Implement Instantly webhook signature validation and event handling.
Use when setting up webhook endpoints, implementing signature verification,
or handling Instantly event notifications securely.
Trigger with phrases like "instantly webhook", "instantly events",
"instantly webhook signature", "handle instantly events", "instantly notifications".
Handle Instantly API v2 webhooks for real-time email outreach event notifications. Instantly fires events when emails are sent, opened, clicked, replied to, or bounced, and when leads change interest status. Webhooks require Hypergrowth plan ($97/mo) or higher. Delivery retries: 3 times within 30 seconds on failure.
Prerequisites
Instantly Hypergrowth plan or higher (required for webhooks)
API key with all:all or appropriate webhook scopes
Public HTTPS endpoint for receiving webhook payloads
INSTANTLY_API_KEY environment variable set
Webhook Event Types
Event Type
Trigger
Key Payload Fields
email_sent
Email delivered to recipient
lead_email, campaign_id,
step
email_opened
Recipient opens email
lead_email, campaign_id, open_count
email_link_clicked
Recipient clicks a link
lead_email, campaign_id, link_url
reply_received
Recipient replies
lead_email, campaign_id, reply_text
email_bounced
Email bounces
lead_email, bounce_type, reason
lead_unsubscribed
Lead unsubscribes
lead_email, campaign_id
campaign_completed
All leads in campaign processed
campaign_id, campaign_name
account_error
Sending account error
email, error_type
lead_interested
Lead marked interested
lead_email, campaign_id
lead_not_interested
Lead marked not interested
lead_email, campaign_id
lead_meeting_booked
Meeting booked
lead_email, campaign_id
lead_meeting_completed
Meeting completed
lead_email
lead_closed
Lead closed/won
lead_email
lead_out_of_office
OOO reply detected
lead_email
lead_wrong_person
Wrong person response
lead_email
all_events
Subscribe to everything
Varies by event
Instructions
Step 1: Create Webhook via API
import { instantly } from "./src/instantly";
async function createWebhook() {
// Create webhook for specific events
const webhook = await instantly<{ id: string; name: string }>("/webhooks", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
name: "CRM Sync — Replies & Meetings",
target_hook_url: "https://api.yourapp.com/webhooks/instantly",
event_type: "reply_received",
headers: {
"X-Webhook-Secret": process.env.INSTANTLY_WEBHOOK_SECRET,
},
}),
});
console.log(`Webhook created: ${webhook.id}`);
// Create additional webhooks for other events
for (const event of ["lead_interested", "lead_meeting_booked", "email_bounced"]) {
await instantly("/webhooks", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
name: `CRM Sync — ${event}`,
target_hook_url: "https://api.yourapp.com/webhooks/instantly",
event_type: event,
headers: { "X-Webhook-Secret": process.env.INSTANTLY_WEBHOOK_SECRET },
}),
});
}
// Or subscribe to ALL events with one webhook
await instantly("/webhooks", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
name: "All Events Monitor",
target_hook_url: "https://api.yourapp.com/webhooks/instantly/all",
event_type: "all_events",
headers: { "X-Webhook-Secret": process.env.INSTANTLY_WEBHOOK_SECRET },
}),
});
}
Step 2: Build Event Handler
import express from "express";
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.post("/webhooks/instantly", async (req, res) => {
// Validate secret
if (req.headers["x-webhook-secret"] !== process.env.INSTANTLY_WEBHOOK_SECRET) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: "Unauthorized" });
}
// Respond 200 immediately — Instantly retries 3x in 30s on failure
res.status(200).json({ received: true });
const { event_type, data } = req.body;
console.log(`Event: ${event_type}`, JSON.stringify(data).slice(0, 300));
try {
await routeEvent(event_type, data);
} catch (err) {
console.error(`Failed to process ${event_type}:`, err);
