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Designing a 5-Day Automated Messaging Sequence in ManyChat Using createSubscriber and sendFlow APIs

  • March 16, 2026
  • 2 comments
  • 9 views

 

Here is a clearer, more professional version of your text:

What is the correct type of automation to use in ManyChat when a flow is initiated via the sendFlow API and the contact is created using the createSubscriber API?

I would appreciate guidance on the best way to design this flow in ManyChat.

In my implementation, contacts are added through the createSubscriber API, and the automation is triggered using the sendFlow API. Once the flow is triggered, I want the system to automatically send additional messages to the contact over the following days.

The intended structure is:

  • A messaging sequence that runs for 5 days

  • One message every 24 hours

However, when I start the flow using sendFlow, I encounter limitations that prevent me from chaining messages using Smart Delay. Based on my understanding, flows triggered through sendFlow may not reliably support delay-based steps, even when a Smart Delay of several minutes or hours is configured after the first message.

My main question is:

What is the recommended architecture in ManyChat for implementing a multi-day messaging sequence when contacts are created via createSubscriber and the flow is triggered via sendFlow?

Specifically, I would like to understand what type of automation (flows, sequences, rules, tags, or another mechanism) should be used to ensure the messages continue automatically once the first message has been triggered through the API.

 

2 replies

Gustavo Boregio
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  • Community Moderator & Expert
  • March 16, 2026

@nimi your main limitation are Meta’s rules.

What channel are you using for this? WhatsApp?

If so, you should be able to use createSubscriber and sendFlow with delays, sequences, etc, as long as you’re using WhatsApp message templates (which are paid) to send your messages. This is due to the 24 hours limitation you have in sending messages.

If you’re using other channels then it’s a lot more complicated due to the 24 hours rule.


Devtrest
  • Up-and-Comer
  • March 16, 2026

I’d use a Sequence for that, not one long flow with delays.

A simple setup would be:

  • create the contact with createSubscriber

  • start the first message with sendFlow

  • then add the contact into a 5-day Sequence for the follow-ups

That’s usually the cleaner way to handle daily messages.

One thing to keep in mind: on WhatsApp, once you go past the 24-hour window, you’ll usually need to use an approved template message for the next messages. So the main thing is not really the API trigger it’s making sure the follow-up messages are sent in the right format.