The Direct Message Received trigger fires whenever a potential client sends you a new message in your Sortlist inbox.
This trigger is designed to help you:
Get notified instantly when a new message is received.
Ensure you don’t miss important client conversations.
Automate follow-ups and centralize all inbox activity inside your CRM or communication stack.
Trigger Name
direct_message_received
When does it trigger?
This trigger activates each time a client sends a new direct message through your Sortlist profile or opportunity inbox.
✅ Example:
A client visits your profile and sends a message to ask for more details.
You receive the message in your Sortlist inbox → the trigger is fired.
Example Payload
Below is a sample JSON payload delivered when the trigger fires:
{
"message": "We are looking for a trusted partner to support us with content creation.",
"id": "sSL2jvehlxtLv28BAX_ipA",
"received_at": "2025-10-03T09:20:02Z",
"project_id": "12345",
"locale": "en",
"provider_slug": "thisisatest",
"opportunity_link": "https://app.sortlist.com/thisisatest/inbox", "integration": {
"uuid": "6ee59c0d-2142-4b8f-8f0a-681e2719cc5e",
"owner": "thibaut@sortlist.com",
"trigger_name": "direct_message_received"
},
"location": "New York, US",
"country": "US",
"expertise": "Web Development",
"title": "Sortlist Opportunity 12345: Acme Inc. (Test event, you can safely remove)",
"company": { "name": "Acme Inc.",
"website": "https://acme.com" },
"contacts": [ {
"first_name": "Jane",
"last_name": "Doe",
"email": "jane.doe@example.com",
"phone": "+12025550100",
"linkedin_url": "https://linkedin.com/in/jane-doe",
"phone_iso_31661": "US",
"phone_validation_status": "valid",
"picture_url": "https://example.com/jane-doe.jpg",
"professional_email": true,
"job_title": "Software Engineer",
"locale": "en"
}
]
}Key Fields
message → The content of the direct message received.
id → Unique identifier of the message.
received_at → Timestamp when the message was received (UTC).
project_id → ID of the project the message refers to (if applicable).
opportunity_link → Direct link to the inbox thread inside Sortlist.
integration.uuid / owner / trigger_name → Metadata of the integration firing the event.
location / country → Geographical details of the client.
expertise → The expertise or service category related to the request.
title → The opportunity title, often including the company name.
company → Object containing company name and website.
contacts → Array of contact data:
First & Last Name
Professional Email (validated)
Phone (with ISO country code & validation status)
LinkedIn profile link
Picture URL (if available)
Job Title
Locale
Example Use Cases
CRM Integration: Log all direct messages to the matching client record automatically.
Slack/Teams Alerts: Notify your sales team in real-time when a new message is received.
WhatsApp/Email Automation: Trigger instant replies or follow-up sequences.
Task Management: Create a task in tools like Asana, Trello, or ClickUp when a message arrives.
Visual Example
How to Use It
Choose the trigger → Select Direct Message Received inside your integration tool.
Connect your app → Link Sortlist with your CRM, Slack, or any workflow tool.
Test the trigger → Use the sample payload above to test your workflow.
Go live → Start capturing direct client messages automatically.
Use the following Zap template to start receiving your Direct Messages Received directly on your Whatsapp, so you stop losing any potential prospects ;)!
👉 With this trigger, you’ll never miss an important client inquiry again. It ensures faster response times and a smoother client experience.