Create a Facebook referral trigger in a few steps
If you just need the essentials, follow this:
- Confirm a Facebook Messenger channel (page) is connected and enabled
- Go to Triggers and click + New Trigger
- Select Start a flow when Facebook refers a contact
- Choose the Facebook channel, select the flow, and set a Referrer ID if you want link-based routing
- Save, then test by clicking the deep link and confirming the flow starts
You’re done. Your Messenger deep links can now route contacts into the right flow automatically.
Step-by-Step Process
Facebook Messenger deep links help people discover your chatbot. When someone opens your Page/bot via a deep link,
RapidPro.app can use a Facebook Referral trigger to start a flow automatically (welcome, onboarding, campaign flow, and more).
- Go to the Triggers tab.
- Click + New Trigger.
[CAPTURE: Triggers page showing the “+ New Trigger” button.]
- Scroll down and select Start a flow when Facebook refers a contact.
[CAPTURE: New Trigger options list with “Start a flow when Facebook refers a contact” highlighted.]
Choose the Facebook channel
- Select the Facebook Messenger channel (your Page) from the dropdown.
[CAPTURE: Channel dropdown showing a Facebook Page selected.]
Choose the flow to start
- Select the flow contacts should enter when they arrive via the referral link.
[CAPTURE: Flow dropdown showing a selected “Get Started” or onboarding flow.]
Optional: Use Referrer ID to route by link
If you want different flows for different links, use Referrer ID to match a link’s parameter to the correct trigger.
- When creating your Facebook deep link, add a parameter (a word/label).
- In RapidPro.app, enter that same value in the Referrer ID field.
- RapidPro.app matches the referral to the trigger using that value.
[CAPTURE: Trigger configuration showing the “Referrer ID” field filled.]
Optional: Include / exclude groups
You can restrict who can enter the flow by including only specific groups and/or excluding specific groups.
[CAPTURE: Group include/exclude selectors.]
- Click New Trigger to save.
- Test your Facebook deep link and confirm the flow starts as expected.
[CAPTURE: Active triggers list showing the Facebook referral trigger.]
Common Issues & Quick Fixes
Problem: I don’t see the Facebook referral trigger type.
Fix: Confirm a Facebook Messenger channel is connected and enabled in your workspace—this trigger type only appears when a Messenger channel is available.
Problem: The flow doesn’t start after clicking the deep link.
Fix: Confirm the trigger is active/enabled, verify you selected the correct Facebook channel (Page), and if you use a Referrer ID, ensure the deep link parameter matches the Referrer ID exactly.
Problem: The wrong flow starts for a link.
Fix: Check for overlapping referral triggers and use unique Referrer IDs per campaign to avoid collisions.