MC-Guide

Content Writing

Website 49: Twilio.com

How Can You Earn Money Writing For “twilio.com” Website

This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to twilio.com.

You will learn what twilio.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.

Twilio.com

Twilio · Developer Voices & API Writing

Pay: $650 per accepted tutorial (Developer Voices) Focus: Real apps with SMS · Voice · Email Readers: Developers · builders · founders Ideal: Tutorials, how-tos, case studies

Perfect for step-by-step Twilio API tutorials, messaging and email automation guides, and practical support or customer-engagement stories that show how to turn code into real communication products.

Content Writing · Twilio Beginner Friendly Target: Twilio + paying outlets

Guide: Learn Twilio APIs and Get Paid to Write Tutorials, Blogs, and Guest Posts

This guide teaches you, step by step, how to learn Twilio APIs, build a small real project, and then turn that project into a paid article, blog post, or guest post. You do not need to be an expert today. You only need basic programming comfort and patience.

You will use the official Twilio.com website, Docs, and the Twilio Voices program as your main learning tools. After that, you will see how to use the same content to pitch other websites, magazines, and blogs that pay writers for API tutorials.

Keep everything simple: you will follow a small SOP-style flow – Learn → Build → Explain → Pitch.

Section 1 · Understand the platform

What Twilio is, and why it needs your tutorials

Twilio is a cloud communications platform. It gives you APIs to: send SMS and WhatsApp messages, make and receive phone calls, send emails, build verification flows, and create entire contact centers. Instead of building telecom infrastructure, you write a few lines of code.

For each product, Twilio provides docs and quickstarts – but real businesses and developers still need simple stories and tutorials in blog form: “How do I add OTP to my login form?”, “How do I route calls to different agents?”, “How do I send my first email with the SendGrid API?”. That gap between the docs and real-world projects is where you can earn money.

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Important Twilio areas to learn

These are the best “content gold mines” for your tutorials:

Programmable Messaging (SMS & WhatsApp) – official docs: Messaging docs and quickstarts like the Node.js SMS quickstart.
Programmable Voice – build call flows, IVR menus, and call forwarding with Voice docs.
SendGrid Email API – send transactional or marketing emails. Start with the Node.js email API quickstart.
Twilio Studio (visual builder) – no-code / low-code flows for SMS and Voice: Studio docs.
Twilio Flex (contact center) – programmable contact centre: Flex product page and Flex docs.

Each of these tools is a topic factory for blogs, tutorials, and guest posts.

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What is Twilio Voices / Developer Voices?

Twilio Voices is Twilio’s storytelling hub. Inside it, the Developer Voices program pays developers to write in-depth tutorials based on Twilio products. At the time of writing, accepted tutorials earn $650 per article, with requirements like:

Using Twilio Programmable Voice or SendGrid Email API.
Following a specific article template and outline.
Submitting work that is original, tested, and not written by AI.
Respecting Twilio’s Acceptable Use Policy and SendGrid’s terms.

Program rules and regions can change, so always read the latest details directly on Voices before you pitch.

Twilio area	Docs / starting link	Example mini-project	Possible article angle
Messaging (SMS)	Messaging docs	Send an OTP or welcome SMS from a website form	“How I built a simple OTP login flow using Twilio SMS & Node.js”
WhatsApp API	WhatsApp docs	WhatsApp order updates for a small online shop	“Build WhatsApp order notifications with Twilio + Node + JSON templates”
Voice	Voice docs	Phone menu that forwards calls to your mobile	“Beginner’s guide to IVR menus using Twilio Voice & Functions”
SendGrid Email API	Node.js email quickstart	Send a welcome email with dynamic template	“Send your first transactional email with Twilio SendGrid & Node.js”
Twilio Studio	Studio docs	No-code SMS feedback bot	“Build an SMS feedback bot with Twilio Studio – no code needed”
Twilio Flex	Flex docs	Simple remote support centre for a SaaS app	“How our tiny SaaS launched a contact center on Twilio Flex”

Homework: open Twilio.com, Twilio Voices, and at least one doc page: Messaging, Voice, or SendGrid. You will switch between this guide and those links as you build your first article.

