Welcome to the world of automation! Today, we are going to build your first scenario on Make.com.
By using Make.com, you can unlock connections to over 1,000 apps & get access to more advanced scenarios at lower price than Zapier.
For this guide, we will create a simple but powerful workflow: When a client sends you a Direct Message on Sortlist, you will automatically receive a notification in Slack.
Here is how to set it up :
Step 1: Initialize the Scenario in Make
First, log in to your Make.com account and create a new scenario.
1. Click the big purple "+ Create Scenario" button to add your first application.
2. Search for Sortlist.
3. Select the trigger event "Watch Direct Message Received". This ensures the automation starts the moment a potential client reaches out to you.
4. Make will ask you to create a webhook. Give it a clear name (e.g., "Sortlist DM to Slack") and save it. Make is now listening for data.
Step 2: Connect and Configure Slack
1. add a second module next to Sortlist.
2. Search for Slack and select the action "Send a Message".
3. Connect the two modules. You will see a dotted line connecting the Sortlist icon to the Slack icon.
4. In the Slack settings, choose the channel you want to be notified in (e.g., #sales-leads).
5. In the "Text" field, you can now drag and drop data elements from the Sortlist payload you received in Step 2 (such as the sender's name or the message content).
Step 3: Triggering the Test Payload (Crucial Step)
This is the most important part of the setup, and it works differently here than it does on platforms like Zapier. To let Make know what the data looks like, you must manually send a test signal from Sortlist.
1. Leave your Make scenario open and waiting (it should say "Stop" or "Listening").
2. Open a new tab and go to your Sortlist Dashboard.
3. Navigate to the Integrations tab on the left sidebar and select Webhooks.
4. You will see a list of your active webhook subscriptions. Locate the one you just created (e.g., "Direct message received" created via Make).
5. Click the three vertical dots (menu icon) on that webhook card.
6. Select "Send a test notification" from the dropdown menu.
coach's Note: unlike Zapier, where the automation platform "pulls" the sample data itself, Sortlist gives you control. By clicking "Send a test notification," you are forcing Sortlist to push dummy data to Make immediately. This ensures your scenario has real structure to work with for the next step.
Step 4: Save and Activate
Once you are happy with the message format:
1. Save your scenario.
2. Turn the scenario switch to "ON".
You are now fully integrated! Every time a prospect messages you on Sortlist, your Slack will buzz immediately.