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More Ways to Start a Flow

More ways to start a flow​

Most flows start when a customer sends a keyword or taps a button. But a flow can also start on its own, at exactly the right moment:

  • When someone messages you after clicking a WhatsApp ad.
  • When a contact is created or updated in Waplify.

You choose the starter on the Start block of your flow, under Trigger type. (You can also start a flow from an outside tool — see Start a Flow from Another Tool.)

Start from a WhatsApp ad (Click-to-WhatsApp)​

When you run a Click-to-WhatsApp ad on Facebook or Instagram — or a post with a "Send message" button — tapping it opens a chat with your business. The Ad click trigger lets a flow greet those people instantly with the right message, instead of a generic welcome.

How to set it up​

  1. Open your flow and click the Start block.
  2. Under Trigger type, choose Ad click (Click-to-WhatsApp).
  3. Decide which ads it should respond to:
    • Any ad — the flow greets everyone who arrives from any of your ads or "Send message" posts.
    • Specific ad(s) — enter one or more Ad IDs so each ad can run its own tailored flow.
  4. Save and publish the flow.

Finding an Ad ID​

Open the ad in Meta Ads Manager. In your browser's address bar you'll see part of the link that reads selected_ad_ids= followed by a number — that number is the Ad ID. Copy it into Waplify.

tip

Run different flows for different campaigns. A "Summer Sale" ad can open a flow about the sale, while a "Book a demo" ad opens a booking flow — just point each ad's ID at its own flow.

Start when a contact is created or updated​

The Contact created or updated trigger starts a flow the moment a contact's record changes in a way you care about — for example, when a new lead is added, or when someone's status becomes approved. It's a powerful way to message people based on what you know about them, not just what they type.

How to set it up​

  1. Open your flow and click the Start block.
  2. Under Trigger type, choose Contact created or updated.
  3. Choose when it should fire:
    • When a contact is created — for brand-new contacts.
    • When a contact is updated — when an existing contact changes.
    • Either — both of the above.
  4. Add conditions so it only fires for the right people — for example, Tag is lead and City is Dubai. All conditions must match.
  5. Turn on Start only once per contact (recommended) so the same person is never messaged twice by this flow.
  6. Save and publish.

Where contact changes come from​

A contact can be created or updated in many ways — added by hand, imported from a CSV, updated by a teammate, or changed by another flow's Update Contact block. Any of these can start the flow, as long as your conditions match.

tip

Pair this with the Update Contact block and tags: one flow can tag a customer vip, and a separate flow that starts on Tag is vip can send them a thank-you — automatically.

Tips & best practices​

  • Always keep "Start only once per contact" on for the contact trigger unless you truly want to re-message people every time their record changes.
  • Use tight conditions. A contact trigger with no conditions will fire for every contact change — narrow it down so only the right people get the message.
  • Respect opt-outs. If a contact has opted out, these flows won't start for them — that's by design and keeps you compliant.
  • Publish the flow. Automatic triggers only work on a published flow. A draft won't fire.
  • Make your first message count. For ad clicks, the customer just showed interest — open with something that matches the ad they tapped.

Frequently asked questions​

What's the difference between the ad trigger and a keyword trigger?​

A keyword trigger waits for the customer to type something. The Ad click trigger fires automatically on the very first message after they tap your ad — so you can greet them before they say a word.

Can two flows respond to different ads?​

Yes. Give each flow an Ad click trigger set to a specific Ad ID, and each ad will run its own flow.

Does the contact trigger fire for existing contacts when I first set it up?​

It fires going forward, when a contact is created or updated after the trigger is live. With Start only once per contact on, each contact can only ever start the flow one time.

Is there a birthday or renewal-date trigger?​

Not yet. Today you can start a flow on a contact change (created or updated) or from an outside tool such as Google Sheets. A per-contact date trigger (like a birthday reminder) is not available yet.

Can I schedule a flow to run at a set time?​

Not from the Start block yet. To send on a schedule today, use Drip Sequences or a scheduled campaign, or trigger the flow from an outside tool on your own schedule.