Trigger Links - Overview

Trigger links let you redirect parents to a specific page when they click a link in your text messages, emails, or direct messages on Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp. When someone clicks a trigger link, Enrollio records it in their activity timeline and can automatically start a series of follow-up actions in your automations.

Please Note: Trigger links work in text messages, emails, and Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp direct messages only.

What's in This Article

  • How to Use Trigger Links
  • Trigger Links in Automations
  • Dynamic URLs with Custom Values
  • Setting Up Unsubscribe Links
  • Branding Your Trigger Links
  • Finding Parent Activity

Why Use Trigger Links?

Update URLs Dynamically in Email Campaigns

If you run monthly open house events or seasonal promotions, you can reuse the same email template by setting up a trigger link with a custom value. When a parent clicks the link, they'll see your current promotion—no need to manually update links each time.

Automate Follow-Ups Based on Clicks

Create automations that respond when parents click specific links. For example, send a tour confirmation email with a trigger link. When a parent clicks it, Enrollio automatically sends a tour reminder, then a follow-up survey after their visit.

Manage Unsubscribe Preferences

Set up unsubscribe trigger links for different channels—text messages, email, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. When a parent clicks an unsubscribe link, they're automatically removed from that channel. This keeps you compliant with communication regulations and respects parent preferences.

Brand Your Links

Customize trigger links to display your childcare center's domain instead of a generic URL. This creates a more professional experience and builds trust with families.

Track Parent Engagement

Every trigger link click is recorded in the parent's activity timeline. You can see exactly which parents are engaging with your tours, enrollment offers, or educational content—valuable information for understanding what resonates with families.

Share Educational Resources

Include trigger links in your emails that direct parents to helpful resources: virtual tour videos, enrollment guides, curriculum overviews, or parent handbooks. Track which topics generate the most interest and follow up accordingly.

Streamline Event Registration

Use trigger links in invitations to open houses, parent nights, or enrollment events. When parents click to RSVP, Enrollio can automatically confirm their attendance, send event details, and collect any additional information you need.

Personalize Recommendations

Send parents personalized recommendations for programs or classes based on their child's age and interests. When they click a trigger link, you can automatically tailor future communications to their specific needs.

Trigger Links in Automations

You can build powerful automations that respond to trigger link clicks. For example, create an automation that:

  1. Sends a tour confirmation email with a trigger link
  2. Waits for the parent to click the link
  3. Sends a tour reminder one day before
  4. After the tour date, sends a follow-up survey
  5. If the survey is positive, requests a review

[SCREENSHOT: Automation builder showing a wait step configured to wait for a trigger link click, with subsequent steps for sending follow-up messages]

Pro Tip: Use the "Wait" step in your automation to pause until a parent clicks a trigger link, then continue with your next action. This ensures timely, relevant follow-ups.

How to Use Custom Values with Trigger Links

Custom values let you change where a trigger link goes without rebuilding your entire automation. This is perfect for recurring campaigns like monthly enrollment specials or seasonal programs.

Here's How It Works:

  1. Create a custom value (for example, "current_offer_url")
  2. Create your trigger link in Enrollio
  3. Assign the custom value to your trigger link
  4. Insert the trigger link (not the custom value) into your message
  5. When you need to update the destination URL, just change the custom value

Important: When setting up your message, always insert the actual trigger link—not the custom value placeholder. The trigger link is what tracks clicks and fires your automation.

Please Note: Changing a custom value only affects future messages. It won't update links in messages already sent.

[SCREENSHOT: Custom values settings page showing a custom value being created for a dynamic URL]

Setting Up Unsubscribe Trigger Links

Give parents control over how they hear from you by setting up unsubscribe links for each communication channel.

For Text Messages: Enrollio automatically handles opt-out keywords like STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, and QUIT. When a parent texts any of these words, they're immediately unsubscribed. They can opt back in by texting START.

For Email, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp: Create separate trigger links for each channel. When a parent clicks an unsubscribe link, Enrollio automatically removes them from that specific channel while keeping them subscribed to others.

[SCREENSHOT: Trigger link creation screen showing setup of an unsubscribe link with channel-specific settings]

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I brand my trigger links?

To display your center's domain in trigger links instead of a generic URL, set up your API domain in the Enrollio Dashboard. This applies to all client accounts—you can't set different domains for different locations.

[SCREENSHOT: API domain settings in the Enrollio Dashboard]

How do I find a parent's activity timeline?

  1. Click Contacts
  2. Select Smart List
  3. Search for the family
  4. Click the Activity tab

You'll see every trigger link click, email open, message received, and other interactions that family has had with your center.

[SCREENSHOT: Parent contact record with Activity tab selected, showing trigger link clicks and other engagement data]

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

When you turn on the timeout toggle in a Wait step, your automation will skip that step after a set amount of time—even if the parent hasn't clicked the trigger link yet. This prevents families from getting stuck in your automation indefinitely.

For example, if you're waiting for a parent to click a tour confirmation link, you might set a 7-day timeout. If they haven't clicked after a week, the automation moves forward anyway.

[SCREENSHOT: Wait step configuration showing the timeout toggle enabled with time settings]