What is a capture flow?

A capture flow is the short text conversation someone has with you after they scan your QR code or text your keyword. It asks a question or two, one at a time, then delivers what you promised and sends the contact where you want it. In the app, flows live under Data Capture Flows.

The three parts of a flow

Every flow is built on one page, top to bottom:

1. Trigger. How people start it: Text a keyword (such as "Text DEMO to 33777") or Scan a QR code. Each flow has exactly one trigger.
2. Steps. Questions, texts, and actions that run in order. Questions wait for a reply: Ask for email, Ask for name, Ask for location, Ask for company, Collect custom data, and Ask a poll question. Texts, emails, and actions run as soon as someone reaches them, with no reply needed.
3. Final text message. Sent when someone finishes every step, usually a thank-you or the link they asked for.

A phone preview beside the builder shows the conversation as your audience will see it, with sample replies.

How it plays out

Picture a speaker who puts "Text DEMO to 33777" on the last slide. Someone in the room texts DEMO. Textiful replies with the first question ("Reply with your email address"). They reply, get the next question if there is one, and when they finish, they get the final text. Then the slides arrive by email, and the contact is added to Mailchimp.

Keep it short

The builder says it plainly: "1 to 3 questions works best." Across Textiful flows over 90 days in 2026, flows with one to three questions were completed between 83.1% and 89.5% of the time. Four-question flows were completed 66% of the time (that sample was small: 247 starts). If you need more, ask for the email first so you have it even if they stop.

What changes take effect when

Every change in the builder saves straight away. People already partway through keep the version they started; everyone after gets the new one.

See Add actions to a flow, or read more about capture flows.