacy: Use your own or team phone numbers for testing, not customer numbers
• Carrier Delays: Some carriers delay SMS delivery—wait up to 5 minutes before assuming failure
• International Delays: International delivery can take longer than domestic

Common Issues & Troubleshooting #

Test SMS Not Received

• Wait up to 5 minutes before concluding failure
• Check phone signal strength and airplane mode status
• Verify the test phone number was entered correctly with country code
• Confirm phone isn’t blocking messages from unknown numbers
• Check your SMS provider dashboard for delivery status
• Try a different phone or carrier to isolate the issue
• Ensure your provider account has sufficient balance

“Invalid Phone Number” Error

• Use international format with country code (+1 for US, +44 for UK, etc.)
• Remove spaces, dashes, or parentheses from phone number
• Verify the country code is correct for the destination
• Check that the number includes area/regional code
• Try formatting: +[country code][area code][number] (e.g., +12025551234)

Authentication Failed During Test

• Verify SMS provider credentials are still valid
• Check if API keys have been regenerated or expired
• Log into your provider dashboard to confirm account status
• Re-enter credentials in FORMEPIC and save
• Check if your provider account is active and funded

Dynamic Fields Showing as {placeholder}

• This is normal for test messages—actual submissions will populate correctly
• To test with real data, submit the form with test information
• Verify field names in curly braces match exactly (case-sensitive)
• Check that fields exist in your form configuration

Message Truncated or Split

• Count characters in your message (160 is the SMS limit)
• Remove unnecessary words or use abbreviations
• Shorten URLs using a URL shortener
• Special characters and emojis may count as multiple characters
• Consider breaking information across multiple messages intentionally

Test Succeeds But Real Submissions Fail

• Verify the autoresponder phone field is correctly selected
• Ensure respondents enter phone numbers in correct format
• Check that the phone field is required in your form
• Review actual submission data to verify phone numbers are captured

Provider Shows Error in Dashboard

• Review provider-specific error codes in their documentation
• Common issues: unverified sender number, account restrictions, blocked destination
• Check if additional verification is required for your provider account
• Verify your provider supports the destination country or carrier

Multiple Test Messages Received

• Check if you have multiple configurations of the same SMS type enabled
• Verify you only clicked the test button once (avoid double-clicking)
• Review all SMS settings to ensure no duplicate configurations
• Disable any configurations you’re not actually using

Slow Delivery Times

• Some carriers naturally have delays (up to 5 minutes is normal)
• High provider volume can cause delays
• International messages typically take longer
• Check provider status page for service issues
• Try testing at different times of day

Different Results on Different Carriers

• Some carriers filter or delay messages more than others
• Sender ID may display differently across carriers
• Delivery times vary by carrier infrastructure
• Consider testing the major carriers in your target region
• Document which carriers work best for your needs