How to Add a Trigger
A trigger is what starts a workflow. Choosing the right trigger is the most important part of automation. This tutorial covers the most useful triggers and when to use each one.
What you will learn
- What a trigger does
- The most useful triggers and when to use them
- How to combine triggers
- How to test a trigger
Before you start
- Understand workflows from Creating Your First Workflow
Step-by-step
- 1
Understand what a trigger does
A trigger is the event that starts a workflow. Without a trigger, nothing runs. The trigger watches for something to happen, then starts the actions you add after it.
- 2
Pick the right trigger
Use Form Submitted when a lead fills a form. Use Contact Created when you add a lead manually or by import. Use Appointment Status when a booking is made or cancelled. Use Stage Changed when an opportunity moves in your pipeline. Use Inbound Message when someone messages you on WhatsApp or email.
Match the trigger to the moment you want to act. A reply should trigger on Form Submitted. A reminder should trigger on Appointment Status.
- 3
Add the trigger to a workflow
In the workflow builder, click the starting point and choose your trigger. Configure it by picking the specific form, pipeline or calendar. Save it.
- 4
Test the trigger
Do the thing the trigger watches for. Fill the form, move an opportunity, or send a test message. Check the workflow history to confirm it ran. If it did not run, the trigger configuration is the first thing to check.
Result
You know the most useful triggers, how to add them, and how to test them. You can now start workflows at exactly the right moment.
Troubleshooting
The trigger fires too often
Add a filter after the trigger to limit who the workflow runs for, for example only leads from a certain source.
Best practices
- Use the most specific trigger you can
- Add filters to avoid running workflows for the wrong people
- Test every trigger before you rely on it
Next steps
- Read Sending Automated Messages to add actions
- Read Adding Conditions to branch your workflow
- Read Testing a Workflow to test safely
Related tutorials
Frequently asked questions
Can one trigger start multiple workflows?
Yes. The same event can start several workflows. Just be careful not to send a lead too many messages at once.