Integrating Incoming Web Leads into VanillaSoft

Integrating leads from web lead providers into your VanillaSoft projects can streamline your sales process and improve efficiency. Web lead providers can post data directly into VanillaSoft using several methods, including HTTP form posts, HTTP posts with XML, and emails with XML bodies. This guide will help you understand each method and set up your integration correctly.

Preferred Method: XML HTTP Post

For the most reliable integration, we recommend using an XML HTTP post. This method not only provides feedback on whether the post was successful or not but also allows for re-posting by the lead provider if the initial attempt fails due to system unresponsiveness.

Setting Up XML HTTP Post

  1. Web Lead ID: Ensure you have a WebLeadID, a unique identifier generated when you create an Incoming Web Lead Profile in VanillaSoft.
  2. Post URL: Lead providers should post data to https://new.vanillasoft.net/post.aspx?id=WebLeadID. To ensure the data is treated as XML, append &typ=XML to the URL.
  3. Success and Failure Responses: VanillaSoft will return <ReturnValue>Success</ReturnValue> for successful posts and <ReturnValue>FAILURE</ReturnValue><ReturnReason>reason text</ReturnReason> for failed attempts.

Alternative Methods

HTTP Form Post

  • This simple method does not provide any success/failure feedback and is subject to data size limitations. It's less recommended compared to XML HTTP posts.

 

XML Email Method

  • Providers can send leads as plain/text emails to WebLeadID@vanillaleads.com. This method uses the same XML formatting as the HTTP post.

XML Format and Field Mappings

  • VanillaSoft accepts various XML formats. You must define mappings between your provider's field names and the fields in your VanillaSoft project. Here’s an example of a valid XML format: 
    <Lead>
    <fname>John</fname>
    <lname>Smith</lname>
    <workNumber>819-555-4789</workNumber>
</Lead>

  • Caution: Field names in the XML data are case-sensitive in VanillaSoft mappings.

Why Choose XML HTTP Post?

Using XML HTTP posts not only ensures reliability through feedback mechanisms but also secures your data transfer with the ability to retry posts automatically. This method helps maintain data integrity and enhances the automation of your lead management process.

Before starting, make sure to provide your web lead provider with the Post Link and confirm the field names to set up the necessary mappings in your Incoming Web Leads profile. For detailed instructions on deleting a team or further customization, please refer to our How To Delete a Team article.

By following these setup instructions, you can efficiently integrate web leads into your VanillaSoft project, ensuring a seamless flow of data and enhanced project management.

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