How to use webhooks in automations

Webhooks allow you to send subscriber or event data from beehiiv to another platform automatically as part of an automation. When a subscriber reaches a webhook step, beehiiv sends a payload to a destination URL you control, making it possible to trigger actions in external tools such as CRMs, analytics platforms, or team communication apps.

This article explains how to add a webhook step to an automation and highlights common ways customers use webhooks in real workflows. For a broader overview of webhooks in beehiiv, including webhook events outside of automations, check out Using webhooks with your beehiiv account.

1. Go to Audience > Automations, then create a new automation or open an existing workflow.
    
2. Locate the step where you want to send data to another platform. Click the + icon below that step and select Send webhook from the actions menu.
   
   
   
3. When added, the Properties panel will open on the right. Any updates you make in the panel are reflected immediately on the webhook action card.
   
   
   

• Destination URL (required): The web address where beehiiv sends the webhook data. This URL is provided by the tool or service you want to connect to, such as a CRM, analytics platform, or team messaging app.
• Request method (required): Choose from: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE.
• Content type (required): Select the payload format: JSON, XML, or FORM.
• Headers (optional): Add custom headers for authentication, metadata, or other instructions.
• Webhook payload: Preview the data that will be sent.
• Conditions (optional): Click Add Conditions to set additional rules that must be met for the webhook to fire.
• Test Webhook: Send a test payload using a simulated subscriber to verify the setup.
  
  
  

Below are examples of how webhooks are commonly used within automation workflows. Each example assumes the webhook is added as a Send webhook action at the appropriate point in the automation.

1. Create a segment based on link click activity.
   
   
   
   
   It's best to use the segment condition Email Data > Post <select post> was Clicked, then click Configure step to specify the exact link.
    
2. In an automation workflow, use the Segment action trigger to enroll subscribers when they enter the segment.
   
   
   
3. Add a Send webhook step to the automation to send the click data to a third-party platform.

1. Create a segment that watches for a specific custom field value.
   
   
   
2. In an automation workflow, use the Segment Action trigger to enroll subscribers when they meet that condition.
   
   
   
3. Add a Send webhook step to the automation to notify the external platform.

Use this when you want to reward, notify, or track subscribers who hit referral goals.

1. Create an automation using the Referral action trigger.
2. Configure the trigger to enroll subscribers when they reach a specific referral milestone.
3. Add a Send webhook step to send the milestone data to another platform.

This workflow is useful for collecting survey or poll data outside of beehiiv.

1. Create an automation using the Poll submitted trigger.
2. Optionally filter by a specific response.
3. Add a Send webhook step to the automation to send the poll response data externally.

Use this to notify your team when subscribers reach the end of a journey, such as a welcome flow.

1. Create a workflow in Slack using a Webhook trigger and copy the request URL.
2. Add a Send Webhook step at the end of your automation.
3. Paste the Slack webhook URL into the Destination URL field.

Webhooks can be used to add subscribers to platforms like Slack, Discord, or other community tools once they complete an automation.

1. Obtain a webhook request URL from the destination platform.
2. In beehiiv, add a Send webhook step at the point in the automation where access should be granted.
3. In the destination platform (or its automation setup), map the webhook payload to the required fields, such as email address or user ID, so the subscriber can be added correctly.