Flow Builder Wiring Basics: Nodes, Handles and Connectors

A flow is a set of nodes on a canvas, joined by lines. One node sends a message, another waits, another checks a condition, and the lines decide what runs after what.

Open it from + New automation → Flow builder (“drag and connect the steps yourself”). Every new flow starts as a Draft with one empty Begin when… block, waiting for a trigger.

Adding a node

Click + on the canvas → pick a node type → configure it in the panel that opens on the right → connect it to the next step.

The node types

Node	What it does
Trigger	Starts the flow when something happens on Instagram
Send message	Sends an Instagram DM
Action	Updates contact data or talks to outside tools
Conditions	Checks something and branches the flow
Delay	Pauses before continuing
Randomizer	Splits contacts across several paths at random
Payment	Creates a payment link and branches on whether it’s paid

Nodes run in order, following the lines — unless a Conditions node splits the path in two.

Connecting nodes

Every node has a small circle on its right edge. That’s a handle, and it’s what you drag to build the flow.

Two ways to do it:

• Click + on the canvas and pick a node, or
• Drag the Then handle off your current node and drop it where you want the next step

The Then handle on the trigger, wired to the Send message node that follows it

Then vs. Next step

Most nodes have one Then handle: do this, then go there.

Four cases give you more:

• A Send message node with a Collect user info block waits for the contact’s reply, so it gets a Next step handle for what happens once the answer arrives, alongside Then.
• A Conditions node replaces Then with two handles — Yes and Doesn’t match any — one for each path.
• A Randomizer node replaces Then with one handle per variation — A, B, C… — one for each path a contact can be sent down.
• A Payment node keeps Then and adds Payment successful and Payment failed below it, so the outcome of the charge routes the flow.

Leave a handle unwired and the flow simply stops for anyone who reaches it.

Duplicating and deleting

Hover a node and a small toolbar appears above it: duplicate it (handy for a message you want to send twice with different wording) or delete it. Deleting a node also removes the lines into and out of it, so re-wire its neighbours afterwards.

Pro Tip

The controls at the bottom-left zoom in, zoom out, fit the whole flow on screen, and lock the canvas. Lock it once a flow is wired the way you want — it stops you dragging a node loose while you’re panning around.