Section 2 · Fit your idea

Choose a Twilio idea that can become a paid article

Don’t start with “I want to write about Twilio”. Start with a real situation: “I want my app to send a verification code”, “I want leads to receive a welcome email”, or “I want customers to call a number and reach the right person”.

Good content (and good money) comes from a clear problem → solution → result story. Use the checks below to shape your first Twilio article idea.

Check 1

Is there a real person and real pain?

Write one sentence: “This Twilio tutorial helps <who> to <do what>.”

“This Twilio tutorial helps small e-commerce founders send order updates with SMS.”
“This Twilio tutorial helps beginner Node.js developers send their first email with SendGrid.”
“This Twilio tutorial helps support teams build a phone menu that routes calls correctly.”

If you cannot fill “who” and “do what” clearly, tighten your idea.

Check 2

Is the angle narrow enough?

Avoid vague ideas like “How Twilio works”. Instead, slice one thin use-case:

“Send OTP codes using Twilio Verify and Node.js.”
“Build a no-code SMS bot with Twilio Studio for customer feedback.”
“Send transactional emails from a Node.js app using SendGrid templates.”

Narrow scope = easier outline = happier editor.

Check 3

Can you show a demo and code?

Your future article should include:

A small app or script in a GitHub repo or CodeSandbox.
At least one screenshot (Studio flow, logs, dashboard, UI, etc.).
A short “this is what changed for users or business” summary.

If you can imagine the demo and code clearly, you are ready to move to learning and building.

Mini exercise: write this sentence in a note – “This Twilio article shows you how to <result> using <Twilio product> + <language/tool>.” Example: “This Twilio article shows you how to send welcome emails using SendGrid + Node.js.” Keep that sentence visible while you learn and build.

Section 3 · Learn the tools

Learn Twilio step by step using official docs

Many beginners open docs, feel overwhelmed, and close them. Your job is different: read only what you need for one mini-project. Twilio docs are structured to make this easy.

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Step 1 · Create a free Twilio account & explore Console

1. Go to Twilio sign-up and create a free trial account.

Verify your email and phone number.
Log into the Twilio Console.
Note your Account SID and Auth Token (keep them secret).

2. Browse the console menu: “Develop > Messaging”, “Develop > Voice”, “SendGrid Email API” etc.

You don’t need to understand everything. You only need to know where things live.

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Step 2 · Use language-specific quickstarts

Twilio offers quickstarts for many languages. Choose the one you are most comfortable with:

Follow one quickstart exactly once. This is your “Hello Twilio” moment and will provide screenshots and code snippets for your article later.

Learning step	Link	Your goal
Sign up & Console tour	Twilio Console	See where Messaging, Voice, and SendGrid live; note Account SID
First SMS	Node SMS quickstart	Successfully send one SMS to your own phone
First email	SendGrid Node quickstart	Send a test email to your inbox using API key
No-code flow	Studio docs	Build a simple visual flow that replies to SMS with “Hello”
Reference docs	Twilio API reference hub	Know where to search when you need endpoints and parameters

Tip: when you follow quickstarts, take notes like a teacher, not a student. Note errors, confusing steps, and small tricks. Those notes will later become “gotchas” and “tips” in your blog post or article.

Section 4 · Build & document

Build a small Twilio project and keep a tutorial diary

You now understand Twilio basics and quickstarts. Next step: build a tiny real project based on your idea from Section 2 and document every step. This is the “raw material” for your article.

Step 1

Define your mini-project in one line

Use a simple template: “I will build a <type of app> that lets <user> <do something> using Twilio <product>.”

“I will build a Node.js script that sends OTP SMS codes using Twilio Verify.”
“I will build a Flask app that sends order confirmation emails with SendGrid.”
“I will build a Studio flow that replies to SMS with opening hours and location.”

