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CRM and sales

What is ad referral data?

Ad referral data is the metadata WhatsApp attaches to the first message of a conversation that began from a click-to-WhatsApp ad or a Facebook Page button: the source type, the ad ID, headline, body text, media type and URL, and the click ID (ctwa_clid) needed for Conversions API attribution. It arrives in the message webhook and must be captured at that moment.

Updated 29 Aug 2026 · 1 min read

On this page
  1. Why it matters
  2. In VGraple CRM
  3. Related terms

CRM AND SALES

Ad referral data

Ad referral data is the metadata WhatsApp attaches to the first message of a conversation that began from a click-to-WhatsApp ad or a Facebook Page button: the source type, the ad ID, headline, body text, media type and URL, and the click ID (ctwa_clid) needed for Conversions API attribution. It arrives in the message webhook and must be captured at that moment.

click to whatsapp adconversions apilead source

Ad referral data in one line

Why it matters

Referral data is the only link between ad spend and WhatsApp outcomes. Captured, it gives cost per lead and per sale by ad and lets Meta optimise toward buyers; missed, the ad traffic is just "WhatsApp" and no one can tell which creative works.

In VGraple CRM

Referral data is stored on the conversation and copied to the lead with the source, shown in the contact panel, used by flow triggers and source reports, and the click ID is sent with purchase events through the Conversions API.

Click-to-WhatsApp ad, Conversions API, Lead source.

Frequently asked questions

Does referral data include the person's Facebook profile?
No. It identifies the ad, not the user.
How long is the click ID valid for attribution?
Meta accepts events within its attribution window, typically up to seven days after the click.
What if the customer messages again later?
The referral is stored on the original conversation and lead; later messages continue that thread.

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