How to create and test webhooks in an automation

Last updated: March 17, 2025

Overview

A webhook is a tool that broadcasts information about an action that has taken place on a server. In other words, webhooks are notifications that a specified event has happened. You can use webhooks to send data to Sendlane, which can be used in automations and more.

Before Getting Started

Choose the service you'd like to use to manage your webhooks and read its documentation to familiarize yourself with the process; we recommend Zapier.

Test a webhook with Sendlane automations

To test a webhook without your own event set up, use a webhook tester like Request Catcher to create a test URL and subdomain. Create a test subdomain, then create an automation.

In this tutorial, we'll test how to use a webhook to add contacts to a list by setting up an automation then testing the webhook.

Set up your automation:

  1. Click Add Trigger

  2. Click the Subscribes to a list trigger and ensure Any is selected

  3. Click the + button to add a new node

  4. Click Webhook

  5. In the URL field, enter the URL you created

  6. Change the dropdown from GET to POST

  7. Click Done

  8. Activate your automation

Test your webhook:

  1. Open the test webhook URL in your browser

  2. In another tab, add a contact to any list in your Sendlane account

  3. Check the test webhook URL to see the contact's email address and list ID