Keep it small enough to build in one weekend.

Step 2

Set up your dev environment

For example, if you choose Node.js + SendGrid:

Follow the “Prerequisites” in the SendGrid Node quickstart.
Create a project folder (twilio-demo), run npm init, and install SDKs.
Store your API keys in environment variables (never commit them to GitHub).

Do the same pattern for SMS or Voice using the relevant quickstart.

Step 3

Keep a “tutorial diary” while you code

Open a note file called article-notes.md. While you build, quickly write:

Commands you run (npm install, node index.js).
Errors you see (“Invalid number”, “401 Unauthorized”).
Where you clicked in the Twilio Console (sender identity, Studio canvas, etc.).
Small tricks from docs (“use E.164 format for phone numbers”).

This diary becomes headings, bullet lists, and “troubleshooting” sections in your article.

Step 4

Package your demo properly

When the mini-project works:

Put the code in a GitHub repo with a clean README.
Add a short description that matches your future article title.
Include a “Getting started” section with environment variables and basic steps.
Take 2–3 screenshots (terminal output, Studio flow, browser UI).

Editors love tutorials with working repos and screenshots – it shows you finished the job.

Golden rule: build first, write later. Don’t invent a tutorial from thin air. Real errors, real logs, and real screenshots make your blog post or guest article trustworthy.

Section 5 · Write the piece

Turn your Twilio project into a Twilio-grade tutorial

Now you have a working demo and a notebook full of steps. Time to transform it into a clean, easy-to-follow article that fits Twilio Voices standards and also works for other tech blogs or magazines.

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Use a simple 7-part structure

Most technical Twilio articles can follow this pattern:

1. Hook & context – one or two short paragraphs: who you help and what you will build.
2. Prerequisites – account, tools, language versions, Twilio products.
3. Project overview – architecture diagram or bullet list of components.
4. Step-by-step build – 4–7 clear steps with sub-headings and code blocks.
5. Testing & troubleshooting – errors you met and how you fixed them.
6. Extensions & ideas – how readers can expand or customise.
7. Summary & resources – what the reader learned, + links to docs.

Twilio’s Developer Voices template follows a similar idea; if you are applying there, always use their latest template from Voices.

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Write like you’re helping one busy developer

Simple writing rules for Twilio tutorials:

Use short paragraphs (2–4 lines).
Explain what the code does before and after each snippet.
Always show the full file at least once (not just tiny fragments).
Link to official docs when you mention options or advanced settings.
Describe what readers should see (logs, SMS received, emails in inbox).

Imagine a tired developer reading on a second screen. Make their life easier.

Section	What you write	Twilio links to include
Hook & context	Who you help, what you’re building, and why it matters	Product overview, e.g. Messaging, Email API
Prerequisites	Account, environment variables, language, SDK install	Links to quickstarts and docs you followed
Step-by-step build	Commands, code, Studio screenshots, configuration steps	Deep links to sections inside docs: “Starting the project”, Messaging guides
Testing	How to run code, expected output, troubleshooting hints	Link to Twilio troubleshooting pages, e.g. API error codes
Summary & next steps	Wrap-up, what changed for the user, how to extend project	Twilio blog or tutorials hub, e.g. Twilio Blog, Developer Hub

Important: if you use AI (like ChatGPT) to help draft text or code, you must still test all code yourself, check facts against the official Twilio docs, and write in your own voice. Developer Voices specifically requires original, non-AI-written content.

Section 6 · Money & growth

How to actually earn money with Twilio-based writing

You now know how to learn, build, and explain a Twilio project. Let’s talk about money: who will pay for your writing, how much you can roughly expect, and how Twilio tutorials can support your long-term career.

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1. Twilio Developer Voices program

Twilio’s Developer Voices program (under Twilio Voices) pays developers to create high-quality tutorials that use Twilio products. According to the latest public information, compensation is around $650 per accepted tutorial.