}
});
async function routeEvent(eventType: string, data: any) {
switch (eventType) {
case "reply_received":
await handleReply(data);
break;
case "email_bounced":
await handleBounce(data);
break;
case "lead_interested":
case "lead_meeting_booked":
case "lead_closed":
await handlePositiveOutcome(eventType, data);
break;
case "lead_unsubscribed":
await handleUnsubscribe(data);
break;
case "campaign_completed":
await handleCampaignComplete(data);
break;
case "account_error":
await handleAccountError(data);
break;
default:
console.log(`Unhandled event: ${eventType}`);
}
}
Step 3: Implement Event Handlers
async function handleReply(data: {
lead_email: string;
campaign_id: string;
reply_text: string;
}) {
console.log(`Reply from ${data.lead_email} in campaign ${data.campaign_id}`);
// Sync to CRM
await crmClient.updateContact(data.lead_email, {
status: "replied",
lastReply: data.reply_text,
lastActivity: new Date(),
});
// Notify sales team
await slackNotify("#sales-replies", {
text: `Reply from ${data.lead_email}:\n${data.reply_text.slice(0, 500)}`,
});
}
async function handleBounce(data: {
lead_email: string;
bounce_type: string;
reason: string;
}) {
console.log(`Bounce: ${data.lead_email} (${data.bounce_type})`);
if (data.bounce_type === "hard") {
// Add to global block list
await instantly("/block-lists-entries", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({ bl_value: data.lead_email }),
});
console.log(`Added ${data.lead_email} to block list`);
}
}
async function handlePositiveOutcome(
eventType: string,
data: { lead_email: string; campaign_id: string }
) {
const statusMap: Record<string, string> = {
lead_interested: "interested",
lead_meeting_booked: "meeting_scheduled",
lead_closed: "closed_won",
};
await crmClient.updateContact(data.lead_email, {
status: statusMap[eventType] || eventType,
lastActivity: new Date(),
});
if (eventType === "lead_meeting_booked") {
await slackNotify("#sales-wins", {
text: `Meeting booked with ${data.lead_email}!`,
});
}
}
async function handleUnsubscribe(data: { lead_email: string }) {
// Add to block list to prevent future outreach across all campaigns
await instantly("/block-lists-entries", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({ bl_value: data.lead_email }),
});
console.log(`Unsubscribed + blocked: ${data.lead_email}`);
}
async function handleCampaignComplete(data: { campaign_id: string }) {
// Pull final analytics
const analytics = await instantly(`/campaigns/analytics?id=${data.campaign_id}`);
console.log(`Campaign complete:`, analytics);
}
async function handleAccountError(data: { email: string; error_type: string }) {
console.error(`Account error: ${data.email} — ${data.error_type}`);
await slackNotify("#ops-alerts", {
text: `Instantly account error: ${data.email}\nType: ${data.error_type}`,
});
}
Step 4: Manage Webhooks
// List all webhooks
async function listWebhooks() {
const webhooks = await instantly<Array<{
id: string; name: string; event_type: string; target_hook_url: string;
}>>("/webhooks?limit=50");
for (const w of webhooks) {
console.log(`${w.id}: ${w.name} [${w.event_type}] -> ${w.target_hook_url}`);
}
}
// Test a webhook
async function testWebhook(webhookId: string) {
await instantly(`/webhooks/${webhookId}/test`, { method: "POST" });
}
// Resume a paused webhook
async function resumeWebhook(webhookId: string) {
await instantly(`/webhooks/${webhookId}/resume`, { method: "POST" });
}
// Check delivery status
async function checkDeliveryHealth() {
const summary = await instantly("/webhook-events/summary");
console.log("Webhook delivery summary:", summary);
const byDate = await instantly("/webhook-events/summary-by-date");
console.log("By date:", byDate);
}
// Delete a webhook
async function deleteWebhook(webhookId: string) {
await instantly(`/webhooks/${webhookId}`, { method: "DELETE" });
}