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Ditching the Data Overload with CAPI

Ashley Amber Sava Avatar
Written by Ashley Amber Sava
How Tos - 7 min read
Ditching the Data Overload with CAPI

How Manychat’s Conversion API Integration Turns Meta Ads into a Money-Making Machine

You’re spending good money on Meta ads, hustling for engagement, and hoping for conversions. Ad pros, listen up: You’re not truly getting the most out of every dollar if you’re not using Manychat’s Conversions API (CAPI) integration.

That’s about to change!

We’re here to break down CAPI in real terms, so you can actually see why this tool is what your Meta campaigns have been begging for. 

The 30-second rundown: What the heck is CAPI?

Let’s say you’re running a game without a scoreboard. You know things are happening, but you have no idea who’s winning. That’s basically what you’re doing if you’re running ads without CAPI.

CAPI, aka Conversions API, sends detailed Meta conversion data back to their algorithm. It’s a direct line to Meta’s ad brain. When you connect CAPI through Manychat, you’re letting Meta know who’s actually converting from your ads — whether that’s a sign-up, a sale, or a “heck yes” on a lead form. This data tells Meta who to show your ad to next time, making each dollar work harder.

CAPI is a no-brainer 

If you’re already running campaigns and tracking engagement, you know that without CAPI, you’re only getting half the story. Here’s what you’re missing out on (and why you should care):

Precision targeting: With CAPI, Meta’s algorithm stops showing your ads to tire-kickers and starts targeting real, likely converters. That means your ads get seen by people who are ready to take action.

Clean data, no cross-referencing: All your ad metrics are in one place, no cross-referencing, no Google Sheets hacking. CAPI automates your analytics, so what you see in Ads Manager is the whole truth, not bits and pieces from various places.

Higher ROI, less guesswork: Ad dollars are precious, so why blow them on people who are just window shopping? CAPI takes the guesswork out of targeting by sending Meta clean, conversion-focused data — so your dollars go where they matter most.

How CAPI works 

The process is refreshingly straightforward, even if you’re not a data whiz. 

Step one: Connect your Meta account to Manychat

Head to the settings in Manychat, link up your Meta account, and hit the “Instagram Ad Optimizations” button. Boom — CAPI is almost ready to work its magic.

Screenshot of Meta Conversions API selecting how to Connect with the option "With dataset and token" highlighted

Step two: Choose your conversion goals

Decide what you actually want to track. Collecting emails? Closing sales? These “conversion events” are what you’ll be reporting to Meta. Setting these up tells Meta what’s valuable to you.

Screenshot of "Perform next actions" page with Ads Optimization highlighted and "Send event to Meta Conversions API" as the next action

Step three: Run your campaign

With CAPI live, you start seeing those conversions in Meta Ads Manager. It’s all automated. So instead of wrestling with data sources to track your progress, you’re seeing conversions roll in — neatly sorted and ready to analyze.

Screenshot of Actions #1 page asking if you want to Perform following actions: Send event to Meta Conversions API. Channel selected from the drop first down menu is "Instagram". The second drop down menu, Conversion type, has LeadSubmitted highlighted

Step four: Let Meta optimize

As Meta collects your CAPI data, it refines your audience, honing in on the people most likely to click and convert. Your audience gets smarter, your targeting sharper, and you see results.

Screenshot of Meta Leads data chart with categories from left to right including Clicks (all), CTR (all), CPC (all), Meta Leads, Leads, and the Cost Per Lead

Why users love CAPI (Hint: it works)

Let’s put the data-speak aside for a second. What really matters is that CAPI has made a tangible difference for actual Manychat users. For example, Wally, an online course creator, integrated CAPI into his Meta campaigns. Here’s what he saw:

Better quality leads: Wally didn’t just get more leads — he got better leads. CAPI helped Meta hone in on people who were ready to buy, not just those willing to click around.

Increased conversions: Wally’s conversions jumped by 35% after integrating CAPI, and he spent 10% less on ads, thanks to Meta’s improved targeting.

Smoother analytics: Wally finally stopped manually syncing data across platforms. With CAPI, every conversion appeared in Ads Manager, making it easy to track, measure, and celebrate wins.

How to set up CAPI in your Manychat account

Don’t worry; you don’t need a degree in data science to set this up. Here’s the user-friendly rundown:

Log in to Manychat

Go to your settings, click on “Instagram Ad Optimizations,” and connect your Meta account. You’ll find a spot to input your CAPI access token (don’t worry; our Help Center’s got the step-by-step for finding that).

Define your conversion events

This is where the magic really happens. Choose the events that matter to your bottom line — email submissions, purchase completions, etc. This is what Meta will track and optimize for you.

Sync and run

Once it’s live, CAPI feeds your conversion data to Meta, allowing their algorithm to work its targeting magic. Check Ads Manager for updates and watch those conversions stack up.

Watch Meta’s AI go to work

After a few weeks, Meta’s algorithm will get smarter at identifying who’s most likely to convert. Your campaign performance improves with each data point, refining your audience and cutting wasted spend.

Pro tips for getting the most out of CAPI

Here are some power-user tips to make it even better:

Track multiple events: CAPI is flexible enough to track various types of conversions, not just one. Want to see who’s signing up, purchasing, or clicking on your follow-up offers? Set up each as a unique event and get granular insights.

Refine your funnel: Use your CAPI data to adjust your customer journey. Is there a drop-off after your first message? Adjust it. Now that you know what people are actually doing in your funnel, you can make changes to keep them engaged.

A/B test your copy: Now that you have real-time conversion feedback, experiment with different messages and CTAs. You’ll see what works best and get more mileage out of your best-performing content.

Can CAPI really help my bottom line?

Yes. But if you’re skeptical, let’s clear up some FAQs:

Q: Is it hard to set up?

Nope! Setting up CAPI is about as straightforward as it gets. Manychat’s interface guides you, and the Help Center is packed with tutorials if you hit a snag.

Q: Will this make my ads cost less?

Yes and no. CAPI doesn’t reduce ad costs, but it does make your budget more effective. By reaching only the people who are actually likely to convert, you’re getting more from every dollar.

Q: Do I need CAPI if my ads are doing “fine?”

Define “fine.” If you’re okay with wasting ad spend on half-baked leads, maybe not. But if you want to turn “fine” into “fantastic,” CAPI’s targeting and analytics make a huge difference.

Try CAPI yourself!

In the wild world of Meta ads, every edge counts. You don’t just want to collect impressions; you want results. That’s what CAPI does: It takes the guesswork out of your Meta ad campaigns, so you can focus on growing your business instead of troubleshooting data.

So, log in, set it up, and watch the results roll in. Give CAPI a shot and experience what happens when you stop guessing and start targeting smarter.

Need more details? Here’s the complete setup guide.


Originally published: Dec 3, 2024, 8:15 PM, Updated: Dec 3, 2024, 6:27 PM
Ashley Amber Sava Avatar

Ashley Amber Sava