Trigger Links - Overview

Trigger links are a useful method to redirect a user to a specific page after they click on it within an SMS, Email, GMB, FB/IG DM's and WhatsApp. When a user clicks on the trigger link, the FG Funnels will record it in the contact's activity timeline and if applicable, trigger a pre-defined action within a workflow such as adding a tag. Within the workflow build there are actions and triggers that you can fire off a trigger link click.


Trigger links are a powerful tool to allow you to analyze how many times a link has been clicked and identify who has clicked a link.


In this article


Please Note:

Trigger links are supported in SMS, Email, GMB, and FB/IG/WhatsApp DMs ONLY.

  1. You can create a new trigger link under Marketing -> Trigger Links and clicking Add Link.

    Add New Trigger Link Highlighted

  2. Enter a name and URL for the trigger link. The name will be shown within FG Funnels as you go to select trigger links and the URL is where someone will be directed when they click the trigger link.

Editing Trigger Links

You can edit a trigger link at any time by clicking on the pencil next to the link details.

You can add trigger links to messages in Conversations, Email Campaigns and Templates as well as Workflows.


  • In the conversations panel, highlight the text you want to link.

  • Click on the add link button in the toolbar.

    Add Link in Email Conversation in Conversations Panel

  • Choose trigger link from the options and select the desired trigger link.

    Hyperlink Trigger link popup

  • Click save to include the trigger link as the hyperlink.

  • Click the more button that is a plus sign icon from the bottom toolbar.

    Adding Trigger Link button in SMS in conversations

  • Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Trigger Links.
  • Select the correct trigger link from the options. The trigger link code will be added to the message.

  • For Text Based Links:
    • In Marketing > Emails, templates, or campaigns, highlight the text you want to link and click the Add Link button from the top toolbar.

    • Click on the tag icon in the link URL box to access trigger links.

      Hyperlink trigger link in email campaigns

    • Select the appropriate trigger link to fill in the link information.

      Select Trigger link in email campaigns

  • For Buttons:
    • Add the button element, enter button text and style.

    • Under Link URL in the button settings, click the Tag icon to open up the custom fields/value tab.

      Add Trigger Link to a Button in Email Campaigns


    • Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Trigger Links.

      Select Trigger Link for Button in Email Campaigns

    • Select the correct trigger link from the options. The trigger link code will be added to the button URL field.

  • Add trigger links to messaging within automations by copying the text, adding a link, and selecting the trigger link.
  • In a Send Email action in a Workflow, highlight the text you want to link and click the Add Link button from the text box toolbar.

  • Adding a link from Send Email in Workflow

    Click on the tag icon in the link URL box to access trigger links.

    Selecting a trigger link in send email in a workflow


  • From the Send SMS action of a workflow, place your cursor where you would like your trigger link to appear.

  • Click the icon that looks like a lightning bolt from the toolbar of the text panel.

    Adding a trigger link in an SMS in a workflow

  • Select your trigger link from the list to have it added to your message.

You can set up a workflow to run when a trigger link is clicked. In this case the trigger for the workflow is "Trigger link clicked". Then you can add any actions you want inside of the workflow.


When a user clicks your specified trigger link, the workflow will run.


Once you have added your trigger, add a filter of "Trigger Link is" and select the link that you are intending so that only clicks on that link trigger the workflow.


Workflow Trigger for Trigger Link Clicked Example


This is great if you're running promotions monthly or quarterly and want to use the same workflow. Update your custom value URL to point to your new "offer URL," and the system will dynamically update the trigger link. 



  1. Go to Settings> Custom Values.
  2. Add a new custom value name and input the current URL.
  3. Find the custom value in the list and copy the key.
  4. Return to Marketing, Trigger Links and create a new trigger link.
  5. Enter a name for the trigger link (e.g., monthly promo) and enter the custom value key in the Link URL box making sure to remove any spaces between the brackets and the key.
  6. Save the link.

  7. Use the trigger link in emails or SMS messages to automatically pull in the updated custom value.


Please Note:

This will not retroactively affect any previous link URLS from past campaigns. They will remain with the same link as when they were sent out.


When setting up your workflow, please make sure to add the trigger link to your SMS or Email message body. Placing the Custom Value in the message body will not fire the trigger link when clicked or track the click.


When you include trigger links in an email or SMS in a workflow, you can then use a wait step to wait for the trigger link click. When someone clicks the trigger link, they can then be sent down a specified branch of a condition in the workflow meaning they get a specific series of actions based on the link they clicked.


  1. Create a workflow that has your trigger and any actions up to the message that includes the trigger links.

  2. Create an action that includes the trigger links either in an email or SMS.

    Example Email in Workflow with Trigger Links

  3. Add a wait action after the email step and set it to "Wait For" trigger link clicked.

  4. Select the trigger links used in the email as the options to wait for.

    Example Wait for Trigger Link Clicked Step in a Workflow

  5. Set a timeout period for the wait action, if desired, to move contacts along if they haven't clicked after a certain time.
  6. Add an if/else action after the wait step to separate contacts based on the trigger link clicked.
  7. Create branches for each trigger link option using the Event -> Trigger Link Clicked Is and select the appropriate trigger link, one for each branch.

  8. Example If/Else Branch for Trigger Link Click

    Add the actions for each branch.

  9. Save the workflow and test the trigger links to ensure contacts are being sent down the correct branches.

FAQ

How do I find the contacts' activity timeline?

Click on Contacts, find the contact and open the full contact details page. In the right hand panel, click on the clock icon and the activity will be in the panel.

Trigger Link in Contacts Tab


What does the 'Timeout' toggle in the Wait Action do?

When enabled, the timeout function will skip the Wait Action (step) and move to the next step after the amount of time you define in the input box under the toggle (visible only when it is enabled), if there is not a trigger link click before that time.

Trigger Link Click Wait Timeout Toggle