Webhook
What is a Webhook?
A webhook is a way for one application to send real-time data to another application when a specific event occurs. Unlike APIs where you request data, webhooks "push" data automatically when something happens—like a new purchase, subscription cancellation, or customer signup.
How Webhooks Work
- Event Occurs: A customer purchases your course
- Trigger Fires: The platform detects the purchase event
- Data Sent: Platform sends purchase details to your specified URL
- Action Taken: Receiving app processes the data and takes action
Think of webhooks as automated notifications between systems—they're the "if this, then that" of app integrations.
Common Webhook Events for Creators
Purchase Events
- New order completed
- Order refunded
- Chargeback received
- Payment failed
Subscription Events
- Subscription created
- Subscription renewed
- Subscription canceled
- Trial started/ended
Customer Events
- New customer created
- Customer updated profile
- Customer added to segment
Course Events
- Student enrolled in course
- Lesson completed
- Certificate earned
- Completion rate milestone reached
Webhook Use Cases
Email Marketing Integration
Send customer data to your email marketing platform:
- Add new buyers to specific segments
- Tag customers based on purchases
- Trigger welcome email sequences
Community Access
Grant or revoke access automatically:
- Add students to Slack or Discord
- Grant membership site access
- Remove access on subscription cancellation
Analytics and Tracking
Keep your systems in sync:
- Update CRM with purchase data
- Track revenue in spreadsheets
- Log events in analytics tools
Custom Workflows
Build advanced automation:
- Create invoices in accounting software
- Send purchase notifications to your phone
- Update inventory or enrollment numbers
Webhook Best Practices
Security
- Use HTTPS endpoints only
- Verify webhook signatures
- Keep endpoint URLs confidential
- Validate incoming data before processing
Reliability
- Respond quickly to webhook calls (under 30 seconds)
- Implement retry logic for failures
- Log webhook events for debugging
- Handle duplicate events gracefully
Testing
- Use webhook testing tools (like webhook.site)
- Test with sandbox/development environments
- Simulate various event scenarios
- Monitor for failed webhook deliveries
Webhooks vs. APIs
| Webhooks | APIs |
|---|---|
| Push data when events occur | Pull data when requested |
| Real-time notifications | On-demand queries |
| Set up once, runs automatically | Called each time you need data |
| Event-driven | Request-driven |
Common Webhook Integrations
- Zapier: Connect webhooks to 5,000+ apps
- Make (Integromat): Visual workflow automation
- Email Platforms: Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign
- CRMs: HubSpot, Salesforce
- Community Tools: Discord, Slack, Circle
- Spreadsheets: Google Sheets, Airtable
Getting Started with Webhooks
- Identify what events you want to automate
- Find the webhook settings in your platform
- Set up a receiving endpoint (or use Zapier/Make)
- Configure which events to send
- Test the integration with a test transaction
- Monitor for errors and adjust as needed