Using Replit AI and Twilio to Drive Attendance at my 10-year High School Reunion

TLDR: Utilizing Replit's newly launched "AI for All" feature and Twilio's SMS services, I successfully drove up the registration rate for a 10-year high school reunion in Bethesda, Maryland, from 15% to 38%. Through Replit AI, the organizer was able to and a Twilio SMS template, the organizer was able to send personalized, timed SMS invitations to alumni.  I accomplished this with no formal coding experience.

Replit recently announced “AI for All”, giving access to the world’s top generative coding models to all developers, in a tightly integrated and context-aware environment, for free!  This means that everyone, even those with no deep programming experience, can start using generative AI to write apps.

Over the weekend, I used Replit AI and Twilio, a programmatic SMS service, to quickly write a python app to message all of my former classmates for a 10-year reunion.  I wrote the entire app with no formal python experience, and it saved me a ton of time!

Using Software to Reconnect with Old Friends

It's hard to believe that a decade has slipped by since I last saw many of my high school friends. Fast forward ten years, and I found myself on the organizing committee, responsible for getting everyone to register for our 10-year reunion in Bethesda, Maryland. Yes, it's official; I'm getting older.

Given the hustle and bustle of life, I realized that emails might get lost or ignored. But one thing's for sure - no one ignores a text message.  Having procured a list of everyone's phone numbers from the alumni office, I decided to venture into the world of programmatic SMS.

Now, I'm not a developer, but I've heard of Twilio as a powerful tool for SMS services. The only challenge? I wasn't quite sure how to leverage it. But what I did have was knowledge about prompting generative code and language models, specifically Replit AI.

Prompting My Way Through Twilio

I discovered a Twilio SMS template on Replit, made by user twilio. With a quick fork, I found myself with a starting point. Using Replit AI, I was able to generate a python script tailored to my needs: sending a personalized, sequential, and timed SMS blast.

Once I had my API key from Twilio and set up the necessary environment variables, I drafted the body of the message, embedded a registration link, and did a few test runs. Let's just say my phone buzzed a lot that evening!

Using AI to Reformat my Data Model

The next big hurdle was formatting. Our alumni database was a giant Google Sheet. To communicate with the Twilio API, I needed this data in JSON format. Anyone who's ever attempted manual data conversion knows it's a bit like watching paint dry.

With just an example of the desired JSON format, Replit AI’s chat assistant effortlessly converted the CSV data from Google Sheets into a Twilio-friendly JSON format. The hours I saved here were invaluable.

Watching the Magic Unfold

With everything in place, I ran the script. The Replit console became my control center, allowing me to monitor the progress in real-time. Every sent message was a small victory, and I could hardly contain my excitement.

Results? A Resounding Success!

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Classmates were delighted by the personalized touch of the SMS invitation. Our registration rate shot up from a modest 15% to an impressive 38%! That's more than double the number of old friends I'll get to see, share stories with, and reminisce about the good old days.

A Testament to Replit AI and Generative Coding

As someone who doesn't code for a living, this experience was an eye-opener. The combination of Replit, its templates, and the power of Replit AI made what seemed like a daunting task not only manageable but enjoyable. It's heartwarming to know that technology can be accessible, user-friendly, and incredibly effective.

To all the non-developers out there: the world of tech isn't as intimidating as it seems. With the right AI tools and a dash of determination, anything is possible.  The overton window for software engineering is shifting!

Try the Template yourself

Interested in orchestrating your own SMS outreach for an event or gathering? Well, you're in luck! I've made the entire process even more straightforward for you.

Here's How:

Start with the Template: Visit the Replit link here to access the template I used https://replit.com/@kevinleffew/Twilio-Template-Georgetown-Prep-Reunion-SMS-Reach-out

Read the Instructions: The README file contains a step-by-step guide. It's super user-friendly, ensuring you don't miss out on any detail.

Set Up Your Twilio Environment: Remember to insert the necessary environmental variables for Twilio. If you haven't got them, sign up with Twilio and they'll provide you with what you need.

Add Your Contacts: Input the phone numbers of your recipients in the JSON format.

Run the Script: Once everything's set up, hit that 'Run' button and watch the magic unfold!

Disclaimer: Always ensure that you have the legal right and permission to send bulk SMS to recipients. Respect privacy laws and regulations.

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