The Art of Doing More with Zoho Using Webhooks

Who creates a product and names them Webhooks? Jeff Lindsay, of course! What are Webhooks? Are they some sort of virtual fishing gear? You’re about to discover what Webhooks are and why you need to know them and their functions. Hang on!

What Are Webhooks?

In technical lingo, webhooks are HTTP callbacks that are set off by specific events in a software system. In simpler terms, they’re essentially a means of communicating instructions from an originating system to a destination system.

Another cool thing about them is that the communication works on an automatic mechanism such that a defined event in the originating software sets off notification in the destination software.

Is Webhooks the same as API?

Application Programming Interface, also known as API, is somewhat similar to Webhooks – some people even confuse one for the other or use the two words interchangeably. The basis for the similarity is that they are both ways through which two or more software tools can communicate or exchange instructions. The differences between the two can however be seen in the way both operate.

Mode of Communication

API uses a two-way method of communication between software tools. What this means is that when a system sends data, it also causes a change in the receiving system. Webhooks, on the other hand, use a one-way communication channel where data is simply pushed from a source software to the destination software once there is an update in the source software.

Mode of Operation

API works with a mechanism called data polling, while Webhooks works with data pushing. This implies that when APIs are used to integrate software tools, the setup has to be launched to collate data from the target software. This can be executed regardless of the presence of new data. Webhooks, however, work only when there is an update and they do this automatically without waiting for a command.

Capacity

Webhooks are better for managing light data. API, on the other hand, is good for managing large data sets and they can be modified to serve varying purposes as the needs arise.

What Are Webhooks Used For?

It’s okay to wonder at this point why you should bother about some chunks of code. How can you apply webhooks to your daily activities as a company owner or marketer? Interestingly, the use of Webhooks has been gaining ground alongside the increased usage of software tools on the internet.

At this point where there are so many software tools than we can keep up with, mechanisms like Webhooks that help us connect software tools can prove very helpful. Here are some applications of webhooks:

Webhooks allow you to send real-time data from one application to another. This is invaluable when you need to create instantaneous responses for your customers. A Webhooks use case is sending ads targeted at people who patronize your physical shop or giving a personalized experience to your new customer. You can collect information using webhooks, thus quickly creating an instant profile for such customers.
You can also use Webhooks to get data from your customers at the point of purchase, especially when they use platforms such as Swipe to pay for items in their cart.
This can prove useful in helping you retain your customers. That’s because a customer who buys from you once has a high chance of buying from you again if they had a seamless first experience. Targeting such customers with announcements of discounts and new products boost your chances of retaining them.
Perhaps, the ultimate benefit of webhooks is that you can connect your CRM tool with other software tools using webhooks. Imagine having a system that automatically updates your prospect's data on your landing page or lead-capturing form when they change their email address. This is one of the use cases of webhooks. In the same vein, you can use webhooks to link your CRM with your email marketing tool such that messages that each lead will receive messages relevant to the specific stage they are in the buyer's journey.

Doing More With A Webhooks And Zoho CRM Integration

Webhooks make processes faster and more seamless. That’s perhaps the single most important use of webhooks.
If you’re looking for a CRM that takes automation of your marketing workflows to an even higher level, you should consider Zoho CRM. It’s recommended by many prolific marketers, especially for its all-encompassing features. Here are a couple of ways using Webhooks with Zoho CRM could be the game-changer for you:

Improved Record keeping

This has been linked to professionalism and extra benefits such as cutting down wasteful expenses and monitoring the well-being of your business.

Manual record-keeping is torture, especially when there are a lot of customers to handle. You can automate this process using webhooks to link your Zoho CRM with Zoho Books.

Increased Productivity

The world has evolved beyond the stage where one has to hop from one software tool to another to get things done.

The trend is to have a single master dashboard where you pilot your business affairs across multiple channels. There’s no point switching between three or four different apps because you want to know if a customer has made a purchase to inform the sales team.

With webhooks, you can automate processes between your channels thereby ensuring that your operations marketing, operations, sales, and customer relationship management teams have a fluid and seamless communication channel between them. automatically generate SMS to the appropriate team the moment events occur.

Couple Your Marketing Strategies

It’s important for you to create multiple marketing channels for your business. The tools are out there, anyway – why not use them? There’s no one stopping you from leveraging kick-ass email marketing software tools even as your CRM manages your leads data.

The problem. as always, is how to juggle these multiple software tools. This is the problem webhooks solve. You can integrate Zoho CRM with your email marketing software (Mailchimp, for example) such that defined events such as signing up for a webinar via a lead capturing form on your website and submitting data to your Zoho CRM can trigger a personalized email sent from your email marketing tool.

How To Setup A Webhook

Setting up a webhook can be done in three easy steps:

Webhooks, without doubt, save you a huge load of effort and time. However, the technicalities that surround the creation of webhooks can be daunting.

Nonetheless, this shouldn’t stop you from leveraging this technology to achieve your marketing goals.

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