Key points to remember:

You usually apply using a Google Doc outline or draft built from their template.
Tutorials must feature Twilio Programmable Voice or SendGrid Email API.
Submissions must be original, not AI-written, and must follow Twilio’s Acceptable Use Policy.
They may limit the program to certain regions or keep a waitlist – always check the latest status.

Even if you cannot join immediately, write as if you will apply tomorrow. It forces you to maintain a high standard.

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2. Other paying outlets for Twilio-flavoured content

Many tech sites pay for API tutorials, case studies, and developer stories. They may not be owned by Twilio, but they happily publish Twilio-based guides as long as you solve real problems.

Search for roundups like DEV Community posts on “websites that pay for technical articles”, and check each site’s “Write for us” page.

Pitch a Twilio article as “How we solved X problem using Twilio SMS/Email/Voice”.
Focus on the business impact (fewer missed calls, more verified signups).
Offer real screenshots, code, and data where possible.

You can reuse one Twilio project to pitch multiple outlets, adjusting tone and depth for each one (without violating any exclusivity rules).

Channel	How you earn	How Twilio helps	Strategy
Twilio Developer Voices	Flat fee per accepted tutorial (around $650)	Write deep, product-focused guides (Voice or SendGrid)	Use your best project; follow the Voices template strictly
Tech blogs & magazines	Per-article fees or contributor rates	Case studies: “How we built X on Twilio”	Highlight impact and lessons, not just raw configuration
Your own blog	Ads, sponsorships, affiliate tools, client leads	SEO traffic for Twilio “how to” topics	Publish consistently; link to GitHub; collect email subscribers
Freelance dev work	Project fees from clients	Twilio articles act as portfolio proof	Send your Twilio posts as “evidence” when pitching clients
Courses / workshops	Course sales, paid training, consulting	Use Twilio mini-apps as lesson modules	Turn each tutorial into a video lesson or workshop segment

Money reminder: every Twilio article is not only a one-time fee. It’s also a permanent asset you can show: “I built this app”, “I worked with these APIs”, “I understand messaging and email at a real level”. That credibility can lead to freelance work, jobs, and collaborations.

Section 8 · FAQ & resources

FAQ: Beginner questions about Twilio writing + link library

I’m a beginner developer. Can I really write Twilio articles?

Yes – as long as you build the project yourself and test it. You don’t need to be a senior engineer. You only need to explain clearly what you did, why you did it, and how the reader can repeat it. Start with small topics like “First SMS quickstart” or “Send one email with SendGrid”.

Do I have to join Twilio Developer Voices to make money?

No. Developer Voices is one good option, but not the only one. You can:

Pitch Twilio-based case studies to other paying tech blogs and magazines.
Use your Twilio tutorials as portfolio pieces to attract freelance development or consulting work.
Publish on your own blog and earn with ads, sponsorships, or client leads.

Twilio is content fuel – you choose where to burn it.

How should I handle sensitive data and compliance?

Never expose real API keys, tokens, or private phone numbers in your article or screenshots. Use environment variables, test numbers, and redacted screenshots. Always follow Twilio’s Acceptable Use Policy and link to it when relevant (for example, in sections about avoiding spam or abuse).

Can I republish my Twilio article on my own blog?

That depends on the contract for each publication. Twilio Developer Voices and other magazines may have specific rules about exclusivity and reposting. Always read the agreement or ask the editor directly before reposting. If in doubt, you can write a new article for your blog that covers the same project from a different angle (for example, more business-focused, less code-heavy).

How can I practice Twilio writing every week?

Use this simple weekly routine:

Week 1: Follow one Twilio quickstart and take notes.
Week 2: Turn it into a 1,000–1,500 word blog post on your own site or DEV.
Week 3: Refine structure, add screenshots, and improve explanations.
Week 4: Pitch a new, slightly bigger Twilio project to a paying outlet.

After 2–3 months, you will have a small portfolio ready for Developer Voices or other serious publications.

Quick link library – keep these open while you write: